#south bridge vaults

[moonmausoleum]

Haunted Spirits at The Banshee Labyrinth Pub

The metal bar called the Banshee Labyrinth is located in parts of the haunted underground vaults of Edinburgh. And today the place has some haunted stories to tell as well. Read about them all in the MoonMausoleum.

The metal bar called the Banshee Labyrinth is located in parts of the haunted underground vaults of Edinburgh. And today the place has some haunted stories to tell as well. Everything from ghost children, accused witches, irish folklore creatures and an annoying ghost in the ladies toilet, this pub houses them all. What can be a more haunted place than a rock and metal bar located in the haunted…

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#1500s #1600 #article #banshee #bar #child ghost #edinburgh #Europe #featured #Ghost #ghosts #haunted #haunted Building #haunting #metal #pub #scotland #south bridge vaults #UK #underground #witch #woman in gray

[ell0ra-br3kk3r-writes]

The Phoenix and the Crow

part twenty-six

pairing: kaz brekker x fem!reader

genre: neutral

el's thoughts: i'm absolutely heartbroken that we won't be getting a spin off or sab s3... but also insanely grateful for the content creators out there who continue to share their talents with us <3

masterlist

Y/N felt like she and Kaz had become twin soldiers, marching on, pretending they were fine, hiding their wounds and bruises from the rest of the crew.

It took two more days of travel to reach the cliffs that overlooked Djerholm, but the going was easier as they moved south and toward the coast. The weather warmed, the ground thawed, and she began to see signs of spring. Y/N knew what the city looked like, having been before on quick missions. The docks were still crowded with ships, but it’s tidy streets marched to the water in orderly fashion, and the houses were painted in such colors- red, blue, yellow, pink- as if in defiance of the wild white land and the long winters this far north. Even the warehouses by the quay were wrought in cheerful colors. It looked like the city was made by fairies from her children’s books, everything was candy-hued and in its proper place.

“Cannon,” said Jesper.

Y/N turned and glanced up to where the Ice Court stood like a great white sentinel on a massive cliff overlooking the harbor.

Kaz squinted up at the big guns pointed out at the bay. “I’ve broken into banks, warehouses, mansions, museums, vaults, a rare book library, and once the bedchamber of a visiting Kaelish diplomat whose wife had a passion for emeralds. But I’ve never had a cannon shot at me.”

“There’s something to be said for novelty,” offered Jesper.

Y/N pressed her lips together, “Let’s say it’s not fun. I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Those guns are there to stop invading armadas,” Jesper said confidently. “Good luck hitting a skinny little schooner cutting through the waves bound for fortune and glory.”

“I’ll quote you on that when a cannonball lands in my lap,” said Nina.

They slipped easily into the traffic of travelers and traders where the cliff road met the northern road that led to Upper Djerholm. The upper town was a rambling extension of the city below, a sprawling collection of shops, markets, and inns that served the guards and staff who worked at the Ice Court as well as visitors.

Signs of Hringkalla celebrations were everywhere. The shops had created displays of pepper cookies baked in the shape of wolves, some handing like ornaments from large, twisting trees, and the bridge spanning the river gorge had been festooned with ribbons in Fjerdan silver. One way into the Ice Court and one way out. Would they cross this bridge as victors tomorrow?

“What are they?” Wylan asked, pausing in front of a peddler’s cart laden with wreaths made of the same twisting branches and silver ribbons.

“Ash trees,” replied Matthias. “Sacred to Djel.”

“There’s supposed to be one in the middle of the White Island,” said Y/N, ignoring the harsh glare the Fjerdan threw her way. Her voice was low and hard, the toll of their journey evidently forcing her back into her usual role as a soldier.

“It’s where the druskelle gather for the listening ceremony,” Nina continued.

Kaz tapped his walking stick on the ground as he stood beside the Inferni, leaning closer to her ever-so slightly. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”

“The ash is sustained by the spirit of Djel,” said Matthias. “It’s where we may best hear his voice.”

“Kaz’s eyes flickered. “Not what I asked. Why isn’t it on our plans?”

“Because it’s the holiest place in all of Fjerda and not essential to our mission.”

“I say what’s essential. Anything else you decided to leave out in your great wisdom?”

“The Ice Court is a vast structure,” Matthias said, turning away. “I can’t label every crack and corner.”

