Cherry Blossoms and Sunsets

Playing in the park with the cherry blossoms

Sunset over London

London fun

It was a beautiful weekend in London, sunny and warm. We wandered around Westminster, went up in the Jewel Tower (were royal possessions were stored), saw Patrick Stewart playing Shakespear, went on a Jack the Ripper tour (highly recommend!), spent lots of time wandering around parks, and enjoying tasty foods in China town. Very enjoyable!

Animals in war memorial

Westminster, an angle we hadn't enjoyed the last time we came. The whole building is gorgeous, the whole way round

One of the many lovely Gargoyles of westminster

Bingo

This past weekend Marc, JV, Amanda, Camille, and ran around London, and enjoyed a Patrick Stewart play. Sir Patrick plays Shakespeare at the end of his life, and revolves around his dying will. Simple stage scenes are well used, and very good acting of course! The ending is a bit confusing...one of Shakespeares daughters is present in the play, but his other is never talked about and I think that might answer questions the ending brings up.

We did stay to meet Patrick Stewart on his way out, but he seemed rushed and not happy to deal with fans. I had taken photos of Marc and JV getting an autograph, but Sir Patrick said he did not want the photos, so I deleted them.

Gilmerton cove

There is so much to do in Edinburgh, new things keep popping up! Last weekend Marc and I discovered a neat little historical site. Just a minutes walk from us is a neat archiological site, Gilmerton Cove. Made up of a series of hand carved passages and rooms, there is high debate over the origins and functions of the cove. In the 18th century a blacksmith claimed that he carved it out himself as a home for his family, but this would have been physically impossible. Other theories include it was a refuge for covenanters during the period of religious persecution, a drinking lair, or a smugglers den. It is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of the blacksmith, whose bones have remained unfound.

This is a blocked tunnel, thought to lead to Craigmiller castle.


There was a neat chamber where someone went to a lot of table to carve seats around a table, with a bowl shaped indent. Several markings, including masonic signs, where carved into the surface as well as what is thought to be a cat.

Pachers

Marc and I finally got a video of pachers being a good girl....she comes when she's called, sits and waits politely, and then leaps into our arms when we are ready ^_^

Stirling

Yesterday Marc and I attended the Scottish Conference on Animal behaviour in Stirling. Nice talks, very relaxed as it was mostly doctoral students. Stirling is a beautiful town; as with any good scottish town you have the castle, but there is also the wallace monument on a hill top that is striking. Lots of beautiful old bridges, among rolling hills. It is a university town, so lots of student life, with random contemporary art. The campus is lovely, built around several small lochs populated with lots and lots of swans. Highly recommend a day visit if your ever in the area!

Barcelona pt 7: last post I promise!

We did so many things in Barcelona, but mostly we really just wandered around a beautiful city in wonderful weather. Seeing palm and orange trees, and quaker parrots in the trees, it felt just like Florida.