Pictures of a wet and stormy Edinburgh

[dieastra]

This entry is especially for fueschgast who recently was in Edinburgh as well and apparently had much better weather than I did!

When we were in Glasgow back in January for the Pantomime with John Barrowman we had planned a day trip to Edinburgh. Unfortunately it was the day with the worst storm and rain you can imagine. Lots of areas in the UK dealt with flooding at the time, it was really bad.

So here are some pictures of a very grey Edinburgh.

















After we had walked up the steep hill to the castle, it was announced that it was closed for the day. The storm was so heavy, that they feared people would get blown over the railing. That's how bad it was. You could barely walk.

And there was a man standing in his kilt playing the bagpipes. In the rain.









My umbrella didn't survive the harsh conditions. I left it in Scotland.

I also saw people in rain coats which they clearly had bought in the tourist information or something, as they had the writing "Scotland" on them. Yeah. Says it all ;)



Another poor umbrella that didn't make it:



So we went into the National Gallery. We did not take any pictures inside but I saw people taking some freely, apparently it is not forbidden?

I loved the paintings and the art but let's be honest, the best thing about this building was that it was dry and storm-free ;)



Later I regretted we didn't, as I remembered that this is exactly where John Barrowman and his sister Carole had sat, looking for new paintings to use in their "Hollow Earth" book series, which I can highly recommend by the way.

Comments

[gillo]

You went up Arthur's Seat in that weather? Crazy girl!

Even when the sun shines Edinburgh is generally grey, but it's a terrific city.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Wasn't my idea ;) To be honest, I'd have cancelled the whole trip off, we were already drenched before we even reached the train station but my friend had been there before and was determined to show it to me.

Not surprisingly at all, we were the only people up there.

But it's an experience we still talk about and I'll never forget! Plan to come back another time with better weather. Problem is, panto is always in January...

[geekslave.livejournal.com]

Eve with grey skies, a lot of these pictures (especially of the castle) look really great.

Stacey

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

(Here via the LJ home page)

I generally hate gloomy days. But rain and clouds aren't so bad if there are castles involved!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Hiya and welcome! I had no idea I featured at the home page? Cool!

Yeah, I don't mind a bit of rain either, but this was really especially terrible. In combination with the storm, the umbrella was useless, a rain coat would have been better but I didn't bring any on the trip (I'm from Germany). We were really drenched from head to toe. My friend in the other picture decided then to forego the umbrella but she also could have stood under a shower with her clothes on - it was the same effect ;) So I was glad for the little protection I got from mine.

I see your Barrowman icon and raise you mine ;)

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

EEE! Did you get to keep him?!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

LOL Sadly not! Here's the pic in bigger, if you like:

http://dieastra.livejournal.com/62887.html

Check also this post, we did some very funny group pictures with him, one more crazy than the other:

http://dieastra.livejournal.com/61899.html

I'd like to ask you a question. May I come over to your LJ and ask it there? I think it would be more appropriate.

[fueschgast]

Aw, thank you!

Whoa,when I was there in May, in the botanic garden they were still fixing damages from the weather you witnessed.

Ohh, that first picture, what a nice ceiling! Is that in the train station? ...Wait, is there a Minion on the ceiling?

What is that on the street in the 4th picture, a funfair?

Whoa, likes like they have a Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens (I've never been to Edinburgh in the winter)!

Heee, I have a photo of the Calton Hill handrail lion too.

[wanderingsmith.livejournal.com]

yup, that's just my mental image of scotland, that is, LOL! you look happy to be there, weather and all :D

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

LOL Well, to be fair, I only have been to Scotland twice, and always in January (as the pantomime always happens around Christmas time) so I can't really compare. But of course, any vacation and seeing new places is better than staying at home, right? At which season where you there?

[wanderingsmith.livejournal.com]

Lol, mine are truly only wistful images. If i was there it was when my parents were in england when i was 6months old

It's one of the places we'd like to go (my grandmother was from wayy up north) but... not likely to happen. Cash thing and all

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Beautiful pictures.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I should probably add that most were taken by my friend.

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, that's the Edinburgh I remember: dark and grey. I've only been there once, in January a few years ago. Entirely John Barrowman's fault of course, that I've only ever seen Scotland in winter!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

*grins*
You know, now that I suddenly enjoy "Pressure Pad" (I didn't last year but I do now) I might go to the filming of that next year if I can fit it in, and then I might be able to see both Glasgow and Edinburgh in Summer time. Or at least not winter time. Sounds like a plan?

The day we went to Edinburgh was the Friday, the day you arrived I believe? So you know exactly which kind of weather it was. We should have gone Saturday instead, it was a bit better then. But we had chosen the Friday as it was the only day we did not have a show in the evening.