“Then let’s hope nothing is lurking in those corners,” Kaz replied.

~

“Here?” Jesper complained, peering into the dank main room of the run-down tavern. The whole place stank of garlic and fish.

Kaz gave a significant glance upward and said, “Terrace.”

“What’s a gestinge?” Inej wondered aloud as she read the welcome sign.

“It means ‘paradise’,” said Matthias. Even he looked skeptical.

Y/N helped secure them a table on the tavern’s rooftop terrace. It was mostly empty, the weather still too cold to attract many patrons. Or maybe they’d been scared away by the food- herring in rancid oil, stale black bread, and some kind of butter that looked distinctly mossy.

Jesper looked down at his plate and moaned. “Kaz, if you want me dead, I prefer a bullet to poison.”

Nina scrunched her nose. “When I don’t want to eat, you know there’s a problem.”

“We’re here for the view, not the food.” Kaz spoke from beside Y/N.

She mously picked at her piece of bread, nibbling on it slowly. She had to agree with the others, the food was terrible, but it still wasn’t the worst she had had to eat before.

“We’re going to start looking conspicuous soon,” said Nina. “This isn’t the kind of place people like to linger.”

“Maybe they don’t have anyone to take to jail,” suggested Wylan.

“There’s always someone to take to jail,” Kaz replied, then bobbed his chin toward the road. “Look.”

A boxy wagon was rolling to a stop at the guardhouse. Its roof and high sides were covered in black canvas, and it was drawn by four stout horses. The door at the back was heavy iron, bolted and padlocked.

Kaz reached into his coat pocket. “Here,” he said and handed Jesper a slender book with an elaborate cover.

“Are we going to read to each other?”

“Just flip it open to the back.” Jesper opened the book and peered at the last page, puzzled. “So?”

“Hold it up so we don’t have to look at your ugly face.”

“My face has character. Besides- oh!”

“An excellent read, isn’t it?”

“Who knew I had such a taste for literature?”

Jesper passed it to Wylan, who took it tentatively. “What does it say?”

“Just look,” smiled Jesper.

Wylan frowned and held it up, then he grinned. “Where did you get this?’

Matthias had his turn and released a surprised grunt.

“It’s called a backless book,” said Kaz as Y/N took the volume from Inej and held it up.

She peered through. To the barmaid and the other patrons on the terrace, it looked like they were handing a book around, discussing some interesting passage. Instead Y/N had a close view of the gatehouse and the wagon parked in front of it. She lowered the book and looked at Kaz, a proud smirk gracing her lips. “Clever.”

He nodded and turned his head quickly, but not before she could notice the light red painting his cheeks.

“Four guards,” she said, nodding towards Matthias confirming what he had shared before.

“They’re the first line of deffence,” said Matthias. “They’ll check paperwork and confirm identities, flag anyone they think requires closer scrutiny. By this time tomorrow the line going through the gates will be full of Hringkalla guests and backed up all the way to the gorge.”

“By then we’ll be inside,” Kaz said.

They continued discussing the schedule of the wagons as Y/N lifted the backless book again. The wagon driverwore a gray uniform similar to the ones worn by the guards at the gate but absent any sash or decoration. He swung down from his seat and came around to unlock the iron door.

“Saints,” Y/N said as the door swung open. Ten prisoners were seated along benches that ran the wagon’s length, their wrists and feet shackled, black sacks over their heads. She felt the group’s apprehension rise. Only Kaz seemed unfazed.

“Hooded, chained, and shackled?” said Jesper. “You’re sure we can’t go in as entertainers?”

“We go in as we are,” said Kaz, “as criminals.”

~*~

taglist: @katherinereid @littlecat21 @jahayla-parker @maliciousbrekker @brekkershadowsinger @brekkers-desigirl @clunaes @wonderland2425 @bookloverfilmoholic @karensirkobabes @bookworm-center @el-de-phi @so-get-this-sammy

#kaz brekker #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker x you #kaz brekker x y/n #six of crows #six of crows x reader #six of crows imagines #ellora.writes

[dragonthunders01]

Spec Evo Vault, Gourmand

In the world of "The New Dinosaurs", Tyrannosaurs in general managed to stay for a while as the dominant predatory "Carnosaurs" in the north regions until they slowly were replaced, but on the Neotropical regions (South America) of earth, on the grasslands of the far south, a relict survived from a branch that split out and leaked through a early land bridge across the continent around 55 million years ago.

