Friday 30 April 2010

Foot of the Mound


The entrance to the National Gallery.  It was a fine early morning so I am back at the Mound again.
Opposite the National Gallery is the Royal Academy, Princes Street in the background.
Moving into East Princes St Gardens you can see the Gallery Extension, an underground excavation.
Moving into the lower section of the Gardens and looking up at the National Gallery.  Then moving further east to great stone rocket that is the Scott Monument.

And finally looking back from the monument to the familiar view with the castle.

Thursday 29 April 2010

National Gallery and Scott Monument

This is the view from the same spot below the Assembly Hall looking in the opposite direction.  This is the rear view of the gallery with Princes St Gardens and the rail lines to Waverley station on the right.

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Top of the Mound


The Mound runs from Princes St up to the Royal Mile. At the top, looking over Edinburgh to the Forth lie the Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland (left) and the prestigious address of Ramsay Gardens (right). The weather must be improving as you can see they have cut the grass.  The long shot is taken from the same spot as the Ramsay Gardens one, just inside the top of Princes St Gardens.  The building on the right is accomodation for Divinity students.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Weeds

A different view of the Water of Leith and its favourite life form.

Monday 26 April 2010

Canonmills

The Clock at Canonmills, a busy junction in north Edinburgh, with the Water of Leith flowing close by.

Sunday 25 April 2010

Cannongate Kirkyard

Raining all morning but it has eventually stopped leaving a dull day.  More gravestones, this time in the Cannongate Kirks burial ground.  On the Left Kirkcaldy's most famous son, Adam Smith of Wealth of Nations fame.  On the right the Poet Robert Fergsuson who is hardly known today.
See http://www.edinburgh-places.co.uk/folk/oldfolk/robert-fergusson.htm
In the centre Agnes McLehose who was "Clarinda" to Robert Burns' "Sylvander".  Their parting was the inspiration for one of Burns' best known works, "Ae Fond Kiss".
Seehttp://www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/MLehoseAgnesCraigClarinda1759-1841.555.shtml    and
http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_kiss.htm
You could also try this modern rendition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJwy2cm9QTo

Saturday 24 April 2010

4 Runs

Leith Links is arguably the "Home of Golf" but the cricket season has started.  The Leith Franklin Cricket Club was instituted in 1852.

Friday 23 April 2010

Colony House

The Stockbridge Colonies again.  I just liked this end of terrace example.

Thursday 22 April 2010

Newhaven Light


The lighthouse at the entrance to Newhaven Harbour.  No longer a navigational aid.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Windpower ?

House on fairly high point near the Forth.  Quite breezy and the vane easily changing direction with the breeze but no movement of the blades.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

An Apple a Day...

Not sure what it keeps away for squirrels.  This is the car park of a supermarket in Leith.

Monday 19 April 2010

A Young Mans Fancy

Spring is in the air so what can a doo do but woo.

Sunday 18 April 2010

South Leith Parish Church

A church was first established here in 1483.  The present structure is 19th century.  The LHS gravestone is 1656 and the RHS 1777 and still the symbols of death.

Saturday 17 April 2010

Flowering Cherry

These are popular ornamental trees in Edinburgh.  This one is in the neighbouring garden.

Friday 16 April 2010

Noth Leith

Looking from the bridge over the Water of Leith in Great Junction Street.  In the distance is the burial ground that featured on the 8th of April.  If you look at that post the bottom photo of the set has the bridge in the distance. Again new housing.

Thursday 15 April 2010

Powderhall

A footbridge over the Water of Leith to Powderhall.  This modern development is on the old site of the Powderhall Dog Racing Track.

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Pilrig Park

After a freezing grey start to the day, late afternoon brought some sunshine.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Mars Bar Toastie

Well I plucked up courage and opted for the rather calorific Mars sandwich.  I was a bit apprehensive, I don't really like Mars bars and the combination with the brown bread? But the toasted bread actually takes the edge off the sweetness and reduces the  "goo" factor. (Mars bars are also no longer the size I remember). I actually enjoyed it.  Dare I face its big brother?

Monday 12 April 2010

The Botanics

Another warm, sunny day.  Feels like summer and the Royal Botanic Gardens are blooming.

Sunday 11 April 2010

The Colonies

Stockbridge Colonies by the Water of Leith.  With the sun out it was actually quite warm today and everyone was out.  The other shot is part of the queue at the ice cram van outside the Botanics.

Saturday 10 April 2010

Menu

La Cerise again.  They have started opening a bit earlier and this is breakfast, all be it all-day.  Note item 3.  A close relative to the infamous deep fried Mars Bar.  Working myself up to try it.  Watch this space.

Friday 9 April 2010

Converted Warehouse.

Just a stones throw from Pilrig House there is a set of converted warehouses, partly offices and part flats.  Can't quite make my mind up about them.

Thursday 8 April 2010

North Leith Burial Ground


Located alongside the Water of Leith in Coburg Street. The ground was opened in 1644.  The top photo is a burial of a Master Mariner, John Robertson, in 1714, he had been master since 1690.  Considering the date of the ground many of the interred lived to a ripe old age.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Pilrig House

Pilrig House in Leith was built in 1638 and was owned by the Balfours from 1718.  Robert Louis Stevenson's mother was a Balfour and the house gets a mention in his novel "Catriona".  The front of the house faces what would have been its parkland and is now a public park.  The house is run as a guest house.  See link below.
http://www.pilrighouse.com/parkapartment.htm

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Terminus

The No. 23 Bus Terminus in Trinity.

Monday 5 April 2010

La Cerise

A dull day for the most part cheered up by 2 visits here so I thought this would have to be the picture.

Sunday 4 April 2010

Easter Window

Small shop making a big effort.

Saturday 3 April 2010

Old Brig O' Doon

In Ayrshire today.  The Old Brig at Alloway but sans witches and Grey Mares.

Friday 2 April 2010

Daffodils

The small ones first. Maybe we can have Spring now. Sunshine for Easter.

Thursday 1 April 2010

St Mary's

St Mary's Cathedral again, from Ferry Road this time.  Snow still on the Pentlands from the recent "weather".  Snow wasn't the only problem.  A deep depression, strong easterlies and a high spring tide produced havoc and flooding along the East Lothian coast.  See the clip below reference North Berwick.


http://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/index.php?/topic/70666-north-berwick-harbour-storm-video/