Alan H and the Luminous Joan in Scotland- let the photo onslaught begin! Days 1-2

**Alan H** · 29th July 14, 10:20 AM

Mattie, I have about 30 pictures of Edinburgh Castle, but the thing is, if you want to see Edinburgh Castle, just go online and "Google" it. There are 100,000 pictures of Edinburgh Castle on line, and 99% of them are better than mine. Besides, Edinburgh Castle is a mob scene, there are hundreds of people all over the place and for me, it's hard to see the PLACE for all the PEOPLE. Likewise, I have pictures of other churches including the Canongate Kirk and GrayFriars (which is a terribly important church in the History of Scotland) , and of Holyrood Palace, and of the Scottish Parliament Building. But again...why show you that? I loved those things, but when I go to an OLD place, what I love most is to try to FEEL the people who lived there.

One of the places which is very old, but now changed and yet very powerful, is the WWI and WWII memorial in the church atop Edinburgh Castle. That church is hundreds of years old. Yet I did not take photographs there, because I chose to be respectful of the memory of those who died in those wars, and "flash" just did not seem right.

**Father Bill** · 29th July 14, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

*snip* what I love most is to try to FEEL the people *snip*

... but Alan... do the people want to be felt? You could get yourself into real trouble there!

:P

**Alan H** · 29th July 14, 12:34 PM

OK, Mattie...ONE picture of the Castle, taken with a bit of zoom from the trail up to Arthurs Seat.

Personally, I really don't like all the aluminum and fiberglass seating that's there for the Tattoo, I think it's really inappropriate, but nobody asked me!

**Kanati** · 29th July 14, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

OK, Mattie...ONE picture of the Castle, taken with a bit of zoom from the trail up to Arthurs Seat.

Personally, I really don't like all the aluminum and fiberglass seating that's there for the Tattoo, I think it's really inappropriate, but nobody asked me!

This is a great picture even with the stands. When my wife and I were there two years ago. I was astonished to learn that the stands used for the Tattoo were completely assembled and disassembled each year.

btw: My wife will be there in a few weeks to visit my daughter and son-in-law. They live over in New Town off Dundas St. next to St. Edwards (I think) which is a old building by American standards but new (around 1720). It has just been purchased and is going to be turned into a community center.

My daughter introduced my wife and I to the charity shops over in New Town. They are second hand shops run as charities (probably a tax thing). There are all kinds of neat clothing and collectables. I still regret not buying a old stationary box, like they used at the turn of the century.

I will not be able to go with my wife this year since I am still recovering from back surgery but I am going next year. Climbing Arthur's Seat and hitting antique shops are on my list of to-do's.

I also want to go back to a Kilt maker I found back in one of the closes off the mile. He was a very pleasant fellow and I want to let him make a nice Gordon Weathered for me.