From there the Gourmand evolved, it followed the trend of larger, even heavier big head tyrannosaurs, which lost their arms in the totality of the structure, neither atrophied bones of the shoulder girdle remained, meanwhile its legs and pelvis have adjusted to hold the even more massive body, as it not longer possess the tall more gracile bulk form that helped it to maintain a long distance gape, but a very robust and short leg form that allows it to sustain and balance the elongated form.

The early account of this titanic theropod remark that due to their massive size they Gourmand is incapable to hunt down large prey so they rely on feed on dead carcasses an digest them in long periods of time resting in the grass, having its long armor that protect it against any other predatos.

Is capable to unhinge the mandibles being capable to gobble up any potential meal, which for the lack of any shoulder bone it allows it to properly take large prey like a deep water fish.

In the manga though, from what I have hear (haven't been able to see the content for myself) there is the reference the Gourmand actually being more active and responsive towards any other predator capable to take down Cutlasstooth like in the cover, unlike the implication of the original book which depicted it as a very slow creature.

Comments and notes -I guess is interesting how this almost looks like a idealization of the "Scavenger tyrannosaur" hypothesis that have been existing for a century and went more popular around paleocircles in the late 90s and early 2000s for Horner, is not like Dixon was defending this idea maybe more like it was considered plausible if theropods became even bigger they would become slower animals that couldn't hunt its prey but go for an easy meal like a corpse, and so, depend more of scavenging.

-The way his jaw disarticulates from the skull always seemed strange to me, almost as if the jaw doesn't have an extra bone that allows it to extend, sort of like a quadrate snake that offers that extension, it just falls off and is hold by pure muscle. As well for a group characterized for the lowest kinetic skulls ever, would be odd they reverse this specialization only to become gobblers, would be likely a strong mandible could offer more opportunities to consume a prey. Even with the chance a tyrannosaur skull could become more kinetic, it likely would depend on expand the jaw structure around without detaching the lower jaw, like is inferred some theropods would have do, and specifically how it was found in spinosaurs.

-I think is interesting there might be more tyrannosaurs living in the new dinosaurs book with a mildly success, the gourmand is the only described species of the group and for the the width of the lineage in the table it really imply they are doing something decent with the number of species, where exactly are living is unknown

#speculative evolution #alternative evolution #theropoda #tyrannosaur #non kpg #the new dinosaurs

[foxes-that-run]

Perfect

Zayn said he wouldn’t buy the record when he heard Perfect (so salty!). Harry's emotions varied performing it in its short 27 performance run from Oct-Dec when 1D ended. These 2 stand out:

November 20 2015, rather than sing the Bridge Harry said to the crowd "if you think it's so funny you can sing it".

3 days later at the AMAs he rolls his eyes and looks ready to walk out, the camera cuts to a kid who seems to agree. (Bridge is 2:40).

It was only performed 6 more times, in Carpool Karaoke (10:30) Harry stops singing for parts and the song cuts before the bridge, at the Jingle ball he looks away and the last time was new years.

Or this concert he put the mike into the crowd, someone stole the microphone and licked it.

Safe to say he regretted that bridge, it's savage to them both.

Writers

Perfect ties with Fools Gold for the title of the Haylor song with the most writers, at 7. While Fools Gold has all 5 of the band, Bunetta and Ryan. Harry and Louis are the only band members who worked on Perfect with Bunetta, Ryan and 3 others:

Jesse Shatkin, (cowrote Sia's Chandelier)

Jacob Kasher (Maroon 5 collaborator), and

Mozella (cowrote Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball and Fools Gold.)

To me, Perfect has more media grabbing pop-song than Harry Styles. HS’s best 1D work was with teams of 3 or 4 writers. In fact, Bunetta said Olivia came out in 45 minutes while overworking another "less good" MITAM song.

Timeline

Bunetta also told Rolling Stone about Perfect:

"That one took a long time, just because it was written over a couple different continents. It started as one thing and ended up where it is."

