City Silhouette

Looking into the light from Samson's Ribs.

Calton View

Looking west from Calton Hill.

Rain

It has become so unusual lately that I thought it deserved a feature. Tony will be getting wet from both ends now.

Toward Point

Through in the west again so no Tony today. This is a lighthouse on the Cowal Peninsula on the Clyde.

Tony 3

This is the Stockbridge Tony.  The T-shirt might have been a bit more appropriate on the previous figure.  He is placed just south of the bridge at Deanhaugh St. and is attracting quite a lot of attention.

The "Local Tony"

Following on from yesterday, this will be our "local" figure.  From work it is only 100 yards or so away, as the crow flies.  It is located in the Water of Leith between Fort Street and Newhaven road.  This section has a walkway along its northern edge. As you approach from Fort St you glimpse the figure through the branches, you then get a clear view and as you progress you get several other vistas that include Tony. This is an industrial section and it seems to be busier than usual thanks to the new arrival.

Antony Gormley comes to Leith

In a £400,000 urban sculpture project 6 cast iron figures, casts of the artist himself, have been placed along the Water of Leith. The photographs above are of the last figure who looks as if he is about to leap from the remains of an old pier in the Western Harbour.

He is however on his own plinth. Should you arrive on a cruise ship you will be treated to the Full Monty but otherwise you are restricted to the rear view.  The artist reckons they will last 1000 years.  One has already been treated to a pink bikini.  I think Tony is likely to get a regular feature in the blog.

Destination Belfast

A grey man for a grey day.  The work unit next door is putting the final coatings on a series of sculpted figures destined for the Twinbrook Estate in Belfast.  The figures will be part of a bridge and look like a time lapse sequence of someone jumping the stream.  Some persons rather, as each figure is different.

Ocean Countess Departure

Another sunny warm day in Edinburgh/Leith.  This little liner departing Leith about 7.30 this evening under a Portuguese flag.

Lifebuoy

A little bit of crude anthropomorphising in the Western Harbour.

Wallace Monument

Another day, another monument.  Out of the capital again.  This is the Wallace Monument on Abbey Craig by Stirling.  The monument to the great Scottish Patriot was started in 1861 and completed in 1869. Once you climb to the top of the craig there are 246 steps to the top, or is it 264.  Either way its a good trek up the narrow spiral staircase.

http://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/index.html

Free French Memorial

Not in Edinburgh today but through in the west.  This memorial to the Free French Naval Forces stands above Greenock looking over the Clyde.

Chancelot Mill

The mill is in the Western Harbour and produced the original "Flour of Scotland".

Clover Bank

In Leith Docks, close to the supermarket on the edge of the housing development.  The stalling of the project has let nature flourish.

Heriot Row Doors

The characteristic fanlight doors of the West End.

Hotel

With the arrival of the Parliament there has been a lot of development nearby. This little Apparthotel is located between Holyrood Road and the Cannongate.

Scottish Parliament

The MSP offices with their "window seats", contemplation for the use of.  I'm not sure if there is much evidence of use.

Headless

As part of the Leith Festival, Arran Ross was advertised as doing a live demo of "Chainsaw Sculpture and Wood Carving" at Ocean Terminal.  The above photo is the only possible evidence of any chainsaw work at the moment.  Doubtless a programme mistake.  Also advertised for next weekend.  Watch this spot.
Check out the rest of the festival at   www.leithfestival.com

Leith Gala

The Gala opens the week long Leith Festival.  Just a few snaps from the Parade.

Tollbooth

Back to Edinburgh. The Old Tollbooth in the Royal Mile.  Once a jail, now a museum, "The Peoples Story".

Car Park Attendant, Glen Affric

And if the answer is no, the reply is bound to be, "deer, deer, deer".

Great Junction Street

Rainy Leith again. The little tower at the corner with Leith Walk was part of the old Central Station.  Will be out of touch with the net tomorrow so no post, possibly even Thursday.

Wet Cobbles

A dreich day in Leith. Nature fights back in between the cobble sets outside work.

Corstorphine Fair

The first weekend in June and the Corstorphine Fair takes place in St Margaret's Park.  The orange clad performers are the Mugen Taiko Dojo.  (www.taiko.co.uk)   The local  Tai Chi class stops the traffic to the sound of the Hurdy Gurdy Man.

Local Flora

There have been several posts of the local fauna so here is one of the "garden" at work.  Pushing its way up through the tarmac.

Dunbar's Close Garden

There are many interesting Closes off the Royal Mile.  This is one near the bottom,  a little haven of peace where you can rest in its pleasant surroundings.

Scottish Parliament

This is the members entrance to the Parliament on the Royal Mile.  The detail of the building is interesting and I like the interior but overall as a complete building? The site is a major problem being rather cramped and in some places hemmed in by ghastly buildings that ought to be knocked down. Plenty more aspects to photograph and I will keep coming back to it.

Another Local Resident

Well a facsimile of one.  The Zoo, probably the best known thing in Corstorphine

Local Resident

After a wet day the sun came out this evening.  Seagulls are becoming a bit of a problem but probably consider themselves as successfully adapting to an urban lifestyle. Car cleaning services probably quite like them.