Deliverance from Dixieland

A recap of my time since Scotland: Arrived home, fixed my car, sent my camera in for repairs, enjoyed Chicago, and drove to Athens, all in five days. I bummed around Athens for about a week (without a camera) and then went to Virginia (with a camera! It works properly now!) with two of my friends to pick up our other friend and bring her to school. These are some images from the road trip to the South.

It's not goodbye, it's see you later

As I was walking up the Royal Mile on my last day in Scotland, I ran into the cast of 'East'. They thanked me for the pictures and gave me a hug goodbye.
"I hate saying goodbye," Cassie said.
"It's not goodbye," I told her, "it's see you later."
I spent my last day in Scotland (and one of the best) running around saying "see you later" to Tantallon Castle, the Meadows, and Arthur's Seat. I don't know how or when, but I am coming back. I met too many wonderful people not to. Besides, I still haven't seen everything yet.

Opening in the Fringe

I spent Monday hanging out with the cast of East who had their opening show that night of the Fringe in Edinburgh. They are wonderful people and made me feel so welcome. I wish them the best of luck in all their future performances.

Dance to the Music

I went to Leith for this Highland Dance class. The smallest girl there was the best dancer, but they were all so graceful and brilliant, and it was inspiring to watch.

Kilts Galore

Last Sunday I went to the Bridge of Allen Highland Games. They were very different from the ones in Inverness, they were much bigger and better attended. I hung around the pipe bands mostly as they were warming up. I also went for some sports action shots of wrestling, shocking I know. I was reminded how useless I am with a long lens, but enjoyed the hilarity of watching tough men wrestle each other in kilts.

Unplanned Adventures

The best kind of adventures are the ones not planned for. In fact, the only part of this four-day journey that I anticipated was going to Plockton for a session. I had heard that it was the best session in Scotland, and I wanted to see the Highlands, so I made arrangements to go. After our one day shoot in Stirling, I took the train first to Inverness then to Plockton. I had never seen more beautiful countryside, and my face and camera were glued to the window of the train. I made it to the session which was loads of fun, though musicians were low in numbers.
The next day, I decided to explore the Highlands a bit, I had come all this way. I took the train to Kyle of Lochalsh, right across from Skye. I started to walk across the bridge, but on the way met Sorley and Angus who not only drove me across the bridge, but took me all over Skye (one of the most amazingly beautiful places I have ever been) and gave me a place to stay for the night. The day after I made the long journey back to Musselburgh, stopping in Inverness on the way and met Darren who was making bagpipe reeds in his shop. It was a bit depressing riding through the Lowlands after what I had just seen. It was quite the adventure, and definitely makes for a great story.

A Glaswegian Good Time

I went to Glasgow last week and accomplished several great things. First, I rented a fiddle! It's been wonderful to play with amazing and inspiring musicians in such an integral location for Celtic music. Also, I met up with a friend of my fiddle teacher at the the Oran Mor and played a session there. This pub, in the first photo below, used to be a church. However, besides taking out the pews and adding a bar, very little has changed about it.
I met some great musicians (and wonderful people) in Glasgow and am looking forward to returning!