MITAM was made in the summer of 2015. To have been written in a couple of continents and with USA based writers it was probably either side of the BBMAs. It could have been started 'as one thing' in April in South Africa before the BBMAs other songs that reference Style including Two Ghosts started early in the year. The "ended up where it is" with those writers would be after the BBMAs, when they got back to the USA from July. This would be at the end of the album and he was singing it daily within 3 months.

Similarity to Taylors songs

It has the same chord progressions as Style and is also very similar to out of the woods as this video on Twitter shows. He called it a love song in the made in the AM interview (6 mins) and that it wasn’t literal in another. I do love this James Cordon bit and I love his Taylor smile so much.

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Louis] I might never be your knight in shinin' armour I might never be the one you take home to mother And I might never be the one who brings you flowers But I can be the one, be the one tonight

Grapejuice, has the perfect (get it) call back to this verse, along with 'Red' and 'Pay for it' and I love him for it:

"I was on my way to buy some flowers for you (ooh) / Thought that we could hide away in a corner of the heath / There's never been someone who's so perfect for me / But I got over it and I said / "Give me somethin' old and red" / I pay for it more than I did back then"

[Pre-Chorus: Liam] When I first saw you from across the room I could tell that you were curious, oh, yeah Girl, I hope you're sure what you're looking for 'Cause I'm not good at making promises

Promises come up again in Woman "Promises are broken like a stitches is", which is interesting if both Woman and part of Perfect are written after the 2015 BBMAs.

‘Know what you are looking for’ is interesting. In "Say don't go" and the 1989 TV Vaults in general Taylor did not get what she was looking for. At 23, dating a 19 year old Taylor told us she didn’t get wavy she needed. Her most recent ex, JG was 29. (yes - JG was the age Harry is now! Imagine if he did that) So I kind of stand by this line.

The start refers to the night they met. Which neither has ever confirmed, I think it was in 2011 (see timeline) Many look at the coat he tries on in the music video, which matches both his Up All Night Tour outfit (from December 2011) and the 2012 Kids Choice Awards. The awards are fun though. The Up All Night DVD also has it.

[Verse 2: Niall] I might never be the hands you put your heart in Or the arms that hold you any time you want them But that don't mean that we can't live here in the moment 'Cause I can be the one you love from time to time

Urgh I choose to attribute 'love from time to time' to one of the 6 other people writing this. To me this line always sounds like a boy-band heartthrob priority playing out in the writers room. No wonder it took time and HS1 to overcome this.

However, this does speak to a theme of them not being available to each other because of their careers and 1D punishing schedule. If I could fly's "I'm missing half of me when we're apart" and Half the World Aways " So you're not my girlfriend / Don't pretend that makes us nothing / Tell me you don't miss this feeling" speaks more honestly to the interplay of his band image, schedules and priorities which Taylor referred to Suburban Legends.

[Chorus: Harry, All] But if you like causing trouble up in hotel rooms And if you like having secret little rendezvous If you like to do the things you know that we shouldn't do Then, baby, I'm perfect Baby, I'm perfect for you And if you like midnight driving with the windows down And if you like goin' places we can't even pronounce If you like to do whatever you've been dreamin' about Then, baby, you're perfect Baby, you're perfect So let's start right now

Here are Haylor themes we know and love, Driving at midnight (Style, HYGTG, Wish You Would) generally going from a high schooler to superstar overnight (placed they can’t pronounce like Cannes), and hidden love/hiding (I Know Places, Slut!)

[Bridge: Harry] And if you like cameras flashin' every time we go out Oh, yeah And if you're looking for someone to write your breakup songs about Then baby, I'm perfect And baby, we're perfect

The camera’s flashing is good imagery and his voice brings to life how personally challenging it was for them both in a way I Know Places didn't with very few words. Taylor also refers to this imagery in Is it over now?

But the break up songs is a low blow and I assume the part he regretted to the point of not wanting to sing it. In a later interview Harry said:

“The only time you really think, ’is this song too personal?’ is if you think about, ‘is this going to be really annoying for the other person?’ Because I do [care],” he finished.

Which I think the break up song line would have been very annoying.

If you made it through that reward yourself with Grapejuice at Wembley 🍇

#one direction #harry styles #haylor #Youtube #one direction haylor

[starshinedragon]

WINTERDALE (full unofficial map)

Points of access:

1. Through GOLDENHILLS:

Marchenghast Castle- the road to the castle/estate blocked by rocks is now cleared, you gain access to the Marchenghast castle and valley. Ride through it to get to the scenic Seaview pass. The Seaside road leads to Cape point village.

