tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87322428697459317972024-03-22T03:15:49.695+00:00Where's the Next Adventure?One time Singapore and Edinburgh resident now back in London again, exploring the city and beyondLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-85864786361344432292022-10-13T17:49:00.000+00:002022-10-13T17:56:33.834+00:00A Tour of Disused Aldwych Tube Station<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Those of you who know me will probably know that I'm fascinated (perhaps even a little obsessed if I'm honest) with the London Underground. I find the history of it fascinating and in particular I love the disused stations. These empty, or at least seemingly empty, places dotted all over the network and all the hidden history they hold is something I'm incredibly interested in. For years I've wanted to go on a tour of one of those that do get opened up to the public and I finally got the chance to join a tour around the former Aldwych tube station over the summer. I'm not going to lie I was super excited about this (having booked it months in advance) and as the day finally approached couldn't stop thinking about the fact I was actually getting to visit one. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNBOz1lgMyd3niWkfJLR4pCq7Bay0K7DbkOYGN2_qo25xtXWmTDPnp3W_STm-xWAorEW43ztekI-LwbmTR6aBtbuCiw5zpnvgpIVYxHgigIOqyMzEGcmpxf_4A3bnHc7be8BmAvmhuJizVy9Re3HRooXTVXIZD2jTrN1zJe7X5RtDcjeSflIEr-kWBw/s4032/IMG_7412.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNBOz1lgMyd3niWkfJLR4pCq7Bay0K7DbkOYGN2_qo25xtXWmTDPnp3W_STm-xWAorEW43ztekI-LwbmTR6aBtbuCiw5zpnvgpIVYxHgigIOqyMzEGcmpxf_4A3bnHc7be8BmAvmhuJizVy9Re3HRooXTVXIZD2jTrN1zJe7X5RtDcjeSflIEr-kWBw/w640-h480/IMG_7412.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SD5lJmCRRhbHJ5bLaTw08WZsC6Jm3ZR6SKhoWLSrUnSkijaHwL6hsxjF65l9yVQnbYrj7KhxQqLs7k9DhDVAtSuEaZVh7okmXa5IAejdsUQzw14YbDFz-RP5lkKSR84sRLy60CMpst79YmYDaEcaVQnfXZ51_QCJaqn5qT9RHdwnhDtj06v7yCPi_g/s4032/IMG_7414.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SD5lJmCRRhbHJ5bLaTw08WZsC6Jm3ZR6SKhoWLSrUnSkijaHwL6hsxjF65l9yVQnbYrj7KhxQqLs7k9DhDVAtSuEaZVh7okmXa5IAejdsUQzw14YbDFz-RP5lkKSR84sRLy60CMpst79YmYDaEcaVQnfXZ51_QCJaqn5qT9RHdwnhDtj06v7yCPi_g/w480-h640/IMG_7414.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Main entrance to the station with its original name, Strand above the door</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Despite not being used by passengers since the early 1990s anyone wandering up the street where the station is and who is in any way familiar with tube building design can not fail to identify this as an Underground building (even if the obvious signage clues hadn't been there), with its distinctive oxblood red tiling, just one of many designed by the architect Leslie Green. Aldwych tube station was opened in 1907 and was originally called Strand after its location. It was built on the site of the demolished Royal Strand theatre and was the terminus station (the only station in fact) on the very short branch line connecting it to Holborn station. There were plans to extend the line beyond Aldwych but these never came into being. In 1915 it was renamed Aldwych station to avoid confusion with Charing Cross station which at that time was also called Strand!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">It wasn't long before passenger numbers fell to a very low amount and it was considered for closure on several occasions. Before this happened one of the station's platforms was permanently closed in 1917 and from the early 1960s the station only operated during peak hours. It was eventually closed in 1994 when the cost of repairing the beautiful Edwardian lifts and bringing them up to modern safety standards proved too expensive to justify when compared to the low passenger numbers passing through the station. Those lifts are now no longer operational so the only way to get down to platform level and back up to street level is via 160 steps (something to keep in mind if you're thinking of joining a tour).</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICNYNRjAdQAWGHL9snt6tHF9xpmhxhEnZePLcppkN4ooVPxW5N_H1vb8wRMqmom4VTpDpuUAmkWY5UP8HCWly00Jm3hsxjDY3-QTRLHF6v9mcPVi9MBT6aFgY5BVVHwT4BNvgunz8VWCe4KxW-NtrCj1YpgwCKOPTjYooNEf34RbJpoB71KMI2_jS8Q/s4032/IMG_7383.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICNYNRjAdQAWGHL9snt6tHF9xpmhxhEnZePLcppkN4ooVPxW5N_H1vb8wRMqmom4VTpDpuUAmkWY5UP8HCWly00Jm3hsxjDY3-QTRLHF6v9mcPVi9MBT6aFgY5BVVHwT4BNvgunz8VWCe4KxW-NtrCj1YpgwCKOPTjYooNEf34RbJpoB71KMI2_jS8Q/w480-h640/IMG_7383.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Looking into one of the two lifts</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86u3m5E_YK398GNVHmr5JGhJQagSs3C_Rj85O8Ln4h8bNuwOLDlhQUGjktaz_CsQx1mBi1SO4eWy7JE0G66dEJQmdGakvQLRuKfXhwJhOsiso9-ATsUlPXIgbP3EkBvwmIHchvLaNYbGKtgwEYOsFiiVt24n9ZcAWkHfvvL1FQ9zpDqIJNr3AyU7N3w/s4032/IMG_7384.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86u3m5E_YK398GNVHmr5JGhJQagSs3C_Rj85O8Ln4h8bNuwOLDlhQUGjktaz_CsQx1mBi1SO4eWy7JE0G66dEJQmdGakvQLRuKfXhwJhOsiso9-ATsUlPXIgbP3EkBvwmIHchvLaNYbGKtgwEYOsFiiVt24n9ZcAWkHfvvL1FQ9zpDqIJNr3AyU7N3w/w480-h640/IMG_7384.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>One of the never used lift shafts, later used by The Prodigy in their Firestarter video</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Whilst the station may not have seen huge footfall during its time as an open passenger station it has been used for a range of other things, both when it was in use and since it was closed. It was used during both the First and the Second World Wars, during the First to shelter artworks from London galleries and museums and for the same purpose in the Second World War as well as being used as a bomb shelter. Perhaps not surprisingly the station and platforms have also been used in various TV programmes and movies as well as in The Prodigy's Firestarter video (take a look at the photo of the unused lift shaft above and then watch the music video again). Evidence of its many different guises in these movies etc. can be seen with mocked up posters dotted around the platform and even a fake roundel sign saying Whitechapel. A few of the posters I particularly liked can be seen in photos below. Alongside this the station has also been regularly used since to test various prototypes etc. ahead of them being rolled out across the network, evidence of which can also be seen around the station.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkR3xzGccoCsbeMhs2bJ4iGEkwiqqR46mglwQPd1MoIvFwP0a49ODmuwbM9pzhoB2VIUup0eaQJ0D9bGos1spCNKNXLzOWv0RjXUPC7SmbpmSFQDfWzsekBbRepxDvtLcTYYylBngzy5VbetA7v8py-PW4fx2DDilSOMM8jwr8C7G2brO5VQZXP2zuA/s4032/IMG_7385.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkR3xzGccoCsbeMhs2bJ4iGEkwiqqR46mglwQPd1MoIvFwP0a49ODmuwbM9pzhoB2VIUup0eaQJ0D9bGos1spCNKNXLzOWv0RjXUPC7SmbpmSFQDfWzsekBbRepxDvtLcTYYylBngzy5VbetA7v8py-PW4fx2DDilSOMM8jwr8C7G2brO5VQZXP2zuA/w480-h640/IMG_7385.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxzHWSds4Xuq-_2Il83gIUBBb1v8Oz16WPgbpt27U2jmWRCxk0rfLi-8c2-117ebiGC7dYqgUxPIlofChTrCOXJmWfX8XdgaIOO9FAhWxph7kihRMI5dly0gL6ecDoZNuuCAhsI8vUELodL8VSsic809mB4qtx6pC04dhQmzOf0amcgqUnfxKWc-gLA/s4032/IMG_7391.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxzHWSds4Xuq-_2Il83gIUBBb1v8Oz16WPgbpt27U2jmWRCxk0rfLi-8c2-117ebiGC7dYqgUxPIlofChTrCOXJmWfX8XdgaIOO9FAhWxph7kihRMI5dly0gL6ecDoZNuuCAhsI8vUELodL8VSsic809mB4qtx6pC04dhQmzOf0amcgqUnfxKWc-gLA/w480-h640/IMG_7391.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Above and below shows the platform and track that was closed in 1917. The track below is original and is the oldest surviving track on the Underground network.</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLlwbZ1xOoqIziK4EsYTX9IMjwb_-OXpFnXlrPBb58BnDFvGhx-WvzeOvEtm_gsCQ-X24BNY0jBkV7r8EEkfflZpEgSBO993lzlA8wfEonlTAE3cuFaGHwKbfd-aZ5zJghpl5z1PGYOlmzS0dat2OTJOj1rngz6fjdvjc2o9wnefR9t803N-iXTkJ4g/s4032/IMG_7393.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLlwbZ1xOoqIziK4EsYTX9IMjwb_-OXpFnXlrPBb58BnDFvGhx-WvzeOvEtm_gsCQ-X24BNY0jBkV7r8EEkfflZpEgSBO993lzlA8wfEonlTAE3cuFaGHwKbfd-aZ5zJghpl5z1PGYOlmzS0dat2OTJOj1rngz6fjdvjc2o9wnefR9t803N-iXTkJ4g/w480-h640/IMG_7393.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wrMUiwm6-KoXSlWZK0_IsR5xrFA6Xs2xTafLogVMpspszB21xE7bSscyMkeUspYbt-9DX5xY5PBMwMnRY_clXc53_dDR0kiGe3_f0_gl9ffgb6dctAjPKLJEdNRZpmDfkeUKRglTp6vRjMpq9vphO9ewqxGqTKmcZOLAGGaE2uMNvSNDSNv1Ity7_g/s4032/IMG_7398.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wrMUiwm6-KoXSlWZK0_IsR5xrFA6Xs2xTafLogVMpspszB21xE7bSscyMkeUspYbt-9DX5xY5PBMwMnRY_clXc53_dDR0kiGe3_f0_gl9ffgb6dctAjPKLJEdNRZpmDfkeUKRglTp6vRjMpq9vphO9ewqxGqTKmcZOLAGGaE2uMNvSNDSNv1Ity7_g/w480-h640/IMG_7398.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Above and below photos are of the platform used up until the station closed in 1994. This looks much more like we know Underground stations to look like with the coloured ceiling tiling and the more modern tracks. If you look beyond the painted section in the photo above however you can also see a part that remained undecorated, as a way of cost cutting, because the station only needed to accommodate short trains due to the low passenger numbers.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P0hvS3_BNMZqlI0TVJAUqmqQS60bLMCt06XCgDjBM3LhA89dO1Zmd6cKd-r7S4GwssM_n6uJSh6aAXJyAfJgqZ6MLaNiyw2fDe90SlWEuMa9ZxMyIgsksM5Jw1esQBCkJXEUu2ptgpMpnaeAgZhDPEQbo4NrP6FJt2b0BaP5Lz4ROU-eRPOc3wRdTg/s4032/IMG_7400.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P0hvS3_BNMZqlI0TVJAUqmqQS60bLMCt06XCgDjBM3LhA89dO1Zmd6cKd-r7S4GwssM_n6uJSh6aAXJyAfJgqZ6MLaNiyw2fDe90SlWEuMa9ZxMyIgsksM5Jw1esQBCkJXEUu2ptgpMpnaeAgZhDPEQbo4NrP6FJt2b0BaP5Lz4ROU-eRPOc3wRdTg/w480-h640/IMG_7400.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQsOSUen845fikKB0ZJgp-1iULfBwI3F9id1EIld9XoYhirGVm0fXjleoWJd4gK8f3Gbn_vijS-EKMDWI5kKYIXEbaO7mx0I17n4D97gJ65s2T3kWJ7vd2MCc4ZhTE8o6-1k05eWwZUnPxjc7v92MlABd54etsoIibVrtAnYEzWfXCJ8BMPcAIW0_rw/w640-h480/IMG_7402.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSYa11wJIPCj9A8TdjzjPez3VtnwfRZJzraSQkeDSiwjDcxlS_tXIbmVkv5SrIr3iS5uCm279TGkkDb3-OX8ucZom4ib6FGY29Q4iMPR78g-cNm4_QITWz_fnkm2gXR9lJcFB1FgaH4JAAmuNRho_eVHlkC5Uziz6QTRYdIopvC6jMMSNxlzNhdtkog/s4032/IMG_7403.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSYa11wJIPCj9A8TdjzjPez3VtnwfRZJzraSQkeDSiwjDcxlS_tXIbmVkv5SrIr3iS5uCm279TGkkDb3-OX8ucZom4ib6FGY29Q4iMPR78g-cNm4_QITWz_fnkm2gXR9lJcFB1FgaH4JAAmuNRho_eVHlkC5Uziz6QTRYdIopvC6jMMSNxlzNhdtkog/w480-h640/IMG_7403.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDzwP_2-jbRrbHesQKHwKF_V1rqFdvKcCjooW2jI6v1xm2lisVxASup8ZAFn1HBVF9_uqsNIXQWpM6-lZzX3DXqBo8O95RxgckckOWlJBoebMvXw5v_5hWZhFtZloOaXfKmpTdaQD5qxqvum4VrhJCZqXDRy3w-XqErDJu8w9S4C8bh2d6QPlwwD7gw/s4032/IMG_7409.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDzwP_2-jbRrbHesQKHwKF_V1rqFdvKcCjooW2jI6v1xm2lisVxASup8ZAFn1HBVF9_uqsNIXQWpM6-lZzX3DXqBo8O95RxgckckOWlJBoebMvXw5v_5hWZhFtZloOaXfKmpTdaQD5qxqvum4VrhJCZqXDRy3w-XqErDJu8w9S4C8bh2d6QPlwwD7gw/w480-h640/IMG_7409.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I'm not going to give away too much more from the tour, you can, of course, find information online but to be honest joining a tour yourself is the best way to find out more about this place. The tour really was excellent and definitely lived up to all the hype I had built up about it in my head beforehand. If you have an interest in the London Underground, London history, modern history, 'abandoned' places etc. this is something you should definitely consider doing. The guides were very knowledgeable and clearly very passionate about their subject. The time down there flew past and I was genuinely disappointed when it finished. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><a href="https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london" target="_blank">Hidden London</a> offer a number of other tours as well as the Aldwych tour and I would definitely like to go on another if I can at some stage. A word of warning that the tours do seem very popular and only have limited numbers, I was disappointed several times before I managed to secure spots. You can sign up for their e-newsletter which gives you an exclusive booking window when new tour dates are announced and before tickets go on general sale and I would recommend you sign up and take advantage of that if you want to be sure of securing a place.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Surrey St, London, UK51.5119145 -0.115343723.201680663821158 -35.2715937 79.822148336178856 35.0409063tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-52447601709035696902022-07-21T10:48:00.000+00:002022-07-21T10:48:11.676+00:00New York, New York<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">After our visit to the <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2022/04/the-high-line-new-york.html" target="_blank">High Line</a> the rest of our weekend away in New York was equally as touristy, well what else would you do when it's your husband's first visit and your first opportunity to travel overseas in just over two years. Given that we went in December (yes I know just how long it has taken me to actually write this) and we packed so much in I'm not sure I could ever do it all justice now so I'm taking the easy option and making this post mainly photo laden and minimal on text. I promise I will try and do better in the future, but for now, over to you New York! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">New York is a city that is great for walking around, we did a lot and as with any city there is plenty of street art to enjoy as you explore. This lady (along with a few others) really caught my eye and I'm sure if we'd been there for longer I would have spotted even more.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixalpt4S6r32P89eH4Vo4hHdV8VrJLmMAlClg2YC7u_dpgQoNfu76vLFt3V_KzOSK6qqsLs6U3Z0v1n3XFGc-mQmu0ysp6DySa-ZFVw6kCh-0KxbrYJvtW5UJ8L9i_HjuOwIUHfvCIVkyOlFpAnTPxXIBDT7EdT_a1cpbQ_L4yjuRDAuKbuciYRkzyJw/s4032/IMG_5828.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixalpt4S6r32P89eH4Vo4hHdV8VrJLmMAlClg2YC7u_dpgQoNfu76vLFt3V_KzOSK6qqsLs6U3Z0v1n3XFGc-mQmu0ysp6DySa-ZFVw6kCh-0KxbrYJvtW5UJ8L9i_HjuOwIUHfvCIVkyOlFpAnTPxXIBDT7EdT_a1cpbQ_L4yjuRDAuKbuciYRkzyJw/w480-h640/IMG_5828.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc3U1syuJ0m58JLNa4akt2jNgYOWrHL7-ACR67zRIjrGlCApeCd6Zei4BI1_uD9raAKY8epeYeGSJIgeKRL7EiR2RbyURzg7YTIfrynReNZjpGjAtgLk_byXF-0-nKKAmgyTVM7UOJzOUU1d8Yo6-rE-R0ZDRd4hXtoPZ-Klzkp1K9H5SEQRWWBq-Mw/s4032/IMG_5840.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc3U1syuJ0m58JLNa4akt2jNgYOWrHL7-ACR67zRIjrGlCApeCd6Zei4BI1_uD9raAKY8epeYeGSJIgeKRL7EiR2RbyURzg7YTIfrynReNZjpGjAtgLk_byXF-0-nKKAmgyTVM7UOJzOUU1d8Yo6-rE-R0ZDRd4hXtoPZ-Klzkp1K9H5SEQRWWBq-Mw/w640-h480/IMG_5840.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Grand Central Terminal</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWcZ7lOvVIcoc46OMsoUhcvmD2SRcS4epeL0-PenMqt95OQkhRrUTW10I5K6irMykkPLN-V5sbh7Uvva7ElyBcPecl258WD1IzhRoOUYBTU80b-2LkHW3N6phDRgsII-lWQoOF0XqutktCOzsfYErVw2wwmWxQMXG_3CljaRJrUyw2ezXU6jUJN7Fgw/s4032/IMG_5848.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWcZ7lOvVIcoc46OMsoUhcvmD2SRcS4epeL0-PenMqt95OQkhRrUTW10I5K6irMykkPLN-V5sbh7Uvva7ElyBcPecl258WD1IzhRoOUYBTU80b-2LkHW3N6phDRgsII-lWQoOF0XqutktCOzsfYErVw2wwmWxQMXG_3CljaRJrUyw2ezXU6jUJN7Fgw/w480-h640/IMG_5848.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Times Square</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiImB-tKKYCazTTF7O10qRgqZSFFuJOPQf1MtHqzBgkw5h7drRKOsHif4sanVR9Qhy7gnC2-buKmyX0kzABfjmuIDUGN7cZha29h6fF2vugUb3M8aHH81q7SEEVasesLWwINRHzz3XqZza1e3ChgMwJaNZpFY3w66xpM4OMLhkjwMW_CpqLPvWnZDHNg/s4032/IMG_5871.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiImB-tKKYCazTTF7O10qRgqZSFFuJOPQf1MtHqzBgkw5h7drRKOsHif4sanVR9Qhy7gnC2-buKmyX0kzABfjmuIDUGN7cZha29h6fF2vugUb3M8aHH81q7SEEVasesLWwINRHzz3XqZza1e3ChgMwJaNZpFY3w66xpM4OMLhkjwMW_CpqLPvWnZDHNg/w480-h640/IMG_5871.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8saGcNFiE9NnVDt1TxcFgff6g01pz0YEisQztncm9eAXcTk7nOh7kjo4DiUKtADEXhVJObpdS_QwJ_ANaQWPQBoILj9osyPwqxo7j84iieoTU8HeG2y-sVq2rbSlo8IHTDPfnvTjeaL0lFbyavoA1CNL3yrTZYV0PYww7IVb0fMb2P4KMd0dB77om3g/s4032/IMG_5876.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8saGcNFiE9NnVDt1TxcFgff6g01pz0YEisQztncm9eAXcTk7nOh7kjo4DiUKtADEXhVJObpdS_QwJ_ANaQWPQBoILj9osyPwqxo7j84iieoTU8HeG2y-sVq2rbSlo8IHTDPfnvTjeaL0lFbyavoA1CNL3yrTZYV0PYww7IVb0fMb2P4KMd0dB77om3g/w480-h640/IMG_5876.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6uZHz_MHnqVivj-0N2dZHQ_sZ6UkKA9xAnGm88na0vnJMKL5aFFdq_b2P-UDL-mdO78I1psQuZ7EdTB7ssEp22M2606faomWKUy9iLM_IwRhTGheH48Woo4E-pX8uWqgm-9_gOsPtARqKV2VpwSop4O-X3OMap2ZObC2o-ufNTAVgQFhbUkjtSXUgg/s4032/IMG_5854.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6uZHz_MHnqVivj-0N2dZHQ_sZ6UkKA9xAnGm88na0vnJMKL5aFFdq_b2P-UDL-mdO78I1psQuZ7EdTB7ssEp22M2606faomWKUy9iLM_IwRhTGheH48Woo4E-pX8uWqgm-9_gOsPtARqKV2VpwSop4O-X3OMap2ZObC2o-ufNTAVgQFhbUkjtSXUgg/w640-h480/IMG_5854.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Central Park</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">When I visited New York the first time it was the February before 9/11. I remember so clearly the day that my friend and I visited the World Trade Center on that trip. From our hotel we decide to take one of the iconic yellow cabs there and we were driven by a feisty New York lady who had loads of recommendations for us. When we arrived we took the lift up and enjoyed the views from the observation deck level along with the other tourists there that day. This was in the days before cameras on phones were really a thing and before I had even upgraded to a digital camera so I had to wait until I got home to get my photos developed in order to see how they looked. Luckily though I got some good ones and those are memories that I now hold especially dear. So when we returned I knew we had to go to Ground Zero. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">It's a truly humbling experience seeing the names of everyone who died that day and also in the bombing of 1993. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">I was especially struck by the name of one lady who was remembered alongside her unborn child, so tragic.</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> The white roses that are left for those whose birthday it is each day are another poignant reminder of the lives cut short and you can't help but be moved. As I looked at the names of everyone who died I thought about what they might have been doing that February day when I'd been here last, maybe I had past some of them as we entered or left the towers or maybe they or I had held a door and there had been a brief acknowledgement of each other. Our visit here certainly made me reflect again on the tragic events of that September day and the memorial that is now here is a beautifully peaceful tribute.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFe_pyWLgqkN4Mc84xoX4VmQptLcRoYrOZQXTbXuKgthpZLLriikcIqqZLTMJ0t-fb0rFThLpk5OISPorbxNBQV32E4OzAwjjTgOmCafhjOASLBQNasQhzE_oFNvTkfltO4Hd0txYk4khkr3bFwF1V8w6RuKQvda7nFIrhI5-iwErLfEnKNDzDFmDaA/s4032/IMG_5892.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFe_pyWLgqkN4Mc84xoX4VmQptLcRoYrOZQXTbXuKgthpZLLriikcIqqZLTMJ0t-fb0rFThLpk5OISPorbxNBQV32E4OzAwjjTgOmCafhjOASLBQNasQhzE_oFNvTkfltO4Hd0txYk4khkr3bFwF1V8w6RuKQvda7nFIrhI5-iwErLfEnKNDzDFmDaA/w640-h480/IMG_5892.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0zaMbI9JvNCi4YYWSOqn0_cqAzupyreo0fxvNQPisWyB_flY9VRfeAm9nhrvthJCu_sW7kXADa6fHtrGbzNh99aegV34AvpDc18xfOVKGWqn3bj1OTkpPBw1MhmEVNPeGNL4Jpgl5pCMJnpNy9plhlN7Q346xS-5WukyqJwvxYMPCTszBRWIpEXb-g/s4032/IMG_5899.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0zaMbI9JvNCi4YYWSOqn0_cqAzupyreo0fxvNQPisWyB_flY9VRfeAm9nhrvthJCu_sW7kXADa6fHtrGbzNh99aegV34AvpDc18xfOVKGWqn3bj1OTkpPBw1MhmEVNPeGNL4Jpgl5pCMJnpNy9plhlN7Q346xS-5WukyqJwvxYMPCTszBRWIpEXb-g/w480-h640/IMG_5899.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FvhLGQxst1VzOJXu9pLfnapFbjYTnKRUr8nWIluXTSM0Qnhi8P1sECNmRswLHnGnacvqR04a11gO7PMsSCwRplNAsDfne2PiMLCbAHI8imqniPlaz_eo7lXe1c4oxRS_OM8bVnjgxqc3HzJL988riaaaK7Sz7KA07mrY51X1jznEC-7x8BtiWC_NMg/s4032/IMG_5908.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FvhLGQxst1VzOJXu9pLfnapFbjYTnKRUr8nWIluXTSM0Qnhi8P1sECNmRswLHnGnacvqR04a11gO7PMsSCwRplNAsDfne2PiMLCbAHI8imqniPlaz_eo7lXe1c4oxRS_OM8bVnjgxqc3HzJL988riaaaK7Sz7KA07mrY51X1jznEC-7x8BtiWC_NMg/w640-h480/IMG_5908.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>'Charging Bull' Sculpture</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAlOLShh3bploMkzfUxMid4Yc01KeFu_j3YE_LtIhYRfDTndXTnbVZP9KuHzfV1ZbKSvYDal4q11yJQVJsRRla0IajtWgND1S14zbEt8MUu63qiq_HlU6ZGnDQAatTZUrl4EooALkS4R-Y_OvI4BNB7XaWgTgZ4Alw18ip-XTlttWuEagZypVtPmy9Q/s4032/IMG_5924.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAlOLShh3bploMkzfUxMid4Yc01KeFu_j3YE_LtIhYRfDTndXTnbVZP9KuHzfV1ZbKSvYDal4q11yJQVJsRRla0IajtWgND1S14zbEt8MUu63qiq_HlU6ZGnDQAatTZUrl4EooALkS4R-Y_OvI4BNB7XaWgTgZ4Alw18ip-XTlttWuEagZypVtPmy9Q/w640-h480/IMG_5924.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Brooklyn bridge</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">On our first night (read we'd landed, dumped our bags in our hotel and found a bar nearby for a nightcap) we got chatting with some people on another table who were regular visitors to the city. Naturally we got talking about our trip and what we planned to do and it was they who recommended a visit to the 'Top of the Rock' observation deck in the Rockefeller Center as opposed to going to the Empire State Building (which I did the last time I was there). Obviously not being in the Empire State Building means you get the bonus of the views of it with Manhattan stretching out beyond. They also recommended, and trust me this is so worth it, that we got the express passes meaning you get priority entry and elevator access. Trust me, when you're battling the crowds to get up there for sunset you're going to really appreciate spending that bit extra on tickets to be able to skip the queues.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Getting those passes ensured we got up to the top in plenty of time for sunset and were able to really enjoy the views over the city. When you're ready to leave you also get priority access to the elevators to go back down again. The queues were nowhere near as bad going down obviously but it was still nice not to have to queue at the end of the evening.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJl1YUUV-s5yKwEN8LzuKspjihtdstdNE6pj5CNhSDpBeX-C3C3I74vpk-EB-PxJd1lgCIpFDRiM6aG_w4VqXQ_V5GWV3H8rAyfMTNDliaB7S5skXlGPsoTWFlhEYjACC6udUwjDsoj1Sm_Xj7os3JhRCWGK-rvKxwPBP0PL7UBhZraybnN6swXt2_8Q/s4032/IMG_5948.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJl1YUUV-s5yKwEN8LzuKspjihtdstdNE6pj5CNhSDpBeX-C3C3I74vpk-EB-PxJd1lgCIpFDRiM6aG_w4VqXQ_V5GWV3H8rAyfMTNDliaB7S5skXlGPsoTWFlhEYjACC6udUwjDsoj1Sm_Xj7os3JhRCWGK-rvKxwPBP0PL7UBhZraybnN6swXt2_8Q/w480-h640/IMG_5948.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtN5nUlSFoZfrnURige0FodIotwUHtk3W0HQdjGd5LxlxBCIxlifx6wlJW4rd8Q2LoeGIuaNnw9XpqpHcV0RviWG8E5OXzm-Rxx9b2I16YpZVZQRhyS6cyVMdQOPi1TbtoC2lO1vo2h7j6MuCWgpVfN3XfNJZeEuYZ4wIaHHwe2MvNcE3SdOLzrcuU_Q/s4032/IMG_5944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtN5nUlSFoZfrnURige0FodIotwUHtk3W0HQdjGd5LxlxBCIxlifx6wlJW4rd8Q2LoeGIuaNnw9XpqpHcV0RviWG8E5OXzm-Rxx9b2I16YpZVZQRhyS6cyVMdQOPi1TbtoC2lO1vo2h7j6MuCWgpVfN3XfNJZeEuYZ4wIaHHwe2MvNcE3SdOLzrcuU_Q/w480-h640/IMG_5944.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymOSkiSYgRYRLNUDcskSqafosDIAE4DoJxcLIZ18Z3uR2dIApZCj-CZWZ4RA2TzwCrYjkyXqUoBoRZsTzNMr5WYaFsm6PBle4tZUPcuDh7DMbLsNwAQruyr19KpUyFeHt0vEYU9FnN1cgGsGt4L0V3pWHmqTTxw8hFg1TQOzNubpBYaYJd0QYyWgUjQ/s4032/IMG_5951.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymOSkiSYgRYRLNUDcskSqafosDIAE4DoJxcLIZ18Z3uR2dIApZCj-CZWZ4RA2TzwCrYjkyXqUoBoRZsTzNMr5WYaFsm6PBle4tZUPcuDh7DMbLsNwAQruyr19KpUyFeHt0vEYU9FnN1cgGsGt4L0V3pWHmqTTxw8hFg1TQOzNubpBYaYJd0QYyWgUjQ/w640-h480/IMG_5951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmir8woG50wBk2-77fX7M2jc5U2SyllTkBlzJKM-jsaNLMpPLlPzyamANPfZ_5zJstLHyceXU7_bQjyW6kWqx1G5VtXlhvs10ALSu4pKNTFaSvzV0geOdahT1U7dJN81KbKkXKEhGjJ7C7O9xAQcvJAH65Yc6_E-iMXjhRw8UzOE4-qJBieYOT5dWGTQ/s4032/IMG_5957.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmir8woG50wBk2-77fX7M2jc5U2SyllTkBlzJKM-jsaNLMpPLlPzyamANPfZ_5zJstLHyceXU7_bQjyW6kWqx1G5VtXlhvs10ALSu4pKNTFaSvzV0geOdahT1U7dJN81KbKkXKEhGjJ7C7O9xAQcvJAH65Yc6_E-iMXjhRw8UzOE4-qJBieYOT5dWGTQ/w480-h640/IMG_5957.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRZo7uO8PELUxh6SgE5CW_sHtrLjUZsGeNXDEXE5uoq8JTxKEf9Tjjuhs_ynO9lBcj4KMpPX02J8minEfzUzsxpSEDkkm-SQJVGjiE2t6qqUPB_c2nhWjw22qSvaCN5RpkTZrvPVBhGQ02lNLegWFTYvbmNRYlIdGjcaiY0Rx99UvqwkFS21zKoazqA/s4032/IMG_5963.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRZo7uO8PELUxh6SgE5CW_sHtrLjUZsGeNXDEXE5uoq8JTxKEf9Tjjuhs_ynO9lBcj4KMpPX02J8minEfzUzsxpSEDkkm-SQJVGjiE2t6qqUPB_c2nhWjw22qSvaCN5RpkTZrvPVBhGQ02lNLegWFTYvbmNRYlIdGjcaiY0Rx99UvqwkFS21zKoazqA/w480-h640/IMG_5963.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhzCuIykTu8BWkK_I4byyzzUpiHljjmZlZQevJIajRoxWEUV1_miSGP5GQfv2gz37Bqk7MIxSR8fCv8qmowbQ8XOuttcnYHaeOxwRbuTPwOOO4-sax78z64Xq70p0J_bBd7nNzs83Y9APv9gidzEhwPqj11P1BZZLuoCowBjoAh_7_mg_rt769Q3dwg/s4032/IMG_5987.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhzCuIykTu8BWkK_I4byyzzUpiHljjmZlZQevJIajRoxWEUV1_miSGP5GQfv2gz37Bqk7MIxSR8fCv8qmowbQ8XOuttcnYHaeOxwRbuTPwOOO4-sax78z64Xq70p0J_bBd7nNzs83Y9APv9gidzEhwPqj11P1BZZLuoCowBjoAh_7_mg_rt769Q3dwg/w480-h640/IMG_5987.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Another great tip to get views of the Statue of Liberty without actually going to Liberty Island is to simply take the Staten Island ferry out to Staten Island and back again. Amazingly this ferry is completely free (even to tourists) and you can simply turn up, catch the next available one, travel the short distance to the island, then hop off and walk through the terminal building to board the next ferry going back. On the day we did this I think pretty much everyone onboard was doing exactly the same as us, you could spot the handful of locals as they were the only ones not standing on the deck with their camera or phone ready to get a photo. The ferry staff even came round to tell anyone on the wrong side of the ferry to go to the other side for the views. It amazes me that there isn't even a nominal charge for tourists, but this is definitely a great way to get views and photos.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrT2jrmyn0GwbKb3s5nhPp0_WBdgmGinkO5C0F2dyoGP3gW5RrG54tdFvKN0XC9vSxQ6GYK2QPevMQtiRtnLpJHOETtsqbdutBak9ZF-pcP2lEaoLAdbxE6x2mmQ_CdPZvEhwFZhClRLg8_qoPiq3HVxxsbXJWeCfQX5tR0Oo4CU7VrFDP22QRG8lzw/s4032/IMG_5993.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrT2jrmyn0GwbKb3s5nhPp0_WBdgmGinkO5C0F2dyoGP3gW5RrG54tdFvKN0XC9vSxQ6GYK2QPevMQtiRtnLpJHOETtsqbdutBak9ZF-pcP2lEaoLAdbxE6x2mmQ_CdPZvEhwFZhClRLg8_qoPiq3HVxxsbXJWeCfQX5tR0Oo4CU7VrFDP22QRG8lzw/w640-h480/IMG_5993.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IEXmWnE8HpmFwCxJ8P-pV2iRrWJPeMqSPO_M5qN47L4muFboGSBsRDuQiqRE6bE8q5cor7Q2tAA9lfadUW-PpVgOtZ4oYVMHVcm-onfPW55QrXMjyyJWygA_hOJaO1EO73Yu4S9cpWzrvV74u-vx6AL3GB-ufVNeHQ7X4iHPGrd3ZkwZS11PB3uvGw/s4032/IMG_6002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IEXmWnE8HpmFwCxJ8P-pV2iRrWJPeMqSPO_M5qN47L4muFboGSBsRDuQiqRE6bE8q5cor7Q2tAA9lfadUW-PpVgOtZ4oYVMHVcm-onfPW55QrXMjyyJWygA_hOJaO1EO73Yu4S9cpWzrvV74u-vx6AL3GB-ufVNeHQ7X4iHPGrd3ZkwZS11PB3uvGw/w480-h640/IMG_6002.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">My return visit to New York was certainly very touristy but this more than made up for my first visit where although we did loads too I unfortunately got sick for part of the holiday so I wasn't really able to enjoy myself as much as I had hoped. This was one of the reasons why I'd always hoped I'd have the opportunity to go back at some point. Plus that was a considerable time ago so even without getting ill my memories of certain places etc. were now very vague. We fitted a lot in over our few days but there is definitely a lot more we could have done. Would I go back again? Of course I would!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972814.384961135082357 -109.1622228 67.040589464917645 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-79234842585113987162022-04-19T17:47:00.000+00:002022-04-19T17:47:29.546+00:00The High Line, New York<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I mentioned in my <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2022/01/a-brief-stay-in-bristol.html" target="_blank">blog post about our visit to Bristol</a> that we had been able to travel overseas last December, the first time since before Covid, managing to enjoy a long weekend in New York. Since then and depending on where you're going from and too in a lot of instances things have got a lot easier travel wise but I would still advise that you check the latest Covid related requirements thoroughly for the country you're travelling to well before you go. We went to New York just as the Omicron variant was taking hold so spent a nervous few days beforehand wondering if we would get there as various countries began implementing additional travel restrictions again. In the few days while we were away, and as a result of Omicron, the UK Government introduced the requirement for lateral flow tests before travelling into the UK but despite having to unexpectedly organise that and the return paperwork that we already knew was required it was still relatively, and perhaps surprisingly, hassle free and really lovely after such a long travel hiatus.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">For our trip, and as we were flying with British Airways, we were able to use the VeriFLY app which actually made it super simple. I will mention again here that we travelled in December (yes I really am that behind in sharing about our trip) last year so I don't know what any current requirements or recommendations are so please do check before you go. I'd read mixed reviews online about the app and the hassle using it beforehand so we went prepared with all the documents saved separately on our phones as well. Though we didn't in the end have any hassle at either check in with using the app having these saved on our phones too was useful whilst we were in New York for proving our vaccine status at bars and restaurants etc.. As an app it was a bit clunky (at that time) but once we got all our documents uploaded on there it was reassuringly easy to check we had everything we needed for travel. The check in staff were also actively asking if we had used the app and so it made checking in both in London and New York a breeze, they just checked our app and checked us in. The only additional aspect, as I mentioned, was on the journey home where, because we had to get an unexpected lateral flow test for entry into the UK, we still had to show that separately as the app had not been updated to reflect that change. Saving that on our phones though meant we could just switch between the app and the saved document which really did not cause too much additional hassle for us.