Discovering the city - Edinburgh

This is a Saturday Walkabout from a few weeks ago. The main difference with my move to Edinburgh compared to my move to Glasgow is I've not had as much time & opportunity to get to know the city. When I moved to Glasgow in 2006 I was unemployed for 2 months waiting form my work contract to get sorted out. So that gave me lots of time to set foot out the door each day and decide if I would go left or right and just wander.

Moving to Edinburgh was the complete opposite experience as I dumped my stuff in my newly rented flat, headed back to Glasgow, hosted my parents for Christmas, took a holiday to Portugal (in which we missed our return flight home) and then when I did get back I started work right away. Oh ya, and it was winter.

Now the days are longer, the weather not quite as miserable and I've got the weekends to get out there and explore. On this particular wander I set out to discover Stockbridge.

Today (Saturday) is brought to you by the colour red

It was a very grey day when I was getting ready to head out the door. So grey that I almost didn't take my camera. I find Edinburgh extremely hard to take photos of when the clouds roll in. The buildings are grey stone and black so not much going on in terms of a colour palate.

Went to the National Gallery of Scotland to check out the big Turner Exhibit. They'd laid new lawn in Princes Street Gardens and with the trees sprouting new leaves it had a very green vibe going on.

However, there seemed to be an awful lot of red in the area. Something was afoot...











A little pre drumming pep talk and warm up. There was lots of wiggling going on too but that doesn't really translate well in this shot.



Just after I took that shot a guy (also with a camera) walked over to me and we had a bit of a chat. He wasn't an observer like me, he was with the group and handed me a flyer on an upcoming event they were going to be participating in up on Calton Hill . In checking out the website I'm thinking these are the Red Beastie Drummers.

And so it begins

Wasn't expecting the dancers.

About that wedding

I mentioned a while back that I had shot my first wedding. Something I swore I would never do. I'm not trying to be one of 'those' photographers. I'm not into doing portraits. I prefer to photograph strange things like abandoned chairs, elevetor shafts in art gallerys and my sneakers.

But they asked so nicely.

The challenge for me was going to be shooting what I want vs what I think they will want. But then the whole point of asking me to do this was because they liked the way I see things through my camera.

I tossed and turned the week leading up to this. I was really worried that the day was going to be a disaster, that something would go horribly wrong.

However, I think things went pretty well. These are some of my favorite shots from the day.

Portobello

Last Sunday afternoon I was out and about with the Edinburgh Flickr gang in Portobello. I'd never been there before and any excuse to hang out with some fellow camera geeks is always a fun way to spend a day.

There is a lovely long beach with a promenade the length of it. It wasn't exactly sunbathing weather that day. In fact it was BLOODY COLD and the ever present wind was blowing as it always does.

Fun was had by all.















Nice kitty.

The Wedding

This past Saturday I photographed a wedding. I've never done anything like that before and to be honest I tried to talk the couple out of getting me to do it. I mean I don't take people pictures. But they weren't having any of it and insisted. So I gave it the old college try.

I can't show you any of the shots just yet as the couple gets to see them first and they are currently on their honeymoon. I'm mostly happy with the outcome and am down right proud of a few shots. But as expected there were a few clunkers as well. I've only had my DSLR since Christmas so I'm still figuring it all out.

It was a spectacular day though, blue sky, daffodils everywhere and the location was on the shore of Loch Lomand.

Nice

So I'm busy at the moment sorting through the 241 shots I took trying to figure out what stays what goes and what needs editing. As of this evening I've only got 145 more shots to do and 4 days to do them.

My brain hurts.

Saturday Walkabout

ya ya ya I know, I know...

Life just kind of got in the way. But I'll be home this weekend. Nothing planned, no where to go, nothing to do. I'll get around to updating you on my life then k?

Until then, say cheese :)



Oh right and if you find yourself in Glasgow at any point this month (i.e. March) head on down to the Biblio Cafe, grab yourself a steamin' coffee and go upstairs to see my exhibition.



That wasn't too obvious a plug was it?

A Penny Dreadful

Sitting on my sofa just reading my emails not even thinking of dinner yet as I'm just not hungry. My mobile goes off and it's L from work.

You said you weren't doing anything tonight right?

Yup - that's the plan, a whole lotta nothin'

We've got a spare theatre ticket tonight, it's only a fiver, no idea what it is, want to join us?

Sure

Be there in about 10 minutes (she just lives around the corner from me).

The show was 'The Mystery of Irma Vemp' and was at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. It was a nice bit of fun.. A very camp show consisting of two men playing all the parts so of course there was some cross dressing involved. The cheap tickets were part of the First Fridays deal, kind of like a dress rehearsal I guess. No assigned seating so you need to arrive early. But this is the theatre, no stampedes as everyone queued as they tend to do here in the UK.

