Dumfries House Estate – Another Day Out
Earlier this year, we visited Dumfries House Estate, located near Cumnock, in East Ayrshire. The first visit was towards the end of summer and then again later in the Autumn.
A great place to “chill out”, wandering in the well maintained woodland and garden areas, giving you a real sense of peace and tranquility
Below are a few images taken during our visits
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014
I’m Back!
While visiting my new Granddaughter, (she’s a “wee cracker” of 2 weeks old), earlier this week, I paid a short 2 hour visit to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Great atmosphere, superb acts and some real “odd” characters ……. just what I like.
I hope to return later this week for a longer visit, along with my “better” half, to capture more images, enjoy some lunch accompanied by a nice bottle of wine and bathe in the atmosphere of the worlds largest arts festival.
I can’t wait. Here are a few images from my visit.
For images of last year’s festival, please click on the link
Link to Fringe 2013 http://wp.me/P1WKsc-qm
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013 – Additional Images
“Armada” – Queen Elizabeth
Please click on this link http://wp.me/P1WKsc-qm for the rest of the images
Edinburgh Fringe Mania
As in previous years, Fringe Mania once again gripped Edinburgh at the beginning of August. So far, many thousands of festival “junkies” from near and far, have flocked to the Scottish Capital, perhaps to witness the spectacular street performers in the Royal Mile, to see one or more of the 2,000 shows being performed in many of the different venues in the city, or just to “bathe” in the unique atmosphere of the largest performing arts festival in the world.
If you can only visit one event in the year, in Scotland, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe should perhaps be at the top of your list. So far I have visited 3 times, mainly to “soak up” the atmosphere and to capture images of some of the interesting street performers, advertising their show. I hope to visit again, at least, once before it finishes on 26th August
I hope you enjoy the small sample of some of my images below.
More images of the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival can be found at this link http://wp.me/P1WKsc-qm
Spectacular Vintage Festival – Glasgow 2013
A Spectacular Vintage Festival was the main theme, last week, at Glasgow’s Merchant City!!
Thousands of “retro” fans descended on Glasgow to take part in one of the cities main events of the summer, many dressed in costumes from the 1910s to the 1980s. The revellers enjoyed a feast of vintage styles covering 7 decades.
Vintage entertainment, fashion, makeovers, shopping and food markets were the main attractions during the day; and in the evenings Glasgow partied at vintage nightclubs, to the sounds of Rock and Roll, Soul Music and the Big Band Sounds of the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
We visited the festival on Saturday, where we met some “groovy” characters in “retro” style costume. There were many interesting people, including a couple I spoke with, Claire and Paul, from Wrexham, who were dressed in 30s/40s style; a great couple that would travel almost anywhere to experience the early to mid 20th century “retro scene”. It was great to meet the two of them!!
While at the festival, we took the opportunity to have lunch at “Arisaig”, in Merchant Square, where we enjoyed the home-made fish cakes starter followed by a superb king prawn risotto, all “washed down” with a nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.
Below are a few of the images I captured before lunch and the bottle of wine.
Images from previous Merchant city festivals at http://wp.me/P1WKsc-oI
More details on the Merchant City Festival at http://www.merchantcityfestival.com/Pages/default.aspx
Beamish Museum – Co. Durham
You can’t visit Durham and not visit the nearby Beamish Museum. This “living museum” is a superb example of urban and rural life that existed in the early 20th century in N.E England.
We had previously visited some 15 – 20 years ago, when our children were young and it was great to return, a few weeks ago, and remind ourselves how amazing the Beamish is. We were only there for a day and really did not get a chance to see all of the exhibits, but we will most definitely return in the near future.
Below are a few images, including some of the interiors of the houses in the old Victorian town.
Detailed information about The Beamish Museum can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beamish_Museum
Merchant City Festival – Glasgow
My “better half” and I have attended this superb event over the last 2 years and have been amazed by diversity and quality of this festival, which presents “best of the best” in theatre, music, visual arts, comedy, dance, film, fashion and the food scene.
Looking forward to the next one. which runs from 24th to 28th July 2013
Brazilian Beauty
Please follow my link below to see more images of this annual, “not to be missed” event.
Rome – Additional Images
With so much activity in Rome at the moment, I felt compelled to add some additional images to my Rome webpage. Please click on this link to my Rome webpage http://wp.me/P1WKsc-jl
I would love to be there at present to sense and enjoy the atmosphere of anticipation and excitement as the Catholic Church seek to elect a new leader.
Alas, I will neeed to content myself with watching history unfold on the television and think of our holiday visit a few years ago, seeing the places we visited and dreaming of our return, hopefully in the near future.
Piazza San Pietro – Rome
Canal Lock at Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus is one of the most picturesque towns along the length of the Caledonian Canal. On a beautiful autumn day, we spent a quiet hour watching the boats passing through the flight of locks. The image shows one of the five locks and on the far left, behind the lock, you can just see Loch Ness.
Double Canal Locks at Corpach, on the Caledonian Canal
The 62 mile long Caledonian Canal, with a total of 29 locks was originally built to allow wooden sailing ships to travel from the north-east to the south-west of Scotland, avoiding the perilous route via Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth. It was completed in 1822, after 19 years in construction at a cost of around £910,000. The canal had taken so long to construct, that much larger, iron hulled ships were now in use and the canal was too narrow to accommodate them.
Today the canal attracts many visitors who come to enjoy the magnificent scenery that stretches all the way from Inverness to Fort William.
The image below is of the of the double canal locks at Corpach. Ben Nevis can be seen in the background
Double Canal Locks at Corpach on the Caledonian Canal
For some of my other landscape images please follow this link http://wp.me/P1WKsc-M
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012 – Additional Images
6 Additional images of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012 added today.
- Japanese Girl
Please go to http://wp.me/P1WKsc-jn for the rest of the images
Busier Than Ever – Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012
Superb!! – 25 days of Events with over 2,600 shows from 47 different countries
Edinburgh, the Scottish Capital was “buzzing” this year, in August, with the annual Fringe Festival.