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">We arrived in New York in the evening and after a couple of drinks in a bar near our hotel and a good nights sleep the first thing we did on our first full day there was to go for a walk on the <a href="https://www.thehighline.org/" target="_blank">High Line</a>. The High Line walk was something I'd really wanted to do. I'd read about it, knew other people who had gone and so I really wanted to do it if I ever returned to New York. When we started making plans for our trip I was therefore immediately dropping hints about doing this.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">On the day we went the weather was perfect, sunshine, not too cold and most importantly dry. We were staying fairly centrally and so walked from our morning breakfast spot to the High Line joining it at the entrance closest to the Hudson Yards area meaning we could then walk the entire length of it at our leisure. By the way, if you aren't sure the High Line is an elevated park on a former railway line. So absolutely the type of thing I'm going to enjoy!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABAnFWk-9WNgA76_fxgFI2DEWO81FYxihqTkvpZu-2jhGVkZ5BSEXIvFs7Mj40ER8B4dUZC4x0sBfqZ-TI72-sUp3vYANuSmo-1e0VtikBuU9RA5IDhgLKlcFyG_RkSNn0dGZK1WFdSxmVB0P3Azto1dcsWjpIsK5sEjKb1drPX2UL70jYuzEPlLe_Q/s4032/IMG_5813.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABAnFWk-9WNgA76_fxgFI2DEWO81FYxihqTkvpZu-2jhGVkZ5BSEXIvFs7Mj40ER8B4dUZC4x0sBfqZ-TI72-sUp3vYANuSmo-1e0VtikBuU9RA5IDhgLKlcFyG_RkSNn0dGZK1WFdSxmVB0P3Azto1dcsWjpIsK5sEjKb1drPX2UL70jYuzEPlLe_Q/w640-h480/IMG_5813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The original railway running through this part of the city was at street level carrying freight trains delivering food and other commodities to lower Manhattan. H</span><span style="font-family: Lato;">owever this created dangerous conditions for pedestrians in the area with nearby Tenth Avenue acquiring the unfortunate nickname of 'Death Avenue' due to the high number of deaths caused by the trains. Initially men known as 'West Side Cowboys' were hired to patrol the area and warn pedestrians of oncoming trains by waving red flags, this actually continued until 1941 when the last stretch of street level track was removed. In the meantime as well the West Side Improvement project had also begun with the order to remove street-level crossings later leading to the idea of removing tracks from the streets and creating an elevated railway. The first train ran on the High Line, then known as the West Side Elevated Line, in 1933 becoming fully operational by 1934. It was designed to run through buildings meaning it could connect directly with the factories and warehouses in the area allowing trains to load and unload their goods in the buildings, reducing the need to disturb street traffic.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The use of trucks for the delivery of goods increased significantly from the 1950s onwards though and train use for this purpose subsequently dwindled. By the 1960s part of the High Line had been demolished and the decline continued throughout the 1970s with all train use on the line stopping in the 1980s. Perhaps not unsurprisingly then there were calls for the whole line to be demolished but in the early '80s other ideas were also growing for how this disused space could potentially be used and the West Side Rail Line Development Foundation was formed to preserve the structure. Despite this the High Line's fortunes rose and fell in subsequent years and it still faced the prospect of demolition but others continued to see the beauty in the place and how nature had claimed it back for herself and the Friends of the High Line, a non-profit conservancy advocating for its preservation and reuse as a public space was formed. Shortly afterwards a competition was held inviting ideas for what could be done with the space which helped to drive more interest and awareness of the place and in 2009 the first section of the High Line opened to the public. It's now a continuous 1.45 mile greenway filled with plants and trees and is a fantastic use of this once abandoned unloved space. Perhaps the only small negative is that due to what it was originally used for parts of the path can get a little congested with visitors as there are several narrow parts, but if you can cope with that I think it's hard to find much else bad to say about it. Have you been?</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BaI6jsPrI1PiQjnvYE7RZN1wIRKh_dqevAGWlRCChGHZtkoquu-cL63Djz6l2jhBDo1fHScfSO5nzQbciO7wMdMjTsLDA8vVh5WJ5MTzrxErefNTVjWnWlhEJ_i4PMJQsV_mR9OzIYkiJIv-XdQbVHSEa2yBm8CNGHDzwk35ywDDvVGhuHR12sXfBQ/s4032/IMG_5805.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BaI6jsPrI1PiQjnvYE7RZN1wIRKh_dqevAGWlRCChGHZtkoquu-cL63Djz6l2jhBDo1fHScfSO5nzQbciO7wMdMjTsLDA8vVh5WJ5MTzrxErefNTVjWnWlhEJ_i4PMJQsV_mR9OzIYkiJIv-XdQbVHSEa2yBm8CNGHDzwk35ywDDvVGhuHR12sXfBQ/w640-h480/IMG_5805.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbuc0mf6NYrGR2RqCI4t3e1iwoEOmcfU3Bh7anQZRDHs0lvfTg0j04m8l4J_rvQ8FcQsvYgP8KJxvxXnlz1Gupc43PkNbNbcOHT1crMlXWN75BJedWku58IF3ZJ4e99f_u13-TzxGCmUIUgEEJ4Cv7RTl6Jfsu40P4aC2Idc6VC5uhPCoJbausd51Zw/s4032/IMG_5802.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbuc0mf6NYrGR2RqCI4t3e1iwoEOmcfU3Bh7anQZRDHs0lvfTg0j04m8l4J_rvQ8FcQsvYgP8KJxvxXnlz1Gupc43PkNbNbcOHT1crMlXWN75BJedWku58IF3ZJ4e99f_u13-TzxGCmUIUgEEJ4Cv7RTl6Jfsu40P4aC2Idc6VC5uhPCoJbausd51Zw/w480-h640/IMG_5802.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGoFbf5SsZ6J6TjscefsurJF-ODCtaKVjgypMdTEPGogyHR9YCJ0k4AXzT_io7jMVhLOkHLvjJEMN5Zvmh39XrvQUcgShLS07764YxqmUkDZY6L8GzCZOHIlwsrTvrYKDpXekEyc3w8Rjcr0KA4CsNYAk3fL-pdSjQWaC7pYlAxvlSl7iVKoxWoiIbg/s4032/IMG_5803.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGoFbf5SsZ6J6TjscefsurJF-ODCtaKVjgypMdTEPGogyHR9YCJ0k4AXzT_io7jMVhLOkHLvjJEMN5Zvmh39XrvQUcgShLS07764YxqmUkDZY6L8GzCZOHIlwsrTvrYKDpXekEyc3w8Rjcr0KA4CsNYAk3fL-pdSjQWaC7pYlAxvlSl7iVKoxWoiIbg/w640-h480/IMG_5803.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>One of the many art installations along the route</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBUkWBRax1zZTSzg8J5Fb91nLzJE7da24WrEeqWlWd2_9nZUUnm-sTtTXuXbWhKtQSiCfnWVcqIqNIneQ2oD7vd9pVTAGvY350h1Gypq_8bwCYcNtJkFV6aTF9yphtsZDe6AeySZaUxUEpPXcOYsMGajMiGvxtm6Y71aMFbPmMOg7cwvjno1mh688OQ/s4032/IMG_5807.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBUkWBRax1zZTSzg8J5Fb91nLzJE7da24WrEeqWlWd2_9nZUUnm-sTtTXuXbWhKtQSiCfnWVcqIqNIneQ2oD7vd9pVTAGvY350h1Gypq_8bwCYcNtJkFV6aTF9yphtsZDe6AeySZaUxUEpPXcOYsMGajMiGvxtm6Y71aMFbPmMOg7cwvjno1mh688OQ/w640-h480/IMG_5807.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYS2d1tw58i5iX3VeD5xiHx3Gxu5G19CYVVLmPSiUx17c3KDxis20IgH20b4FWZvt1oZ3ojLHh1rYb0OCdPCK7jOJsW0GCfubQzJ97HBcK05HZxPM2kvmf6XegzT0GDEW4-WbyEhgAmQvtM_T7u2a7MGVp9ciUNoIHH5tpjgxCuYGzHqSsNRXYxm1pA/s1600/bd4b8e15-791d-491c-b1ed-3f7fcd0aaff5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYS2d1tw58i5iX3VeD5xiHx3Gxu5G19CYVVLmPSiUx17c3KDxis20IgH20b4FWZvt1oZ3ojLHh1rYb0OCdPCK7jOJsW0GCfubQzJ97HBcK05HZxPM2kvmf6XegzT0GDEW4-WbyEhgAmQvtM_T7u2a7MGVp9ciUNoIHH5tpjgxCuYGzHqSsNRXYxm1pA/w480-h640/bd4b8e15-791d-491c-b1ed-3f7fcd0aaff5.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYiNS_1IMRXZlAnOS0wlkjOMuS0CiGliDyOIMcPnFAdWys74S2zdC0ONIDzZ81ILU8o0wnVKypXSHg-5_5RcAR79xlQhuljZbbcy9dgjcO95tnLkXWI1kPjv1WykHImJbcCvNScDnP1yF4y4zKoU8CdtOtRNd_zFShZZvIJoh-aD63J-GVOb3mIRsFA/s1600/885402bd-149e-4de0-9a37-d8f985c073ea.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYiNS_1IMRXZlAnOS0wlkjOMuS0CiGliDyOIMcPnFAdWys74S2zdC0ONIDzZ81ILU8o0wnVKypXSHg-5_5RcAR79xlQhuljZbbcy9dgjcO95tnLkXWI1kPjv1WykHImJbcCvNScDnP1yF4y4zKoU8CdtOtRNd_zFShZZvIJoh-aD63J-GVOb3mIRsFA/w480-h640/885402bd-149e-4de0-9a37-d8f985c073ea.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">As you can see from the few photos I've shared along the walk you'll pass through various neighbourhoods passing apartment blocks, various businesses and other buildings. Some of the apartments look like they've got great views and being so close to the High Line it was hard not to peer in at a few windows as we walked past. I'm going to admit here that I'm always on the look out for cat trees in windows or other evidence of pets etc. as well as admiring any décor I can see, anyone else? There are also several art installations dotted along the walk to enjoy too.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">After all that walking we needed some lunch before continuing with our day and decided to head to the <a href="https://www.chelseamarket.com/" target="_blank">Chelsea Market</a> (on a recommendation from a couple we got chatting to in the bar the previous evening) for a look and, most importantly, to get some food. The area where the market now is has a long association with food, the Algonquin Indians traded their game and crops on the Hudson river in this area and later the National Biscuit Company established its factory here, the building now being the home of the Chelsea Market. A quick walk around the market will leave you spoilt for choice as to what to eat and in the end we chose <a href="https://www.takumitaco.com/" target="_blank">Takumi Taco</a>, serving Japanese inspired Mexican food. We'd had a large breakfast so these tacos were just right for a light lunch to keep us going until dinner time. After that and another little wander around the market and its various stores it was time to head back towards where our hotel was and plan what we were going to do next.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30EIBtblYGb57DLI7aXzivRxJwhUjJlWcp6fygtH8RtW1Db-gF4BU_GY37i5k6RnyjQB4qcHoCFFTWOO2yuRy72lmcPArXu5m9Eeu0aXgSShM5OiSPkcZF1C-moTIEFaxLmmR6805hvvrLISFBUqv-04mkrxfL24bWWMpas10WKQu75pWx_6Jh6V2xA/s1122/25050db0-fa25-4a28-abd9-24a37558deb1.jpg%20edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1122" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30EIBtblYGb57DLI7aXzivRxJwhUjJlWcp6fygtH8RtW1Db-gF4BU_GY37i5k6RnyjQB4qcHoCFFTWOO2yuRy72lmcPArXu5m9Eeu0aXgSShM5OiSPkcZF1C-moTIEFaxLmmR6805hvvrLISFBUqv-04mkrxfL24bWWMpas10WKQu75pWx_6Jh6V2xA/w640-h456/25050db0-fa25-4a28-abd9-24a37558deb1.jpg%20edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0The High Line, New York, NY 10011, USA40.7479925 -74.004764912.437758663821157 -109.1610149 69.058226336178848 -38.8485149tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-55637665369701909712022-03-02T22:05:00.004+00:002022-03-02T22:05:50.595+00:00City of London Walk<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">You can't go wrong with a walk</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> on a cold, crisp, sunny winter day, so when a day off work aligned with that perfect weather I headed to the City of London to follow a self guided walk around just a few of its points of interest. If you aren't aware the City of London is a distinct area within London and is largely made up of what formed London from its settlement in Roman times up until the Middle Ages but, of course, the modern city has since grown far beyond this. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I more or less (I always seem to get a little lost somewhere whenever I follow any self guided walks) followed the Artful Lunchtime walk published in the book, <i>33 Walks in London That You Shouldn't Miss</i> by Nicola Perry. As you may have guessed from the title this book has thirty three walks from all around London, many with a specific theme. The book even recommends the best time of day or year to do the walk to get the most from it. We've followed a couple now and it's a good way to discover different parts of London. There are a whole load of books in this series for cities, areas and countries all over the world, we had an Edinburgh one which I used a lot when we lived there, and I've bought several London based ones with different themes since we moved back. You can find more information <a href="https://www.111places.com/" target="_blank">here</a> if you're interested in discovering some for yourself. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">First stop on this walk though was St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate, believed to have been the site of Christian worship since Roman times. The first known written record of a Saxon church on this site is from 1212. The church survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 but by the eighteenth century had fallen into disrepair and the decision was taken to build a new church which was completed in 1729. Walk a little further from here and you'll find a Turkish inspired Victorian bathhouse, perhaps not something you'd expect to find in the City of London! </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">Bathhouses like this though, enjoyed by both wealthy men and women, were once commonplace across London and the country. Though not in London I mentioned some public baths (the Bristol Lido) dating from around the same time in my post about our recent trip to </span><a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2022/01/a-brief-stay-in-bristol.html" style="font-family: Lato;" target="_blank">Bristol</a><span style="font-family: Lato;">.</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> These were introduced as a result of an Act passed in 1846 encouraging local authorities to build public baths and washhouses with the aim to improve public health in the nineteenth century.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Although there had been baths of one sort or another on this site for many years, the building we can see today dates from 1895. It closed as a bathhouse in 1954 and was restored in 2016 as a private hire venue, most of the space lies underground however with the building going down a further two floors. Unfortunately it's not accessible, unless you are attending an event there, but I think you have to agree it's a pretty lovely building from the outside and unlike any other you'll find in that area.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUWlkeCjZWYJOGFAiqDxi-0kXMtCa4yod_FO3ZNZPQkPpXk6yXRXPQUIVsJHjtwDVNz3bD9RdUZVkYXg6KQmZpCT7l4t2zoBArhqPYe51kewTGOZWjaYfFW5YY4IpurfRlsw-UBElD3qzcOlyN-dtcpiPhBzVaae1KaVdWMVdgaaXqpRe0zglnMnVtkg=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUWlkeCjZWYJOGFAiqDxi-0kXMtCa4yod_FO3ZNZPQkPpXk6yXRXPQUIVsJHjtwDVNz3bD9RdUZVkYXg6KQmZpCT7l4t2zoBArhqPYe51kewTGOZWjaYfFW5YY4IpurfRlsw-UBElD3qzcOlyN-dtcpiPhBzVaae1KaVdWMVdgaaXqpRe0zglnMnVtkg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjQDOj6swMGbmUqeuoTQaz3nF2BsRlKxtI0b_66wufZxiHLnEif_pJHm4jzV6yPa5yoeHiWJg8GjJmeelGEHzXgT1Wo3B0XCuLxKMgUQOJwTVeH9H6F0Lv0Sp91d9IIgC2BIYhTsnAcBUnMEaXcujgywpVvSYXRwuwxgcqJWWsQvbjV0zP12vEW3Mb-g=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjQDOj6swMGbmUqeuoTQaz3nF2BsRlKxtI0b_66wufZxiHLnEif_pJHm4jzV6yPa5yoeHiWJg8GjJmeelGEHzXgT1Wo3B0XCuLxKMgUQOJwTVeH9H6F0Lv0Sp91d9IIgC2BIYhTsnAcBUnMEaXcujgywpVvSYXRwuwxgcqJWWsQvbjV0zP12vEW3Mb-g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Turkish inspired Victorian bathhouse</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">My next stop was on London Wall, named because it runs along part of the old defensive wall first constructed by the Romans to protect the settlement of Londonium, where I was heading though was to All-Hallows-on-the-Wall. The present church was built in 1767, replacing an earlier one built in the 12th century. The original, although managing to escape destruction during the Great Fire of London due to its position under the wall, did unfortunately fall into dereliction.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc0JKBSe44xoEBlXdVTM880n0N1itvUBLqJZbVtrFUSOOjoC76u3-7KTAbuPA_hELEOXlXzqY5HVnfdscCdo4wbbn3dBO3f9kDiervTJBwzHLb2ujGGJS5trka_EhebmXH4kcNlurKqnRXj0jiHeeQmv2p0nI7b3CpdQ6cyUcVqPgDj9fnnNlfYO8qyw=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc0JKBSe44xoEBlXdVTM880n0N1itvUBLqJZbVtrFUSOOjoC76u3-7KTAbuPA_hELEOXlXzqY5HVnfdscCdo4wbbn3dBO3f9kDiervTJBwzHLb2ujGGJS5trka_EhebmXH4kcNlurKqnRXj0jiHeeQmv2p0nI7b3CpdQ6cyUcVqPgDj9fnnNlfYO8qyw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>All-Hallows-on-the-Wall</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">After leaving All-Hallows-on-the-Wall I managed to get a bit lost in the narrow passageways that the walk took me along so missed a little part of it but eventually got back on track finding my next church, St Ethelburga's. St Ethelburga's is one of the few surviving medieval churches in the City of London, most of them having been destroyed in the Great Fire of London. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Whilst its foundation date is unknown the first record of the church dates from 1250. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">The church was rebuilt in the 15th century with further additions added at various dates afterwards. Perhaps the most surprising being two shops at the front of the church which were used to raise revenue for it. These were eventually removed in 1932 with the widening of Bishopsgate and the original façade of the church was restored. It suffered minor bomb damage during the Blitz in the Second World War but far more severe damage following the explosion of an IRA bomb on Bishopsgate in 1993. There was a lot of disagreement about what should happen to the church as the bomb destroyed approximately 70% of the building. Demolition was considered but in the end, with the support of the then Bishop of London, the church was rebuilt to serve a new function and the Centre for Reconciliation and Peace was opened in 2002.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdhV_tWmpl_iAfqPRTmEvoN3LC01dHeJTC46Xy97yrWRVN5VeblSeKP18ZbCfrJrzh-OKXHcnxFGW2S4zx8hprv6LuPUD79peC8aNvFKzq46utYIvFl5xkLbCF6mER5rDNytJo7b6S_wUeWwMTymPThKNDLV91G9z8-vRkEE3fH7NxGvRs5RHtcLvcvw=s3953" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3953" data-original-width="2707" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdhV_tWmpl_iAfqPRTmEvoN3LC01dHeJTC46Xy97yrWRVN5VeblSeKP18ZbCfrJrzh-OKXHcnxFGW2S4zx8hprv6LuPUD79peC8aNvFKzq46utYIvFl5xkLbCF6mER5rDNytJo7b6S_wUeWwMTymPThKNDLV91G9z8-vRkEE3fH7NxGvRs5RHtcLvcvw=w438-h640" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>St Ethelburga's with the Gherkin looming above it</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">At this stage of the walk the Gherkin stands tall over many of the nearby smaller buildings and city's churches including my next stop, St Helen's Bishopsgate. The first mention of a church here is in the 12th century, though it is thought that a Roman or Saxon building may have stood here before that. In 1210 permission was given to establish a priory of Benedictine nuns and a nunnery was built alongside the existing church. The church was subsequently divided into two giving it the unusual feature of having two naves, one side for the nuns and the other for the parishioners. When the priory was dissolved as part of the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538 the nunnery was incorporated into the parish church and the screen separating it from the rest of the church was removed. It too is another church in the City of London that did survive the Great Fire of London.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWcnEppWy8l4pktCNgCTntr3euVkD0HinOg13XJ7KhYN7Q2faUewt--N-BVTaxovpJUH_FYvQ35z1kZgQ6lTiLdIqlhCGsWGxRES5--nPY26m6aIB27G8O2ZmsOo0jirJ6-TldPfHnvm0v588kk_T2G_bvrD_UPb_XIjdLgVU60l2cTN_iYW8rE19g6g=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWcnEppWy8l4pktCNgCTntr3euVkD0HinOg13XJ7KhYN7Q2faUewt--N-BVTaxovpJUH_FYvQ35z1kZgQ6lTiLdIqlhCGsWGxRES5--nPY26m6aIB27G8O2ZmsOo0jirJ6-TldPfHnvm0v588kk_T2G_bvrD_UPb_XIjdLgVU60l2cTN_iYW8rE19g6g=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>St Helen's Bishopsgate</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPf4Q3qDwv1yejlQtHah4VZ5NV-49OzFfTMoOGD31ey46zrWzUFsVKLsa62VJZCWhRNzTJjn5HPm5jGh47sbPgU6BFTmSZH4V8LxS9YiwtVlAZxaYcY16KgcFLjhZYUHfr5Q0fVmOpUq5up0DJgy3_l_h1prJD3aDrrK4esdKWyhA_cvCAwV6ZOEPEaQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPf4Q3qDwv1yejlQtHah4VZ5NV-49OzFfTMoOGD31ey46zrWzUFsVKLsa62VJZCWhRNzTJjn5HPm5jGh47sbPgU6BFTmSZH4V8LxS9YiwtVlAZxaYcY16KgcFLjhZYUHfr5Q0fVmOpUq5up0DJgy3_l_h1prJD3aDrrK4esdKWyhA_cvCAwV6ZOEPEaQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>The church of St Andrew Undershaft with the Gherkin behind it</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie2_Y-uputYgiWGXts4bqeZ7nPnb5ALpiIi_tYvh3Wni_5e-6sIN9IkP3PyyS_2FajhDROCCIAUG7TC94GVLnq6HIPx3wRuyivw3pXtems1TsHqgh29-4RWHmYtBVo8w43HJry1GIdHyUzGY_meXnUHwjdcMgeY0rZltpOADNlA4RsX-jizrdEyUqpbQ=s3775" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3775" data-original-width="2872" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie2_Y-uputYgiWGXts4bqeZ7nPnb5ALpiIi_tYvh3Wni_5e-6sIN9IkP3PyyS_2FajhDROCCIAUG7TC94GVLnq6HIPx3wRuyivw3pXtems1TsHqgh29-4RWHmYtBVo8w43HJry1GIdHyUzGY_meXnUHwjdcMgeY0rZltpOADNlA4RsX-jizrdEyUqpbQ=w486-h640" width="486" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>A peak en route into Leadenhall Market</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Passing the many modern buildings of the city and Leadenhall market my next stop was without doubt my favourite and was somewhere I've wanted to visit for a long time, the ruins and garden of St Dunstan-in-the-East. I apologise now for the photo spam of this particular spot on the walk but the light and autumn colours that day were just perfect. I could not have picked a better day to visit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyRo_2yE55Hrey1TRdju8NeyeYHTcAeQ8Bh9YFBf5RBz1iHJwb2Cu2GLPLaqjGyU_mWBSX5PolWnpRHJTX6_flMewju3z2yonfoOV0E1THohABh9KHO3h7B1mR2qATObFV6wnIQtFr9KBbJzSIGOTki1sLoRRWx4C49r1AX_k9cL8ufg7UnOVay-LCFQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyRo_2yE55Hrey1TRdju8NeyeYHTcAeQ8Bh9YFBf5RBz1iHJwb2Cu2GLPLaqjGyU_mWBSX5PolWnpRHJTX6_flMewju3z2yonfoOV0E1THohABh9KHO3h7B1mR2qATObFV6wnIQtFr9KBbJzSIGOTki1sLoRRWx4C49r1AX_k9cL8ufg7UnOVay-LCFQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Spotting The Shard</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Although, as I said, I was lucky to have gorgeous, if not cold, weather on my visit I'm pretty sure that even on the dankest of grey London days you could still find something beautiful about this place. Nature has entwined itself with the ruins in the most perfect way creating a real beauty spot. I'm pretty sure if I worked that way it would definitely be a spot I would find myself returning to time and again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The church was originally built in 1100 and was unfortunately severely damaged in the Great Fire of London. The church was not completely rebuilt following the fire but was instead patched up in the following years. A tower and steeple designed by Sir Christopher Wren was added between 1695 and 1701, built in the Gothic style to match the old church. In the early 19th century the church fell into disrepair and was rebuilt between 1817 and 1821. Disaster struck once again during the Blitz in 1941 leaving not much of the church standing beyond Wren's tower and steeple. After this it was decided not to rebuild St Dunstan's and in 1967 the City of London Corporation decided to turn it into a public garden which opened in 1971.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMQdGIoa-k0UsuxA1-8faa7xOd4tCZZYXAFN1U4hkcJBUOZZmPkhsHWZ4cwdtSrrHxt1Dvj-dFHKYlpAvKPqvLA3C8oramS4Q9YSJXmHHULrx8uFftUgTqZowddGhUKPalW1-t4W4Ivl3G8C76Xr37Obs0tlXM7jTHcHFw8W-Hm0b4qOMVyKH1ykI_bQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMQdGIoa-k0UsuxA1-8faa7xOd4tCZZYXAFN1U4hkcJBUOZZmPkhsHWZ4cwdtSrrHxt1Dvj-dFHKYlpAvKPqvLA3C8oramS4Q9YSJXmHHULrx8uFftUgTqZowddGhUKPalW1-t4W4Ivl3G8C76Xr37Obs0tlXM7jTHcHFw8W-Hm0b4qOMVyKH1ykI_bQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdbQrwy1ON_ehdfDhowI56qECWT0IDtkA8SP8IrvmsO0VV2wi24NOIFEhqFdH5c59wFiCEhRVv-zTdreW7LD5y-g0TshTJnNfSkOcs4Pus2qoPUZHVuj1gayXDeaE737EReFseImh_I-Viy5EepdPyrkchlfZ5J8NaZIB85aGvVLaEgpO430PKmV0egQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdbQrwy1ON_ehdfDhowI56qECWT0IDtkA8SP8IrvmsO0VV2wi24NOIFEhqFdH5c59wFiCEhRVv-zTdreW7LD5y-g0TshTJnNfSkOcs4Pus2qoPUZHVuj1gayXDeaE737EReFseImh_I-Viy5EepdPyrkchlfZ5J8NaZIB85aGvVLaEgpO430PKmV0egQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMi7lzmHjBVmfEhvhhEiHG5gdcDozkoOJV0J1ClAQuh-wdH5bqGFD8EGWWwxKHIplG5p_IydHkAd3WYHEiO9D6Bod8hAzLSePXTOe4iPO1ZVlL_83sNQnMZV0GvCbIXAbnfS10vYA3cPuHxCFvuonrpNDA2oi8X2jjE4krYXyf1CJnX5kv790dP_d3ow=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMi7lzmHjBVmfEhvhhEiHG5gdcDozkoOJV0J1ClAQuh-wdH5bqGFD8EGWWwxKHIplG5p_IydHkAd3WYHEiO9D6Bod8hAzLSePXTOe4iPO1ZVlL_83sNQnMZV0GvCbIXAbnfS10vYA3cPuHxCFvuonrpNDA2oi8X2jjE4krYXyf1CJnX5kv790dP_d3ow=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3W-sAL3oWQFxuGefKE6m2Ga9ms7aEIC4j_B2Sv05MZmgZ2RNH-OwleU6DymUeaNqvBhZXdZN3Ylcj1urWJtPicsPsNy8451nCjO5BP_sxPgIons_lrwRjtITouettePW1dKGG0YI3rBme1b4EWMiHJ3g1OE_Bmnq4nSeTUpjqUBtSUm6FTO_TzOq85A=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3W-sAL3oWQFxuGefKE6m2Ga9ms7aEIC4j_B2Sv05MZmgZ2RNH-OwleU6DymUeaNqvBhZXdZN3Ylcj1urWJtPicsPsNy8451nCjO5BP_sxPgIons_lrwRjtITouettePW1dKGG0YI3rBme1b4EWMiHJ3g1OE_Bmnq4nSeTUpjqUBtSUm6FTO_TzOq85A=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimkPFYPdT7Y-aFKmwi_Y60NaBHySw4q8uSsHHAPXiSU99cZkfyKmxP_SaOPiyouKK21Wyi96K0wfGF68-aFufTPQc4zTuRVPda9TPRTx0WEk2ZM_Xdvs-NY8ItloA3HHswF26bhcswIk1oOxbU7MhaJa7VfiajZa4oGyS7Y4adownwRwOPdxavXPVN5w=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimkPFYPdT7Y-aFKmwi_Y60NaBHySw4q8uSsHHAPXiSU99cZkfyKmxP_SaOPiyouKK21Wyi96K0wfGF68-aFufTPQc4zTuRVPda9TPRTx0WEk2ZM_Xdvs-NY8ItloA3HHswF26bhcswIk1oOxbU7MhaJa7VfiajZa4oGyS7Y4adownwRwOPdxavXPVN5w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Eventually I managed to drag myself away from spending the rest of the afternoon in the garden of St Dunstan-in-the-East and headed on to my next stop, the Monument. Just in case you don't know The Monument commemorates the Great fire of London and celebrates the rebuilding of the city. It stands on the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill on the site of St Margaret, New Fish Street the first church to be destroyed in the fire. It was built between 1671 and 1677 and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. It is topped with a gilded urn of fire and its height marks the distance from that point to the site of the shop on Pudding Lane where the fire began.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgts45J_nBoaoT3uVU3MuryD23ySC15BjNiu_7GG0ljJvz8XAf1yN_zLBCfE878gPuVRiZCI1IjZHHfZg2RCYwByaELjmxf_6U5l3Utd7x3j2XhJkTK9WJ32TePZMkgRAmcorWgOwQmMMo8XS3LbzlvBJ9afRTvYhsR7zyBPP5-tJGFDEXWTVQ9DX3_6Q=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgts45J_nBoaoT3uVU3MuryD23ySC15BjNiu_7GG0ljJvz8XAf1yN_zLBCfE878gPuVRiZCI1IjZHHfZg2RCYwByaELjmxf_6U5l3Utd7x3j2XhJkTK9WJ32TePZMkgRAmcorWgOwQmMMo8XS3LbzlvBJ9afRTvYhsR7zyBPP5-tJGFDEXWTVQ9DX3_6Q=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>The Monument</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The walk was almost over by this point but there were still a couple of more stops to make, the next one being the London stone on Cannon Street. You could very easily miss this one as although it's in the protective casing which you can see in the photo below, it's low to the ground and quite unassuming. The London stone is an irregular block of limestone which was once part of a much larger object which stood for many centuries on the south side of the medieval Candlewick Street which was later widened to create the modern Cannon Street.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Its original purpose is unknown but the earliest references to the stone date from the Middle Ages in documents cited by John Stow, an English historian, to some properties belonging to Canterbury cathedral with one piece of land being described as lying, 'neare unto London stone'. Unfortunately this can't now be verified as the document he refers to cannot be identified with certainty. It was though a well-known landmark in Medieval London being a place where debts were paid and oaths were taken. It was also where Jack Cade, leader of a rebellion against the corrupt government of Henry VI, claimed to be ruler of London in 1450. I wonder how many people walk past this casing and barely even notice it and what it contains?