Time for another post here on the blog, covering a few quick trips we enjoyed in June and July.It's not as spectacular as the last post but nonetheless we had just as much fun partaking in the activities covered!
First up, a quick trip to London to see the mighty Stone Temple Pilots..
We've been big fans of STP for about 14 years now (old!) so when we rounded a corner in south London and saw their name in writing above the Brixton Academy entrance we were fairly happy!..
Inside with Tanya, a few minutes before the start..
Awesome!..
It was an amazing gig. Made even better as we'd resigned ourselves to the fact we were extremely unlikely to ever see them live (due to rehab sessions (theirs not ours!) band split ups and non-existent Australian tours). It was definitely worth the wait..
The next morning, having stayed at Tanya's and James' in east London, we thought a quick look around the Tower of London would be a good idea. One of us though, was a little worse for wear, having stayed at Tanya's and James' in east London! We did manage to see quite a bit of it though, including a few of the Queen's Guards..
Looking across Tower Green to the Queen's House (closed to the public)..
Looking across the lawn at the site of the Great Hall (with some of its old walls in the foreground) and out to Tower Bridge. On the lawn can be seen some of the Towers famous residents - the Ravens. They're cared for by their own Ravenmaster to ensure they never leave the tower - as legend states that the 'kingdom and the fortress would fall' if they did..A few days later we took the train west from Glasgow Central Station to the port of Gourock. There we jumped on the ferry and headed over to the Cowal Peninsula and the popular Victorian-era tourist town of Dunoon..
Looking north from the ferry terminal at Gourock..
It was a spectacular day, around 25-27 degrees with just a slight breeze..
Just another typically idealic Scottish day really!..
We went to Dunoon for a 'sort-of surprise' birthday party for Selina. It was our first BBQ in a long time and the timing could not have been better -chilling out in the backyard of Selina's house we sunbaked, ate, drank and got a little burnt..
The crew..
The view of Dunoon from the ferry as we left in the early evening. With the weather so nice during May and June and a promising extended forecast for summer things were looking good..
Unfortunately the closer we got to the true northern summer month of August the weather didn't really hold up its end of the bargain. It was still warm and very comfortable but a lot of days were windy or cloudy, like this morning when we finally climbed the Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat, the highest point in Edinburgh..
Looking down on the Crags from midway up Arthurs Seat. Beyond is Edinburgh city with the castle visible on top of the Royal Mile..
We weren't really sure where the guys at the top were heading, but didn't stick around to find out. The creek-bed they were walking down was almost vertical..
We made it to the top and shared the beautiful views with the other tourists. At only 251 metres and 45 minutes from the city centre it's a popular walk for tourists and visitors alike..
On the northern side of the hill, close to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, are the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel, dating from the early half of the 15th Century. In the background here can be seen the Palace (below centre) as well as Calton Hill (middle) and the Balmoral Hotel (clocktower at left)..
The beautiful ruins..
Looking over St Margaret's Loch..
It's beautiful (and rare of a capital city) to be able to walk 15 minutes away from the centre and feel like you're in the middle of the countryside..
After descending Arthur's Seat we headed to the zoo to visit the relatives..
There's one! The famous inhabitants of the Budongo Trail Chimpanzee Enclosure..
And the famous Penguin parade that happens every day when a different group go for a short stroll around their enclosure..
Bacon! Wait - we mean pigs. Pigs..
A very surprised Scottish Wildcat. Very similar to a domestic cat but an actual wild variety, although they are becoming rarer due to inbreeding with moggies..
The zoo is situated just outside the city centre on Corstorphine Hill. This is Carly, at the top..
More bacon! A lot of bacon..
A week later we decided to tick another attraction of our list by visiting Linlithgow Palace. Situated halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh and seen by Evan everyday on his way to and from work, the village and palace was the 2nd thing we wanted to see in the area, after the Falkirk Wheel. This is the hulking ruins as seen from the lawn, or 'peel' next to it, with the modern aluminium spire of St Michael's Church to the left..
The day we decided to visit coincided with one of Historic Scotland's educational days (it was during the school holidays) so we were treated to jousting, archery, armour-making and falconry displays among many others. Fun for the whole family!..
The palace itself was more fortification than opulent as it was situated in a strategic position between Edinburgh Castle, to the east and Stirling Castle, to the northwest. Thus it was used as a military base for securing the supply routes between the two..
The west facade..
The interior courtyard
Looking down on the arena one of the palace windows..
Looking down into the north wing. It's hard to imagine exactly how the interior of the building must have looked in its prime when all that remains is the stone shell..
A little step back in time in front of the fountain, said to have flown with wine in September 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through on his way south..Up next on the Wee Scottish Blog is a trip to the Borders Region including a surf and the 4 Great Border Abbeys. Coming soon, promise..
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