White Horse Close

This close is at the bottom of the Royal Mile.  In the 16th century it was the site of the Royal Mews and eventually became a Coaching Inn. Surprisingly it is sunny today, even though it is a holiday.

Holyrood and a Holiday

The Palace of Holyrood House at one end of the Royal Mile.

The blog will be taking a short break, sailing the West Coast.  No possibility of internet access so signing off until about the 29th.

Corstorphine Old Parish Church

This is an old stone church with a stone flag roof.  http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst7821.html

Flags

There are flagpoles outside the Scottish Parliament.  The Saltire and the Union flag are doing fine but the EU seems in trouble.

Canongate

When the Queen is in residence at Holyrood Palace she attends services in Canongate Kirk.  Hence the Royal arms above the door.  The gilded stag on the apex above refers to the legend of King David and the white stag.  You can learn about that here in the Kirk website.  http://www.canongatekirk.org.uk/

The entrance is flanked by two trees and most of the blossom has fallen.

Flowering Cherry

Last of the blossom on Princes Street.

Clock Tower

The high point of the Balmoral Hotel, (although the guests probably think that's the restaurant), but I still prefer to think of it as the North British.

Edinburgh Castle

The Castle as seen from Candlemaker Row. The wall is the retaining wall for Greyfriars Kirkyard.  If this collapsed you would have a road full of bones.  To the right of the castle's  Half -Moon Battery you can see the staging being constructed on the Castle Esplanade ready for the Tattoo.  It seems to go up earlier every year.

Urban Fisherman

Lunchtime for a local Heron on the Water of Leith close to work.  Stalk. Strike. Swallow. Not sure what, whether fish or amphibian.

Lamp

It's that characteristic shape of Edinburgh lamp again. This one on the railings of Princes St Gardens.

Jenners

The famous department store on Princes St. Now just an outpost of Frasers. Perhaps Mr El Fayed could buy it and run it as a hobby since he hasn't got Harrods any more.

Weemys Bay Station

Out of town visiting the Isle of Bute. Sticking to a transport theme.  I have always liked this old station, its glory days long gone, but the basic structure still fine.

Princes Street

Looking West towards St Mary's.  The uprights for the tram cabling are obtrusive enough on their own.  Once they are cabled it will be quite a mess photographically speaking.

Posters

I think there is an election on.

Princes Street

This is what it looks like on Princes St, early morning, with the rails and posts for the electric cables.

Tram

The powers that be now have the real deal sitting on Princes St.  The Trams are the most controversial thing that has happened in the last 20 years.  The disruption has been enormous and the service will not start till 2012.
http://www.edinburghtrams.com/

Royal Scots Greys Memorial

The statue is just inside Princes Street Gardens.  It is a memorial of the Boer War, the first shot is from Fredrick Street with the Castle hill in the background.  The second is from inside the Gardens.
The Wiki entry is below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Scots_Greys

Great Edinburgh Run

Surprise, surprise it's the Mound again as opposed to the Yellow Brick Road.  The elite corps has passed and the fun section follows.

Bank

The Bank of Scotland offices on the Mound.