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipEuQokeEKtkH5wRuqN9mgiauBfgKrMZ87UTTRSJPrlMhFoEl0sRkga2anE3b6FBwEyDL6EMK6bHuEXjiA6jJOXcPMCPRN0glRmWLV8u_OIs8r242YhhfuSuKCkPC1nh5khoSiYBXwu4e6RY7YaH5YQeadLs3BjmI7B-Qo23zEToLaBOTdXtO0DFVnIg=s3785" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3785" data-original-width="2621" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipEuQokeEKtkH5wRuqN9mgiauBfgKrMZ87UTTRSJPrlMhFoEl0sRkga2anE3b6FBwEyDL6EMK6bHuEXjiA6jJOXcPMCPRN0glRmWLV8u_OIs8r242YhhfuSuKCkPC1nh5khoSiYBXwu4e6RY7YaH5YQeadLs3BjmI7B-Qo23zEToLaBOTdXtO0DFVnIg=w444-h640" width="444" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>London stone</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I had one final stop on my walk, which I actually ended up returning on another day to see. On the day I did the rest of the walk the book suggested going up one of the many passageways around the city, I did this but found the path was closed off and I couldn't get to the next church, St Stephen Walbrook. I did mange to see it but only between some office buildings (see the photo below) so it wasn't the best of views. I left and came home and it was only after doing so, thinking about it a bit more and checking a map of the area again that I realised there was a road the other side of the church and that in theory from there I would be able to get that bit closer! So I returned, which was actually a good move on my part as I was able to get to the church by that other road and the church also had an open day on my second visit so I was able to have a look inside too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2UKYAYDj2zdSgVmdaQ3sI_nFN5jnacPY7enUDgEPkdxBNlxCiSWnxo7JfGZohKHZhdTDajbaJDgt5Y-x37GTLwJ-mMSLHhSQq_kGb-sagJzaHc9cf8ZyQWTIQ1rHsD81-Sc_laUGPynhqR0iUIntXmmVLXihdC_bebyr8zlhcusKwTiab8CAA8YtQFg=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2UKYAYDj2zdSgVmdaQ3sI_nFN5jnacPY7enUDgEPkdxBNlxCiSWnxo7JfGZohKHZhdTDajbaJDgt5Y-x37GTLwJ-mMSLHhSQq_kGb-sagJzaHc9cf8ZyQWTIQ1rHsD81-Sc_laUGPynhqR0iUIntXmmVLXihdC_bebyr8zlhcusKwTiab8CAA8YtQFg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>St Stephen Walbrook</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRP7upkb3fcETrd2EtFpV-TzCBU7OcAa-CAq0YK2c-mHQXph7O8Tu-niS302kgaF0TuSdhTYBs23U6UcogtQ6GUQL5lypXcjvX-goUZ4zI5tDJMhIuSRTLVhqQp_Ay9c2hQPe6nmSvuIoRxcYZaYY9YEudEtEXdN_QxNZYTB2jeObeilx4-sRkEqdRFg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRP7upkb3fcETrd2EtFpV-TzCBU7OcAa-CAq0YK2c-mHQXph7O8Tu-niS302kgaF0TuSdhTYBs23U6UcogtQ6GUQL5lypXcjvX-goUZ4zI5tDJMhIuSRTLVhqQp_Ay9c2hQPe6nmSvuIoRxcYZaYY9YEudEtEXdN_QxNZYTB2jeObeilx4-sRkEqdRFg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEuAvf5QTzoKzytaV9U0tvSZOcm6VTfgJ57k0aOsoyn52xJSqjO48cNRde64OYmcSZaNsPg5FjgCBx6ntrIvegqkX4Xf1_9TLJ2MB6td0Vk0102YfFpjf6Iz1SNwWK6MplBieHoduMHIw8bOiZGrOQLaIRNVpVsS4m0xMPnX1FTExJRaVBSTUnHgLN8g=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEuAvf5QTzoKzytaV9U0tvSZOcm6VTfgJ57k0aOsoyn52xJSqjO48cNRde64OYmcSZaNsPg5FjgCBx6ntrIvegqkX4Xf1_9TLJ2MB6td0Vk0102YfFpjf6Iz1SNwWK6MplBieHoduMHIw8bOiZGrOQLaIRNVpVsS4m0xMPnX1FTExJRaVBSTUnHgLN8g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Just like many other churches in the City of London the original was destroyed in the Great Fire of London and, again like many others, the present building was built by Sir Christopher Wren. The original church stood on the east bank of the Walbrook, an important fresh water stream for the Romans and now one of many subterranean rivers running across London. It was believed to have been built directly on the remains of a Roman Mithraic temple a common practice at the time during the Christianization of former pagan sites. The church was moved to its present location in the 15th century with the river later being diverted and concealed as the city continued to grow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The dome, which you can just about see from the outside in the photo below as well as from the inside in the photo above, was based on Wren's original designs for St Paul's cathedral. Many consider this to be one of Wren's finest church interiors. Asides from the dome and the openness of the church the other striking feature is the massive white polished stone altar right in the middle by the sculptor Henry Moore. Its position in the church requiring permission from the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4lZOUz6kK7OmNPL_k1Zz6-SEbcq30l4TMhWOpTDSwQJu-3ruS2-3h9TDayrUcElkuStB3kRwg9b26U8pBTLT1Lh6P2z4vS5vFJI7SpoxiKlAzs9Kn0BspjwfHqY1qA2-pacOkEK-qHk7kPJNxO1CFOReUkykaatywmlo5MsFRnyZF2hn3iJE78WJnYQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4lZOUz6kK7OmNPL_k1Zz6-SEbcq30l4TMhWOpTDSwQJu-3ruS2-3h9TDayrUcElkuStB3kRwg9b26U8pBTLT1Lh6P2z4vS5vFJI7SpoxiKlAzs9Kn0BspjwfHqY1qA2-pacOkEK-qHk7kPJNxO1CFOReUkykaatywmlo5MsFRnyZF2hn3iJE78WJnYQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>A glimpse of St Stephen Walbrook between its modern neighbours</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Lato;">After my visit here my walk around some of the City of London was finished. I haven't spent a great deal of time in this part of London so this was a great overview of some it. It's hard to imagine now, with all the modern well known skyscrapers that dominate here, what this part of London must have looked like before the Great Fire of London destroyed so many of its churches. Stepping inside those that are left or were rebuilt afterwards perhaps gives us some idea as well as providing a little respite from the weekday hustle of the area. Those that are left, whether that be completely or just partially, still fit well within their modern surroundings and are certainly worth a visit to see.</span></div><p></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-59102108974399717562022-01-07T16:06:00.001+00:002022-01-10T08:51:13.380+00:00A Brief Stay in Bristol<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I have always been very lucky to have been able to travel overseas fairly regularly but, like most of us, since Covid hit that has ceased. I've been fortunate that I've been able to visit and stay with my Mum several times, much more than many have over these past couple of years. Sadly though this was not always under the best of circumstances as my Dad suffered a stroke in late 2020 and passed away last year. Another consequence of not taking holidays as we normally would do is that I also got to the stage of having a lot of leave left and needing to use it or else lose it. My husband also had to take time off so we decided to finally get away somewhere for a well deserved couple of days last November. We opted for the UK (though we did also manage travel overseas in December - more on that soon) and chose Bristol. I've never been to Bristol (not sure why) and although my husband had it was only briefly so that, and a programme that we had watched earlier in the year about its vibrant food scene, swung it for us as the place to go.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">We were 100% tourists for the couple of days we were there so one of the things we decided to do was visit the SS Great Britain. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and launched in 1843, she was then the largest vessel afloat, originally built </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">for the Great Western Steamship Company's service between Bristol and New York. She later carried thousands of immigrants to Australia before being retired to the Falkland Islands in 1886. She was then used as a warehouse, quarantine ship and as a storage facility for coal before being scuttled and abandoned in 1937. There she remained until 1970 when the Great Britain was raised and restored enough to be towed back to the UK and to the Bristol dry dock where she had been built.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSXgH31B8JgLgaft3Buavwlhitq59wHidRq2s3U9m9hwmyl68mhltG6bAbpnuThAORmTqk7YYk6txYIBK6D65OvfQ8_S1UHgjaielRGpyqppOiqpgsZhSDQiPqT7OS2b_hY0pxj3gVz4M/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSXgH31B8JgLgaft3Buavwlhitq59wHidRq2s3U9m9hwmyl68mhltG6bAbpnuThAORmTqk7YYk6txYIBK6D65OvfQ8_S1UHgjaielRGpyqppOiqpgsZhSDQiPqT7OS2b_hY0pxj3gVz4M/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5594.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwrT9uSUKMoDn9_i8B3knRIFfQaPi-2qEeVaB1siJxBH5_5HfgNwm0pOP9rsa150xSYKbcQh3D4d7uUaaEhoEb1-qAuCj7XKCYHSL9nANMl2kUIBeFViVst6RkcijkY3eaXuZ2V6IIHAV/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5598.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwrT9uSUKMoDn9_i8B3knRIFfQaPi-2qEeVaB1siJxBH5_5HfgNwm0pOP9rsa150xSYKbcQh3D4d7uUaaEhoEb1-qAuCj7XKCYHSL9nANMl2kUIBeFViVst6RkcijkY3eaXuZ2V6IIHAV/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5598.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC0bOHtwxaTSJlMcK1vWlDvddVE3nqSy5wN-c7fYSvhuVU0H4tE0nsMBrcWME5cebSOC3CUW1ktXlsd6PCJCR9oUrQQjpemoeRUK880Pywzou3oJliCrz5VINgZQzoGF-eVpfXmXrwJq3/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC0bOHtwxaTSJlMcK1vWlDvddVE3nqSy5wN-c7fYSvhuVU0H4tE0nsMBrcWME5cebSOC3CUW1ktXlsd6PCJCR9oUrQQjpemoeRUK880Pywzou3oJliCrz5VINgZQzoGF-eVpfXmXrwJq3/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5601.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">She's now a permanent museum ship in Bristol harbour and gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about her history and get an idea of what it would have been like onboard. As you'd expect you get to see all areas from the kitchens and crew areas to the lounges, saloons and cabins for the passengers. As well as the onboard and up on deck areas as she is in a dry dock you can also go below sea level and view her from that angle too. It is impossible not to appreciate the power and engineering behind her when you get up close to the replica propeller.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s19OpbbXTbYCJw4I-klb1zDP8zP4MsgEj5sA0g3d-_yYJbmmU4j2GEct-zCc2QMXfGc_JORfZk5a90HaQAZJ5IXA6L0MAP7RbhJP_LX4yrTQfg0dgy22DIlO0ON_e3wjc5gGL7nIMp4N/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s19OpbbXTbYCJw4I-klb1zDP8zP4MsgEj5sA0g3d-_yYJbmmU4j2GEct-zCc2QMXfGc_JORfZk5a90HaQAZJ5IXA6L0MAP7RbhJP_LX4yrTQfg0dgy22DIlO0ON_e3wjc5gGL7nIMp4N/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5617.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Our other tourist must do for the weekend was a visit to the Clifton Suspension bridge, another of Brunel's engineering design achievements. Although this was my first visit to Bristol the bridge is, of course, a familiar one to me. One of my own associated memories is of watching Concorde fly over it on the news on one of her farewell flights back in 2003. I've also seen it pop up on countless TV shows, including a very recent one so I felt like I knew it just a little beforehand.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Spanning the Avon Gorge and river Avon the bridge opened in 1864 and remains a toll bridge, the income providing funds for its maintenance. It is now a Grade l listed structure, in recognition of it being one of the oldest surviving iron suspension bridges in the world. Although there had been bridges crossing the river Avon before it was the death of Bristol merchant, William Vick in 1754 that saw the beginnings of building what was to become the Clifton Suspension bridge. He left £1000 in his will with instructions for it be invested and upon the interest reaching £10,000 it was to be used to build a stone bridge, though it took some time for his idea to come to fruition.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">By 1829 the legacy had increased to £8000 and a competition was announced for a design for the bridge, one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's entries was declared the winner in 1831. Construction of the bridge began in June that same year but was halted a few months later by the Bristol riots that had been sparked by tensions over proposed voting reform. This resulted in investment in the bridge dropping and work on it ceasing. Over the following years work was able to continue but eventually ceased again in 1843 with funds exhausted.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQyjPJtz0h5NbguL5w8Y0yzAsPSIFE2YCyxib8zeIKUmNki-MJu4o66F_8OvyXoOGRarffLsKemSqDq-4OCpmmBHoRto7kufI8QMkitbMBgHnokhod8YuF21pwpxlHsveSUn21mU4xx3C/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQyjPJtz0h5NbguL5w8Y0yzAsPSIFE2YCyxib8zeIKUmNki-MJu4o66F_8OvyXoOGRarffLsKemSqDq-4OCpmmBHoRto7kufI8QMkitbMBgHnokhod8YuF21pwpxlHsveSUn21mU4xx3C/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Views both ways from the bridge.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN_1-SWtv12YTOLO8tJPnpAxFAsRh3kz2zIm0ZMFy7m4tXjRlU1_ji1IdGtp5_qg24t8TxsFQNJn1F-4yVOjkUtGy_RFJOTilhgIKUiKazUJ0LJvTZ_xN_EmE4OPodlzOzmhBagZuOVNC/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN_1-SWtv12YTOLO8tJPnpAxFAsRh3kz2zIm0ZMFy7m4tXjRlU1_ji1IdGtp5_qg24t8TxsFQNJn1F-4yVOjkUtGy_RFJOTilhgIKUiKazUJ0LJvTZ_xN_EmE4OPodlzOzmhBagZuOVNC/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5624.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Brunel died in 1859 without seeing his bridge completed but in 1860 a proposal was made again to finally finish the bridge as a memorial to him and in December 1864 the bridge was officially opened. Today you can walk (or drive) across the bridge to admire the views, though doing this is probably easier if you walk across. We walked there after a lovely long lunch, it was a good way to burn off some of all the wonderful food we had just eaten, and it's well worth including it if you're visiting the city. After that lunch, the walk to the restaurant and the walk from there to the bridge afterwards we finished the day with a well earned drink in one of the nearby pubs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Where did we have that lunch prior to our walk to the Clifton Suspension Bridge? At littlefrench, one of the places we'd seen on that TV programme I mentioned earlier and a lovely independent, family owned restaurant offering a regularly changing menu of French food. Littlefrench, of Freddy Bird fame, is in the Westbury Park area of the city, we decided to walk from our city centre hotel, as I mentioned, and it turned out to be quite a walk from there but luckily we had given ourselves plenty of time. Bristol, or at least this part on our walk, is also quite hilly so I was definitely reminded of walking around Edinburgh as well as by all the Georgian houses reminiscent of the New Town that we passed on our way. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">As we had walked there when we arrived we had a bit of time to fill before our booking and it was at this point that the heavens decided to open meaning that whatever we were going to do staying outside was not an option. Luckily just a short walk from the restaurant we found the littleshop and pantry which, although we didn't know beforehand but as you may have guessed, is the little sister of littlefrench. Here we were able to sit inside (thank goodness) with a coffee and watch the rain and life outside go by for awhile. Although we didn't make any other purchases this shop was full of amazing deli and bakery goods, as well as also having its own kitchen and I'm very jealous of those who live near there. Lunch itself, once it was time to go, was a delight, with glorious ceps mushrooms to start, a delicious pork chop for my main and a zesty lemon tart for dessert. We left satisfied and keen to return again if we have the opportunity.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTDfEmOfZ3P9sHooIn__dNbDXYpQCHW0soaCfxqcxhiM5OP38R34CN55eWMslvAfIdUsMrY6fgufMNaKH2v7GQ0JIO5dQmiS3vDsRaMpXmLpB_hV1EHqEJ7DRFShWEVTE5CiQLPiUJZv4/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTDfEmOfZ3P9sHooIn__dNbDXYpQCHW0soaCfxqcxhiM5OP38R34CN55eWMslvAfIdUsMrY6fgufMNaKH2v7GQ0JIO5dQmiS3vDsRaMpXmLpB_hV1EHqEJ7DRFShWEVTE5CiQLPiUJZv4/w640-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mMerMSODasUkiVhcY7xlmXO-HXGYL_Grw-3JznzDoE9Okn9gQVnouqQVVRTAffdUccPSR0RLrDp7DJaIgm5lDXnkiMNnl36186chw6TMUYgbEe7jJrFNb4JwC3R84Wlg2ZCXCsyfzBtk/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mMerMSODasUkiVhcY7xlmXO-HXGYL_Grw-3JznzDoE9Okn9gQVnouqQVVRTAffdUccPSR0RLrDp7DJaIgm5lDXnkiMNnl36186chw6TMUYgbEe7jJrFNb4JwC3R84Wlg2ZCXCsyfzBtk/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5610.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-94TsV0vO8TzHZBCH-KkZpeMZl2p3aVuAO9YLiFJOERHtTNTsUVBFJh_9idC2TenEvA-dQKy9e-mTGZw00sU0KTvk08zX-X66rTGzYfMhTuC93LbnTymlYdYwNqaDGXYwRUrg9hyC9I6/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-94TsV0vO8TzHZBCH-KkZpeMZl2p3aVuAO9YLiFJOERHtTNTsUVBFJh_9idC2TenEvA-dQKy9e-mTGZw00sU0KTvk08zX-X66rTGzYfMhTuC93LbnTymlYdYwNqaDGXYwRUrg9hyC9I6/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5611.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGxbOmNCxrVa0TkLINPzUjbbb_czlSLjeZ4gbtrVlAlZbrRtcHSO_QOg3OYWz1RdqnlRmwKkWMKDmCDk9jcEZImP0MYUsCdVv7050L3ZVxm18ASrZgOUu8KFY_x87gERY08ISU5FpVp2O/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGxbOmNCxrVa0TkLINPzUjbbb_czlSLjeZ4gbtrVlAlZbrRtcHSO_QOg3OYWz1RdqnlRmwKkWMKDmCDk9jcEZImP0MYUsCdVv7050L3ZVxm18ASrZgOUu8KFY_x87gERY08ISU5FpVp2O/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5612.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Somewhere else we had been recommended was Bristol Lido and we decided to do breakfast there (my husband was unable to book a swim as the lido only has limited availability for non-members) on our final morning before making the journey back to London. The lido is tucked away amongst the streets of Georgian houses in the Clifton area of the city and on approach is a quite unassuming building right next to a pub, once you're inside though and sat besides the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the pool it's a real delight. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">It first opened its doors in 1850, after an Act was passed in 1846 encouraging local authorities to build public baths and washhouses. The lido was enjoyed by many after opening but fell into disrepair and closed in 1990. It was then threatened with demolition with plans for the site to be used for flats but local people campaigned against this and in 1998 it was awarded Grade ll listed status. In 2006 planning permission was granted for its full restoration and in 2008 it reopened as a subscription pool with spa facilities, a restaurant and poolside bar. Although swimming was not an option this time, booking for breakfast was straightforward and I went for the Turkish baked eggs with flatbread. If you're looking for somewhere a little different for dining the lido makes a very good choice. This and littlefrench were definitely my food highlights of the weekend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVFLptpAXa4RhxD3MrQMvW0ExTPtn-jkUm8UDrH3nltUYoWU5RXFGRSIGN9RJCy2qsTF-dSd690rpT8a4hwJFTO2BfGeOa4wURJPF2jYU5zULF4lxDQB5o30ea3PLGywJgr38jW3ir7n3/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5630.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVFLptpAXa4RhxD3MrQMvW0ExTPtn-jkUm8UDrH3nltUYoWU5RXFGRSIGN9RJCy2qsTF-dSd690rpT8a4hwJFTO2BfGeOa4wURJPF2jYU5zULF4lxDQB5o30ea3PLGywJgr38jW3ir7n3/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5630.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>A rainy view across The Lido</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v_YeBp4m4US9NjyqNXrvHtYrj_8WLBcOQv2JYS3d73oN1ygxihyAmag-RQ8UD_ZaBgi9Ii9mvtObbeOanUEaPTUp0poZBMl5ABGoTBMBfDM15hdGHSlUfcMZ6RGl-5NRe21AQBtGzwqq/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v_YeBp4m4US9NjyqNXrvHtYrj_8WLBcOQv2JYS3d73oN1ygxihyAmag-RQ8UD_ZaBgi9Ii9mvtObbeOanUEaPTUp0poZBMl5ABGoTBMBfDM15hdGHSlUfcMZ6RGl-5NRe21AQBtGzwqq/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5632.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">It was a very brief trip, just two nights and three days so I know we barely scratched the surface of what Bristol has to offer but what we did see and do certainly made me want to return. It was the perfect choice for our first break away since before Covid, with history, epic scenery, good food and a great vibrant energy it didn't disappoint.</span></div><p></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Bristol, UK51.454513 -2.5879123.144279163821153 -37.74416 79.764746836178844 32.56834tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-56732286492663959992021-10-26T19:52:00.001+00:002021-10-27T10:06:31.751+00:00London's Last Lighthouse<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Think of London and you might not automatically think about there being any lighthouses there but thanks to watching the TV show, 'The Great British Sewing Bee' earlier this year I learnt that there is one right on the River Thames. You'll find it if you head to Trinity Buoy Wharf near Canning Town tube station and, in case you're wondering how this links to a sewing TV reality show, well this was the location for the filming of the last series. By the time it aired I knew we were returning to London so it was one of the first places I decided I wanted to hunt out once we got back.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The area that houses the lighthouse was first used by the Elder Brethren of Trinity House, now known as the Corporation of Trinity House, in 1803. Originally beginning as a voluntary association of shipmen and mariners it was granted a charter by King Henry Vlll in 1514, received its coat of arms in 1573 and at the same time was given the authority to erect and maintain beacons etc., 'for the better navigation of the coasts of England'. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">They continue to be the official authority of lighthouses in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Trinity Buoy Wharf was established as their Thames-side workshop in 1803 and used as a maintenance depot and storage facility for the buoys that aided navigation on the Thames and for the docking and repairing of lightships. A lightship being a ship that acts as a lighthouse in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUYvM9z1hyphenhyphenFKap0NTlTPD6nP6SGSPHUi4Qpd3sXe_64s5Mr1WkjUxdLBIc8nwq590sBJh4ybhNdF7syO_EquxUO0hp4rkc1qP9RoAMD8fe0pqy0vXcuSbQsh_VX_EiaQ7tiLGoHoDu224/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUYvM9z1hyphenhyphenFKap0NTlTPD6nP6SGSPHUi4Qpd3sXe_64s5Mr1WkjUxdLBIc8nwq590sBJh4ybhNdF7syO_EquxUO0hp4rkc1qP9RoAMD8fe0pqy0vXcuSbQsh_VX_EiaQ7tiLGoHoDu224/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5313.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">There were originally two lighthouses on the site, the first one was built by Scottish engineer, James Walker who it turns out was also involved in the building of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wheresthenextadventureblog/" target="_blank">Granton harbour</a> in Edinburgh. An area of my old home I only really discovered in the past year thanks to the lockdowns and making an effort to explore more previously unseen areas of Edinburgh. His lighthouse was demolished in the 1920s however, leaving the one we can still see today built by James Douglass. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">This experimental lighthouse and the adjoining building, originally the Chain and Buoy Store, were built in 1864 and were used to test maritime lighting equipment and train lighthouse keepers. Michael Faraday also carried out a number of experiments there for the first electric lighting for lighthouses. The Trinity Buoy Wharf works continued to grow and by the early 1900s it was a major local employer with engineers, blacksmiths, carpenters, painters and many other skilled workers employed there. The wharf continued to maintain navigation buoys and lightships up until it was finally closed in December 1988. The site was then acquired by the London Docklands Development Corporation being developed as 'a centre for the arts and cultural activities'. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10CvgfOEMoI2A95XT-rl4RaCU4efLWjUE3aa1Esz5KzcCWXyTpeolHfY0CERQ9n73FxoAmyBmHGABlY2EIRR_LjUBxwmL2cUj6OwyGJV_3s_nDYRPad78f8WoEJSpwVgrggZSVOrw9TNH/s954/thumbnail_IMG_5302+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="954" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10CvgfOEMoI2A95XT-rl4RaCU4efLWjUE3aa1Esz5KzcCWXyTpeolHfY0CERQ9n73FxoAmyBmHGABlY2EIRR_LjUBxwmL2cUj6OwyGJV_3s_nDYRPad78f8WoEJSpwVgrggZSVOrw9TNH/w640-h526/thumbnail_IMG_5302+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Today it is clear the area has been and continues to be redeveloped with an array of modern apartments, shops, bars and eateries on the short walk there from Canning Town tube station. If you want to visit yourself the directions given on <a href="https://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/visit" target="_blank">Trinity Buoy Wharf's website</a> (from Canning Town tube station at least) were great and made getting there very easy, particularly as this is not a part of London I am that familiar with.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">As you follow the route, and in amongst all the modern redevelopment, there is still plenty to see of the area's past too with preserved painted signage on many of the surrounding buildings being one of the most obvious. (A<i>mendment 27/10/2021 - Trinity Buoy Wharf have kindly let me know that the signage on route is fake and was painted by the developer next door to them. A bit of a shame but hopefully all the information about the companies that were there is correct). </i> One of the first you'll see on the walk there is that of the Samuda Bros Limited company. I'm not going to pretend to you that I'd heard of them previously but an Internet search soon brings up some information. The company, a major London shipbuilder in the mid to late 19th century, was founded by brothers Jacob and Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda. Jacob was tragically killed along with nine of their employees when one of their first ships exploded on its test run but under the remaining brother Joseph the company continued to prosper eventually seeing them complete orders from Germany, Russia and Japan. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">A little further along and there is a ghost sign for Ditchburn and Mare shipbuilders as well as one for Mather's Whale Oil Extraction. Ditchburn and Mare, later to become the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, were among the first builders of iron ships in the area. They were awarded contracts by the Admiralty as well as by the Iron Steamboat Company (who provided ferry services between Manhattan and Coney Island in New York in the late 19th and early 20th centuries) and by P&O. I also mentioned the ghost sign for a company specialising in whale oil extraction, the UK being involved in commercial whaling from the 16th century up until the middle of the 20th century. Mather & Co (three brothers) were owners of whaling ships with James Mather signing a lease to boil whale blubber in the docks area in 1784, advertising campaigns followed telling the public that whale oil was just the thing to light the streets.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildC-2MChANR49ExSfDvkRjWbgPkD2fb6UQibv67AAXHU9pQ6ATD848xBo-Kp3JxD6oKifAXXecLIAM_8mt9hDOm0u0YMhdANqsy9NIOBLlwhdtiFsfyv0mrkLx_z_sTbPtREKpelUJ_jg/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildC-2MChANR49ExSfDvkRjWbgPkD2fb6UQibv67AAXHU9pQ6ATD848xBo-Kp3JxD6oKifAXXecLIAM_8mt9hDOm0u0YMhdANqsy9NIOBLlwhdtiFsfyv0mrkLx_z_sTbPtREKpelUJ_jg/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5301.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kRCklIF9m26X1NwV0FaEp70UYL73JLbrReIDVLyzezyQT4iMgp0mwhyDRAf2Kw6_zRUl7WtN31MNFxpLSq63THN-gx4v4jjzs_8MaFjdVY1jKcBc2SdtqmUYfbYZGzvVG3bPr0arstCG/s1270/thumbnail_IMG_5305+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1270" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kRCklIF9m26X1NwV0FaEp70UYL73JLbrReIDVLyzezyQT4iMgp0mwhyDRAf2Kw6_zRUl7WtN31MNFxpLSq63THN-gx4v4jjzs_8MaFjdVY1jKcBc2SdtqmUYfbYZGzvVG3bPr0arstCG/w640-h280/thumbnail_IMG_5305+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E8RB_8QoX-14_LvW3PQuMRT2mazYdcSiNYAHTTUGpTiKSWALqBg9nsxhzTqfearsnPfOhSCThYx-a4us6nMAsmUEKLO3qhIsAwcUReRfXWkoijugMZRbG1DBaFsEL0Fxz0nrUE93vYGA/s1275/thumbnail_IMG_5307+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1275" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E8RB_8QoX-14_LvW3PQuMRT2mazYdcSiNYAHTTUGpTiKSWALqBg9nsxhzTqfearsnPfOhSCThYx-a4us6nMAsmUEKLO3qhIsAwcUReRfXWkoijugMZRbG1DBaFsEL0Fxz0nrUE93vYGA/w640-h388/thumbnail_IMG_5307+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">After passing all these reminders of the area's past and several information boards giving details about the history of the area too, I soon arrived at Trinity Buoy Wharf itself, entering past the Gate House. On the day I visited I didn't actually go in to any of the buildings, you can do and that also includes the lighthouse at weekends, but it looked like there was a wedding or an event of some kind happening so I kept a distance and admired everywhere from the outside. I'll just have to go back again at some point. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoEhuazzqCC7yyHtBGOO5AlXNK8Q1cOGqvKcBLR6dn5feD6soRPVY51VWmIQPnjI7Fl1Upca0mDgWzotCPhouNIrpMQaEUZU0YqbS-LtM-Och0_nByOQFhuhcHp2UQAf4Tl9X4wiOgwFR/s954/thumbnail_IMG_5308+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="954" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoEhuazzqCC7yyHtBGOO5AlXNK8Q1cOGqvKcBLR6dn5feD6soRPVY51VWmIQPnjI7Fl1Upca0mDgWzotCPhouNIrpMQaEUZU0YqbS-LtM-Och0_nByOQFhuhcHp2UQAf4Tl9X4wiOgwFR/w640-h630/thumbnail_IMG_5308+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lato;">Despite not going inside any of the buildings with views like the one below across the Thames to admire I certainly wasn't too disappointed. As well as the lighthouse there are plenty of other things to see there too. For starters there are a number of historic boats permanently moored in the area. The boat below, the Knocker White, is a Dutch built tugboat built in 1924 and below that is Lightship LV95, built in 1939. When the lightship was in service it was mainly based on the Goodwin Sands off Kent and was converted to solar power in the 1990s to enable it to operate unmanned remaining in service until 2003. It has now been converted into a floating music recording studio.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8c4lopw_p1qvziq0BKUKYWjfbKelpmjxIWkWl0njGz3grvvBoJ-6Wzs0I9zkZ0xpY67sks5_4vWV34O8yhGAOCZsWjzGhL6xtF_dkSUICknOhwIVzmM1XxxeKrL3KQOIYJC-ampWHVgD/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8c4lopw_p1qvziq0BKUKYWjfbKelpmjxIWkWl0njGz3grvvBoJ-6Wzs0I9zkZ0xpY67sks5_4vWV34O8yhGAOCZsWjzGhL6xtF_dkSUICknOhwIVzmM1XxxeKrL3KQOIYJC-ampWHVgD/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamUvuX4W9qf6xwWbuKVHZqQr2Di9i-EhmFoiueGTBbUQdZTXrlDxX0nbp2CnlcAoNZbvoaJfgBNv-SzNaTbBDhIWOSVp4gWk1rdaiWtw0tV3vNidRjp36MaEQTRxfxfynZsl8Y-oCdlgD/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamUvuX4W9qf6xwWbuKVHZqQr2Di9i-EhmFoiueGTBbUQdZTXrlDxX0nbp2CnlcAoNZbvoaJfgBNv-SzNaTbBDhIWOSVp4gWk1rdaiWtw0tV3vNidRjp36MaEQTRxfxfynZsl8Y-oCdlgD/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5312.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsCX0Vpj-pFDlBhhR7OgArCBcSH8KiNSGVBdBOGshgTdCrJ8ScIZP3gwI0nf5uTVzqw05SzUJbuUBnv-RJhZgxe8QVohZeLlLaYSC2kMqnF60sa_qZXwyGNcZC7U6fIeru3b6gF-CpFI_/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsCX0Vpj-pFDlBhhR7OgArCBcSH8KiNSGVBdBOGshgTdCrJ8ScIZP3gwI0nf5uTVzqw05SzUJbuUBnv-RJhZgxe8QVohZeLlLaYSC2kMqnF60sa_qZXwyGNcZC7U6fIeru3b6gF-CpFI_/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5314.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">There are also work spaces for artists with various studio spaces and galleries, events venues, office space, as well as an original American diner. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">It is also home to Longplayer, a one thousand year long musical composition which began playing in December 1999 and will continue until December 2999.</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> It really does seem to live up to its aim to be a centre for the arts and the history of the area as well (something I knew barely anything about previously) makes the space fascinating. Take a look at their </span><a href="https://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/whats-on" style="font-family: Lato;" target="_blank">website</a><span style="font-family: Lato;"> for more information about everything that is happening there.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlg8rxbVpptKzOIbAbROjJVX9HCXGjXMwEgVPNwBRQuas1JZy9_ZKvDFwOf35aAAO1zaKMY2bYfTmzhVrEaDcwVQY6j2KWFyt6fenwFTL-cVVoXBSMChWzGSekOmLNz_Orbt1Pej4szxp/s830/thumbnail_IMG_5315+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlg8rxbVpptKzOIbAbROjJVX9HCXGjXMwEgVPNwBRQuas1JZy9_ZKvDFwOf35aAAO1zaKMY2bYfTmzhVrEaDcwVQY6j2KWFyt6fenwFTL-cVVoXBSMChWzGSekOmLNz_Orbt1Pej4szxp/w434-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5315+%25282%2529.