At intermission the ushers come down to the audience to sell mini-tubs of Haagen Daz ice-cream which I found really strange, but it seemed immensely popular. Why ice-cream at the theatre?

Speaking of the theatre, it's very nice.

After the show we walked home going around the back part of the castle and up into the old town. I found it funny that as we crossed onto the street at the foot of the castle there was a big sign pointing towards it that said...

<-Castle

I must go back during the daylight and take a picture. Makes me wonder how many tourists have stood with their back to the sign, underneath this massive looming presence and said to their spouse 'I wonder where the castle is'.

Took this shot as we walked up the hill just before connecting up with the Royal Mile.

It was a good night.

Dare I speak the word that is... spring?

If I jinx it by doing this then so be it, but gosh it feels like spring :)

I wake up in the morning and the sun is starting to poke its head in the sky as I make my breakfast. I'm no longer walking home in the pitch black. No more do my pajamas consist of flannel layered over a t-shirt, socks and topped with a hooded sweatshirt, and I am no longer sleeping curled up in a tight little ball shivering. I even reduced the number of hours the boiler is on for.

I can hear the birds twittering out my bedroom window as I type this.

Yes I think spring is just around the corner.

Its amazing what people search for

As most of you are aware I post all my photography (the good and the crap) on Flickr. Its main function is that of an archive but also a way to bridge the distance between here (Scotland) and home (Canada). Many of my friends are on Flickr so its fun being able to check out the vacation shots when one gets home or to get that feel good warmth when I look at pictures of my cats at my folks place.

But there is also the sharing aspect. You can join groups to post your work to in order to receive critic to better your craft or just to meet some really interesting people. I belonged to the Glasgow Flickr meet up group when I lived there as a way to not only meet other camera geeks but also to get out there in and discover the hidden areas of the city. I've done the same here now in Edinburgh, although I haven't been out all that much yet to actually take some shots but I have attended the 2 social evenings at least (they're such a friendly bunch).

Then (and this is the reason for the post) there is the utterly random. You can look up the statistics on your photostream. What shots were viewed yesterday, how many times, how were they seen (i.e. people going directly to your stream or viewed from a group) or what photos were searched for.

This is my most viewed photo:



Ok everyone together now 'WHY???' Because I titled it Genetic Mutations and EVERY DAY I can see that people either through Flickr, Google Images, Google Search, Yahoo Images or Yahoo Search the masses out there will type in the words 'genetic mutations' and hit search and my photo pops up. Probably not what they were looking for but I find it funny. How many pre-med students have seen my work, or budding mad scientists?

And for those of you wondering, its a TV show prop that was sitting on my cousins balcony because it was just too cool to throw away.

And now its famous.

(oh and I'm running late so I'll add in all the hyper links and some more reference photos later tonight after work)

The Movies

I've been watching quite a few movies lately. Both the DVD kind and the go to the cinema kind. One reason is, well... I've got lots of free time on my hands due to not really knowing that many people.

For the last 2 Sundays I've been going to the double feature at the Cameo Picturehouse. (thanks for the free ticket JG) Going to the cinema by yourself is not for everyone, but I don't mind.

It's easy enough finding a seat as unless forced, people tend to leave at least one empty seat between them and the stranger next to them in a row. If I get to the theatre early enough I can be strategic in where I sit. Preferably directly behind someone that isn't tall. I've learned the hard way that if I don't do this the empty seat in the row ahead of me will be filled by a 7 ft giant just as the lights go down.

While waiting for the movie to start sometimes I'll read the paper but eventually I feel myself being drawn to the snippets of conversations around me.

The couple 4 seats over
- he's doing all the talking. He seems very opinionated about a friend of his and that she (only 24) is dating a guy in his 40's. "But if she's happy..."

The guy 2 rows ahead
- is going on and on about how awful the last movie he saw was and how he didn't even want to see it but the comedy he wanted to see didn't start until after 10:00 and that was too late.

The 2 elderly ladies to my right
- are discussing their grandchildren.

The guy at the end of the row on the right
- has already fallen asleep

4 rows ahead to the right is a blond
- I recognise her from last Sunday as she's wearing the same blue coat and she has great hair.

A couple sits in the seats directly next to me just as the movie begins. Within 2 minutes they switch seats because the girl can't see the screen because of the tall guy in the seat in front.

The lights go down, I've got my tube of Pringles Sour Cream & Onion crisps and a pint of Deuchers IPA. Let the movie begin.

