Edinburgh Gathering

**Phil** · 22nd July 09, 05:20 AM

Today I went to collect my tickets for Saturday and took the opportunity to take a few photos on the way -

Here is Salisbury Crags from in front of the Scottish Parliament and which overlooks the Gathering site. By the way the Parliament is open to visitors just now if anyone wants a look around

This is the entrance to the Gathering site and the purple structure is the box office if anyone still needs a ticket -

Looking left from the entrance is the clan village and the large building behind it is the Palace of Holyrood -

This is another view of the clan village -

and to the right of the entrance is the rest of the site -

More to come .....

**Phil** · 22nd July 09, 05:33 AM

Walking back from the Gathering site I thought I would check up on how the Royal Mile is looking. Don't worry everyone - no sign of rubbish anywhere -

On the way I stopped at the Canongate Kirk near the foot of the Royal Mile and here is the grave of the poet Robert Fergusson. It is of interest because Robert Burns commissioned the grave you see here -

Also here is where David Riccio is supposed to be buried after his body was taken from Holyrood Palace. He was Mary Queen of Scots' secretary and was murdered at Holyrood -

There are many other notable graves here including that of Agnes McElhose (Robert Burns' Clarinda "Ae fond kiss and then we severed")

Further up the Royal Mile the Edinburgh Fire Brigade was assembled at St. Giles cathedral for the funeral of one of their colleagues, killed on duty recently -

If anyone was in any doubt about the tramworks in Edinburgh here are two photos of Princes Street today -

and an interesting one at the foot of Hanover Street where they have uncovered a brick wall beneath the road -

**Phil** · 22nd July 09, 05:36 AM

Just one more thing to add. Barnets, a shoe shop on the Royal Mile directly opposite the World's End pub has a sale just now. They have black and brown gillie brogues at £45 which sounds about half price to me so well worth a look.

**Paul** · 22nd July 09, 05:58 AM

cheers for the pics Phil! I was in Edinburgh last week and decided to check up on Princes street. It's looking terrible to be honest and I know everyones still not keen on getting the trams.
Arthur's Seat and surrounding area always looks good though... I just hope the weather is half decent on saturday!

**cessna152towser** · 22nd July 09, 06:14 AM

Super pics, Phil and thanks for the preview.
Considering all the hype about how this event is supposed to be a flagship event of the Year of the Homecoming I would have expected it to occupy a much larger area of Holyrood Park. It seems to me that if all the expected crowds do turn up this area is going to get very crowded at the weekend.

**KFCarter** · 22nd July 09, 06:28 AM

A great set of pictures... keep up the good work. This is a close as many of us are going to get to the Gathering. Thanks!

**hospitaller** · 22nd July 09, 08:38 AM

.

How lucky you are to live in such a beautiful and historical place.

Wish I was there.

.

**caig** · 22nd July 09, 08:52 AM

Hi Phil. I,too, was outside St Giles Cathedral for the funeral of the firefighter killed last week on duty. A very moving ceremony.

I was the one in the soggy Hunting Stewart kilt !!

The weather forecast for the weekend is much better.

**Phil** · 22nd July 09, 11:46 AM

I know. It seems to have been the wettest part of the day. I really felt sorry for those poor people standing in that downpour with no shelter whatsoever.