Ian : My first visit to Edinburgh. Sun still shining relentlessly.
The first impression you get walking around is a more open kind of city with alot more pretty old stuff.


Michael: That's the memorial to Sir Walter Scott, a dark and imposing but impressive gothic edifice right on the main road, Princes St., in the new town.



Michael: We then walked up to Calton Hill towards the north east of the city. As you can see, the views are stunning.


Ian: This Edinburghian was having more than his daily allowance of fun and so, was being cautioned by the authorities to go have a nap until he quietened down a bit.


Michael: More vistas from Calton Hill


Ian: From Calton hilltop (with all the follies) you can get a glimse of the world's oldest steel bridge, and some other one too.

Michael: The cantilevered bridge (to the right) is the rail bridge (world's oldest steel bridge) and the one to the left is the suspension road bridge.


Michael: Still on Calton Hill, this was supposed to be a replica of the Parthenon, but the Victorian builders ran out of funds to complete it. So, we're left with an embarrassing folly, which provides a vantage point for tourists to enjoy the view. Everyone tries climbing one - no, there are no steps!





Michael: This is the monument to Nelson and is supposed to look like an inverted telescope. It wasn't open on the day we visited, or I'd have loved to climb to the top.





Michael: Me, stiffly posing under duress :)



Ian: On this canon here is ...


... evidence of an ancient Elvish occupation of the area - their script ! ...


and poking up from below Calton Hill is part of the new parliament house ...


Ian: More of that part of Edinburgh next time we visit.


Michael: Quant little alleyways and medieval roads everywhere!



Ian: Edinburgh castle - the forecourt of which is about to be used for the annual military tattoo, part of the annual, world famous Edinburgh Festival. £10.50 (Aus $ 27) to get in ! and we'd seen Stirling Castle which is apparently more impressive anyway.









Michael: Tourists everywhere!



Ian: The place where Mary Queen of Scots spent her last night before going to London to be chopped in half by Cate Blanchett.





Michael: The Thistle Chapel. I went here the last time I was in Edinburgh and didn't feel like I could do it justice with my photography. Ian has done very well to capture the atmosphere of the place and the amazing workmanship that went into producing this fine ribbed ceiling.


















Ian: This guy was trying to start a trend i think.





Ian: Spot the dummie.

* If anyone wants to see the webpage of our trip to New Zealands South Island just go here - http://troy424.tripod.com/nz05.htm

Michael: A gratuitous plug there!

Ian : Just across the Clyde from our suburb is one of the ship building docks.


We think this one is the ship that we heard was sent from a shipyard on the other side of the UK to be finished off over here.


and on our side of the river - new expensive apartment blocks are going up ... as they look out at the shipyards across from them.


Dismayed at the banana led interest rate hikes we've been hearing about, I thought i'd let you know that they're only $2 a kilo here ! (and what have bananas got to do with our mortage anyway ??)

We've found a farmers market to replace the lovely Collingwood one we used to frequent.
Not nearly as lovely. No grassy river-side parkland setting.




Compared to Collingwood, not very many vegetable stalls, but heaps of dairy and meat produce.


However ! There is the Highland beef pie stall - which is just superb !
and the man in the blue t-shirt below can attest to this as well !

Oh ! and i went and signed myself up with an extras and talent agency - 'Real People' - They said me being an 'Aussie' (cringe) might be very usefull ... and NO ! I didn't bump into Ewan McGregor there. Even though he's on their website ! But I am convinced I saw Robert Carlisle down the road yesterday ! you know - Hamish MacBeth, Begby in Trainspotting...

Ian : A bit of a mixed bag this time.


Some gothic looking terrace housing in a street behind ours.


And right accros the street, public housing. At least they have balconies over here.


Last weekend we took a 20 minute train trip west to Balloch at the bottom of Loch Lomond.
We strolled around the grounds of Balloch Castle. Another warm & sultry day !








Mansions galore around here !




Scary tree in an enchanting forest area on the shores of Loch Lomond.
(M: Fangorn Forest?)



Back to Glasgow, and we found a wide variety of architecture in the University area near the west end.



Sadly, the only example of stencil street art I've found so far.


After much research i've found an intriging triangulation between Ewan McGregors birthplace and the two major cities of Scotland . . . coincidence ? . . . or part of the mounting body of evidence pointing to Ewan McGregor as a new religion ? Look out for my forthcoming book - "Ewan McGregor : Divine ? or just a really tasty bloke ?"


and this - just because i love the sky here and what the light does.