Settling In

Mom and Dad flew home on Monday. The rest of the week just ticked along as per normal with work and the home routine. My days are a little bit longer with the new job as I work 9 to 5:30 rather than 5:00 so that's taking a little bit to get used to but in reality an extra 30 minutes isn't a huge deal as with my previous job it was rare that I got out the door before 6.

But then it's Friday, 5:30 and it hits me. I don't really know anyone in town. There isn't the culture in this office of heading out to the pub after work as many of my colleagues don't live in the city and have trains to catch or families to get home to. So I stop at the Odd Bins on the way home and treat myself to a nice bottle of Italian Red Wine.

The weekend before me is spent with the continuous task of trying to make the flat feel like mine. I get curtains hung in the lounge (it was soooo drafty) and the bedroom. A towel rail in the bathroom and a small shelving unit in the kitchen to provide storage for my sauces and spices.

I've pretty much got the furniture where I want it. But now the daunting task before me is hanging my photographs. Its not just the figuring out what goes where, but the physical hanging of them. Its hard to do when you don't have a second person to say a little higher or to the right. But I managed to get the hallway or 'the gallery' done at least.


More flat photos to follow as I attempt to complete each room. There's just so much stuff to sort though and figure out where it's new home will be.

So one room at a time ...

Slowing down

It has been a wacky, chaotic, busy couple of weeks.

- December 17th my parents arrived in Glasgow from Vancouver

- Dec 19 packed up my flat then hopped the train to Edinburgh to sign the lease and collect the keys to my new flat

- Dec 20 loaded up a large van and moved the majority of my stuff to Edinburgh

- Dec 21 head back to Glasgow to crash at a friends flat as I'm still working until the 31st (Mom and Dad stay at the Edinburgh flat)

- Dec 23 my parents joining me in Glasgow for the Christmas break

- Dec 27 Mom and Dad head back to Edinburgh

- Dec 30 drinks with a few friends from the office

- Dec 31 my last day at work, pack up what I can carry and hop the train to Edinburgh where once I arrive I shut the door to my bedroom and I have a good cry. It was an emotional day.

- Dec 31/Jan 1st, view the fireworks on Calton Hill and the Castle from the warmth of my lounge window. Pretty good views :)

- Jan 2 try to unpack/organise as much as I can in the flat

- Jan 3 pack my suitcase as we (Mom & Dad and I) go on a one week holiday to Lagos Portugal

- Jan 3, 4 & 5, suffer from a horrible cold that I caught during the last hour of the flight

- Jan 5 - 10th enjoy all Lagos has to offer

-Jan 10th, proceed to miss our return flight to Edinburgh thanks to our prebooked private shuttle to Faro Airport failing to arrive in a timely fashion. We were able to book flights departing the next day (for full fare of course) and find accommodation close by the airport.

- Jan 11th spend 10 hours in transit (Faro to Prestwick, miss the train by minutes, so sit at the Yale Pub in the airport for an hour enjoying a Pint and onion rings, catch the next train to Glasgow Central, discover the Glasgow Central trains to Edinburgh are not running that evening due to track maintenance, walk to Queen Street station, catch the 7PM service to Edinburgh, catch a taxi from Waverly Station to my flat).

- Jan 12th start my new job

- Jan 13th, discover bedroom radiator is leaking and boiler is dodgy

- Jan 14th boiler not working, no heat :(

- Jan 15th boiler & radiator get fixed

- Jan 16th hook up with the Edinburgh Flickr group and meet my fellow camera geeks, then discover how to get to Ikea by bus

- Jan 17th accompany my parents back to Glasgow to enjoy one last dinner at the Lansdowne Pub before sending them on their way to the Holiday Inn at the airport

- Jan 18th Mom and Dad fly home, it snows in Edinburgh and in the evening I enjoy the last of the risotto from the fridge and a glass of Rioja

No wonder I'm tired!

The Food...

Did I mention the food?

Now don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the food. It's very tasty. Our first night since we got in so late we just ate at the restaurant next door as it was open. The menus don't give you a whole lot of information. It reads something along the lines of:

Steak
Pork
Special Meat (for 2)
Squid Kebab with Prawns
Grilled Cod

You get the idea.

No explanation of what exactly they DO to the steak or pork or what exactly is the Special Meat (for 2). We are sitting close to the kitchen area and I can see in. Looks like Mama is doing all the cooking and there is only one other person in there, probably more for clean up than anything else.

Mom and Dad decide to be brave and order the Special Meat (for 2) and I tried to order the Halibut but apparently they're out (it is late) but they have salmon so I get that. It seems everything always comes on a large platter. So the first order comes through and its 2 massive steaks and a whole sausage link. Orange slices are scattered and I can see a pile of crushed garlic floating in the flavoured oil mixing with the juice from the meat. But that's all it is a platter full of meat, oh and 2 boiled potatoes.

