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Showing posts from May, 2012

Religion, Politics and Art

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It wasn't raining this morning but was still overcast and cold and I thought that it wouldn't be necessary to wear a layer of thermals under my clothes. Well that thought lasted ten steps out of my hotel room before I doubled back to go and put on more clothes! It was freezing cold. My first stop this morning was the St Giles Cathedral. I had seen it in walking by but hadn't been inside.  It really is a magnificent building that ranges in age from 700 to 100 years of age depending on the section. I enjoyed seeing all the detail in the stone and wood carvings. St Giles Cathedral on the outside   Some of the carvings on the outside Gargoyles are my favourite  Another one  More stone carvings  Looking to the front of the cathedral  Some old military flags  One of the many stained glass windows  The organ pipes The memorial to James Stewart the Scottish regent from 1567 to 1570 in the Holy Blood Aisle   Another stained glass win

Seabirds and a Yacht

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I awoke this morning to the sound of rain hammering down. Finally the weather that I had expected for the whole week was here. Thankfully I had packed all my winter woollies so out came the thermal underwear, thermal gloves, thermal scarf and thermal beanie! My plan for the day was one of a maritime nature firstly to go to North Berwick to see some seabirds and secondly to do a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia. To get to North Berwick I had to catch a train. I got the receptionist of the hotel to explain the shortest route to Waverley Station and set off. It was freezing cold and wet but the walk at least warmed me up. It didn't take too long to get to the station and I managed to buy myself a return ticket and find the correct platform. The train pulled into the station almost as soon as I had arrived on the platform so I could at least sit inside in the warmth to wait for departure. The journey to North Berwick was only thirty minutes but travelled through some rea