Samhuinn Fire Festival 2013

After a rather hectic few days in Venice for the Biennale (check my other blog if you're interested), I came home for the Samhuinn Fire Festival, put on by the Beltane Fire Society. Held on the Royal Mile after dark, it was difficult for me to get good photos, so I apologise in advance for the dubious quality. It was all quite exciting, and immensely crowded.

Winter stands ready

Summer frolics

Winter approaches from the left

Winter triumphs for another season

The poster I designed for the Festival

More Edinburgh Wanderings

Views from around the town

The Royal Mile

A North Castle Street at sunset. 

29 Dundas Street, the Trout Angler's Club.

The Castle from Castle Terrace 

The Grassmarket from Victoria Street Terrace

View from the Scott Monument 

View from the Scott Monument towards Waverley Station

The Castle and Royal Mile from the Scott Monument 

A visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens

Yesterday a dear friend and I went to the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. We spent the day wandering through the gardens, visiting the glass houses and admiring the views. Since I am not a botanist and was more interested in taking photos than notes, the images below are not titled. I do not know what I was taking pictures of, save that it was pretty or interesting, so please don't ask.

Now, without further ado, the photos:

The view from the Botanics

Inverleith House, where they have art exhibits and such

The Tropical Palm House, a Victorian Hothouse built in 1834

Inside the Palm House

A bridge over the Water of Leith, not in the Botanics but nearby

Views around Edinburgh

Some photos I've snapped recently.

The Castle seen from the Grassmarket

Ominous clouds

Calton Hill seen from the North Bridge

The castle and city at sunset, from the top floor of Evolution House

Hopetoun Town and Country Fair

In the interests of updating this blog more often, I think I will convert it into a photo-blog with less text in future posts. I am still sightseeing around Edinburgh and the rest of the UK when I can, but find that trying to maintain two blogs is difficult for me. So, this blog will become a repository for my photos which are not directly related to art or are not included in my other blog.

First up, last month I attended the Hopetoun Town and Country Fair at Hopetoun House in South Queensferry. This is an annual event and hosts some (I understand) major horse trials for those in the hunter-jumper set. My own attendance was serendipitous; I won a ticket.

The Firth of Forth from Society Road which runs along the shore

The Firth of Forth Bridge panorama

The woods around Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House

Some of the fair vendors and the rear of Hopetoun House 

Horse Stables

Jumping

More Jumping

The Library. There is a model of the house and grounds on the billiard table.

A Rembrandt. The House has a surprisingly good collection of great artists

A massive and intricately carved marble fireplace

The Serving Room

A stone, Celtic knotwork decorated pot or planter

Bonus Photo! Edinburgh Waverley Station and the Castle in the mist.