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuywL4pSEMZOdbTjudD6ggBfAsmGotQ3VL540Lpb5Y3wwgMWxMv3ZNQhrb7cLqFfcZ46ItkQxz92YvKp9C7utubkT9voexrE57K9MXaDdVCibaaWg7Kc5kg4fPq54uUI3uo8-JqYY44nM/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuywL4pSEMZOdbTjudD6ggBfAsmGotQ3VL540Lpb5Y3wwgMWxMv3ZNQhrb7cLqFfcZ46ItkQxz92YvKp9C7utubkT9voexrE57K9MXaDdVCibaaWg7Kc5kg4fPq54uUI3uo8-JqYY44nM/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_5316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">However my discovery of lighthouses in London did not end after my visit here. I shared a couple of photos of the Trinity Buoy Wharf lighthouse on my various social media accounts immediately after my visit and I had a few people get in touch to tell me that, depending on how strict in your definition of a lighthouse you want to be, London does have others. I was told of two in particular, one in Walthamstow and one in King's Cross, so me being me I had to go and find them too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Having now seen them both I do agree that it does mean stretching that definition a little but they are still interesting nonetheless and definitely look like lighthouses. The first one is actually a church, the Lighthouse Methodist church which opened in 1893 replacing a nearby house that had previously served the Methodists in the area. It acquired its nautical design thanks to one of its backers, a Captain King of the Bullard King Steamer Company, a company that ran a direct service from London to East African ports. He donated the site for the church and paid for the building and the design and name are reminders of his seafaring activities. The church originally had a revolving light too which would beam out to call the congregation to worship. It's thirty five miles from sea in Walthamstow but it is a quirky design you can't help but notice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The other lighthouse at King's Cross is on top of a Victorian building I will have walked past countless times on my regular journeys between Edinburgh and London by train but is one I can honestly say I had never noticed, obviously because I've never looked up. I wonder how many others walk past this building all the time and have never seen it either? It is right by King's Cross train station and was derelict for a number of years but is currently home to a Five Guys restaurant. However its original use seems to be something of a mystery, rumours abound that it came from a helter skelter fairground ride or was a clock tower. The official view though (and even that isn't confirmed) is that it was built to promote Netten's oyster bar which occupied the building, perhaps because oysters come from the sea so there is a loose nautical connection. As well as no one knowing why it was built it is also not clear when it was built so I guess it really will remain a mystery but one to look out for next time you're in the area.</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EDTtWALL0D1tYQRiMHqNC2X14wK-qruYjDnmqxu5dbNsHfkC0X2F8eqelOaf9eRhjnTfh8DMiwd4KA7JjcvAfb0wkux7fi0f06YhCVGoobUeQLza0pxpFMjU6MC_gsS55rMPBLeFz22t/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5398.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EDTtWALL0D1tYQRiMHqNC2X14wK-qruYjDnmqxu5dbNsHfkC0X2F8eqelOaf9eRhjnTfh8DMiwd4KA7JjcvAfb0wkux7fi0f06YhCVGoobUeQLza0pxpFMjU6MC_gsS55rMPBLeFz22t/w360-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5398.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Walthamstow</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlbTGLPphYQ1cws2Og3XQKAJ4WakAyacNQp5lXs88pLI9NgeqAEQ2iyccIPqgH-bc09PKG5tmVDw9LqyAxuIBbhfEmr6gcBSkiHEIdfi6z5C1LKo2Dx5lnxibKjcyBA2l3lUg-7BOCzQ7/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_5399.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlbTGLPphYQ1cws2Og3XQKAJ4WakAyacNQp5lXs88pLI9NgeqAEQ2iyccIPqgH-bc09PKG5tmVDw9LqyAxuIBbhfEmr6gcBSkiHEIdfi6z5C1LKo2Dx5lnxibKjcyBA2l3lUg-7BOCzQ7/w360-h640/thumbnail_IMG_5399.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>King's Cross</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I had never thought about London having any lighthouses, whether actual or more decorative but it turns out the city does have at least three. I'd be interested to know if anyone knows of anymore out there that might be worth finding as well?</span></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com064 Orchard Pl, London E14 0JW, UK51.5085809 0.008910923.198347063821153 -35.1473391 79.818814736178837 35.1651609tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-41345976637856835472021-08-26T17:12:00.000+00:002021-08-26T17:12:54.812+00:00Falkland Palace, Fife<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Those of you who follow my social media etc. may have seen that we've recently left Edinburgh and moved back to London again. With that in mind before we left we really tried to delve into that list I mentioned in my <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2021/06/a-night-onboard-fingal-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">Fingal</a> post to find a few things to do/places to go before we departed. Falkland palace wasn't actually on that but it was somewhere we'd seen signposts for many times when we were going elsewhere so we decided to book tickets (subsequent changes in Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland mean you no longer need to pre-book but check the <a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/falkland-palace" target="_blank">National Trust for Scotland's</a> website for up-to-date guidance) and go and have a look.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM2ECjli7A0kdGaPtW-TsXY_lrWC4lp2EI8ctEsrxGHgsmlGLVCbIv2agjCWlrn-qSIBmMgDa5UnpZLFKj-Jm2HeBh83u_lduSfkonGyJnLmHx_5wDU7Ezxl13TRX6v16_I7mOW5mC6_A/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM2ECjli7A0kdGaPtW-TsXY_lrWC4lp2EI8ctEsrxGHgsmlGLVCbIv2agjCWlrn-qSIBmMgDa5UnpZLFKj-Jm2HeBh83u_lduSfkonGyJnLmHx_5wDU7Ezxl13TRX6v16_I7mOW5mC6_A/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Originally a 12th century hunting lodge stood on the site of what is now Falkland palace, this lodge was expanded in the 13th century eventually becoming a castle owned by the Earls of Fife, the Clan MacDuff. The castle being built here as the site is on a slight hill so it could be easily defended. By the 16th century though the castle had become a palace and was a popular retreat for the Stuart monarchs. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">Originally surrounded by hunting forests, fields and orchards the palace was built to accommodate the royal court when they came to Falkland to enjoy falconry, hawking and hunting.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">James IV and James V were responsible for transforming the castle into a renaissance palace, inspired by the chateaux of France and commissioning the best architects and craftsmen. Luxuries including imported oranges and various musicians and minstrels were all enjoyed by the Kings at the palace during this period. A royal tennis court was added in the garden in 1541, the court still exists and is now the oldest one in Britain. Mary, Queen of Scots also spent time at Falkland enjoying falconry and hunting as well as playing tennis on that very court.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZpXpKxf5LB5MorGoByhZLr5tWEYgxRlWd1ximHwdCRDbeqGeFAiDFF9ZBV8Mmk75eCiyr_O3Sfx8FFIksU7wj1F5OLPZU0o3Una6T9NEUAm4t626mumb7P0ps2023LPxFkIrW0Tr6xfH/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZpXpKxf5LB5MorGoByhZLr5tWEYgxRlWd1ximHwdCRDbeqGeFAiDFF9ZBV8Mmk75eCiyr_O3Sfx8FFIksU7wj1F5OLPZU0o3Una6T9NEUAm4t626mumb7P0ps2023LPxFkIrW0Tr6xfH/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4824.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The palace fell into disrepair in the late 1600s after a fire partially destroyed it but was saved from complete ruin in the 19th century by the 3rd Marquess of Bute, John Crichton-Stuart. The restoration covered a twenty year period, the 3rd Marquess died though before fully completing his work and his successors and the National Trust for Scotland have since preserved the palace in the condition he left it in rather than do any further restoration work to it. The palace is still a Crown property but has been in the keepership of the Crichton family (though most duties are now carried out by the National Trust for Scotland) since the 3rd Marquess acquired it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The village of Falkland was created a royal burgh, a town which is founded by or subsequently granted a royal charter, in 1458. It is also Scotland's first conservation village with many of the surrounding properties dating from the 17th century and with a wide variety of architectural styles. Although we only had a short wander around the village it's definitely a pretty place with the palace very much at the heart of it, towering over everything nearby on the main street.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJQKgKpmGWOmX9ABMPuQNDoHmQ3zSYNhMQhFdHjrJCKuiuaOoxtA7xoaNoRo6XtOat97Dzp1QSFupOVMsln4OvpmhMRLG8xj7zI0tdbk4Feg9dA5xpGMrdoRrLSgq9Ef7EVnEJztFTrVQ/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJQKgKpmGWOmX9ABMPuQNDoHmQ3zSYNhMQhFdHjrJCKuiuaOoxtA7xoaNoRo6XtOat97Dzp1QSFupOVMsln4OvpmhMRLG8xj7zI0tdbk4Feg9dA5xpGMrdoRrLSgq9Ef7EVnEJztFTrVQ/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4820.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKCPQqEaLpcCHHno-06_xdlQJb9PuyzkKUanEfZnVOyCFUcjsT_S07pT4Cl0AaFsQGqSpjEnWoSMZ1V1qq4VL4FP_I9bhBLztwb9azmSmEqdgAZ69oDFAhshonArm8gcCUzetq78sgzTZ/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKCPQqEaLpcCHHno-06_xdlQJb9PuyzkKUanEfZnVOyCFUcjsT_S07pT4Cl0AaFsQGqSpjEnWoSMZ1V1qq4VL4FP_I9bhBLztwb9azmSmEqdgAZ69oDFAhshonArm8gcCUzetq78sgzTZ/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4821.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Upon arrival at the palace you are able to self guide from room to room before then entering the palace grounds. Along the way you'll find plenty of guides to tell you about the main points of interest and to ask any questions you may have. You'll see a range of rooms including the keeper's quarters, the old library, the recreated King and Queen's rooms and the bakehouse, many of these decorated with wood panelling and painted ceilings. Perhaps the most stunning room for me though was the Chapel Royal. It dates from around 1540 and mass is still held there every Sunday morning, complete with its elaborate ceiling decorations, stained glass windows and large tapestries depicting Biblical scenes it really was impressive.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-9CjdBrNaXcQaF6XerFrGmBcbo6EmOzZon8-wfKe2MDlcTi8RDU2WgjwKYTA25dSS8jBf9_Hy2rrTZ8VB9q6kg3QuGeHJmDk4tJKiwJAbDj2jtrfn4xL0H5iySfaMNhHABE-x_8OOxGw/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-9CjdBrNaXcQaF6XerFrGmBcbo6EmOzZon8-wfKe2MDlcTi8RDU2WgjwKYTA25dSS8jBf9_Hy2rrTZ8VB9q6kg3QuGeHJmDk4tJKiwJAbDj2jtrfn4xL0H5iySfaMNhHABE-x_8OOxGw/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4826.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The inside of the palace is only half the story though, and once you've finished touring inside the grounds are also well worth exploring further. The gardens were redesigned in the 1940s by Percy Cane, a garden designer who also designed the palace grounds of the Jubilee Palace in Addis Ababa for Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia amongst other commissions. They are a mix of formal and more rustic and natural, along with a glasshouse as well as housing the royal tennis court that I mentioned earlier. Visitors can also see the remains of the foundations of the castle which were found during excavations carried out by the 3rd Marquess of Bute.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">We were lucky to visit on a particularly sunny early summer's day so a walk around the gardens was a really lovely way to end our visit. The trip out to Falkland</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> made a really pleasant change on one of our last weekends in Edinburgh when we were trying to fit so many final things in. It was a busy few weeks so this complete change of location and the tranquillity of the gardens in particular made for a much needed break from all the craziness. </span></div><p></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0East Port, Falkland, Cupar KY15 7BY, UK56.253571099999988 -3.205848927.943337263821142 -38.3620989 84.563804936178826 31.9504011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-68458330679102199502021-06-20T21:03:00.000+00:002021-06-20T21:03:12.460+00:00A Night Onboard Fingal, Edinburgh<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">It's fair to say that the past year or so has meant some huge changes for us all. Whether you were someone who was fortunate to be able to travel overseas regularly or just enjoyed visiting and staying in different places around the UK we've all had to adapt massively. Over the time we've lived in Edinburgh we've kept a (long) list of places, restaurants, bars etc. both in the city and further away that we'd like to visit, included on that are a few hotels or similar that we also thought would make a good base for a break or a night away. This past year has obviously meant that going to a lot of these hasn't been possible but with things starting to open up a little more we've looked again at all the names on that list, one being <a href="https://www.fingal.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fingal</a>, the luxury floating hotel at Leith.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNxq9c_6cZOXeNyUyR8H-atOY12SJz1OC-ZyjTaBqb6Zxs4RE6bsu8TzojYV_J9Xeot0YUzsf3Wh8nagA7hmoFP_gR15iCUtn_bWYTGZHcccaZPypdw5LnONyVSJ0JvU8M-xX5tcp56-m/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4793.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNxq9c_6cZOXeNyUyR8H-atOY12SJz1OC-ZyjTaBqb6Zxs4RE6bsu8TzojYV_J9Xeot0YUzsf3Wh8nagA7hmoFP_gR15iCUtn_bWYTGZHcccaZPypdw5LnONyVSJ0JvU8M-xX5tcp56-m/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4793.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Before Fingal became the gorgeous hotel she is now she was originally commissioned in 1963 by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) to ferry lighthouse keepers, essential supplies and maintenance staff to some of Scotland's most far flung lighthouses. She subsequently spent thirty years based in Oban and then six in Stromness. Fingal was retired in 2000 spending a number of years in private ownership in Cornwall with the new name of 'Windsor Castle'. She came to Edinburgh in 2014, having been acquired by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, where the work to convert her into the hotel eventually began. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Fingal had one final role to play before being converted into the hotel though, temporarily being painted as a World War l dazzle ship. Dazzle camouflage was used extensively during the First World War and consisted of complex patterns and shapes in contrasting colours. The idea behind it was not to hide the item but rather to mislead the enemy by making it difficult to estimate the target's range, speed and heading. Each ship's pattern was also unique to avoid making any type of ship instantly recognisable. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Leith docks had been home to many of these dazzle ships and the World War l commemorative charity, </span><a href="https://www.1418now.org.uk/" style="font-family: Lato;" target="_blank">14-18 Now</a><span style="font-family: Lato;"> asked for Fingal to be painted in dazzle camouflage as a tribute to the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy ships that had been painted this way. The Turner Prize finalist, Ciara Phillips was subsequently commissioned to design Fingal's dazzle camouflage and the ship was painted like this between May 2016 and January 2017. By coincidence at some point during that period we had been for a walk that way and spotted Fingal, though we didn't know then what she was to become,</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> all painted up which my husband took a photo of (see below). There were several ships painted this way by different artists as part of the centenary commemorations for the First World War across the UK and the launch of Fingal's design was timed to coincide with the centenary of the Battle of Jutland.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI8vk0TSlDaDoy0RWgNzFtCqUABf4eqEnWjsGMijaYVVhV8cI3pWNoGrfIlWPA8KCW0jgGvNedYoniL-zs3z44a3PU4iSSbc0PQTCtTn7_Z7_ZbqR2rHaC9nqOjuVniDT2tgYso8ISXoN/s768/thumbnail_488eee6c-7050-40f1-8d99-09c023571f09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI8vk0TSlDaDoy0RWgNzFtCqUABf4eqEnWjsGMijaYVVhV8cI3pWNoGrfIlWPA8KCW0jgGvNedYoniL-zs3z44a3PU4iSSbc0PQTCtTn7_Z7_ZbqR2rHaC9nqOjuVniDT2tgYso8ISXoN/w640-h640/thumbnail_488eee6c-7050-40f1-8d99-09c023571f09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Fingal painted as a World War l Dazzle Ship ahead of her refurbishment (photo courtesy of my husband)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Back though to our stay onboard Fingal, an overnight one which was something of a last minute surprise for me. We stayed on the ship on a Friday night and I was only told on the Wednesday that we were going away and not told where. I had a couple of ideas based on that list I mentioned before but was determined not to find out beforehand and to let it remain a surprise. Obviously as we got closer to the hotel it was fairly clear where we were going, but by that point I was very excited to finally be going there and I couldn't wait to see onboard.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">As Fingal was originally a Northern Lighthouse Board ship all the rooms are named after Scottish lighthouses, ours was Kinnaird Head which I later learnt is in Fraserburgh off the Aberdeenshire coast. Our room was set over two floors with a spiral staircase connecting an upstairs living space with the sleeping area and bathroom below. Just in case you forget you are actually onboard a ship and not in a regular building there are plenty of little reminders all around you, including the porthole windows and, as you can see in the bathroom photo below, the obviously sloping walls of the ship's sides. The taps and fittings in the bathroom have a distinctly nautical theme too looking like little ship wheels and there are ship rope styled handrails throughout the main public areas onboard. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I loved the luxurious touch of underfloor heating in the bathroom, whilst it wasn't cold when we were there it was still nice to feel that little bit of warmth underneath your feet. The bed was amazingly comfortable but, as I often find in hotels, the room did feel quite warm overnight. Asides from that though I don't think I heard a thing from outside or elsewhere onboard and I slept incredibly well, something I often don't manage on my first night in a new place. As you'd expect too there are all those extra little touches, including scrumptious chocolates in the room and lovely smelling toiletries in the bathroom, that all go towards making a luxury hotel stay especially nice and a real treat away from home. Whilst we didn't need it one thing that did strike me though as not being available in the room was any information about local places of interest etc., I'm pretty sure the staff on the front desk would be more than willing to help but it surprise me not to find anything.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil169CS4gEqP6G-XOgejE71Dq1udQQ6NKR22Gm4QRPmgbCqPODoMoAe4fR5t-KTtLO3R_Bg_4fm1L2llJ-XbcbAE5-2pDtkQEvlbUSXgU3o1cS5qUhLXNFkQJcaIYe3ES5iglz4_a17hXY/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4780.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil169CS4gEqP6G-XOgejE71Dq1udQQ6NKR22Gm4QRPmgbCqPODoMoAe4fR5t-KTtLO3R_Bg_4fm1L2llJ-XbcbAE5-2pDtkQEvlbUSXgU3o1cS5qUhLXNFkQJcaIYe3ES5iglz4_a17hXY/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4780.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTJH4goxfVtfr57Eq3_HR6Z5tjBuJlprNl4rhInIleqN277YSGNx6MWNDc4-Wup3YOrPrRg5xMXFmFVGGS7DASkPp-JNFQzOFWz7RESZ1TjtADJYhMRlfezXrqqh-isi0DjwZHHlH6LCi/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTJH4goxfVtfr57Eq3_HR6Z5tjBuJlprNl4rhInIleqN277YSGNx6MWNDc4-Wup3YOrPrRg5xMXFmFVGGS7DASkPp-JNFQzOFWz7RESZ1TjtADJYhMRlfezXrqqh-isi0DjwZHHlH6LCi/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8rjX7JU0MPP7yeN55qHIkxp3Cse4aqmp00s15q8waVZbb2Wnc5EWOwBOFdSwbkY1_MjbaoGijK79tRkJdvkVkNcu_jFuKXKsgHXh3iRix4yn1EcszPHGsSaoIBTPJgRv7rmQPjYitm4H/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4771.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8rjX7JU0MPP7yeN55qHIkxp3Cse4aqmp00s15q8waVZbb2Wnc5EWOwBOFdSwbkY1_MjbaoGijK79tRkJdvkVkNcu_jFuKXKsgHXh3iRix4yn1EcszPHGsSaoIBTPJgRv7rmQPjYitm4H/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4771.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDXuXU582u9b4iQP40Va6qvgESpaX3Y6DmNCQ7uW10_cMRhOYYrJPhutRK_5F5SRazaNxHk2U3-Tzl1HkXMD7yzP1bLBI7QQFRGAd6bkoa1KqSnzy16M-pTQgMjmmIl23dTeFaK3aCg2A/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4773.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDXuXU582u9b4iQP40Va6qvgESpaX3Y6DmNCQ7uW10_cMRhOYYrJPhutRK_5F5SRazaNxHk2U3-Tzl1HkXMD7yzP1bLBI7QQFRGAd6bkoa1KqSnzy16M-pTQgMjmmIl23dTeFaK3aCg2A/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4773.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Once we were onboard we stayed there until we left the next day, for a special treat such as ours was there really was no need to leave Fingal. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">When we arrived our room wasn't quite ready due to the extra cleaning measures currently in place but we were taken to the bar where we were able to enjoy a complimentary drink whilst we waited. I decided to choose one of their signature cocktails settling on a Yard No. 140. The Scottish rum based cocktail was given its name in tribute to the name that Fingal was given when first commissioned. It was sweet but definitely a very enjoyable drink for a Friday afternoon onboard a luxury hotel with nothing to do but wait for your room to be ready.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS-RFjoSmYvJlWRQC2CtHq63x2WpitFDbJgeAiJdYwJ_gjqkdb0dh4xGJd76kC6WtXDg0WZcdyeEX8IlLLPH9O8thbhJz0R5_VgCUpTNaRroX0Jor9qGN4S-TvPZGdq59OzKwhIj7LNP6/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4767.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS-RFjoSmYvJlWRQC2CtHq63x2WpitFDbJgeAiJdYwJ_gjqkdb0dh4xGJd76kC6WtXDg0WZcdyeEX8IlLLPH9O8thbhJz0R5_VgCUpTNaRroX0Jor9qGN4S-TvPZGdq59OzKwhIj7LNP6/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4767.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>My afternoon cocktail, a Yard No. 140</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Of course we weren't just there for some drinks in the bar we also had dinner booked for later in the evening and wow what a dinner it was! After that complimentary drink in the bar and some time in our room we started the evening with a couple of drinks outside on the ship's deck. There weren't many of us out there but those of us who were brave enough to risk the evening chill as the sun lowered in the sky were actually rewarded with a mild early summer evening even with a bit of a breeze blowing in from the Firth of Forth.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">On to the main event though and to start for dinner I enjoyed the Isle of Wight tomato salad with basil sponge, gordal olives and burrata whilst my husband had the smoked salmon which is smoked onboard and comes highly recommended both by him and the member of staff looking after us in the restaurant. This was followed for me by the lamb rump with smoked yogurt, wild garlic, potato gratin and a red wine sauce and dessert of Perthshire strawberries with coconut dacquoise and vanilla ice cream. All the courses were sublime and the restaurant is definitely worth booking as a treat whether you are staying onboard or simply considering visiting the hotel as a non-resident. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Breakfast by contrast did feel a little more limited, however that may well have been due to the Covid-19 restrictions currently in place. Ordinarily at a hotel breakfast you'd expect to have a range of lighter options that you can help yourself to and then several more substantial options to choose from. As you'd imagine there were no help yourself buffet options (I honestly don't know though if you would have got this option pre-Covid or not) and whilst, having both opted for the full Scottish breakfast, it was delicious both my husband and I did agree that it was quite small compared to many other full Scottish breakfast options that are available in cafes etc. across Edinburgh. On the other hand though maybe a smaller sized cooked breakfast isn't necessarily a bad thing either, what do you think?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOPXF4NFWaBuR6Xtrhs0QQr6x3wQvclkuEPPa93PISk2VrszcJeF8nCLSkyKktX5F2Oz-ZGS8QoHQDwcckBmKbWJCASrx4J2W2I1B97MC2t9lMwoonMe8qMh6p9TxDg3HAObiO9iN46iL/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4787.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOPXF4NFWaBuR6Xtrhs0QQr6x3wQvclkuEPPa93PISk2VrszcJeF8nCLSkyKktX5F2Oz-ZGS8QoHQDwcckBmKbWJCASrx4J2W2I1B97MC2t9lMwoonMe8qMh6p9TxDg3HAObiO9iN46iL/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4787.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51TK77ousc5hoLQ94_V845rdJH39V6UUtbryLZ4jRCKvJwj7Kd7WNmccdYeIpbMoJF8lfq3yU7qJpnU7BUDm1cHHWCcmSfmWNJMQg99U4xln595tH1vmSweLYICemXHeC17mSOkTVJG4P/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4788.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51TK77ousc5hoLQ94_V845rdJH39V6UUtbryLZ4jRCKvJwj7Kd7WNmccdYeIpbMoJF8lfq3yU7qJpnU7BUDm1cHHWCcmSfmWNJMQg99U4xln595tH1vmSweLYICemXHeC17mSOkTVJG4P/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4788.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBC_wk4_YSd89Ar0r3BgsZdzJ6VwsCanEX0eDvfv7_cuUzEAI44ULmbT74U8XYQU9Dq7qzhEs_ST6QR_pSS6Ql8dPlbKqpw_AfXrDflhcJRaooTwNtE90R1sks1rOAyWJquYmFzFIr5oB/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4789.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBC_wk4_YSd89Ar0r3BgsZdzJ6VwsCanEX0eDvfv7_cuUzEAI44ULmbT74U8XYQU9Dq7qzhEs_ST6QR_pSS6Ql8dPlbKqpw_AfXrDflhcJRaooTwNtE90R1sks1rOAyWJquYmFzFIr5oB/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4789.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The service and attention to detail throughout our stay was exactly what you would expect of a luxury hotel. Whether you are visiting Edinburgh and looking for a luxury base for your stay or are more local and simply looking for a special treat Fingal is definitely somewhere worth considering. Even i</span><span style="font-family: Lato;">f you aren't sure about a night (or more) onboard the hotel is also open to non-residents for drinks, afternoon tea or dinner and would make a lovely treat for any special occasion.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Whilst our stay was brief and was over much too quickly it was just so lovely to get away for a complete change and a night of luxury. We may not have been far from home but it really felt like we were miles away.</span></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com2Alexandra Dock, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7DX, UK55.9791898 -3.168831527.668955963821155 -38.3250815 84.289423636178839 31.9874185tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-58221826205708058582021-05-02T18:50:00.000+00:002021-05-02T18:50:22.988+00:00Cammo Estate<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Cammo Estate is a place I'd seen from across fields whilst on journeys to and from the airport and it was somewhere I'd always been a little bit curious about. From that road all you can see is the tall water tower and having read that there is nothing really left now (and knowing how much I love a ruined or abandoned place) my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to visit. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">It ended up taking me quite awhile to get there for various reasons but with our travel, until recently, limited to just Edinburgh it suddenly seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally go.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0Xb5W_3EugVyDVAdC2i2Jdq09L26lsvCVc6uOe6zUzSVAqStzv8pZH9KX3td4743vSjB8Rw7u_HzhcrRX4p2Z0CZ8qlGc3Rimsa3jVNJ9xgqDrFZr_9-X3bh6FHoNJ1GAlxWdRMkOVrc/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4444.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0Xb5W_3EugVyDVAdC2i2Jdq09L26lsvCVc6uOe6zUzSVAqStzv8pZH9KX3td4743vSjB8Rw7u_HzhcrRX4p2Z0CZ8qlGc3Rimsa3jVNJ9xgqDrFZr_9-X3bh6FHoNJ1GAlxWdRMkOVrc/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4444.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Cammo water tower</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The estate was once the home of Cammo House reputedly a grand house but sadly, except for a few ruins, no longer standing. The house was built for John Menzies, the then owner of the estate, in 1693 and it originally contained twenty rooms all with fires. It was designed to over look extensive grounds with its surrounding parkland later laid out with avenues and formal gardens by Sir John Clark of Penicuik a Scottish politician, lawyer, judge and composer. Various extensions and improvements were added by its subsequent owners and by the 1800s it was a fine country mansion containing more than fifty rooms. The house is thought to have been the inspiration for House of Shaws in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel <i>Kidnapped</i>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The house remained in private ownership until the 1970s, its final chapter coming when Margaret Louisa Tennent bought it in the early 1900s. She</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> had inherited her father's fortune from his sheep farming in Australia and when her marriage broke down, Margaret and her two sons remained in the house. They</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> subsequently went on extended travels to New Zealand, Australia and Japan but at some point on this trip she fell out with her eldest son who refused to come home and went to live in the United States. Margaret promptly wrote him out of her will, continuing to live with just her younger son at the house. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Margaret and her youngest son Percival led a reclusive life at Cammo rarely leaving other than to buy groceries and shop at the Jenners department store in Edinburgh's city centre. Margaret earnt herself the nickname the black widow as she was always seen dressed from head to toe in black. She died in 1955 and was apparently buried in the grounds of Cammo estate, this was believed to be the last interment on private land in Scotland. By this time the estate was pretty run down but was still estimated to be worth £500,000 when it was inherited by Percival. For the remainder of his life he let the house fall into further disrepair allowing his thirty dogs to have the run of the house whilst he stayed in the lodge house with the tenant farmers who lived there. The house became a regular target for looters which Percival did little to stop and when he died in 1975 the house was bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland. The house was deliberately set on fire twice by vandals in the late 1970s and was eventually partially demolished due to its unsafe condition in 1979. The National Trust gifted the estate to Edinburgh council for £1 in 1980 and they founded the UK's first wilderness park in the estate grounds.