Europe Question

Today's question; where am I? I've posted two photographs from the place in Europe where I'm staying at the moment. The only clue I'll give is that it is no longer in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg

Apologies for the delays in posting, but my download connection from my camera to my laptop was playing up.

From Belgium we drove down to Luxembourg {the Country} to visit my sister. The following photographs were taken in Luxembourg City in Luxembourg. {You need to be specific as there is a province of Belgium called Luxembourg which borders the Country - can be very confusing}

From - To

Where we went from and to.

Aboard - abroad

Apologies for missing yesterday evening, but we were aboard this vessel and it doesn't have internet access.

Old v New

Went out for lunch today to the Alloway Inn, which used to be the Ivy House, which used to be the North Park House Hotel. The first photograph shows it from a distance over the allotments. This is the new, since the building was put up about 10 years ago.



At a slightly different angle over the same allotments, we see Bellisle Hotel, which started life as Bellisle House in the early 1800s. This is the old.



I thought I'd give you a slightly closer view of Alloway Inn.

Yes Arran

It's been another fairly 'yucky' day here again, so I've posted a photo of Arran taken from the cliff-top walk at Culzean a couple of days ago. Once again, the mysterious Isle haunts me!

Culzean once more

The weather is back to it's its normal dreich way, so here's another couple of photos from Culzean. {Blame the hour of the post for the error}

The first was very close to the fountain, the second is on the cliff-top walk, where the trees tend to be distorted during growth by the wind.

Culzean again

A far better day today and we yomped around the grounds of Culzean (pronounced Cullaine) Castle which was looking good. The first photograph is from the North and the second of the fountain in full flow.

Another sign of Autumn

From an upstairs window, the bush at the front shows that Autumn is upon us. If only we were having 'Bristolwood' weather.

Hands across the Sea

This photo is from inside Ayr's Carnegie Library, one of many which pay tribute to Andrew Carnegie's generosity in funding libraries in Scotland. Scotland gave the USA Andrew Carnegie; He gave us US dollars (amongst other things!)



This is part of the roof in one of the reading rooms which is used for meetings by Central Ayrshire Local Group of the RSPB. It may be an old building,but it's been well maintained and sympathetically adjusted to meet the modern library changing needs. It is nice to see the retention of older buildings for their original purpose is not totally lost.

Dirleton Castle

Since the weather was exceeding wet last night and today, I haven't been out photographing. Here is a picture I took last year over on the east coast of Scotland at Dirleton Castle which is well worth visit.

Cowardice or sense?

I've posted a photo of the steeple of Ayr St Andrews Church before, when it didn't have it's 'crown' of scaffolding.

I just thought that there was no way you would have got me up there to erect the scaffolding - even in my younger days when I thought nothing of hanging off rock faces anchored only by my hands. Is this cowardice or sense, you decide?

Eglinton Park

I thought I'd give you an idea of the size of the 'pond'. These are one end only.

A bird in the pond ...

Took a few shots yesterday whilst walking round the 'pond' in Eglinton Country Park at Irvine. I'm going to leave you to work out what the bird is - one helpful hint, it's a juvenile, probably first brood.



And this is it going hunting for food.

Eye to the hills

Apologies for the misquote of Psalm 121 [to be sung to the tune French by the way], but looking up over Loch Eck and the forest was just stunning.

Wild Argyll

On an away day trip to the wilds of Argyll and a walk up the west bank of Loch Eck.

Autumn.... or not

Whilst many trees around are beginning to show decided signs of Autumn, this flowering one just down the road from us seems convinced it is still high summer.

The Cleland Testimonial

Another photograph from Glasgow, this time of The Cleland Testimonial which dates back to the 1840s and commemorates James Cleland, a Superintendent of Public Works in Glasgow in the early 19th Century. I doubt if many Glasgow folk ever see this or, if they did, would have the faintest idea what it was about.

Sky High

I was up in Glasgow to do some shopping, including waterproof over trousers and happened to look up. For just a moment I thought it was the top of a sweep's brush, but then realised it was just nature asserting itself!

Ceiling Rose

Today's picture is of part of the detail of a plaster Ceiling Rose in my daughter's tenement flat in Paisley.


Many of the flats in Scotland, particularly the West of the Central Belt, have very ornate roses and cornicing.

Invasion!

But of the friendly sort. 3 Russian naval vessels are to be seen anchored off Ayr and giving the crew a little shore leave. They are here for the Varyag commemorations, including the free open-air Russian/Scottish concert to be held in Stair Park, Girvan on Saturday 8 September between 1400 hrs and 1700 hrs. Unfortunately I'm otherwise occupied or I'd be there taking photos!

Ayr Holy Fair

Once again South Ayrshire Council excelled itself by delaying the announcement of funding for this event. This follows the pattern of quite a few of the previous years, but this was the longest delay yet.

Normally the Fair is held around the beginning of July. Perhaps they were hoping that by holding it at a different time they would reduce the crowds attending and so justify not funding it in future years. If so they were badly disappointed!

[Erratum - 6 Sep 2007: As my wife was very quick to point out, I should have said beginning of June, not July.]

There was also a pipe-band competition this year. I love hearing the pipes, but to have one playing whilst three others were practicing different tunes within hearing distance was disconcerting to day the least.

Rozelle Pond

I took this photograph in an attempt to convey the peacefulness of the park that day. You could practically hear the sound of the ducks feet paddling!

Bridle Path

I don't know how prevalent such horse-riding paths are in other parts of the world, but I've seen them in other parts of the U.K. It can get a bit alarming when you enter Rozelle Park across this Bridle Path and there is a large horse (or horses) 'charging' towards you.

This is looking South...


and this is looking North.

River Ayr

I took this photograph in downtown Ayr, just to demonstrate how strong the water flow in the river could be. I'm not sure just how far down the river this tree has come, but it has taken a considerable volume of water moving at a fair speed to move it.

River Doon

Whilst I was taking the photos of the village of Dalrymple, I also took these photographs of the river Doon from the bridge at the edge of the village.

Looking upstream:


Looking downstream: