Week Two

This has been a week of work--meetings, training, and festival activities.  The staff here is wonderfully welcoming, and the visiting faculty from the US eager and excited.  Next week I will meet the local faculty—one teaches history and the other a globalization class.  I explored town more, finding more thrift shops, grocery stores, and pubs as well as some lovely lanes.  I explored the grounds of the estate more, too, finding more trails and the horse and sheep.   Below you will find many photos from the big event of the week, a little on a chapel visit, and another cultural observation.

Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo

Spectacular!  I expected drums, pipes, and marching, but I had no idea how theatrical this production would be.  They say there are nearly 1000 performers, including multiple bands and dance troupes from around the world.  The event is held on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, where a temporary stadium has been erected, with the castle serving as the back drop for the Tattoo.  From our seats on one side, we could see the hills beyond.

There were lots of bagpipes and drums, lots of marching and formations

The pink lotus flowers in this dance eventually merge into two dragons

Switzerland's Top Secret Drum Corps did amazingly rapid drumming and formations 

and then the fireworks came out of the end of their flagpoles--wow!

As the different groups performed . . .

coordinating images and colors were projected on the castle

For the finale, the dancers were on one end . . .

and the musicians were on the other.  Then they all performed together, 

with more marching and formations . . .

 

and the fireworks went off over the castle.

Rosslyn Chapel

We visited the village of Roslin and the famous Rosslyn Chapel one sunny afternoon.  The 15^th century chapel is known for its rich history and ornate interior with incredible carvings.  Some of you would recognize it for its role in The Da Vinci Code.  The nearby ruins of the Roslin Castle overlook a lovely glen (aka valley).