</span></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBR7-KVeJPOEagKMM64D7ZGz0Z68JgaCPG8LepAz9OyJMXndnWkTyhCB0BbaEKhaAtjbFKByVabgLzOTVilVXXOCOrgs1XznOnEdYnwNt3dlJO5h0So126JeYQsiKk1dv5ciZoYgX3xF_g/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4442.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBR7-KVeJPOEagKMM64D7ZGz0Z68JgaCPG8LepAz9OyJMXndnWkTyhCB0BbaEKhaAtjbFKByVabgLzOTVilVXXOCOrgs1XznOnEdYnwNt3dlJO5h0So126JeYQsiKk1dv5ciZoYgX3xF_g/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4442.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Remains of the estate stables</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">We drove over to Cammo and were able to park in the small south car park (it's definitely small and was quite busy on our weekend visit) and from there it's a very short walk into the estate grounds. The water tower, which I'd seen so many times from the road, is just to your left as you enter and in front are the remains of what were once the estate stables. The four storey tall water tower was built in the 19th century, sometime between 1819 and 1823, and was designed to supply water to the Cammo estate, including the house, the farm steading and the stables. When in use it was powered by wind (I can confirm that it's definitely well placed for that in the windy exposed spot it occupies) and used sails like a windmill to transfer the water. The tower isn't accessible now and is only home to roosting birds but it is worth the short detour across the field to see it close up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Back in the estate grounds and, as I said, the first building you see is the former stable block. In comparison to the main house (and some other out buildings nearby) this appears fairly intact at first glance, although it is minus its roof and as you can see in my photo above there is signage warning people to keep out. The stables were constructed in 1811 and would have housed about seven horses. They were built by James Watson who also built the water tower and was responsible for some alterations to the house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Just a short distance on from the stables are a couple of almost completely ruined buildings. It's hard to work out what they were originally but it's believed they could have been two cottages, most likely home for gardeners and later possibly coachmen. One of the ruins has evidence of small openings in its wall which may have been feeding spaces for cows. I'm not certain but those openings may be the low windows that you can see in the building on the left in my photo below. There is also evidence here of the ruins of pig sties. As a visitor whilst you can't see much now this area is a spot to stop and think about what the estate must have been like in its heyday with gardeners, farm workers, grooms and coachmen running around keeping the estate running.</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS1HVqAG78AbSeFbzyHC_8o-no7FmY5Xql-5j_cpj3XBf0UcGdg-PJ-mkKXPVpf_MGExJEIo1Kq8xe99ypn54i9rQN_5vFMXPjatUuqI85TjgxmvLkzD2p8M_pfuzOCqdXxAEWOGFZ8Ia/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4445.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS1HVqAG78AbSeFbzyHC_8o-no7FmY5Xql-5j_cpj3XBf0UcGdg-PJ-mkKXPVpf_MGExJEIo1Kq8xe99ypn54i9rQN_5vFMXPjatUuqI85TjgxmvLkzD2p8M_pfuzOCqdXxAEWOGFZ8Ia/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4445.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Lato;">Cottage ruins</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">There are signposts dotted around the estate pointing you towards the key features and we were shortly heading into what is left of the walled garden, another space that I imagine would once have been teeming with life. The walled garden was constructed between 1780 and 1782 by Charles Watson the then owner of Cammo Estate. Alongside the walled garden the estate also had an orchard by 1805, and at its height the walled garden, orchard and glasshouses combined supplied Cammo house with all its fruit and vegetables throughout the year. By 1918 though it was no longer a functioning garden and it gradually became overgrown and derelict. There isn't a lot there now to see what the garden may once have looked like but I've read it has since become famous for its snowdrops that bloom here in the early part of each year. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I didn't take any photos of this but in the gardens you'll also find a canal. Canals were fashionable in gardens in the 18th century but there are only a handful of them in Scottish gardens. Something to look out for on your visit.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MYd4fKDMggZERNheKqEeDmFcx-VbOUazuDY_hIBlmJoUYbYkR3ubhiENac1TJMCX9FEQWkvf-1a51AmENgfvYl-A-1-XCBMA9eT3eZ-BkrOdTc3uTlYsHvcGZaWfpx34TaZuv7SPibjM/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4449.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MYd4fKDMggZERNheKqEeDmFcx-VbOUazuDY_hIBlmJoUYbYkR3ubhiENac1TJMCX9FEQWkvf-1a51AmENgfvYl-A-1-XCBMA9eT3eZ-BkrOdTc3uTlYsHvcGZaWfpx34TaZuv7SPibjM/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4449.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Remains of the walled garden</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNqG2ccwkeSC81gG4fSlK4orYnihzm2uuiy3L-yNVRG7BY6fn5pa0leDpwZKv6JkNkQg75eXJYZKoUHpVkHYzt99fzU_a_YoYh8IjwdTUqVbenh7NTznE66RKcoTFbSYTCGC89BghLyqX/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNqG2ccwkeSC81gG4fSlK4orYnihzm2uuiy3L-yNVRG7BY6fn5pa0leDpwZKv6JkNkQg75eXJYZKoUHpVkHYzt99fzU_a_YoYh8IjwdTUqVbenh7NTznE66RKcoTFbSYTCGC89BghLyqX/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Finally we reached the sparse remains of the house itself. Compared to other buildings in the estate there isn't much left of it at all, other than the main entrance and part of the front and side ground floor walls. It's really hard to imagine it being a grand house now or to get any sense of how big it was but if you search on the Internet you can find a few old photos of it. I can't pretend that I don't wish I could travel back in time to see it before it was run down and demolished though.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Despite hardly anything of the house remaining it is this part of the surrounding grounds that seems to have retained a little more of the grandness and appearance of those landscaped gardens. To the side of the house are the remains of the pinetum, home to some yew trees and various conifers. Walking away from the remains of the house and back to the car park a vast tree lined entrance way towards the house became more apparent. It might be grassed over now but must have once provided a stunning approach to the house.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHWcLfzE4g3_R_yE6xS6e_FkpnJE00XrVRhZjpjz0_-RBusp3VtlUNW9AQKBKnMyKsSWNCOrySCyVg3BgiLHHXH79uG7WarP5S-DRNr_rs0reOrGNusCRIvcJnV0HyfylRjJKJW6xFKvG/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4454.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHWcLfzE4g3_R_yE6xS6e_FkpnJE00XrVRhZjpjz0_-RBusp3VtlUNW9AQKBKnMyKsSWNCOrySCyVg3BgiLHHXH79uG7WarP5S-DRNr_rs0reOrGNusCRIvcJnV0HyfylRjJKJW6xFKvG/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4454.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Entrance to Cammo House</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTyl42O5RJgzAj5CAvtrRm1UtoN3DoY5I-DHeY8wquToGbRfpC3dL7Bg-s53z1m7E1ucLCZWNs3U_hyphenhyphenoVoaMajTq6qR7e_onWgbEAmFKXqpYUDUOtFXV3E9byVd2FA3vtWpnWeb70poqA/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4453.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTyl42O5RJgzAj5CAvtrRm1UtoN3DoY5I-DHeY8wquToGbRfpC3dL7Bg-s53z1m7E1ucLCZWNs3U_hyphenhyphenoVoaMajTq6qR7e_onWgbEAmFKXqpYUDUOtFXV3E9byVd2FA3vtWpnWeb70poqA/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4453.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>'Inside' Cammo House</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Y04B54PG4p5wfXEXPwEKJ5YJSXWWTTLM2a_k-to_rWOZLTHQxR5lE9YYrzB1nK4uDlECkvfGK_5txR8YS8Nj-y18tSkkH6mhEkKZJeFWvUUc5IFMVNm7IYfYAWErrB5-DCaGo1etJ97b/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4456.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Y04B54PG4p5wfXEXPwEKJ5YJSXWWTTLM2a_k-to_rWOZLTHQxR5lE9YYrzB1nK4uDlECkvfGK_5txR8YS8Nj-y18tSkkH6mhEkKZJeFWvUUc5IFMVNm7IYfYAWErrB5-DCaGo1etJ97b/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4456.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Looking towards the Pinetum</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa3L77DYf8nhmpnn2yFu2DRhMaMqLEl6CapxxFJLoRE6y2sCrpwZT66-IIpet6gbbgVV0lO1MEjI7E8KjjQ5kGtRXZzM4LW-OE4Th32y2D7zMLwTdhbCg-upbzgECJ_344CrV0bgtuicd/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa3L77DYf8nhmpnn2yFu2DRhMaMqLEl6CapxxFJLoRE6y2sCrpwZT66-IIpet6gbbgVV0lO1MEjI7E8KjjQ5kGtRXZzM4LW-OE4Th32y2D7zMLwTdhbCg-upbzgECJ_344CrV0bgtuicd/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4457.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG547-UEym2FvN2yqkMf5LeVAfsrt48GtpmE7wXhXmQLpjhNKlgai43PvpSFtscvn0fKOEsOkHOaq9glbmABlnSD-Nj_bDqSsaoV2uRMWMPdk2a87UY26eW03wI3pIJ_9mDtFIgVjU7d8k/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG547-UEym2FvN2yqkMf5LeVAfsrt48GtpmE7wXhXmQLpjhNKlgai43PvpSFtscvn0fKOEsOkHOaq9glbmABlnSD-Nj_bDqSsaoV2uRMWMPdk2a87UY26eW03wI3pIJ_9mDtFIgVjU7d8k/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4458.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Lato;">Looking from and back to the remains of the house</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGOalcVk4m0I1Kqme84osj3G_PXKvx8UN4Mvba-bNZ5TtrJUsmN9gymnWa1-ywmE9wKeqWkdAQJY_lVV5wElQtuSrJg7lduzlSzjmGTZOL33N3kmpjhvjJl8N-B5BWcXtxzrnhVp_TY5u/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4460.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGOalcVk4m0I1Kqme84osj3G_PXKvx8UN4Mvba-bNZ5TtrJUsmN9gymnWa1-ywmE9wKeqWkdAQJY_lVV5wElQtuSrJg7lduzlSzjmGTZOL33N3kmpjhvjJl8N-B5BWcXtxzrnhVp_TY5u/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4460.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">It's a shame the house is no longer standing and that it had such a sad end as well. Being a lover of abandoned places I wish there was still a little more left to see. I can't help but wonder too what happened to everything in the house that was stolen in later years and did anyone even know what was in the house and what was taken other than its reclusive owner. Despite there not being a house there however the estate is still a fascinating place to walk around. A place to explore and let your imagination conjure up images of what it might once have been like, a place for nature lovers and a space to get away from the city.</span></p></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Cammo Estate, 37 Cammo Rd, Edinburgh EH4 8AW, UK55.9575733 -3.320912827.647339463821154 -38.4771628 84.267807136178845 31.8353372tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-29529212887045548882021-04-04T17:24:00.001+00:002021-05-02T10:33:30.723+00:00Dunbar, East Lothian<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">From Edinburgh there are plenty of places that are very easy to reach for a day trip and if it's close to the city there's a good chance you'll also find yourself on the coast. Obviously with the current travel restrictions that are in place travel further afield is having to wait a bit longer but when we can I'll definitely be heading off somewhere. One of these easy to reach little coastal towns close to Edinburgh, that I went to for the first time last year (when we could do), and that you might want to go to as well is Dunbar in East Lothian.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8LRJZWKS-iCU7qAmJIaAZD2F161CDPf9hLJnoTXfQ6HFhYpTgF77z_ZkRSccPXzmk1AivF-G4c5gGz2wInDcC2ZROymYAhTGinCkfu3ZDdv5KXvr7VK9VHPah1H5_GAbOZucV9XC-Fxh/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8LRJZWKS-iCU7qAmJIaAZD2F161CDPf9hLJnoTXfQ6HFhYpTgF77z_ZkRSccPXzmk1AivF-G4c5gGz2wInDcC2ZROymYAhTGinCkfu3ZDdv5KXvr7VK9VHPah1H5_GAbOZucV9XC-Fxh/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4410.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Looking across the harbour to the ruins of Dunbar castle</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Dunbar is a former royal burgh, becoming so in 1445. A royal burgh was a type of burgh (usually a city or town) founded by or subsequently granted a royal charter, royal burghs were abolished in law in 1975 but the term is still used by many of the former ones. The town has roots going back much further than that though. There is evidence of an Iron Age promontory fort, typically a defensive structure located above a steep cliff which is often only connected to the mainland by a small piece of land. Later it became part of Anglian Northumbria when that kingdom expanded in the 6th century. The Northumbrian monk and scholar, St Cuthbert (who is said to have founded <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2016/07/st-cuthberts-church-graveyard-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">St Cuthbert's church</a> in Edinburgh) is believed to have been born near Dunbar. Eventually though Dunbar fell under Scottish control and in 1018 was acknowledged as a part of Scotland.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">One of Dunbar's main points of interest is its ruined castle standing at the entrance to the harbour which, following a partial collapse in 1993, is now sadly too dangerous to access. Whilst it might be a ruin now it was once one of the strongest fortresses in Scotland. The Votadini, a Celtic people of the Iron Age, are believed to have been the first to defend this site. The town's original name, dyn barr (its original Brythonic name in the Celtic language) means 'the fort of the point'. The first stone castle on the site is thought to have been built by Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria after his exile from England in 1072. Several more fortifications were built on the site following that first one with the last one being deliberately damaged in 1567.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Its location, not unsurprisingly, has seen it attacked by the English several times throughout its history, unsuccessfully in 1214, Edward l had better luck in 1296 and Edward ll sheltered there after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Its most famous moment came in 1338 though when Agnes Randolph of Dunbar or 'Black Agnes' as she was known commanded the successful defence of the castle during a five month siege by the English. Later in its history Mary, Queen of Scots made a brief stay there after fleeing Edinburgh following the murder of David Rizzio in 1567. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Its final slight (intentional damage) was ordered by the Parliament of Scotland, Dunbar was to be, 'cast down utterly to the ground and destroyed in such a way that no foundation thereof be the occasion to build thereupon in time coming'. It's final indignity however actually came in 1844 with the construction of the Victoria harbour. A new entrance for the harbours (Dunbar has three!) was blasted through the end of the rock where the castle stands. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO81gNY303BZj2YdbtC3Ty0ahHA3zu2Ov5MisMbqIc8xpgz2tJfBOD1YqcI_NZgMbZSoI8eIKLL8ICR_f_IBrtvYTJGn3bcWIUk9fOpciJEYuj0fyzC_SJRRATxBGoLkeAjwECa5pq_Ww9/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO81gNY303BZj2YdbtC3Ty0ahHA3zu2Ov5MisMbqIc8xpgz2tJfBOD1YqcI_NZgMbZSoI8eIKLL8ICR_f_IBrtvYTJGn3bcWIUk9fOpciJEYuj0fyzC_SJRRATxBGoLkeAjwECa5pq_Ww9/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN-ssP1BsFhBXvX6uJi0LyAZP8x-TFVCQso4MEZy8FlTVcq7Xx72vErZlBT-Th_D0IVYE7We1Tcxu_Qxpawqhflb7amxsc6oM_vBCt3vhjJ1jrnXKCjv86HJZsieyAtWuyEcd7_WUlTuL/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_3256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN-ssP1BsFhBXvX6uJi0LyAZP8x-TFVCQso4MEZy8FlTVcq7Xx72vErZlBT-Th_D0IVYE7We1Tcxu_Qxpawqhflb7amxsc6oM_vBCt3vhjJ1jrnXKCjv86HJZsieyAtWuyEcd7_WUlTuL/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_3256.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Opposite the castle on the other side of the harbour stands the battery which gives great views out over the Forth of Firth. The battery overlooks the original harbour and was built to protect the town from privateers in the 18th century. It looks like it's had a fairly recent makeover with information boards, key dates and notable events throughout its history carved into various points in the ground as you walk around as well as what looks like a small visitor centre. Though as I've only visited Dunbar at points in the past year where we could travel a little further but lots of places were still closed I'm not completely sure what is in there. </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">The views though are spectacular looking out across the little islands and rocks that jut out of the sea in this area, including the famous Bass Rock. Likewise if you know your seabirds from here you're very likely to be able to spot a large variety of different ones.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_bpGYHGX9Y84Cm2AyfAErpjwCYXXCsHR6jLu33B1Irm7J4DT-RzbVUhl1hO-zbAa5d2UTOAsiV9fSJu4VFnCENIyC3KLOeClBOOXUUoRf5htKtaH-tWxKLep4u0YiJPUqD1M0IbAchCI/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_bpGYHGX9Y84Cm2AyfAErpjwCYXXCsHR6jLu33B1Irm7J4DT-RzbVUhl1hO-zbAa5d2UTOAsiV9fSJu4VFnCENIyC3KLOeClBOOXUUoRf5htKtaH-tWxKLep4u0YiJPUqD1M0IbAchCI/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4417.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv8fMSDtRbAUPx2D4n70RvDrNowlfOto9kILpu4AjD5N8s1ybJnepgcTLY0sElBhxb35btHffZ2M33NBpGZXTBtplRwoPeCY6d8ch3MXAlHZsl2JoIUnTvD-4KTbpGQHNb4-NyuW2Cjkm/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_3259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv8fMSDtRbAUPx2D4n70RvDrNowlfOto9kILpu4AjD5N8s1ybJnepgcTLY0sElBhxb35btHffZ2M33NBpGZXTBtplRwoPeCY6d8ch3MXAlHZsl2JoIUnTvD-4KTbpGQHNb4-NyuW2Cjkm/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_3259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">On my first visit to Dunbar last year I took the train so before I arrived at the harbour area I got to walk up the main high street of the town. Unfortunately with a combination of shops etc. not having fully opened up following the end of the first lockdown and, I think, maybe because it was a Monday a lot of the cafes etc. were closed but it looks a nice little spot to explore when places are open again. There is also the John Muir's birthplace museum which on both my visits has been closed as well. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">John Muir was a naturalist and preservationist, whose family emigrated to the United States in 1849, despite spending most of his life in America though he always remembered his Scottish roots and apparently never lost his Scottish accent either. I actually first came across his name when one of my colleagues at work told me about him prior to our visit to <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search/label/California" target="_blank">California</a> in 2019, he had a home there and was largely responsible for the establishment of the Yosemite National Park. Whilst we didn't get there seeing his name again, thanks to his childhood links to Dunbar, reminded me once more of that conversation and of those previous travels we'd enjoyed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkLYkC9BV7-eRvH5Ub92wJIOMnq_iMKVeRccEaRgMLAM2so8LU496zOlWZFlddC87dau3dVdbshZMFhMHwPkAHux-0ONQZp_lyM0fPMjkdV_Z_QRUAcXPA-THmq8FQvKu9s4ko3pN4c0e/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkLYkC9BV7-eRvH5Ub92wJIOMnq_iMKVeRccEaRgMLAM2so8LU496zOlWZFlddC87dau3dVdbshZMFhMHwPkAHux-0ONQZp_lyM0fPMjkdV_Z_QRUAcXPA-THmq8FQvKu9s4ko3pN4c0e/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4422.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">One final place close to Dunbar that we got to on our second visit (this time we went by car) was the famous 'bridge to nowhere'. I have to admit that I'd seen many photos of this bridge and for some unknown reason had always assumed it was somewhere much further north. After that first visit last year I saw another photo of the bridge and discovered that it was in fact near Dunbar and therefore somewhere we could get to at some point.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The bridge to nowhere or, to give it its actual name, Belhaven bridge provides access </span><span style="font-family: Lato;">across the Biel Water at low tide to reach the vast sandy beach at Belhaven Bay which gives more great views out into the Forth Estuary. The bridge acquired its nickname because</span><span style="font-family: Lato;"> at very high tide the sea completely surrounds it cutting off access and making it look like it literally goes nowhere. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">If you visit the beach it is a good spot for a walk (it's also a popular spot for surfing apparently) and some sea air, though that metal footbridge with its criss-cross pattern of tiny holes beneath your feet is clearly not popular with some dogs. We saw several owners that day having to carry their dogs (of all sizes) across it who were refusing to or were too scared to step on to the bridge and walk on it with all those tiny holes.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbx_HEoj7ISbZw7uP6C9ikoUTJMkyfgZqOX1VM7vfIGyN7zN9NF4i-A4-vzOhNFsCuqXKiqTimjN1et-ZmaA2tv64joimHIhZwZPcxZgYNsP03eO6pr6O_5PFrbjFEJGDusLGA9dw3FdjM/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbx_HEoj7ISbZw7uP6C9ikoUTJMkyfgZqOX1VM7vfIGyN7zN9NF4i-A4-vzOhNFsCuqXKiqTimjN1et-ZmaA2tv64joimHIhZwZPcxZgYNsP03eO6pr6O_5PFrbjFEJGDusLGA9dw3FdjM/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Dunbar might not be quite as bustling as its near neighbour <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search/label/North%20Berwick" target="_blank">North Berwick</a> (though as I've only visited in the time of Covid-19 restrictions perhaps I'm being a little unfair) but for a day away from Edinburgh it's still definitely worth exploring and is easy to reach both by car and train. Dunbar is apparently one of the sunniest and driest spots in Scotland making a visit even more appealing. Getting out of Edinburgh now and again is always good (even if Edinburgh is gorgeous) and once restrictions are eased a little more and allow us to go a bit further afield days like this will be appreciated even more by me.</span></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Dunbar, UK56.002087 -2.51673727.691853163821158 -37.672987 84.312320836178856 32.639513tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-641109187447636862021-03-07T20:33:00.002+00:002021-05-02T10:47:51.404+00:00Corstorphine Hill<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">I wrote at the end of last year about our visit to <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2020/12/blackford-hill.html" target="_blank">Blackford hill</a>, one of Edinburgh's seven hills, and we've since visited another one for the first time, Corstorphine hill. We have a great little book of walks around Edinburgh which we used to use regularly but somehow haven't done for a long time. Included in it though is a walk around Corstorphine hill so after finally deciding to visit we got the book out once again to help us explore this new (to us) part of Edinburgh.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVIJWKWJU8DJ_Qjp0J5-wAPc2KBlHhI8EK8XoEXhRNic9_t90mHAgz9P06Kl97MbFUMbrKUfqMYXj33CKNXXbsTnYPSuZ4bS158_C63Wvm9gIE6d9d3Ju3LNdMUoUIFLQTPxCxDTzItTG/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVIJWKWJU8DJ_Qjp0J5-wAPc2KBlHhI8EK8XoEXhRNic9_t90mHAgz9P06Kl97MbFUMbrKUfqMYXj33CKNXXbsTnYPSuZ4bS158_C63Wvm9gIE6d9d3Ju3LNdMUoUIFLQTPxCxDTzItTG/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4145.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Corstorphine hill, just like the other hills that make up Edinburgh, was formed millions of years ago, though this one was by the movement of glaciers, unlike others in Edinburgh that were formed by volcanic activity. Similarly to Blackford hill there is evidence here too of a prehistoric settlement. The hill rises above north west Edinburgh in an L-shaped ridge and has a dense covering of trees on its upper levels, it certainly has far more woodland than any of the other hills of Edinburgh I've visited previously so gives quite a different experience especially in terms of its limited viewing points. As a result of this woodland though it has been designated a nature reserve for the variety of native trees there, a mix of oak, beech and ash, as well as for the colonies of badgers who call it home. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">As you'll see from my photos it was pretty snowy the day we went and this was before the most recent heavy snowfall that hit the UK. It obviously made everywhere look extra pretty but we'll definitely have to go back in the warmer months when it's a little less icy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v9LNWKWnzNVwOmzMnuhLmYkAENvlHe6u56C7WKK1nk2tclsymZCU8evtdMND3jQKB-WrmQ2Mnfe85MfS3x1Fz03ug49ttPJtuBlh_cm71oyuY5TH6wcdL2bl0Ipec9i0H9YW5e5yAVKa/s1600/64b6d2eb-a2a5-4d5e-8a94-6c4e1049b667.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v9LNWKWnzNVwOmzMnuhLmYkAENvlHe6u56C7WKK1nk2tclsymZCU8evtdMND3jQKB-WrmQ2Mnfe85MfS3x1Fz03ug49ttPJtuBlh_cm71oyuY5TH6wcdL2bl0Ipec9i0H9YW5e5yAVKa/w480-h640/64b6d2eb-a2a5-4d5e-8a94-6c4e1049b667.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The walk we followed began at the entrance on Queensferry Road and took us on a circular route around the hill, though towards the end we went off the route, mainly due to that ice. For the majority of the walk the climb was relatively gentle and not too strenuous, though there are steeper sections too. However given the conditions under foot that day it was probably a little more challenging throughout than it would normally have been.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><span>As we continued on and climbed a little higher we were finally rewarded with some views towards <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2017/04/arthurs-seat-st-anthonys-chapel-and-st.html" target="_blank">Arthur's Seat</a>, over the Murrayfield golf course towards the city and across the Firth of Forth. Corstorphine hill is also right besides the zoo (somewhere I'm yet to go as well) but we didn't see any of the wilder animals whilst we were there. </span><span>We did, however, see a sign post labelled 'Rest and Be Thankful' which was once the high spot on the old road into Edinburgh. It was here that travellers would pause to get their first sight of the city. I've since seen some lovely photos from here, it really does look a special spot to get that unique photo across Edinburgh. As you may have guessed we didn't actually get to that part ourselves but in our defence as I said there was a lot of snow and ice up there. In fact I'll admit here that at one point on our walk I slipped right over on a large patch of ice and ended up afterwards with a sore shoulder and some spectacular bruises, exploring every point of the hill just wasn't an option that day. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI8ljEZZjxDPO9ZmW7I1qHzqNvGr0k_NuviC4nHdh2OsauewwhqXW_9cEA2_X0zsfj8qdGo3dt0r3thMb4Iqtx6x4G8XHzs76rwtSf3QoeV9plVn9VTjbJYbAeN3f1_N8_ZY0tVJrbw_u/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI8ljEZZjxDPO9ZmW7I1qHzqNvGr0k_NuviC4nHdh2OsauewwhqXW_9cEA2_X0zsfj8qdGo3dt0r3thMb4Iqtx6x4G8XHzs76rwtSf3QoeV9plVn9VTjbJYbAeN3f1_N8_ZY0tVJrbw_u/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4146.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtCgGRegIbptJUDmFSTppO75rzh5PPgFhagRJSO2la2azt3IwmjI-pIimg2wNGPLnNUfH0JhCJu8GkgRDm6OcqBVVGU9aA6-lFWngSzV1Dd7gMcTTckDXvZ96OZwVOZbFj60igErptTjX/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtCgGRegIbptJUDmFSTppO75rzh5PPgFhagRJSO2la2azt3IwmjI-pIimg2wNGPLnNUfH0JhCJu8GkgRDm6OcqBVVGU9aA6-lFWngSzV1Dd7gMcTTckDXvZ96OZwVOZbFj60igErptTjX/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHxlhDXnaBIp8kdiMAowd_cw35EaMcnJXDaL0xDXd-dwODAxXcpMRV1qVSmkgLgkj4ePDZKNNK7U107pLyXA2un9F8MCzF7hG6Zx4QsofVYH7lqguzMvW2bItlZOG0QEu4cBC611BNHIF/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4155.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHxlhDXnaBIp8kdiMAowd_cw35EaMcnJXDaL0xDXd-dwODAxXcpMRV1qVSmkgLgkj4ePDZKNNK7U107pLyXA2un9F8MCzF7hG6Zx4QsofVYH7lqguzMvW2bItlZOG0QEu4cBC611BNHIF/w640-h480/thumbnail_IMG_4155.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMzE3WDpH1s5Mcv2FPR9ZA_udHnj-dl_kpRXdLlL3dlS4-3r87e0XmwWNbjnxOIWGEMxzsC1ORTSh0Pkjk63ZSD4B7fXkpxRoqA5K_vkau2bpqXoUfS4QnnTOvtjWxp1atsg3AZEroTbQ/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4157.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMzE3WDpH1s5Mcv2FPR9ZA_udHnj-dl_kpRXdLlL3dlS4-3r87e0XmwWNbjnxOIWGEMxzsC1ORTSh0Pkjk63ZSD4B7fXkpxRoqA5K_vkau2bpqXoUfS4QnnTOvtjWxp1atsg3AZEroTbQ/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4157.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><i>Taken just before I slipped right over 😖</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">One highlight of the hill that we definitely did see though was the Corstorphine Hill tower, also known as Clermiston tower or the Scott tower. It was built as a viewpoint and memorial to Sir Walter Scott in 1871, one hundred years after his birth in 1771. The tower is kept locked usually but does get opened up occasionally and I imagine the views from the top are well worth the climb. I think it has been opened up on previous <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search/label/Doors%20Open%20Day" target="_blank">Doors Open Days</a>, a weekend I always enjoy when times are more normal, hopefully it will be again at some point. Have you been up to the top?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DMxllB6oRfxbfL2i1TtgXshkBJYwmE3F2696ZlmeCBXTP86wrU1QL8ODbrCNHj7GB3NsLbE5W2NAu2o8uINmMalnXUKYVzhZ2VVJePVTXLDvOkbZS62oH0BGrea7RfA1llP7IXYoc7A3/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4160.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DMxllB6oRfxbfL2i1TtgXshkBJYwmE3F2696ZlmeCBXTP86wrU1QL8ODbrCNHj7GB3NsLbE5W2NAu2o8uINmMalnXUKYVzhZ2VVJePVTXLDvOkbZS62oH0BGrea7RfA1llP7IXYoc7A3/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_4160.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Once we'd seen the tower my bruises etc. and the amount of icy spots around the hill were starting to take their toll so we decided to call it a day. We did get a bit confused getting off the hill and out of the nature reserve in our attempts to avoid those really icy parts but finally managed to exit on to Kaimes Road and from there made our way back towards home. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Just like Blackford hill, Corstorphine hill seems much more of an area that's enjoyed predominantly by the residents of the city. It's one of those special places that despite being so close to busy roads and built up residential areas is wonderfully peaceful once you're there. If you're yet to visit I really do recommend it but maybe don't go on a snowy, icy day. I imagine with all those trees it must look gorgeous in Autumn when the leaves on the trees have turned their beautiful autumnal colours. It's a great spot and I can't believe it took us so long to actually visit.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Corstorphine Hill, Edinburgh EH12 8WW, UK55.95 -3.283333327.639766163821157 -38.4395833 84.260233836178855 31.8729167tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-42024563940197642942020-12-02T21:10:00.003+00:002021-05-03T20:30:31.220+00:00Blackford Hill<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><span>If you've visited Edinburgh you will have quickly realised it's a city built on hills, seven to be precise, <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2017/04/arthurs-seat-st-anthonys-chapel-and-st.html" target="_blank">Arthur's Seat</a>, Castle Rock, <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2016/09/calton-hill-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">Calton hill</a>, <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2021/03/corstorphine-hill.html" target="_blank">Corstorphine hill</a>, Craiglockhart hill, the Braid hills and Blackford hill. Some a little less obvious but nonetheless definitely there, like Castle Rock, there when you look up and see the castle looming down at you from so many parts of the city centre. Just as any walk around the Old Town, with the climb up to the Royal Mile at its heart and the many narrow closes fanning downwards from that spine will also confirm. O</span><span>thers, like Arthur's Seat, have that far more traditional look of what you may think of as a hill in Scotland, one that stands out overlooking the surrounding area, ready to be climbed and explored. Blackford hill is one in that category, great for walking and exploring its wide open space.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLx7PRXb8V6pVu5ZdSGBOAtxwFKEpp4oSPvVEDU8r2JiWlXTxZzuO6AZ7WLoOu-WGjOvN-daf8Dr0tmMNQqlcPDIWJsk18wzCK9CBRa155AyciS5NB6fxT3yutpqIdsjuSF4BVn3fgUUR/s2048/IMG_9435.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLx7PRXb8V6pVu5ZdSGBOAtxwFKEpp4oSPvVEDU8r2JiWlXTxZzuO6AZ7WLoOu-WGjOvN-daf8Dr0tmMNQqlcPDIWJsk18wzCK9CBRa155AyciS5NB6fxT3yutpqIdsjuSF4BVn3fgUUR/w640-h480/IMG_9435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The hill was bought by the Edinburgh Corporation in 1884 for the sum of £8000 from Lieutenant Colonel Henry Trotter of Mortonhall to make it available as a public park. The Hermitage of Braid estate (which we need to return to and visit) next door was later gifted to the city in 1938 by its final owner. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">One of the most obvious things about any visit to Blackford hill are the fabulous views, despite its relatively low height, from the top you can see across Edinburgh, towards the castle, to Arthur's Seat and out over the Firth of Forth and beyond. It's worth noting too that the ascent on this hill is not anywhere as steep as on Arthur's Seat so it makes for a much gentler walk and climb. Just like the other hills of Edinburgh it too was formed millions of years ago by volcanic rocks, geologically though it is different from the other hills excluding its near neighbour, the Braid hills.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><span>Once you reach the summit it's definitely one you'll want to linger on simply to enjoy the previously mentioned unimpeded views. At the top are also the remains of a prehistoric hillfort, most likely dating from the Iron Age. </span><span>On the day that we visited the hill was pretty deserted, I'm not sure if it's always like this or if we were just very lucky but maybe given it's not as well known to visitors as Arthur's Seat or Calton hill that's the reason why. I should say here that we went to Blackford hill well before the Covid-19 pandemic hit (yes I've got lots to catch up on blog wise) so there were no travel or other restrictions in place at that time to explain the emptiness of it.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8NI7RU6Qir3oQIRFWmFnCgSwLkE4iXVVHLasfJj5BOU-GkywwM2UDU1yrS7IxDbrNrOTyEGkPBF_UinBp2B8Ab8m5Iy0rdL2ugzxANm-YUTthgxPtw6x5Fcw0P_icT6smq7zpnxPHoFX/s2048/IMG_9437.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8NI7RU6Qir3oQIRFWmFnCgSwLkE4iXVVHLasfJj5BOU-GkywwM2UDU1yrS7IxDbrNrOTyEGkPBF_UinBp2B8Ab8m5Iy0rdL2ugzxANm-YUTthgxPtw6x5Fcw0P_icT6smq7zpnxPHoFX/w640-h480/IMG_9437.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-fxE3GOorOGhWXnkFHMJK_yOgcnTD5QnnG21L1GWEpiEjCMG1V7L1wMEMq5G5SCTDZre4ADyRs8jDoW1rh0fSrq94u7Am8Q1MDKF3CjXwI1X5VBpC75HRFYMPa_tyvBr-mUSwo6qNP9p/s2048/IMG_9442.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-fxE3GOorOGhWXnkFHMJK_yOgcnTD5QnnG21L1GWEpiEjCMG1V7L1wMEMq5G5SCTDZre4ADyRs8jDoW1rh0fSrq94u7Am8Q1MDKF3CjXwI1X5VBpC75HRFYMPa_tyvBr-mUSwo6qNP9p/w640-h480/IMG_9442.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciPFnB4k8MpoI1JUAY3aIckT8B1zGDExApusWJAAthIiHKfBMzDqSKiFLmN0Lk78B3gO4z6N6Y5KeEYm31wHhUb1Bn34S9C8GP4EuoRy4XC0VDkATx_YJ2mKcuGD-jCrMCwFyJshtGjxV/s2048/IMG_9445.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciPFnB4k8MpoI1JUAY3aIckT8B1zGDExApusWJAAthIiHKfBMzDqSKiFLmN0Lk78B3gO4z6N6Y5KeEYm31wHhUb1Bn34S9C8GP4EuoRy4XC0VDkATx_YJ2mKcuGD-jCrMCwFyJshtGjxV/w640-h480/IMG_9445.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYKgexAyhfMUPVLmwXH2VF2Mm6_rkle61L12ctNG5aQZk_p1ifBwoelWEFHlVhn15XROgKGu9oaYZepbPM9OJEsS47GjcivcCEi20cg4ouBEoMMzLlsBXoq5jEkQ8Hcu-3VKOCwycjkMD/s2048/IMG_9447.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYKgexAyhfMUPVLmwXH2VF2Mm6_rkle61L12ctNG5aQZk_p1ifBwoelWEFHlVhn15XROgKGu9oaYZepbPM9OJEsS47GjcivcCEi20cg4ouBEoMMzLlsBXoq5jEkQ8Hcu-3VKOCwycjkMD/w640-h480/IMG_9447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZOxYPA-nAlCDjJPy9pPxvJNS3cyi5pu88K3kMjFvPeoM0qeaNE1ZKky1xCiRBLkrPEI4aO9xCHSHLT28g8qgKvmZNIdSpE-dctqeSb-ZtFxgSquA0pND5rS3-wT2A2_bm4qvxPYMUXvu/s2048/IMG_9448.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZOxYPA-nAlCDjJPy9pPxvJNS3cyi5pu88K3kMjFvPeoM0qeaNE1ZKky1xCiRBLkrPEI4aO9xCHSHLT28g8qgKvmZNIdSpE-dctqeSb-ZtFxgSquA0pND5rS3-wT2A2_bm4qvxPYMUXvu/w640-h480/IMG_9448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfXY25stBJF9iBj4RmGUjebEidBe9Eda0_OedLVc755FdfW9fWJftSNnscaiLSMiYjfvcge2OLt__Fc5GPu90y8CXBZSqkxbugwdCnStEfm1Mx-1yA5jG0MQS7QF2P8SEcg9AupHBuBmR/s2048/IMG_9453.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfXY25stBJF9iBj4RmGUjebEidBe9Eda0_OedLVc755FdfW9fWJftSNnscaiLSMiYjfvcge2OLt__Fc5GPu90y8CXBZSqkxbugwdCnStEfm1Mx-1yA5jG0MQS7QF2P8SEcg9AupHBuBmR/w640-h480/IMG_9453.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Alongside these views the hill is also home to the Royal Observatory. Before the observatory found a home on Blackford hill astronomy had its home in Edinburgh on Calton hill at the Playfair Observatory or City Observatory as it's also known. This original one later took its Royal Observatory name following the visit of George IV to Scotland in 1822. Although it saw some major research advances in the years that followed this it eventually fell on hard times leading to the Government reaching the decision for it to be closed.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jo3If2-LYuVZEbBvTlvvlu6656Z_d4WDLADzqMHpqc-4fVG8w8jP44dKp8hekc3YO0jDE-xc0bZHmEpb3JMEtRkD2k_39Mdub6p7T9XYBJTqRzY1gR5046MkgbtBx03EXBo2kUO6EBip/s2048/IMG_9430.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jo3If2-LYuVZEbBvTlvvlu6656Z_d4WDLADzqMHpqc-4fVG8w8jP44dKp8hekc3YO0jDE-xc0bZHmEpb3JMEtRkD2k_39Mdub6p7T9XYBJTqRzY1gR5046MkgbtBx03EXBo2kUO6EBip/w480-h640/IMG_9430.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Lato;"><span><div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily though it was saved by the astronomer the Earl of Crawford. In return for his gift of the contents of his observatory and library in Aberdeenshire to the nation, the government agreed to build and maintain a new Royal Observatory on Blackford hill. The new one opened in 1896 and since then has continued to play a significant role in this area of science. Whilst you can't enter the building unless you are a part of an organised event it's still well worth making a stop there to see the landmark from the outside.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><span><div style="text-align: justify;">Blackford hill is a must if you want to enjoy some open space and get away from the more well known, and typically busier, Arthur's Seat and Calton hill. Despite enjoying a lengthy walk on our visit we definitely do need to return again, this time to see more of the Hermitage of Braid area and beyond and to get some more of those fantastic views.</div></span></span><p></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3FN, UK55.9230229 -3.195036627.612789063821154 -38.3512866 84.233256736178845 31.9612134tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-16169206857963151012020-08-25T21:10:00.002+00:002021-05-03T20:33:06.151+00:00Old Calton Burial Ground<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;">I think you should probably know by now, but just in case you don't, I'm a big lover of exploring graveyards and luckily for me Edinburgh is bursting with them. This one, close to <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2016/09/calton-hill-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">Calton hill </a>with its entrance way built into a tall outside wall and a flight of steps taking you up to the graves is, like all the city centre graveyards, full of the notable and influential in history who have called Edinburgh home. Like many of the other graveyards in the city, its graves and monuments to the dead wouldn't look out of place in any graveyard scene from a scary film. Many of these monuments to the dead so large that they are nearly impossible to see over the top of, creating a fascinating space to explore.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL6t-WcecqMs4QubI-xyuveqT3sxTUz3UyheQqGgPxb7xpTPXH-NefpVIu9rDze96ewc5alWDZK9acauZZSG9uggDj4-9yyriJASfMDZ1odP5qfE2c6juuSqe3Beq4BTYrRUUjhWsA05E/s3264/IMG_7746.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL6t-WcecqMs4QubI-xyuveqT3sxTUz3UyheQqGgPxb7xpTPXH-NefpVIu9rDze96ewc5alWDZK9acauZZSG9uggDj4-9yyriJASfMDZ1odP5qfE2c6juuSqe3Beq4BTYrRUUjhWsA05E/w640-h480/IMG_7746.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato">The burial ground was opened in 1718, prior to that the villagers of Calton which was at the western base of Calton hill had been burying their dead at the South Leith parish church but, due to the inconvenience of that, the land where the burial ground now is was bought with an access road from the village to the burial ground built. The burial ground was expanded several times with burials finally stopping in 1869. Not too far away from here is the New Calton burial ground (also worth a visit) which was built as an overspill for the Old Calton burial ground. This new burial ground served as the place of rest for the bodies that had to be exhumed when Waterloo Place was built which cut through the existing graveyard. Interestingly I've since learnt, as a result of doing a bit of research for this post, that there is a tiny part of the graveyard on the opposite side of the road which is accessible via Calton hill (the street). I have walked along that street in the past but clearly never paid close enough attention to notice this. I wonder how many others who walk that street are unaware of this too.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato"><br /></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato">Within the graveyard are the remains of the former Calton jail, once the largest prison in Scotland, Jules Verne described it as resembling a small-scale version of a medieval town and it was often mistaken for the castle by visitors to the city. The prison housed murderers, fraudsters and terrorists alongside petty criminals like pickpockets. It housed both men and women and from 1914 this also included conscientious objectors as well as suffragettes, many of whom went on hunger strike, leading to them being cruelly force fed by prison guards. The remaining turreted building, the Governor's House, was built between 1815 and 1817 and other than this building and some of the jail walls, the rest of the jail was eventually demolished around 1935.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGtwnxMiL1jcEWjss0NKYwxCuuW3JdiFmZvQgWw_5mfyFVmJeuiT36OvfMEYexAliUudmIASWH2F9JH6xJOWfwQ4YMwNuZUfdoltIw9ruY34RxXFeQOy0UW7xae8b3MC4-ofpKZ_Ec4o1/s3264/IMG_7738.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGtwnxMiL1jcEWjss0NKYwxCuuW3JdiFmZvQgWw_5mfyFVmJeuiT36OvfMEYexAliUudmIASWH2F9JH6xJOWfwQ4YMwNuZUfdoltIw9ruY34RxXFeQOy0UW7xae8b3MC4-ofpKZ_Ec4o1/w640-h480/IMG_7738.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CCei35VA1-LaQ5RlPObz9gY4R1CZoK2RwCmsFfPVOYvN9tg-RAhKDlMjCLqRihFEuQeNYxdxkC67mkpexzK1hMeaUVTw6SEHHQ0U-yDDVXvUf3y9XIvlIGv6_Pe7VMHjRK_uEUhDhyphenhyphenhG/s3264/IMG_7745.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CCei35VA1-LaQ5RlPObz9gY4R1CZoK2RwCmsFfPVOYvN9tg-RAhKDlMjCLqRihFEuQeNYxdxkC67mkpexzK1hMeaUVTw6SEHHQ0U-yDDVXvUf3y9XIvlIGv6_Pe7VMHjRK_uEUhDhyphenhyphenhG/w480-h640/IMG_7745.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato">As I mentioned Old Calton Burial Ground is full of the well known dead from Edinburgh's past, including the philosopher David Hume, John Haig of the Haig whisky family and father of Field Marshal Haig and John Playfair, mathematician, scientist and brother of the architect James Playfair and engineer William Playfair. Playfair's grave was originally unmarked and was only given a plaque in 2011. He does however have a monument which stands on Calton hill and can be seen from the graveyard. I got to see that <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2019/04/discovering-scottish-enlightenment-in.html" target="_blank">following a walk</a> available on the 'Curious Edinburgh' app which has lots of good themed walks to follow at your leisure around the city.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS8LkCeB3i1jbzi8ht7D_NVFXNc6YLZx1pOgfb3l_I0UIpY1YdsuVKQsCjRZyddBX37Yrjze6EouGBotZQxnnWhKawx6r6nGtFkwQZfFjjM790JIff5KKetwiqPB-ZWHPQnc1UcbXVA9M/s3264/IMG_7749.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS8LkCeB3i1jbzi8ht7D_NVFXNc6YLZx1pOgfb3l_I0UIpY1YdsuVKQsCjRZyddBX37Yrjze6EouGBotZQxnnWhKawx6r6nGtFkwQZfFjjM790JIff5KKetwiqPB-ZWHPQnc1UcbXVA9M/w480-h640/IMG_7749.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">A particularly interesting monument in the graveyard is this one with a statue of Abraham Lincoln and a freed slave giving thanks at his feet. This is an American Civil War memorial, dedicated in August 1893 to Scots who fought and died in the war, and is known as the Scottish-American Soldiers monument. It is the only monument to the American Civil War outside of the United States, was the first statue of a US President outside of its borders and is still the only statue of Lincoln in Scotland. The monument was erected at American expense in honour of a small group of Scots, all of whom fought for the Union in the war, to whom it felt indebted, wishing their graves to be marked despite their later poverty. One of this group, William Duff, is buried underneath it and the rest buried nearby.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzGGGZXxbl7WPqEMz3Mog2YcTNqBmKnijFtZ6-IIiZC5WCkSR5xA_j2eGxmzeIb81ALzbx_YRTwhGwrEFewUrH3o1LNSK1y8z9qNZVYb2hPuPCWBv4OCq7IL6C3ODL_rkxr93ZNqMk9dj/s2048/IMG_7740.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzGGGZXxbl7WPqEMz3Mog2YcTNqBmKnijFtZ6-IIiZC5WCkSR5xA_j2eGxmzeIb81ALzbx_YRTwhGwrEFewUrH3o1LNSK1y8z9qNZVYb2hPuPCWBv4OCq7IL6C3ODL_rkxr93ZNqMk9dj/s640/IMG_7740.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">Especially prominent in the burial ground is the Martyrs' monument (the tall obelisk in the photo above) which commemorates five political reformists from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was erected in 1844 and dedicated to Thomas Muir, Thomas Fyshe Palmer, William Skirving, Maurice Margarot and Joseph Gerrald. These five men, two from Scotland and three from England, were imprisoned for campaigning for parliamentary reform, inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution. They were charged with sedition and sentenced to terms of penal transportation in New South Wales. Of the five only two served their full sentences and were released. Palmer stayed in New South Wales and founded a beer brewing operation, dying en route to England whilst on a trading voyage. Margarot left the colony when his sentence was complete and was the only one of the martyrs to return to the UK. Muir escaped in the early part of 1796 and stowed away on an American ship, he eventually made his way to revolutionary France where he subsequently died. The other two both died in 1796, Gerrald of tuberculosis and Skirving of either dysentery or an overdose of laudanum.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">The burial ground is definitely worth a visit and being only a shortish walk from Princes Street and close to Calton hill it's very easy to visit. Whether you're looking for a particular grave or monument or just hunting out the fascinating imagery adorning the graves here it's an interesting place to spend some time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;">If you too have an interest in graveyards Edinburgh, as I've said, it is the perfect place to get your fix, whilst there are others I'm still yet to write about I have written previously about both <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2016/07/st-cuthberts-church-graveyard-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">St Cuthbert's church graveyard</a> and <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2018/11/greyfriars-kirkyard.html" target="_blank">Greyfriars kirkyard</a>, follow the links to read more.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh, UK55.953694199999987 -3.18710135.8767149881229 -38.343351 76.030673411877075 31.969149tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-47372366352574301182020-06-25T21:18:00.004+00:002021-05-03T20:38:21.576+00:00The Innocent Railway and Craigmillar Castle: One of Edinburgh's Other Castles<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">When you think of Edinburgh I'm sure one of the things that will naturally come to mind is the famous castle, but what about Craigmillar castle, have you heard of that one? Like, I guess, most visitors to Edinburgh, before I came to live here I hadn't and had certainly never thought about the city having any other castles than that very obvious one. However there are actually several, both within the city and the surrounding area, many of which I am still to discover.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">The day we visited Craigmillar castle we decided we would walk there from our home which is actually quite a distance (more than I realised if I'm honest) despite us living fairly centrally. After that walk and then exploring the castle we decided against the walk back again and took a bus to the city centre which more than halved what walking we did have to do to get home. The walk there though did take us through the New Town, the Old Town, around part of the base of Arthur's Seat, through some of the extensive grounds of Holyrood park and out the other side into Craigmillar. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YuWrdDB15uZx20FIhQdF3iqOCOddIcQhMmq50UO0y72yy05zKyR40SiQHkNQsztrsk1T_ymd2h_4DwN4F3rc0ubNFVo0VG1bcnab_tghkrPUKn8Denk4527s_chUYFpLZ7FnxWn9D46I/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YuWrdDB15uZx20FIhQdF3iqOCOddIcQhMmq50UO0y72yy05zKyR40SiQHkNQsztrsk1T_ymd2h_4DwN4F3rc0ubNFVo0VG1bcnab_tghkrPUKn8Denk4527s_chUYFpLZ7FnxWn9D46I/w480-h640/IMG_8451.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whilst walking through Holyrood park we came across the curiously named path called the Innocent Railway. </span><font>The Innocent Railway was part of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith railway that opened in 1831 and was built to convey coal from pits in the vicinity of Dalkeith into Edinburgh, the Innocent Railway section connected the now closed St Leonard's railway station, which was close to Arthur's Seat, to the line. It was originally a horse operated line and was the city's first railway. It earned its name because of that use of horses which gave it a leisurely pace, though there is also a belief that the name was earned due to there being no accidents on the line. The line had become popular with passengers (though it was never planned for this purpose) and was subsequently converted to steam locomotives instead, and at a time when steam engines had a reputation for being dangerous it carried a remarkably large number of passengers every year without any fatalities. </font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato"><br /></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato">It was a local businessman who had hit upon the idea of the line being used to carry passengers too, with it running through to Fisherrow which is close to the coastal suburb of <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2017/07/portobello-beach-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">Portobello</a> the selling point was that passengers could be ferried from the city to the coast. For many this would have been their first experience of the railway as well so, not surprisingly, it proved a big hit. The railway eventually closed in 1968 when the coal depot at St Leonard's was closed and in the early 1990's a section of it was converted to become a part of the National Cycle Network. This section of former railway isn't the only in Edinburgh that has been converted into cycle paths and walkways, another that I've spent a lot of time on, the <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search?q=water+of+leith+walkway" target="_blank">Water of Leith walkway</a>, was also a railway line at one time and there are plenty of others dotted all over the city that have been given a new lease of life.</font></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLIOylsA37CdFZ5XbefT9f9Mz5_EkCwlXafGzoRtQbl9iGiYv-7ZbEdC2jIL2JyrO3jSjR-VyZI6fRUBCNZiAVzSHaXsM93G9LDvlAPQidk0TSTZO3A4IDj8xVPHM27ml25c2Sypjjkia/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="1909" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLIOylsA37CdFZ5XbefT9f9Mz5_EkCwlXafGzoRtQbl9iGiYv-7ZbEdC2jIL2JyrO3jSjR-VyZI6fRUBCNZiAVzSHaXsM93G9LDvlAPQidk0TSTZO3A4IDj8xVPHM27ml25c2Sypjjkia/w480-h640/IMG_8436.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><font face="Lato">A part of the original Innocent railway</font></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato;"><font><font>From the Innocent railway we carried on towards Craigmillar castle which was still quite a long walk away, but eventually after passing through the nearby housing estate the castle finally came into view. </font></font><span style="font-size: small;">Craigmillar castle is a ruin now but building of it began in the late 14th century when the original tower house was constructed with subsequent building work continuing through the 15th and 16th centuries, eventually becoming a comfortable residence with gardens and pastureland. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">It's probably best known for its association with Mary, Queen of Scots who spent time convalescing here in 1566 following a serious illness. During this, her second stay at the castle, an agreement known as the 'Craigmillar Bond' was agreed and signed by her Secretary of State and other nobles to have her unpopular husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley removed either by divorce or some other means. Although Mary had expressed her unhappiness with Darnley she was not part of the conspiracy to have him removed and she may not even have known about it. As a result of this though Darnley was subsequently murdered in Edinburgh in February 1567.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOU8hcb-9H-oztH-2Jf7yGMzGW0LFJA4wbo1AlChOTJnm_hLXQ7uh5vL53xVicS6E06x1kdfEQNj42vVxMDRB0-kNHPSQVu0YfWaDiTQZGr2AidxC4vKj5vK8liPZM_JtN3WxYimfTCmq/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOU8hcb-9H-oztH-2Jf7yGMzGW0LFJA4wbo1AlChOTJnm_hLXQ7uh5vL53xVicS6E06x1kdfEQNj42vVxMDRB0-kNHPSQVu0YfWaDiTQZGr2AidxC4vKj5vK8liPZM_JtN3WxYimfTCmq/w480-h640/IMG_8452.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGaGxzLoR7-17AmHX1wSXSiywloOjd4Kc2UzQqkhgMDhKxF_qh4vXaX7uh-7H_j2MOoxqAzAtgBc9IvtvD3XkkN47BuBiw7nM0T8OX67etUTfh5xXIMzjlKQCrSJF-ofWlmJl6KlryTRB/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGaGxzLoR7-17AmHX1wSXSiywloOjd4Kc2UzQqkhgMDhKxF_qh4vXaX7uh-7H_j2MOoxqAzAtgBc9IvtvD3XkkN47BuBiw7nM0T8OX67etUTfh5xXIMzjlKQCrSJF-ofWlmJl6KlryTRB/w640-h480/IMG_8468.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato">As I said the castle is now a ruin and the original tower house at its centre, one of the first of this type to be built in Scotland, is a common feature of a lot of Scottish castles. This was most likely built by a Sir George Preston, one of a line of Prestons who played a large part in civic life in Edinburgh. Later generations of the family added to the castle before it was sold and its new owner, Sir John Gilmour, a Scottish judge and politician, continued to add further to the castle. Eventually though in the early 1700s the family abandoned it for the nearby Inch house. It was ruined by 1775 and in its abandoned state became a popular tourist attraction from the late 18th century before eventually passing into state care in 1946.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqIbZq9EAr_X0tl9IYbPi47Rq1-A7Ae1ArSoN0JvU6_odnDuUitG8dRRtTe-Vc77k9nYzDk9VXD9u0gkvUweN-S_Hlka7MS1PuWLsTfHuj-0KfpeBN8vNH7V0-TY00d84-KqDyplKW1Cc/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqIbZq9EAr_X0tl9IYbPi47Rq1-A7Ae1ArSoN0JvU6_odnDuUitG8dRRtTe-Vc77k9nYzDk9VXD9u0gkvUweN-S_Hlka7MS1PuWLsTfHuj-0KfpeBN8vNH7V0-TY00d84-KqDyplKW1Cc/w640-h480/IMG_8478.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="Lato"><i>Looking towards Edinburgh and Arthur's Seat</i></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato">In the courtyard of the castle stand two yew trees believed to have been planted during the residency of Mary, Queen of Scots. Whether that is true or not yew trees are known to be able to survive for millennia in the right conditions so it's possible Mary, Queen of Scots did see them too. Along with the yew trees, and despite the castle being part ruined, visitors are still able to access the roof level of the tower house and from there you can enjoy some great views in every direction. Whilst Edinburgh has grown and changed immensely since Mary, Queen of Scots stayed at the castle it's still kind of exciting to imagine yourself looking on (in part) the same view as she may once have done.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Craigmillar Castle Rd, Edinburgh EH16 4SY, UK55.9256773 -3.140828427.615443463821151 -38.297078400000004 84.235911136178842 32.015421599999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-66516247316517221012020-05-10T11:58:00.002+00:002021-04-03T21:05:35.119+00:00Little-Known Places: Dunbar's Close Garden, Edinburgh <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Edinburgh's Old Town is full of narrow passageways and many of those that you are able to take a wander down have interesting little spots that you could easily miss by not taking that chance to turn off into one of them from the Royal Mile. Tucked away down Dunbar Close, near the Canongate Kirk, is just one of these, the charming Dunbar's Close garden.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The Close is named after the writer David Dunbar, who in 1773 owned tenements on either side of it. It was also the home at one time to Mrs Love's tavern where in 1786 Robert Burns watched society ladies downing large amounts of ale and oysters. Whilst some of the Closes in the Old Town can lay claim to a grim history this garden is a tranquil spot and a surprising little oasis of calm. I expect a few people would even be surprised to find such a place given its location in the city. The small walled garden is a pleasure to take a walk around, laid out as it is in a 17th century style with neatly trimmed flower beds, gravel paths and shady trees.</span></span><br /><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The garden exists thanks to the efforts of the Scottish charity, the Mushroom Trust who support urban green spaces and saved this space from becoming an extension to an existing car park. The land was gifted to the City of Edinburgh Parks Department who enlisted landscape architect, Seamus Filor to redesign it. He chose a 17th century garden as this was the time when the gardens of the Old Town were a common feature and at their most grand with the area being one of the wealthiest parts of the city. The garden includes many plants that would have commonly been found in the walled gardens of the time, including roses, irises and well cut topiary, all grown behind the townhouses on the Royal Mile. In the 17th century this area was a separate burgh outside of the overcrowded city and its proximity to <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2017/09/palace-of-holyroodhouse-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">Holyrood palace</a> attracted the nobility to build mansions on the spacious plots that were available. Although this garden only grows ornamental flowers and plants the original gardens were also home to vegetables, herbs and fruit with figs and apricots a common sight.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="Lato">The garden may be small but it's a lovely little spot to have a walk around and take a moment to enjoy a less well known little green space in the heart of the city. From the gardens you get some views towards the top of <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2016/09/calton-hill-edinburgh.html" target="_blank">Calton hill</a> and can spot some of its monuments peeking over the top of the garden's walls. You can also see the roof of the nearby Old Royal High school above the garden's shrubs and trees too. It's worth taking the time to go and explore this little spot next time you're near the Royal Mile.