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

**cessna152towser** · 29th July 14, 01:42 AM

Fabulous pics Alan, I just love to view my home country through the perception of a visitor.
I attend Political Economy lectures, which was my "Arts" subject for my Law degree, in the Adam Smith building at Glasgow University.
By the way, the carved head of a boy, and the inscribed stonework above the alleyway called Paisley Close which leads to the entrance to Celtic Craft Centre commemorates the collapse in 1861 of houses which had stood on the site since around 1600. Thirty five of the occupants were killed, but as the debris was being cleared away, a young lad was heard to shout out from within the collapsed building "Heave awa' lads, I'm no deid yet". The memorial inscription above Paisley Close, which was built in place of the collapsed houses, has an anglicised interpretation of what he said - "Heave awa' chaps, I'm no' dead yet".

**Calgacus** · 29th July 14, 02:02 AM

Likewise Alan, it's great to see Scotland through a visitor's eyes.
Looks like you are enjoying your trip and I look forward to seeing more of your photos & videos.

**mattie** · 29th July 14, 04:09 AM

Great pics,did you get any pics of Edinburgh Castle? Best regards Mattie

**rtown** · 29th July 14, 04:41 AM

Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures.

**Father Bill** · 29th July 14, 05:34 AM

Keep 'em coming, Alan!

**Panache** · 29th July 14, 10:15 AM

Alan,

Wonderful photos (and video!) my friend

Keep them coming!

Jamie

**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!

**mookien** · 29th July 14, 02:51 PM

Alan: Wonderful pictures all! Thanks for sharing them with us. My favorites are the Arthur's Seat trail and the picture of you both at the summit. Joan looks luminous even in the shadow of the beast.

John