Oh dear...

But wait, no, more is coming. It's my massive salmon steak and with it comes another platter with boiled potatoes, carrots and some kind of green vegetable. I can't remember what its called but it's kind of like a cross between asparagus and broccoli. Ah and also we get a platter of rice and a platter with a very simple salad (lettuce, a few sliced tomatoes, shredded onion and a few cucumber slices).

So picture this very tiny table for 2 with 3 people seated at it. We already had a bread basket and a plate with very yummy olives and 3 empty dinner plates. Then a platter of meat, a platter of fish, a platter of rice, a platter of salad and a platter of vegetables. Not much elbow room.

Everything was very flavourful if not a little on the heavy side. The salmon was cooked to perfection, moist so it almost melted in your mouth. But it seems everything was dripping in the same garlic oil, tasty but a little much after a while. And salt, they are strong believers in salt in cooking. But that could be just me as I don't use very much in my own cooking.

That was just our first dining experience. Perhaps the next place would be different.

Next door is another place worth a try. It's lacking in ambiance but it seems to be full of locals so to me that's a good sign. The meals are presented very similar, a large oval platter. I had the pork loin with mushrooms in a porto wine sauce and Dad had the pepper steak (I swear the sauces were the same but his didn't have mushrooms), Mom went with the chicken Peri Peri. All very good but a big hunk of flesh and potatoes - this time chips rather than boiled potatoes and rice but no vegetables other than the mixed salad we ordered.

Now you need to understand something. I like a good steak as much as the next guy but I'm not a huge meat eater to begin with. Most of what I cook revolves around vegetables and if anything maybe I'll throw in a little chicken. Even so, the portions I cook for my protein are on the small side. I swear in 2 meals I've had more meat than I would normally consume in a month. My stomach was protesting at 1 AM as it attempted to digest it.

But it's not been all steak and pork. No there's been fish as well. Lagos is on the coast after all and we can see the fishing boats docked at the waters edge. Apparently one of the local specialties is large grilled sardines with boiled potato and some kind of green kale soup. There is no way Dad would set foot in a restaurant if that was going to be on the table so Mom and I decide to abandon him in the town square and we go to a little tiny place for lunch where we order both the soup and the sardines.

The soup was fine, very similar to a sorrel or borscht soup my Mom makes (but missing the barley and dill). But what we are really waiting to see is the sardines. And there they are, all five of them, with their little fish eyes and fish lips frozen in a call for help when thrown on the hot grill.



We both agree again that it's a good thing Dad's not here. Sardines do smell fishy but grilled they aren't half bad. It takes a little bit of effort to get the main backbone out and of course remove the head and tail but everything else is eaten. The skin grilled up nice and crispy and it's just lightly seasoned with sea salt and probably a little pepper.

I ate 2 and I don't ever have to order them

Day 3 - Monday

Feeling much better today :)

Had a good nights sleep, a hot shower and breakfast and feeling human. Still sneezing a bit but much less congested.

First order of business, need to find a grocery store. The dodgy part about maps is they don't always give you a scale. So something that looks far away could be just a 10 min walk, or a 3 hour hike. Its all relative. Lucky for us the grocery store ended up just being a quick 15 min walk so not too bad.

I love exploring food shops in a different country, its one of those ways to see life as a local. Of course it's always a bit of a challenge purchasing items when you don't know the language. Some times its easy. For example, how to tell semi-skim from whole milk? Look at the calorie content. However, telling a dark roast coffee from mild proves to be a bit more difficult. I think Dad and I stood looking a the different packages for about 10 minutes before just grabbing one and hoping for the best (I hate weak coffee).

The meat and seafood counters are always entertaining. I saw some massive prawns or perhaps they were crayfish, it's difficult to tell.



A large stack of dry salted cod



and in the meat counter,how about a pigs head to wet your appetite?



The wine corner was another area where there was much deliberation. I'm not familiar with the various regions in Portugal so don't know what varieties of grapes are produced in each. Sometimes the labels have English but even so its a tough call. Today's rule of thumb is nothing over 5 Euro. Dad and I ponder over the importance of a good price vs. a cool looking label. Its a scientific equation don't you know. We grab 2 bottles and hope for the best.

Last stop is the bakery. I'm just LOVING the rolls here, nice and firm, tough and chewy but not too heavy. They are fabulous with some smoked pork loin and cheese for a mid afternoon snack. Oh and a package of pane chocolate pastries for later.