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Dunbars Close, 137 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BW, UK55.9521368 -3.178985337.4250713 -44.4875793 74.4792023 38.1296087tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-3468976603305345392020-04-26T20:45:00.002+00:002021-04-03T21:04:17.112+00:00Beautiful Bagan<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Where to begin with beautiful Bagan? </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">After a couple of days exploring <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search/label/Yangon" target="_blank">Yangon</a> it was time to take the short flight to this fascinating archaeological site teeming with temples. Before I get to Bagan though I should just mention the getting there. From Yangon the easiest way to is to take a short flight which takes about ninety minutes. The check-in and flight itself is definitely as much a part of the trip to enjoy as obviously being in Bagan is, with hand written boarding passes, coloured stickers for everyone to identify which flight you are on and old fashioned looking paper luggage tags on the checked bags. Not forgetting after the tagging (at the airport in Bagan) your checked bags being wheeled away on trolley's to be loaded on to your flight.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">We did, as many do when visiting Bagan, and booked a guide and driver to take us around a few of the temples. Our visit was only brief, we flew up to Bagan early in the morning and returned to Yangon the following evening and if time had allowed we could easily have spent longer than that there. There are a lot of temples (over 3000) so obviously we were never going to see them all but touring a few with an expert and incredibly knowledgeable guide did mean we got the most out of our brief time there. Plus using a guide with a driver meant we got regular air con breaks, were able to get around to more of the sites and didn't have any of the stress of trying to work out where we should be going, particularly as we only had such a short time there. <a href="https://beirutibrit.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Our friend who lives in Yangon</a> had returned to Bagan just a few days before we did with one of her friends and gave us the recommendation for the guide. It was therefore an incredibly last minute booking on our part with him but luckily he was available and, as we knew he would be given he was recommended by our friend, was utterly fantastic (drop me a line if you'd like his contact details to check his availability to book your own tour).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">Shwezigon pagoda</span></i></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">According to the Burmese chronicles, detailed writings about the monarchy of Myanmar with parts dating from the 1280s, Bagan was founded in the second century AD. Historians believe though that the city was founded in the mid to late 9th century. From then until the 13th century Bagan was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom. The Kingdom of Pagan was the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later become modern day Myanmar. During that time Bagan's wealthy rulers and subjects built over 10,000 religious monuments including stupas, small temples and monasteries. Bagan became a centre for religious and secular study, attracting monks and students from far and wide. The Pagan Empire eventually collapsed in 1287 due to repeated Mongol invasions. These invasions of present day Myanmar were a serious of military conflicts between Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty and the Pagan empire which took place between 1277 and 1287. As a result of these invasions Bagan was reduced to a small town losing its prominence and ceasing to be the capital in December 1297. Post its demise a handful of religious monuments continued to be built and it remained a place of pilgrimage but with this only focused on a handful of the temples many of its lesser ones fell into disrepair with some disappearing altogether over time. Bagan is also located in an earthquake prone area so further temples have been damaged or lost at various times as a result of quake damage.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">With two not quite full days there we knew we were going to busy but it was definitely worth it. As I mentioned we landed in Bagan early morning and with our luggage soon offloaded and wheeled across the airfield for all the passengers to collect we were meeting our guide in no time to begin our tour. The immediately very handy part of picking up a pre-booked guide and car meant we could stow our luggage conveniently in the boot, as we were never going to be able to check in to our hotel that early, and then not have to worry about it again until later. </span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">In order to visit the Bagan Archaeological Zone tourists are required to pay an entrance fee which is currently 25,000 kyats, arriving at the airport meant we could pay there and our guide helped us sort that out with no fuss. The entrance fee covers a one week visit, at a couple of the larger popular temples we had to show evidence we'd paid but for the most no one checked, but make sure you carry your proof of payment with you just in case.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Before we got to the temples we made a brief stop at a local market to get an idea of the types of local produce sold here. The variety was amazing and there were fruit and vegetables that I had no clue what they were but again with our guide there he was able to tell us and explain what some of the less well known items were typically used for and what dishes they may feature in. Here I also got the opportunity to have traditional thanaka cosmetic paste applied to my face. The paste is made from ground bark mixed with a small amount of water on a circular slate slab. It is commonly seen applied to the faces and sometimes arms of women and girls and has been used by Burmese women for over 2000 years. It is applied to the face in attractive designs and apart from its cosmetic side it also gives a cooling sensation to the skin and provides protection from sunburn. When it's applied to the skin it feels wonderfully cool and does keep you that way afterwards, whilst the rest of me got reasonably warm at various points in the day my face stayed remarkably cool. I kept it on for most of the day and I actually forgot about it until I arrived at the hotel later and caught sight of myself in a mirror. Having kept so cool all day I can totally see the benefits of using it.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;"><i>This sign at our first temple complex made me chuckle</i></span></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Although, as I said, our visit to Bagan was brief we did fit quite a few temples in. I'm not sure I could mention them all here and with some of the smaller ones I don't know that I could even tell you with confidence their names. So with that in mind I'm just going to mention some of those we visited. The first of these being the Shwezigon pagoda. This beautifully photogenic golden stupa's (see the photos above) original construction began during the reign of King Anawrahta, the founder of the Pagan dynasty, and was completed in 1102 AD during the reign of his son.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">According to legend the king selected the site for this pagoda by sending a white elephant with a relic of the Buddha attached to it to roam freely declaring that wherever the elephant stopped would be the site. The elephant stopped on a dune where, as stated it would be the pagoda was later built, earning it the name Shwezigon pagoda which means 'golden pagoda on a dune' in Burmese. Like many other pagodas in the region this one has been damaged by earthquakes over the centuries since it was built and has been renovated several times.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">Just a small amount of the huge lunch we enjoyed at our lunch stop (Golden Myanmar Food) on day one of our visit to Bagan</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">One of our next stops was the Myazedi pagoda close to the Gubyaukgyi temple which we also visited. The Gubyaukgyi temple itself is pretty special as it contains a number of well preserved frescoes on its interior walls, some of the oldest original paintings to be found in Bagan. However the Myazedi temple is also very special as this</span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> is where a stone pillar inscribed with writings dedicated to King Kyansittha, the son of King Anawrahta (mentioned above) who continued the social, economic and cultural reforms that were begun by his father, are written. The writings on this pillar, known as the Myazedi inscription, are the oldest surviving stone inscription of four languages, Burmese, Pyu, Mon and Pali. The primary importance of this stone is that the inscriptions on it allowed for the deciphering of the written Pyu language, an extinct language which was mainly spoken in what is now Myanmar in the first millennium CE. As our guide told us, this pillar's importance in helping to understand and translate the Pyu language has been compared to that of the Rosetta stone.</span></span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">One of the most beautiful temples we visited was the Ananda temple built in 1105 AD. It's immediately striking with its bright white exterior contrasting with all the other temples we'd visited beforehand. The name of the temple is derived from the Venerable Ananda who was a cousin of the Buddha. One of the the loveliest things about this temple is the unique features on one of the Buddhas. If you stand close to him he appears to look a little sad but move further away and his expression changes as if he were serenely smiling down on everyone. Can you see in the photo below?</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Sunset over some of the many temples in Bagan, if you are lucky and get a good one, is well worth seeing. Our final stop on our first day before heading back to our hotel, we'd already checked in a little earlier in the afternoon and had a short break before heading out again, was the perfect spot for seeing the sunset over the temples. It's worth noting this particular spot is a well known place for sunset views so get there in good time to grab a decent place to view it. Luckily having a guide ensured we did just that and got all the good tips for seeing this at its best. Unfortunately we probably didn't get one of the best sunsets that evening but nonetheless it was a lovely end to a wonderful day and if you blocked out the chatting all around you from some of the other visitors the view was delightful. </span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">After that it was back to our hotel for a meal and a good nights rest, as we dined we listened to the frogs etc. and reflected on an amazing day. One thing to note is that Bagan is not like some similar places in other parts of South East Asia, there is no nightlife as such so don't expect crazy nights out after a day exploring the temples. Simply just go and enjoy the amazing history and take the opportunity to relax and recharge in the evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The following </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">morning, and with our hotel being close to the Ayeyarwady river, we were woken early by the sounds of the fishing boats heading out for the day. After spotting a few of the many hot air balloons that take tourists for early morning tours over the temples and a good breakfast we met our guide and driver once more and headed off to the Dhammayazika pagoda. This pagoda was built in 1196, is circular in design and built from brick with terra cotta tiles on its terraces illustrating scenes from the Jataka. The Jataka being a body of literature from India concerning the previous births of Buddha in both human and animal form.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">A couple of the many terra cotta tiles at the temple depicting the Jataka stories</span></i></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The majority of temples we'd visited up until that point were ones on the thoroughly well beaten track of visitors to Bagan. The next ones though were much more rural and we and our guide were, on the whole, the only ones there. This collection of stupas is close to the agricultural village of Minnanthu which produces sesame and peanut oil. Just before we arrived at these temples we stopped besides some of the nearby peanut fields and got to see a little of the produce straight from the field.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The temples here are incredibly peaceful and visitor free. As our guide told us, it was entirely possible that we were the first visitors that day to these which made them even more special. I don't think I could tell you the names now of any of the temples we saw there but perhaps that's actually a nice thing. This was also the place where I was really grateful to be wearing trousers as the grass is quite overgrown in parts and the area around these far more wild than the other temple complexes had been. So sun cream and mosquito spray are a particularly good idea in this part of Bagan.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">We had one final stop before lunch which was at the Hsin Phyu Shin Monastic complex, another quieter spot on our tour. It was built by King Hsinbyushin also known as King Thihathu in the 14th century. The complex is pretty big and was a place of study for Buddhist student monks. After that it was time for one final lunch stop at the lovely The Village House restaurant which gave us some nice views of a couple of nearby stupas as we ate. I loved this peaceful little spot and the food (another absolute feast of Burmese delights) was delicious.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Following a leisurely lunch it was time to head back to the hotel to collect our bags and make our way to the airport for our flight back to Yangon. Bagan was amazing and with our flying visit we barely scratched the surface of it but what a fantastic introduction we had to it thanks, very much so, to our amazing guide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Some things to note before you head there, </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Bagan is one of the hottest places in the country so ensure you go prepared with plenty of water, sun cream and mosquito repellent. As with all Buddhist temples ensure you dress appropriately and respectfully. I would recommend light trousers, especially if you are heading to some of the more rural pagodas to at least protect you a little from mosquito bites as well as making it a lot easier to explore. Likewise flip flops or sandals are the best bet for your feet as you will need to remove your shoes before entering any temple complexes and they are a lot easier to slip on and off. Whilst you can explore the temples under your own steam, hiring bikes etc. if you are only there for a fleeting visit a knowledgeable guide and driver is, in my opinion, the way to go to ensure you get the most from your time. We were very happy to go where the guide recommended but equally if we'd had a specific interest or particular temples we really wanted to see he would have been happy to help plan a tour that took that into consideration too. Hopefully (all the more so now) we'll be able to return to Bagan again at some stage and see some more of this wonderful place.</span></span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Old Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)21.1717271 94.858545821.156920099999997 94.838375800000009 21.1865341 94.8787158tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-33497995931367262912020-03-08T21:54:00.003+00:002021-04-03T20:59:19.895+00:00A Couple More of Yangon's Many Temples<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Just as Scotland is full of castles (<span id="goog_134119135"></span><a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2020/02/aberdour-castle-and-beach.html" target="_blank">see my last post for one of them</a><span id="goog_134119136"></span>) Yangon is full of temples. We'd already made a special sunset visit to the most famous of them all, the <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2020/01/shwedagon-pagoda-yangon.html" target="_blank">Shwedagon pagoda</a> and passed at least another one on our <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2020/02/exploring-downtown-yangon-by-foot.html" target="_blank">walk around downtown Yangon</a> but there are plenty more in the city to see too. So we picked out a couple of these and set off to visit them.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Botataung Pagoda</i></span><br />
<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Our first temple sits close to the Yangon river and, compared to the more well known Shwedagon pagoda, though it was still busy was a lot lot quieter. The Botataung pagoda was first built around the same time as its famous cousin was by the Mon people. The temple is named after the thousand military leaders of the king who escorted hair relics of the Buddha back from India to Myanmar over 2000 years ago.</span></span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">It was entirely destroyed by a direct hit from an Allied air raid during the Second World War but was rebuilt after the war ended. Interestingly unlike most zedi (stupa) it was rebuilt hollow allowing you to walk through it. Walking through it with its floor to ceiling gold leaf and narrow corners it's almost maze like and a little disorientating. It's also amazing how big it actually is inside. As you walk through it you pass several glass cases containing some of the old relics and artefacts, including items previously sealed up in the earlier stupa.</span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Outside in the grounds of the temple complex is a small pool containing a number of turtles swimming around. This, asides from the stupa itself, was not surprisingly one of the most popular areas of the temple with all the visitors.</span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple</i></span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">This one was quite different to any of the others we'd been to at that point and, I think, of any Buddhist temples I've visited in any country because the Buddha is housed in a large metal roofed pavilion like construction rather than a more typical temple building. This beautiful reclining Buddha (<a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2018/11/back-to-bangkok.html" target="_blank">not the first of these I've seen on my travels in South East Asia</a>) is a massive 213 feet long and is one of the largest in Myanmar. I think you'll agree that he has a particularly graceful face and the statue is completed with his kind glass eyes and a crown encrusted with diamonds and other precious stones. Whilst this reclining Buddha is very different in appearance to the famous golden one I've seen a couple of times in Bangkok it's no less impressive and the decoration on the soles of his feet (just like the reclining Buddha's feet in Bangkok) is quite beautiful.</span></span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">The beautifully decorated feet of the reclining Buddha</span></i></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">This was the temple where we also met the most stray temple cats so, of course, I had to take a couple of photos of them all. This first little one wasn't waking up for anyone but the others lapped up the fuss from the visiting tourists but, like all cats, only when it suited them to do so.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Our final temple visit was to one just a short walk from the Chaukhtatgyi Buddha temple and is another with a huge highly decorated Buddha. This one sits in calm repose decorated in his gold robes with plenty of precious stones decorating them. All of the temples we went to that day were quiet with each seeming to have less and less tourists and instead more and more of the locals worshipping and going about their daily lives. At this one we were the only tourists, in fact there was hardly anyone else there. Maybe that was just luck or maybe it was because it was getting late in the day, whatever the reasons this made it all the more special and peaceful as we climbed the steps, approached the entrance and were greeted by the sight of the serene Buddha.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The temple is in the Ashay Tawya monastery and, just as the reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi Buddha temple is, this one is also housed in a large iron pavilion type structure. Measuring nearly fourteen metres high the Buddha sits with his back to an ornately carved wooden screen, you can just about make out a little of it in my photo below. Whilst the reclining Buddha had a kind, loving, welcoming face and was very special this temple was so peaceful that it was definitely my favourite of the three.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Visiting Shwedagon pagoda is a definite must if you are in Yangon but, if you can, try and visit a few of the other temples dotted around the city too. Having the chance to visit these three provided a peacefulness that perhaps isn't so easy to find (at least as a tourist) at the Shwedagon pagoda. As we were soon to be leaving Yangon for Bagan, another place full of pagodas, some of which are also incredibly busy with visitors too it was nice to know there are still some more intimate ones to be discovered as well.</span></span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)16.840939 96.17352616.354613999999998 95.528078999999991 17.327264 96.818973tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-18252153411931698072020-02-18T21:54:00.003+00:002021-04-03T20:57:22.097+00:00Aberdour Castle and Beach<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Back on St Andrew's Day last year I took advantage of <a href="https://www.historicenvironment.scot/" target="_blank">Historic Environment Scotland's</a> annual ticket giveaway. If you haven't heard about this, for St Andrew's Day Historic Environment Scotland do a free ticket giveaway for some of their properties that usually have entrance fees. All you have to do to be a part of it is register online, when registration opens (usually earlier in the November) and then you can then apply for tickets to one of their properties. About thirty of their properties across Scotland took part last year including Aberdour castle, which I'd come across earlier in the year and had made a mental note looked worthy of a visit at some point. After registering it was then a bit like waiting to buy tickets for a concert with the inevitable virtual online queue but I was finally rewarded and the date was blocked out in my diary.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">St Andrew's day itself dawned bright and sunny but very cold, in fact it barely got above freezing all day, as you can probably see from the frosty photos above. Contrast those though to the photo below of the opposite side of the castle which was getting the sun resulting in all the frost there being long gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Aberdour castle can lay claim to being one of the two oldest standing datable castles in Scotland with parts of it dating from around 1200. The garden terraces, dating from the mid-16th century, form one of the oldest gardens in Scotland too. Like many castles, over time it has been extended and altered but building collapses to the original tower house section of the castle have also left their mark and today this part of the castle stands partially ruined. </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The later built parts of the castle are still intact though, here's where you can see the stables and on the upper level a long gallery. When I visited I got the bonus of seeing the 'Scotland from the Sky: Part 2' exhibition, a wonderful collection of photos of Scotland's stunning landscapes viewed from above. The exhibition was only there for a limited time so has gone now but it was a nice unexpected extra to my visit. </span></span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">This part of the castle is also where you can see the beautiful 17th century painted ceiling, something that I've seen a lot of in various historic buildings I've visited in Scotland. The last I saw before this one was at <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2019/10/doors-open-day-along-royal-mile.html" target="_blank">Riddle's Court in Edinburgh on Doors Open day</a> last September. It turns out that painted ceilings in Scotland have a particular style, many are decorated with patterns of fruit and flowers as is the one at Aberdour castle, and are typically in castles and houses built between 1540 and 1640. Whilst there are many all over Scotland there are actually quite a lot in Edinburgh, particularly in the old buildings around the Royal Mile, one of them being the already mentioned Riddle's Court, and as many were concealed by later plaster work more continue to be discovered. All that I have seen are beautiful with intricate designs and patterns and are well worth searching out.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">A common sight at a lot of the Scottish castles I've visited, a doocot in the grounds</span></i></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">As I said the garden terraces at the castle are also among the oldest in Scotland and they too have something in them that I've got increasingly used to seeing at Scottish castles and grand houses, the doocot or dovecote. Though they are not unique to Scotland I seem to have seen a lot more here than elsewhere. The 'beehive' shaped one at Aberdour castle dates, like the gardens do, from the 16th century and contains around 600 nesting boxes. The ridges that you can see running around the outside of it are called 'rat courses' and were there to prevent rats climbing inside.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Before heading back to Edinburgh I decided to have a little walk around the village of Aberdour too as I'd been told by work colleagues that it was a pleasant little spot. Knowing it was on the coast I figured that it must have a beach or at least a good spot for views out across the Firth of Forth. A short walk from the castle I came to a Shore Road and took a chance on this maybe leading to the shoreline and I wasn't disappointed. Visiting in November with the short winter days by the time I got there the sun was already getting a little lower in the sky. That combined with the cold, crisp day ensured I was treated to a gorgeous view across the Firth of Forth when I reached the end of that road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The beach is only small, though it turns out that Aberdour actually has two of them. The one I found is called Black Sands beach and is rockier with darker sands as opposed to its near neighbour, the Silver Sands. From the Black Sands beach you can enjoy </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">views across to </span><a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2017/04/arthurs-seat-st-anthonys-chapel-and-st.html" target="_blank">Arthur's Seat</a><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> and</span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> over to the island of Inchcolm with Inchcolm abbey standing right in the middle of it. This is somewhere I got a lot closer to on a previous </span><a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2018/06/a-boat-trip-on-firth-of-forth.html" target="_blank">boat trip out in the Firth of Forth</a><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> and it's a place that I'd definitely like to visit. Have any of you been over to the island? </span></span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Perhaps because it was such a cold day and it was getting late by the time I arrived but there were relatively few of us on the beach that afternoon, just a few dog walkers and another person exercising their horse. It was a delightful spot to spend a little time at, enjoying the views and taking in the fresh air before heading back to the pre-Christmas busyness of Edinburgh. It's certainly a little beach I'd like to visit again sometime.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">Looking towards Inchcolm Abbey on the island of Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">Looking across the Firth of Forth to Arthur's Seat</span></i></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Aberdour is just a short train journey from Edinburgh so very easy to reach and is perfect for a day trip out of the city. The castle is right besides the train station too and the beach only a short walk from there so it's all very easy to get to and from. If you have longer than I did the two beaches and the castle are on the route of the Fife Coastal Path, an extended footpath that runs along the Fife coast from Kincardine to Newburgh. It's worth noting though that the path runs for 116 miles so isn't something you can do in a day. Whatever your plans for your visit the castle is a lovely one and great for a short or a longer visit and that little beach is quite the stunner.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Aberdour, UK56.054679 -3.302729900000031256.0369455 -3.3430704000000313 56.0724125 -3.2623894000000311tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-45613647370571493102020-02-09T18:22:00.003+00:002021-04-03T20:54:33.660+00:00Exploring Downtown Yangon by Foot<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Wherever we go we'll usually go walking, whether it be just wandering around to see what we find or following a well known route looking for landmarks and points of interest. The guide book we had with us included a guided walk around Downtown Yangon so we decided to stick to tradition and use that as the basis to do a bit of exploring.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The walk began at the Sule Paya, a 2000 year old golden temple. Legend states that the paya is older than the <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2020/01/shwedagon-pagoda-yangon.html" target="_blank">Shwedagon paya</a> and was built during the time of the Buddha. The paya has played its part in the past in both Burmese and Yangon politics, serving as a rallying point during various protests and demonstrations. </span><br />