2. Through SILVERGLADE:

Northlink- tunnel cleared. Ride through the forested (redwoods) Northlink valley and the Aurora pass. Road leads to an abandoned ranger station in the Northern Mountain Range. From there, the eastern road leads to the Secret Stone Circle, the western one descends down the mountain through the Starshade Woods.

3. Through DINO VALLEY:

Icengate- the kallters opened the gate. You ride through a fully subterranean tunnel of ice and stone, design similar to Stonecutter’s Vault: the Icengate passage. The other side opens in the Coldstone forest, road leads to Meander.

4. Through ASHLAND:

Frostfire pass- ride to Ashland, then to Ashfall village. The western path leads to the Embercrown volcano, the eastern one to Frostfire pass. Ride through the gorge of fire and ice, and you get to Explorer’s rest, a Jorvik rangers outpost.

NEW FACTIONS: --Pine Hill: PH mansion, PH village, PH stables. --Kallters: Rimefang woods, Winter mountains. --Winderdale druids: Anvil wood, Jorwatch, all over the valley --Winterdale rangers: Icewind-woods, Starshade-woods, Coldstone-forest --Meander: village and stables, Frostbitten fields --Cape Point: fishing village

LOCATIONS:

1. Pine Hill Area: village, stables and mansion. Pine forest, safe to ride in. Mr Sands resides in the mansion after leaving Garnok’s side. Showjumping and trail riding in the area.

2. Kallter Area: the Rimefang woods is infested with wolves. Frosted mammoth pine trees, fallen trunks, misty woods. If you go too close to a wolf , it will start to chase you and you need to gallop to lose it. If it catches you, you are teleported out of the woods with the message: “Your horse got you out, but be careful, next time you might not be this lucky!” Hidden kallter village in the middle.

3. Icewind Area: Winterdale rangers’ Icewind station. Trailrides in the forest. The Sunveil falls is a high waterfall coming from the Winter mountains.

4. Anvil Wood Area: mild seaside forest, Winterdale Druid village in the middle. A lighthouse and a ferry point at the end of the peninsula.

5. Cape Point Area: fishing quests, ferry. The Starshade woods was called Nightmare woods and was infested with the forces of the darkness before you cleansed it. Two ranger stations in there, one on the Stormhill and the other next to Crescent lake. A secret, winding path leads up to Starshine mountain to the Secret Stone Circle. The fifth door/beacon is in the forest.

6. Meander Area: village and stables. There are races in the Frostbitten fields and some going up the Northern Mountain Range also. South road leads to the Icengate passage.

7. Coldstone Area: the forest has trailrides. It is rockier, the trees more scarce, you can regularly find blue crystal clusters. Explorer’s rest is a ranger station. From there, the road to the south leads to Frostfire-pass, the road through the bridge leads to the eastern side of the Great Lake and to Jorwatch Druid Village in a hidden valley.

Stop signs:

1. North of Anvil Wood: iron gate. Road runs next to the abandoned DC barricade to Bayridge village. The gate has been closed since the Winterdale storm hit.

2. Wolf-pass: in the Rimefang wood, going through the Winter mountains. Direwolf packs roam the mountains, the pass is closed off as it is too dangerous to go through it.

3. Jorwatch road: the path leading to the Jorcrater is covered in thorns and vegetation, fallen trees and rocks. The druids keep it that way, since the Jorcrater is too dangerous to enter.

#sso #star stable #star stable online #starstableonline #winterdale #sso winterdale #sso headcanon #sso map #star stable winter rider #sso kallters #sso pine hill

[sgiandubh]

A stupid shipper's guide to the Peloponnese, part 2: Mycenae, my Craigh na Dun

Forgot to mention: Praxiteles' statue of Hermes still has faint cinnabar traces in its curls. Which makes that Hermes a ginger, hehe. You simply can't make this shit up. /end of poetic justice moment

Anyways. The very minute your car, bus or bike crosses the Corinth Canal, even if you cannot see it from the modern, German highway, you just know you are in the Peloponnese. Everything changes: the light, the landscape and even the silence. In summertime, cicadas reign supreme: mercifully, after a while, you don't hear them anymore and sleep like a log in daytime. Summer nights are always for something else, in this land.

