Filling in some gaps in Spain, a Greenland cruise and I'm getting a tattoo!

[bPeteb]

The NZ Sav Blanc wasn't.

Alcoholic passionfruit juice hasn't ever been my thing

 

[RooFlyer]

Evening walk to the venue. Gotta love a city that respects its rocks.



One day, I might stay at the Balmoral, not the Ibis.





Past St Cuthbert's church and pay respect to more ancestors.





The queue starts in an adjacent terrace, so like a good Brit , I joined the queue 30 mins before admission opened - 90 mins before showtime.





Big mistake. The queue flowed freely once the gate opened and then there was nothing much to do for 90 mins. Merch and bars under the stand, and lots or booze carts on the esplanade grounds.



My seat circled. Premium seats in red - they get a padded seat, fast track admission and a free program.



Being the discerning visitor (and bored after 30 mins - not drinking at all) - I looked at some of the history under the stands



A tight fit.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm sure most if not everyone here has seen the tattoo on TV. But can't resist a few mementos

T-20 mins



T-10, the booze carts leave in scrappy formation



Showtime



Was expecting massed bands at first, but got a King's Guard



And a Bentley (I think), carrying the Duke of Edinburgh. Full Royal Salute.



Then the proper stuff



The Ukranians were on early and got the most sustained applause of any act for the night.





Scots dancers

 

[RooFlyer]

The Grand Pooh-bah with his stand



The 'storyteller' who didn't add much.



Crowd favourite - Swiss 'Top Secret drum corps'. Amazinf what some feathers and white spats will do.



The Poles were a bit dreary.



American precision guard with their very sharp bayonets (see video, later). Excellent.



American drum and fife corps. Not much except costumes and drums.

 

[RooFlyer]

Found some more







Of course the drones got into the act. I thought un-necessarily.

 

[VPS]

So did you enjoy it and are you glad you went? I went in 1982 and loved it.

 

[RooFlyer]

 

[RooFlyer]

So did you enjoy it and are you glad you went? I went in 1982 and loved it.

Yes and yes For a price of half the cost of a room at the Ibis, it was excellent value!

Crowd surged out of the area down the Royal Mile



Before heading to the Highlands, I had some unfinished business in Northumbria. It was teeming when I last tried to visit Holy Island and Lindisfarne, so I headed SE after picking up a car at the EDCI car rental depot. What a zoo.



It was only about 90 mins down to Holy Island which od course has particular crossing times, due to the tide and the low causeway. Those are walkers to the Island. Its some sort of thing.



When I was here last time, I had the same pic as this, but it was teeming, and still they walked!!



On the island there is a paid car park - min 3 hrs, for 7 quid. I reckoned I'd be 90 mins.



Lindisfarne town is quaint, and busy




The masses head to the castle



And here oit is

 

[RooFlyer]

My interest in Holy Island and Lindisfarne is two fold. The history but also because I guy am researching lived on the mainland in a grand spread with views to the island. He got a grant on the eastern shore of Hobart and called it 'Lindisfarne'.

So I went to drive up to the house, but its on private land of course. I poked around the bottom of a long curved drive and decided against driving up.


I drove away but a few seconds later spotted someone coming down the drive. Very quick u turn and its the guy who lives right next door and sure, he'll show me the house. Not what I was expecting







Apparently it was taken over in WW2 and a camp to house German officers established. After the war, it was just left to ruin.

 

[drron]

We saw the US Drum and Fife Corps perform at Big Tex (Texas state Fair) and the presentation was excellent. We were identified as Aussies so they posted a junior officer at our side to explain everything including the Corps history. And just don't call them a band. We thoroughly enjoyed their show.