We can blame the Barrowman on everything!

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Honestly? You missed nuthin'. Winter, Summer, really no difference :-(

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Srsly, lovey - you have no idea just how samey our weather is over here. No seasons ::shakes head:: - none. Penalty of living on a litte rock stuck out in the Atlantic. Wet, wetter, wettest - with the odd blink of sunshine :-(

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

Well, the season is a little late in coming to my neighborhood, but you'd always be welcome to see autumn here! :D But don't you get snow?

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I don't know about Edinburgh but I know Glasgow is rather warm in the winter time because of the Golf stream arriving at the cost. When I was there the last time, it did not really feel cold. Temperatures above Zero. So yeah, maybe not much snow?

[jsks.livejournal.com]

love the photos.

[halliwell.livejournal.com]

Glad you got to go to Edinburgh, even though they had a storm. Awesome pictures, love the castle and the architecture.

Hopefully next time you go there won't be a storm. :)

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had such lousy weather but it does make for some atmospheric photos! I really enjoyed these. Edinburgh was one of my favorite spots on our U.K. trip and the first place I'd like to return to someday. One day wasn't enough!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I'm sure one day I will be back in better weather. As long as John is doing pantomime in Glasgow ;) However his five years contract is coming to an end next year, so we don't know yet what will be next.

That reminds me, have you ever showed us pictures from your trip?

Most of the pictures I posted were actually done by my friend (I post them with her permission) - I was too busy holding my umbrella which threatened to fly off LOL
I regret not having taken a picture of the poor fella with the bagpipe in the rain.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

I don't believe I ever posted any pictures from Scotland here. We got home from our trip with hundreds and hundreds of pictures and it was a bit overwhelming going through them all, so most of them were just dumped into Facebook albums. I suppose I should really go through them and do something with the best ones!

Our Edinburgh day was the opposite of yours. When we were in the UK they were experiencing an unusual heat wave, and every single day (for 15 days!) was hot and sunny. The only exception was in Edinburgh, where it rained for about 30 minutes--while we were inside the castle, in fact. Just long enough for us to notice the downpour and buy plaid (rather overpriced) umbrellas in the gift shop. But by the time we left, it was already clearing up. Oh well--they're a nice souvenir. ;)

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Good lord, you survived Calton Hill 0.0 I'm amazed you weren't warned off that if the Castle was shut - there's nothing much between you and Fife up there!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Hiya! Long time no see! Sorry for intruding into your home grounds ;)

For the past two years I have been coming to Glasgow to see the pantomime with John Barrowman. I'll be there next January again, this time we plan a trip to Loch Lomond. I should try to get tickets for when he records the next batch of the "Pressure Pad" quiz show at the BBC studios there, I might get to see Scotland in Summer for a change ;) Then I'd like to have a second look at Edinburgh. I have seen pictures from a friend who was there recently and now I know what it is SUPPOSED to look like ;)

Now I'm a bit confused though. What is the difference between Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat? Are those two names for the same hill, or am I a bit off here now?

We were just a group of friends walking around, we did not ask anyone. Is there a guard at the gate or something? I don't think we saw anyone. It was - an interesting experience!

Anyway, the trip to Edinburgh was successful just because I found this cute Scottish Highland plush cow in the souvenir shop near the station, you can see it in this picture: http://dieastra.livejournal.com/85781.html

(and on our way back we didn't realize that two trains were going from the same platform, so first sat in the wrong one and when we realized, ours already was gone of course, and while hastily jumping out, my friend lost her wallet which fell onto the rails between the train and the platform, but a nice railway worker got it up for us later) - so, all in all a rather eventful trip!

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

*g* Give me a shout when next you're over, we could maybe meet up?

Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat are two different hills, The one with the mock Parthenon on the top is definitely Calton Hill (and no, there's no guard or anything, you just wander up it. I'm just surprised, given our nanny council, that there was no warning out about it!) The Parthenon is always referred to as 'Edinburgh's Disgrace': it was meant to be completed to mark the Napoleonic Wars, but was never finished due to lack of funds.

Arthur's Seat is the one that looks (from a certain angle) like a sleeping lion. It's the one that's in the Queen's Park at the Palace of Holyrood House, at the bottom end of the Royal Mile, behind the Parliament Building. (And if *anything* should be referred to as 'Edinburgh's Disgrace, is that damned monstrosity... But that's a rant for a different day *g*)

Edited to add: I've just noticed you can see it in picture #19, the hill in the far distant middle of the shot, with the line of Salisbury Crags in front of it.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I'd love that! It's always nice when locals show you around. If you ever come to Dresden, I'd like to return the favour! Here's a sneak peek: http://dieastra.livejournal.com/39239.html

And this beautiful landscape is only one hour by train away. See, we have also beautiful places! http://dieastra.livejournal.com/70713.html

I just don't know how possible it will be next January. I do have shows booked for each evening Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4rth. I arrive on Thursday and leave on Monday. I don't remember how long the train from Glasgow took - an hour or longer? So would it be really worth it, arriving around 10.00 maybe and having to leave again already at 4.30 to be back in time for the show (which should start at 7 PM)? I'd rather come at a time when I don't have to hurry home. Plus Summer time might indeed be better.

Ah I see, I looked it up on a map now. Yes, definitely Calton Hill. The Arthur's Seat came from the first comment I received in here. I was really surprised that you have so much green / nature in the middle of the city, I love that! In walking distance. I could bring the Doctor and we could take some nice pictures of him there!

Looking at my pictures again, I notice (blown over) fences. What are they for? Is there some reconstruction going on?

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Dresden and environs look gorgeous, I'll hold you to that :-)

Doesn't matter what month you visit, if I'm here, I'd love to show you around! As to the crowd barriers, I guess they'd be something to do with the Hogmanay celebrations.

And I'd think the Doctor would do well at the summit of Arthur's Seat, or on the Crags. But there's a lot of 'off the beaten track' places that would do equally well :-)

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Ah, I forgot something. Totally unrelated, but did you see my picture with Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks? Apparently that has never happened anywhere in the world before. They came to Germany in May, and here's the pic:

http://dieastra.livejournal.com/107241.html

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Nice pic! I got one with Shanks and Judge at Shitticon (I think) and RDA and Amanda at Avalon, but never more than with two of them at a time. You're lucky! Also, the 'facepalm' photo is terric!

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

Very atmospheric! Brrrr.

[analineblue.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that looks like a LOT of rain *_* It rained when I was there too (shockingly! ^_~) but definitely not bad enough to close the castle! Glad you still got out and about anyway though... ;)

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I don't mind a bit of rain, but this was really heavy weather. But yeah, what are you gonna do at vacation, stay at home? Not gonna happen!

I got reminded to post these when a friend started posting pictures of her recent Edinburgh vacation. Now that I know what it is supposed to look like, I want to go back! It's a really beautiful city.

Have you thought about joining me in Cardiff next year for the John Barrowman concert?

[analineblue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know what you mean - rain can be fine in small doses, but... This seems a bit extreme!

I would love to go back to Edinburgh, too... I was only there around 2 days, and I saw a lot, but I'm sure I missed a lot, too!

And gaah, yes, I have thought about it, and would LOVE to, but... I sort of doubt that I can see it in my future. We're going to Japan over Christmas/New Years this year, which means that between that, and a couple of days I need to take off for a wedding, and another trip, I would probably only have around 3 vacation days to spare. And that's technically long enough to plan a trip, but not the ideal amount of time, and would then probably make another trip my husband is interested in doing not possible, so... Yeah. TMI, probably, but that's the situation. If it wasn't so far, then I'd be there in a heartbeat! :/ And I do appreciate you nudging/encouraging me about it. ;)

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I understand. It is a long travel for you after all.
Have you read how John did it for the MBE ceremony? He, his parents and Scott flew into the UK on Sunday, went to a muscial on Monday, went to Buckingham palace on Tuesday and on Wednesday they already flew back to America. Oh my. Guess you cannot get jetleg if you don't stay long enough in one place LOL

What about operation convention then? Is that a go? I hope it is!

[analineblue.livejournal.com]

I did see that! It looks like it was a really special experience for them~ <3 And yeah, I keep seeing his posts - I can't imagine that kind of crazy travel schedule! I can barely manage a couple of trips a year without getting totally stressed out, lol XD;

And no, convention is not happening, in the end. >_< My husband had to travel a lot this month for unexpected family stuff, and just got back, and neither of us has any time to take off work, so it would have been a really rushed weekend - driving down late tomorrow, and then spending most of Sunday driving back, with one day there? So... We decided against it. *sigh* (I'm sure at this point you're probably doubting my resolve to go to these things, lol but really, I want to~ It just seems to be not working out lately XD;;)

So yeah, quiet Halloween weekend at home instead...

♥

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Oh, is it this weekend already? How come we haven't heard a thing yet? Usually John posts pictures of himself flying - well, maybe he is driving this time - but I also haven't seen any posts from the convention people? Not that I am actively looking but usually someone reposts them and shares in the FB group.

I'm sorry to hear it did not work out for you, maybe another time. If I have learnt anything, that there is always another time.

PS: I'll soon post my first White Collar fic ;)