Odysseas Elytis, my favorite Greek poet, knew something about all this:

"Drinking the sun of Corinth Reading the marble ruins Striding across vineyards and seas Sighting along the harpoon A votive fish that slips away I found the leaves that the sun’s psalm memorizes The living land that passion joys in opening."

So really, forget about the islands, spare some unsung, almost unknown gems. The heart of this country beats South of Corinth, and once you've realized this, there is no turning back.

Olympia and her little sister, Nemea, are all about joy and cheer and the sort of organized happiness the Ancient World was so adept at. But at Mycenae, we hit a different chord. It is home to this guy - the filthy rich, ruthless, rogue King Agamemnon.

"Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair":

Mycenae and I go back a couple of years and too many repeated, insistent expeditions to count properly. Even Zorba the car knows the way by himself, so all I have to do is wait for the right week-end, climb at the wheel and enjoy the scenery. Many dinners in town and embassy receptions have been traded for the simple joy to be awaken by kyria Panagiota's impertinent rooster (across the street) at 5 am and open my room's French doors to this view:

A mix of olive groves and vineyards, with the odd cypress tree randomly thrown around. 354 inhabitants. Two churches. Two stone bridges, built somewhere at the narrow end of the Stone Age and still treaded by tractors, cattle and unsuspecting pedestrians. And also this:

The Lions' Gate (the real one, not TPTB related), as photographed by me the day before yesterday, for the umpteenth time, proudly standing at the end of a steep-ish climb cursed daily in tens of different languages by thousands of tourists. As for Angkor Wat, you'd have to see it at sunrise or sunset to fully get the magic, in complete silence. Patience and determination will certainly be rewarded. For this place is rich with all the memories of those who once called it home, back in the day when it was one of the most powerful political and trade centers of the known world. The Cyclopean fantasy of a demi-god, which is all about flawless ownership of space and aggressive affirmation of one's worth. Or, as the obscure Alpheus of Mytilene aptly put it in an epigram, written some time around 0, AD: "a city built by giants and passing rich in gold".

Pic taken by me in late October 2021, that blessed age of innocence when I had no frigging idea of Craigh na Dun. Different light, same arresting view that plunges all the way to Argos and farther away, to the sea.

Cats rule the world. We know that (January 2023):

And then there's the Vault, half a mile down the road. If the Lions' Gate is about Space, the incorrectly named vault - a mausoleum, really - is about Time. Or rather the complete irrelevance of it:

Because I am not only stupid, but also nuts, I sometimes flip a coin, once inside. All binary answers were proven to be eerily accurate, with time. But things like this only show themselves to the believer. Last question asked is still technically up for confirmation, yet I - along with all of you here - know already it's a yes:

And yeah, I did it. What the heck. I had the place just for myself, and that is rare. Wouldn't you?

Mordor, I don't care about your pearl-clutching reaction. There is poetry to be found in the most unlikely of places. Especially in the most unlikely of places.

Walking back, I challenge you to pinpoint an exact year. It is impossible and there is a reason to it. This place and this view are timeless, of course:

In an unexpected, involuntary homage to the Atrides, the 354 inhabitants of modern Mykines still bury their dead all around Agamemnon's Vault.

Around an almost icy jug of Retsina wine, I asked my treasured friend V, the archaeologist: do you really think they ever left?

Are you nuts? And what would we do without them?

Coming back to a sweltering Athens, just imagine my head shake in disbelief watching Lasagna Lady once again clinging to that poor guy's T-shirt, the bickering between C's stans about who is the most telepath of them all and the wailings about the lack of secksay content in Episode 7.

Seriously, Fandom? Is this the best you can give me?

Episode I am hurrying to watch, nevertheless. But first, the laundry. Fair's fair.

[blueiskewl]

Ancient Roman Pipelines Discovered in Crete

Ongoing construction work on a new highway on the island of Crete revealed parts of an ancient water transport pipeline built during the period of Roman rule on the island.

The archaeological discovery reportedly consists of a water transport pipe that was part of the Roman aqueduct of Hersonissos.

Aqueducts were an essential element of Roman infrastructure across the empire, including in ancient Greece. They ensured the availability of fresh water in densely populated urban areas where demand was high.