An amazing diversity of shows to suit all tastes ranging from Shakespeare to light comedy; classical to rock music accompanied by traditional “scottish” cuisine from the many local bars and restaurants. (Even haggis and neeps, deep fried mars bars or the usual fish supper, were on the menu, if that’s what you fancied)
I love Edinburgh, particularly at this time of year when the city is busy with tourists and “locals”, enjoying the “banter” of the performers and audiences, enjoying the culture and “soaking-up” the atmosphere.
Edinfringe Rocks
The Fringe is an opportunity for me to indulge in my photography, to capture portrait images of the “street” performers advertising their shows and to talk with some of the interesting “characters” taking part.
GI Girls at The Fringe
This year I visited the Fringe 3 times. On my last visit, my “better half” and I met up with some of my “old” school friends and rounded off a great day, with a delicious meal in a local restaurant, with a nice bottle of wine and good company.
Looking forward to August 2013.
For more images of the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe please click on http://wp.me/P1WKsc-jn
Roman Holiday – Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was the center of public life in Rome. Processions, criminal trials, public speeches all took place in this central area which is located betweem Palatine and Capitoline hills.
This is my final post in this series. However, I have now added a page under “Travel”, which contains all images from my previous “Roman Holiday” posts. It also includes additional images not previously published. I hope you have enjoyed.
Please click on this link http://wp.me/P1WKsc-jl
Roman Forum
Roman Holiday – Inside The Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums, located inside Vatican City, contain some of the greatest sculptures and classical art in the world. I was utterly amazed at the vibrance and detail in the paintings and sculpture, considering their age.
Below are a few images that are my personal favourites, but they in no way do justice to seeing the “real thing”
Roman Holiday – Inside The Vatican
Continuing on the theme “Roman Holiday”; we went into the Vatican during our visit to Rome. Here are a few images.
The first image is Michelangelo’s La Pieta, which is the only sculpture that he ever signed. It depicts the body of Christ in Mary’s lap after the crucifixion.
The second image is the Main Dome inside the Vatican. Michelangelo designed the dome in 1547 and it was completed in 1590 by Giacomo della Porta and Fontana.
The third image, the Cathedra Petri or ” the Throne of St Peter” is surrounded by an enormous statue of bronze produced by Bernini.
More information can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter’s_Basilica
Roman Holiday – Swiss Guard
The Swiss Guard has existed since the late 15th century. As guardians of the gates to Vatican City, the Papal Swiss Guard, founded in 1506, is the only remaining Swiss Guard in the world.
Swiss Guard
More information at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/swissguard/storia_en.htm
Loch Shiel – Glenfinnan Monument
The Glenfinnan Monument was erected in 1815. It is a memorial tower marking the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) raised his standard at the start of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.
Today the monument is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.
This image was captured on a hill above the National Trust Visitor’s Centre.
Loch Shiel (Glenfinnan Monument)
St Mary and St Finnan’s Church – Glenfinnan
This beautiful church is built on the banks of Loch Shiel. It is a memorial to the Macdonalds of Glenaladale. It is believed that Charles Edward Stuart, “Bonnie Prince Charlie” stayed with the Macdonalds before raising the Jacobite standard in 1745.
St Mary’s and St Finnon’s Church – Glenfinnan
Oban View
We visited Oban during a recent trip to the Scottish Highlands. Oban, located on the mainland, at the northern end of The Firth of Lorn near the entrance to Loch Linnhe, is known as the “Gateway to the Isles”. It is also recognised as the “Seafood capital of Scotland”.
And while I love fresh seafood, for the chocoholics like me, I recommend a visit to the Oban Chocolate Company, who offer a range of delicious hand made chocolates manufactured in their factory in Oban.
More information at http://www.oban.org.uk/
Oban
Mallaig Harbour – “The Jacobite’s” Destination
The fishing port of Mallaig is the destination of the “The Jacobite” the vintage steam train, featured in last week’s post.
This peaceful view over Mallaig Harbour, shows the islands of Rum and Eigg on the horizon. In the foreground is the Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry to Skye
Mallaig Harbour
“The Jacobite”
“The Jacobite” is the vintage steam train which runs from Fort William, through some of the most beautiful countryside in Scotland, to the picturesque fishing port of Mallaig.
While this trip has always been a popular attraction with tourists visiting the Scottish highlands, the “Harry Potter” movies where the ” Hogwarts Express” crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct has helped boost the popularity of this nostalgic journey. On its journey the “Jacobite” does cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct just like in the movies.
The image of the train below, was captured last week, during a short visit to the Scottish Highlands, as it travelled along the shoreline of Loch Eil, 4 – 5 miles from Fort William, on its way to Mallaig
More details at http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/Jacobite_Details.html and for a journey across the Glenfinnan Viaduct on “The Jacobite” click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_GjT9nlAeM&feature=related
The Jacobite
Sir Walter Scott Monument; Edinburgh
This image of Sir Walter Scott’s Monument, erected for his contribution to Scottish Literature is captured, just before sunset, from “The Mound” (the old Bank of Scotland Headquarters; Edinburgh)
The monument, inaugurated in 1846, is 200ft high. A sculpture in marble, of the man himself, can be seen through the centre arch.
Sir Walter Scott Monument; Edinburgh
More information can be found at http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/scott_monument.htm
Blackrock Cottage “Close-up” (Monochrome) Version – Glencoe
Just thought I’d also post the monochrome “close-up” version. What do you think?
Blackrock Cottage_mono
jimreidphoto 