<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Today it stands right in the middle of several busy roads with businesses plying their trades around the base of the temple grounds so for me it was hard to fully appreciate just how old it actually is. This also made it quite tricky to know where the temple grounds begin and end. If you're visiting here and other temples you need to make sure you don't accidentally end up in the temple compound without removing your footwear first. A nearby pedestrian bridge across one of the roads provides some good views of the temple from an elevated position. We didn't enter this temple, choosing to carry on to the next stop on the walk, we visited a lot of other paya's in Yangon (more on that soon) and elsewhere over the course of our trip so were happy enough on this occasion to skip over this one and just view it from the outside.</span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">From here it was on towards Yangon's city hall. This colonial style building, construction of which was completed in 1936, is home to the city's administrative body, the Yangon City Development Committee. They are responsible for a whole array of functions for the city including, waste management and street lighting. If you get closer to the building you'll notice it has a lot of traditional Myanmar decorative details on it as well including peacocks, nagas (serpents) and the traditional tiered roofs called pyatthat. </span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The park facing the city hall is Mahabandoola garden and is home to the Independence monument. The park dates to around 1867 and was originally named Fytche Square after Albert Fytche, the then Chief Commissioner of British Burma. In 1935 it was renamed Bandula Square and after Burmese independence from the British in 1948 the Independence monument was erected replacing a statue of Queen Victoria. The architect of the monument, Sithu U Tin was also the architect of city hall. </span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The park is pristine and clearly popular with the locals as a place to spend time with their family or friends. Although we'd only just begun our walk the opportunity to spend some time here made a pleasant brief break from the bustle of the streets around us. Though you definitely need some sun cream if you plan to spend any prolonged time here.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">After a couple more stops we arrived at the Customs House, a gorgeous red brick building built in 1915. Around here there are a lot of colonial era buildings with this particular one being a rarity in that it is still used for its original purpose. A little further along the Strand Road is the Myanma Port Authority. This is the government agency with the responsibility for regulating and administering the coastal ports of Myanmar. It's another striking building, as so many in this part of the city are, this is an area that you really don't want to miss if you're visiting.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Also along this road is the Strand hotel, opened by the Sarkies brothers in 1901, the very same brothers who owned Raffles hotel in Singapore and the Eastern and Oriental in Penang. As so many of these grand hotels did this one hosted a multitude of famous writers in its early days including Rudyard Kipling, George Orwell and W Somerset Maugham. During World War ll the Japanese took it over and from 1962 to 1989 it was owned and managed by the Burmese government. Time took its toll and it ended up in a very poor state but in the early 1990s it was brought back to some of its former glory. It's well worth a stop for a refreshing drink and a blast of air con if you are walking in the area.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">After our break we were coming towards the end of our walk, passing through busy streets full of Yangon's day to day life and many more of those beautiful old buildings we came to the Ministers Office or as it is also known, the Secretariat. This red and yellow brick building was originally the administrative seat of British Burma. It was also the place where Aung San (the father of Aung San Suu Kyi) and six cabinet ministers were assassinated in 1947. </span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The building and its land takes up a whole block, we ended up walking all the way around its perimeter as the side we initially approached from was covered in scaffolding so not the best for photos. This turned out to be a good decision as we then realised we could go into the grounds as well as the building, from the section covered in scaffolding this wasn't immediately obvious. It's now been renovated and includes a museum and art exhibit spaces. You can also join daily guided tours around it as well as do a bit of shopping or have a coffee there if you wish.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">By this stage, although our walk wasn't quite finished, we both felt it was time for a proper break as the lure of food was calling. The walk was well worth it for a taster of downtown Yangon especially as we only had a couple of days in the city. We got to see some key spots in the city and the country's history, walk among the pavement vendors selling their wares as well as seeing some of the impressive colonial architecture that is still such a part of Yangon. It was well worth the heat of the day and the inevitable sweating for this walk.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)16.840939 96.17352600000003816.354613999999998 95.528079000000034 17.327264 96.818973000000042tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-1414114974910527802020-01-26T22:17:00.002+00:002021-04-03T20:52:22.711+00:00Chinese Lanterns at St. Giles' Cathedral<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Asides from Christmas Chinese New Year was always <a href="https://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/search/label/Chinese%20New%20Year" target="_blank">my favourite holiday in Singapore</a>. It's the one time of the year where the city shuts down just a little as people gather with their families to celebrate. The food is amazing, the traditions around the whole lunar new year period fascinating and the thrill of chancing upon a lion dance never left me and always excited me. I kind of liked the CNY music in the shopping malls etc. and whilst I could never sing along the songs have stayed with me and are instantly recognisable if I chance upon them now and, of course, a two day holiday (the only one in Singapore) was always welcome. Without fail it's always one of those times of year that I miss Singapore.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">This year the first day of the Lunar New Year and Burns Night fell on the same day, the 25th January and in Edinburgh there have been a whole load of events happening to celebrate both. One of them is this lantern installation at St Giles' cathedral with over 400 lanterns hanging from the roof. It’s quite beautiful to see and the peacefulness of the cathedral setting truly enhances the beauty of the lanterns. Alongside the lanterns you can also read some of Robbie Burns most famous poems which are displayed around the cathedral, including Auld Lang Syne and My Heart’s in the Highlands. As well as view the Burns stained glass window installed in the cathedral in 1985.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The lanterns display at the cathedral is there until the 1 February 2020. In the day the display is free to enter but in the evenings for £5 you get to view the lanterns illuminated along with an accompanying soundtrack making for a peaceful experience in the hushed walls of the cathedral. It's a beautiful display and one worth taking a bit of time out from your day to go and see whilst it's there.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RE, UK55.949483699999988 -3.190891800000031337.421687699999993 -44.499485800000031 74.477279699999983 38.117702199999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-73826360343405216772020-01-12T22:14:00.003+00:002021-04-03T20:51:23.439+00:00Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Our time <a href="https://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/" target="_blank">living in Singapore</a>, and our travels back since we left, meant we've been able to travel with relative ease to different parts of the region but somewhere we hadn't been to previously was Myanmar. This, combined with a chance for a catch up with <a href="https://beirutibrit.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">a friend from our Singapore days who now lives there</a>, was reason enough for us to plan a visit as part of our last trip to Singapore. </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">We flew to Yangon arriving late in the afternoon and after freshening up and a drink in the hotel bar we met up with our friend and a friend of hers, who was also visiting Yangon, for a sunset visit to the famous Shwedagon pagoda.</span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">No matter how little (or much) you know about Myanmar you're sure to recognise this pagoda. This is one of Buddhism's most sacred sites in the country and is believed to enshrine eight hairs of the Gautama Buddha (the religious leader on whose teachings Buddhism was founded) as well as the relics of three other former Buddhas. Legend states that there has been a stupa, the mound like structure which usually contains relics and is used as a place of meditation, there for more than 2600 years. The legend says that two merchant brothers, Tapussa and Ballika, met the Buddha who gave them the eight hairs to take back to Myanmar. The local ruler, King Okkalapa, enshrined the hairs in a temple of gold, together with the relics from the other Buddhas. This would therefore make it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. Archaeologists and historians believe though that the original stupa was built by the Mon people, one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar, between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Myanmar is prone to earthquakes, during the 17th century alone the pagoda suffered damage from earthquakes on eight different occasions, and so the ancient structure, like others, has been rebuilt many times over the years.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">As I said above our visit to the pagoda coincided with sunset. As you can probably also see in my photo above the floor is entirely covered in white marble so, as we discovered with other pagodas we visited, can get incredibly hot in the direct sun of the day. Our friend had already recommended either an early morning or sunset visit to the Shwedagon pagoda for this reason and she was absolutely right. We did a few dashes from one shaded point to another at other temples on our trip, and whilst it's impossible to avoid this completely if you plan to visit lots of temples on your travels, a visit to the Shwedagon pagoda at sunset (or in the early morning) is a must if you can. There were many people there offering prayers, and the brilliant golden colour of the stupa which is covered in gold leaf with its uppermost section in diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other gems, glinting in the setting sun really was the best introduction to our trip and to this lovely country. </span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">If you are planning to visit you'll find that the temple has four entrances which, as it stands 167 feet above sea level and is visible from many parts of the city, all have steps up to the main pagoda and surrounding complex. However if you need them there are also lifts and escalators available. At the top you'll also easily find the place to pay your entrance fee to the temple too. I confess I don't know now which entrance we went in by but leaving the temple later via an escalator was definitely a first for me. The entrance (and exit) we took was bustling with stalls selling goods, including Buddha images and incense sticks amongst a whole lot more, pass all the stalls though and you arrive at the main complex and the beautiful Shwedagon pagoda.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As we walked around the complex, admiring the temple's beauty as the setting sun turned it even more golden, our friend told us some interesting snippets of information. One of the most interesting was about the twelve planetary posts around the stupa's base that represent the days of the week. The locals pray at the post, which are all represented by animals, that is linked to the day they were born. Both my husband and I were born on a Wednesday and we are represented by the elephant. Wednesday is the one day that is divided into births in the morning (represented by a tusked elephant) and births in the afternoon (represented by a tuskless elephant). If you wish to, as we did, when you find your planetary post you can pour water on the image offering up a prayer or a wish as you do. It turns out we're in good company as Barack Obama did the same at his planetary post when in Myanmar and visiting the pagoda. </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">We also visited the photo gallery in the complex which is a great opportunity to see photos of the pagoda at various points in its history. Though as traditional dress is still worn by many it can be quite hard to distinguish between the older photos and the more recent at first glance.</span></span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Shwedagon pagoda is stunning, all the more so at sunset when the golden stupa glows bright. Being such a well known part of Yangon this was the perfect place to start our visit and our friend was the perfect guide. As our stay continued we really began to appreciate just how visible it is from various parts of the city and just how special it is. Without doubt this is likely to be on your plans to visit if you're travelling to Yangon and if not it absolutely should be. It's breath-taking, awing and quite amazing. </span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Ar Zar Ni, Road Pha Yar Gyi Ward, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)16.7985846 96.149504900000011-11.568841899999999 54.840910900000011 45.166011100000006 137.4580989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-4648722293351612312019-11-21T22:29:00.002+00:002021-04-03T20:49:35.545+00:00Christmas in Edinburgh <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Last weekend Edinburgh's Christmas for 2019 was officially launched with the market opening and the lights being switched on. I've been to a few <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2016/11/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like-christmas.html" target="_blank">Christmas light nights in Edinburgh</a> and wasn't actually going to go this time mainly as it didn't really differ much year on year. However this year the main lights on event was moved from George Street to the Royal Mile so that along with rumours of Santa making an appearance convinced me to go.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The afternoon began with a selection of festive entertainment to get everyone in good spirits including various local choirs and other performances. Finally as the sun began to set Santa arrived and switched on the lights but it was really his departure that stole the show. You can see a video of that and a few other photos below. </span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">It was well worth the trip to the Royal Mile in the end and moving the whole event to this new location did a great job of freshening it all up. What are your plans for your Edinburgh's Christmas this year? Whatever they are I hope you have a fabulous time!</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH8 8BP, UK55.9518184 -3.178232999999977437.4243879 -44.486826999999977 74.4792489 38.130361000000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-17476271441290895542019-11-12T22:00:00.002+00:002021-04-03T20:48:52.175+00:00Prague Highlights - Street Art and Curiosities<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Prague is full of quirky features and interesting street art, so much so that to wrap up my <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search/label/Prague" target="_blank">Prague posts</a> I decided they needed one all of their own.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">One steep street you're very likely to walk (or maybe climb) along, particularly if you head towards <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/2019/09/prague-highlights-prague-castle-and.html" target="_blank">the castle</a> is the Nerudova. The street is as picturesque as most of Prague is but what makes this a little different from most other streets in the city are the house signs that remain on many of the buildings. Until numbering was introduced in the 18th century these signs and house names were the only way to identify buildings in Prague. There are more of these signs preserved on this road than along any other and they include buildings known as the Two Suns and the Three Fiddles, thanks to its history of at one time hosting a family who made violins. As well as these there are many more including one with a golden key above it and another with the Devil over it. Take the time to look above the doors as you walk along this street and see how many you can spot.</span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">When I spotted the little fellow below I wasn't sure who he was but thought it was fun and quirky looking, if not a bit grumpy and just like he was about to jump into the river. Thanks to a post of this very same spot on an Instagram account I follow I've since learnt that this is actually a water sprite known as a vodnik. He is always to be found near water and it turns out is not a very nice sprite as he usually does harm to people doing things like blocking mill wheels or catching inexperienced swimmers. Vodnik's can also transfigure into other animals as another way of luring people in order to catch their souls. Perhaps if I'd realised just how evil this water sprite was I wouldn't have taken his photo.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Prague's TV tower, the Žižkov television tower is the city's tallest landmark and was built between 1985 and 1992. We didn't really get any closer to it than my photo below but if you want to you can visit it and enjoy the views. It is also known for the baby sculptures climbing up its sides. The sculptures by David Černý were first placed there as part of an installation called Miminka in 2000 when Prague was the European Capital of Culture. At the end of the year the installation came down but after a public outcry they were reinstated as a permanent part of the tower. They don't have faces rather what some think look like USB drives leading one interpretation of the artwork to be a commentary on our over-dependence on media for sustenance, but that's only one point of view. What do you think? As well as the ones on the tower there are also a couple in Kampa park close to the Kampa museum on the bank of the Vltava river, so if you can't get out to the tower to see them take a trip here to get even closer.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;">Looking towards the Žižkov Television Tower from the Nerudova</span></i></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">This line of yellow penguins are also on the edge of the river in Kampa park just a few steps from the babies. Whilst they may look cute these thirty-four penguins are there to share a serious message about the environment and the dangers of climate change and plastic consumption. The penguins are all made from recycled bottles and were created by a Milan based art movement, the Cracking Art Group. The group hopes that by re-purposing this plastic they will inspire more dialogue about plastic waste and its impact on the environment.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: small;"><i>I spotted this cat on the side of a building we walked past and couldn't resist taking a photo</i></span></td></tr>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Did you know that Prague also has a Cubist lamp post? Well if you didn't you do now and that's it in the photo below. Handily it's also very easy to find being down a little side street close to Wenceslas Square. There are a few examples of Cubist architecture dotted around the city, a movement that flourished in Prague from 1911 to 1914 until the First World War stopped its development but this is the only lamp post in this style in the world. The Czech architect, Emil Králíček designed it in 1913 and if nothing else it's worth hunting out so you can say you've seen the only one of its kind.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">There are a couple of statues of men hanging above streets in Prague, one of which is Sigmund Freud which I've only now discovered I missed. I can't help but wonder if we actually walked underneath it oblivious to it hanging above us. I know I definitely didn't see this one below the first time we walked along this street and only spotted it by chance as I looked up at just the right time on another evening. This statue honours Alphonse Mucha, one of the city's most famous artists.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">Prague is a city full of fascinating pieces of artwork, I only found a few and know now that there are plenty of others we either missed or didn't get any photos of. If you're visiting the city take the time to explore this side of Prague as well, whatever your tastes I'm pretty sure you'll find something to appreciate and admire.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Prague, Czechia50.0755381 14.4378004999999849.749331100000006 13.79235349999998 50.4017451 15.083247499999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-45455057639354042462019-11-02T11:40:00.002+00:002021-04-03T20:45:36.282+00:00Doors Open Day: The Cottage, West Princes Street Gardens<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">My final Doors Open Day visit of the last open weekend at the end of September was to the sweet little cottage in West Princes Street Gardens, somewhere I've always been very curious about. As you can see from the photo below it's quite small so to visit here you needed to book a slot. I always leave these things to the last minute and assumed I probably wouldn't be lucky but I managed to get a slot on the Sunday so finally I could see inside somewhere I walk past everyday on my way to work. In the morning when I pass it the lights are often on on the upstairs level (which I now know to be offices) it always looks homely, warm and inviting, especially now the temperatures are dropping.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The cottage was built in 1868 and was originally the Head Gardener's house. The lower level has been restored to its original Victorian style with the space including a kitchen and dining room. Upstairs, as I said, are now modern offices and are the home of The Quaich Project, what a great place and location to work! If you don't know anything about The Quaich Project, which I'll admit I didn't, they are the people behind the plan to modernise West Princes Street Gardens making it a place for both residents and visitors to enjoy year round.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">West Princes Street Gardens were originally private gardens for the houses on the opposite side of Princes Street. There have only ever been houses and shops on the one side of the street giving uninterrupted views across the gardens towards the castle. The gardens were however eventually given to the council and subsequently opened to subscribers from the New Town to access in 1821. There were strict rules for using the gardens at that time, especially in relation to what was not allowed to take place there, this included no dogs, playing cricket or smoking. In 1876 it was acquired again by the council and this time turned into a public park for all.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">If you live in or are a regular visitor to Edinburgh you'll likely know that the Ross fountain in the gardens underwent a major renovation last year after many years of not working which was a part of this planned larger revamp of the area. The fountain was produced at a iron foundry in France and originally an exhibit at the Great Exhibition of 1862 in London before eventually being gifted to the city. On a sunny day with the castle watching over it the fountain's restoration has really made it look pretty special and improved that section of the gardens just by itself immensely.</span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Before heading to the cottage in West Princes Street Gardens I had very little idea about what was planned for the revamping of the space. Not only did I get to see inside a little place I've always wanted to but I also learnt a whole lot more about the gardens future. The cottage with its renovated Victorian rooms on the lower level gives a nice insight into what the cottage was like when used for its original purpose with the modern upper level giving us a look towards the future. The designs and plans are sympathetic towards the green space the gardens provide but freshen up the whole area for everyone to enjoy in a new way. If you're interested you can learn more by visiting <a href="https://www.thequaichproject.org/" target="_blank">The Quaich Project</a> website.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">If you want to see where else I've got to on previous Doors Open Day weekends in Edinburgh, take a look </span><a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search/label/Doors%20Open%20Day" target="_blank">here</a><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">.</span></span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh EH2 2HG, UK55.9510519 -3.197341199999982637.4232559 -44.505935199999982 74.4788479 38.111252800000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732242869745931797.post-21148876946739616032019-10-13T21:05:00.002+00:002021-04-03T20:44:21.751+00:00Doors Open Day: Along the Royal Mile<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">It was one of my favourite weekends in Edinburgh recently, Doors Open Day, the chance to visit all sorts of places around the city for free. I've done <a href="https://www.wheresthenextadventureblog.com/search/label/Doors%20Open%20Day" target="_blank">quite a few</a> since we moved here and it's very much become a part of my September plans.</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Once again I packed in a few places over the weekend concentrating on the Royal Mile area for the first few of them. The first one I visited was Riddle's Court. Riddle's Court is at the top end of the Royal Mile close to the castle and like many spots along the Mile is tucked down a narrow Close which you could easily walk straight past. It was built in the 1590s originally as a Merchant's house and was one of the grandest houses in Edinburgh even having its own garden, a rarity in the tightly packed Old Town. </span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">It's full of period features including a magnificent painted ceiling commissioned by the biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and town planner, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdFvQqFAK9/?hl=en" target="_blank">Patrick Geddes</a>, as well as fireplaces and wood panelling throughout a large part of it. During its history it has welcomed many distinguished visitors, most notably James Vl and his wife, Anne of Denmark for two banquets held at the Court. The painted ceiling I mentioned includes panels featuring the King and the banquet that was held there in 1598 as well as many other historical figures linked to the history of the place including John McMorran who built the Court and the philosopher David Hume who lived close by in 1751. The building has been used for many things including student accommodation for the University of Edinburgh and a venue for Fringe performances.</span></span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">From Riddles Court I walked a little further down the Royal Mile to the Supreme Courts, Parliament House. The focus of my visit there was to see the impressive looking Parliament Hall which was completed in 1641. The most obvious features of it are the stunning beamed roof and the stained glass window, both of which immediately catch your attention as you enter. Around the walls of the hall are also numerous art works including paintings by Edinburgh local, Sir Henry Raeburn. Like many places that open their doors over the course of this weekend there was the opportunity to join in with family friendly activities as well as just view the building, here you could dress up and also watch a mock trial in one of the courtrooms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Lato;">My final stop on my Royal Mile Doors Open Day visits was at the St Columba's by the Castle church. This one isn't technically on the Royal Mile being on Johnston Terrace just off of it but close enough. It turns out there are two churches on this road both sharing the name of St Columba and I actually thought it was the other church that was open. I turned up and was a bit disappointed to see it all shut up when I was expecting it to be open. A quick check though and I discovered it was the other church so walked a very short distance to that one instead which, of course, was open.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">This Victorian church was built between 1846 and 1847 originally as a church for the accommodation of the poor with a school attached to it. It is also believed that a lot of the stones used in the building of it were taken from the ruins of the chapel attached to a palace that had stood on Castle Hill at the top of the Royal Mile which had been demolished just beforehand in 1845. This long lost palace was the one time home of Queen Mary of Guise, mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. It's only a small little church but with its stained glass windows featuring unusually a lot of female figures and the impressive wall mural it's worth taking some time out to visit.</span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Lato;">The great thing about Doors Open Day weekends are that, as I said before, they give everyone the opportunity to visit a whole load of different places, some of which aren't usually open to the public, all for free. All of these particular ones were very close to each other and therefore easy to do in one day, in fact easily done in far less time than a whole day. Doors Open Day is definitely for you if you want to dig a little deeper into Edinburgh's (or the many other cities etc. across the UK who hold similar events) varied history or simply just see inside that building you walk past everyday and have always wondered about.</span></span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0The Royal Mile, 354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE, UK55.9487357 -3.195910799999978730.4267012 -44.504504799999978 81.4707702 38.112683200000021