Roman aqueduct discovered in Crete

Manolis Makrakis, the head of the Directorate of Primary Education of Lasithi, spoke at length about the discovery of parts of the Roman aqueduct on Crete.

“The section of the pipeline is located 5 km south of the national hub of Hersonissos and came to light, as part of the works for the opening of the road that will connect BOAK with the airport of Kastelli,” said Makrakis.

“The pipeline carried water from Kalo Chorio and Krasi to the Peninsula. It consists of two parts, an open (groove) width of approx. 40cm and a clay (closed) one with a diameter of approx. 25cm. We are waiting for more information from the archaeological service,” he added.

Historical context

Makrakis, who authored the book Story of Crete, spoke at length about the history of Roman aqueducts and water transport pipelines on the island during antiquity.

Quoting an extract from the book, Makrakis explained “The aqueduct of Hersonissos was a great work of the Roman era. The Romans were leaders in similar projects. Because the morphology of the land consists of ups and downs, they made the necessary works with the water bridges so that the water flows smoothly in the groove above the bridges. In many places, this groove was supported by wall constructions.”

“Its length was 14km, it took the water from two sources located at a great distance from each other,” the author continued. “The first source was located at the “Leontari” location in Krasi, while the second one was 3 meters south of the tap of the community reservoir of Kalos Horiou Pediados.”

“Then the two pipelines joined into one that ended in the Peninsula. The transport capacity of the pipeline was twice that of Lyktos. The pipeline passed through gullies, ravines and steep (inclined) slopes), through the uneven surfaces of the mountains and ended at the Peninsula.”

“The water of the pipeline was collected in a very large tank located on a hill south of the Port of Hersonissos at the “Palatia” location. This covered vaulted tank was 58m long, 22m wide, and 5.5m deep. The 4.5m underground section was carved out of natural rock. The thickness of the western walls was 1.60m.”

The Romans ruled Crete from 67 BC and they developed infrastructure such as aqueducts in and around the island’s pre-existing ancient Greek cities.

By Alexander Gale.

#Ancient Roman Pipelines Discovered in Crete #roman aqueduct #archeology #archeolgst #ancient artifacts #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #roman history #roman empire

[scotianostra]

July 23rd 1773 saw the birth of Thomas Makdougall Brisbane.

Brisbane was born at Brisbane House in Noddsdale, near Largs in Ayrshire, the son of Sir Thomas Brisbane and Dame Eleanora Brisbane. He was educated in astronomy and mathematics at the University of Edinburgh.

Thomas joined the British Army in 1789, enjoying a distinguished career in Flanders, the West Indies, Spain and North America. Indeed, such was the impression he made that it was the Duke of Wellington himself who made the recommendation that Sir Thomas serve in Australia in 1821.

As Governor of New South Wales – a post he held until 1825 – he immediately began working on a series of reforms to tackle the problems of a rapidly expanding colony. This included improvements to the land grants system, currency reform, and experiments in growing tobacco, cotton, coffee and flax.

His keen interest in science led him to become the first President of the Philosophical Society of Australasia (now the Royal Society of New South Wales) and he established the colony’s first agricultural training college, also assuming the role of first patron of the New South Wales Agricultural Society.

It was during this period that the famous city that now bears his name was established, a fact that is entwined in the history of the transportation of convicts to the area. Sir Thomas was looking for a new site to house repeat offenders and was shown an area around a large river at Moreton Bay. By 1824, convicts had moved in and both the river and the area became known as Brisbane. 

After returning to Scotland in 1825, he was elected President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1832, succeeding Sir Walter Scott, and was created a baronet in 1836. While continuing his astronomical research, he received honorary degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge universities, and was President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

He regarded his greatest achievements, however, as those that benefited his own community. He established the Largs Brisbane Academy to give local children the opportunity of a better education, and made provision for a new sewage system in the town to clear the streets of dirty water. This effectively reduced the prevalence of deadly diseases in the area, including the scourges of cholera and typhoid. He is remembered in the town today in the names of Brisbane Glen, Brisbane House and the Thomas Makdougall Brisbane Bridge.

On his death in 1860, Sir Thomas was  lauded: as a dedicated military leader, effective governor and celebrated astronomer.  He is buried in the Brisbane Aisle Vault, which is in the small kirkyard next to the remains of Largs Old Kirk, as seen in the second pic.

Much more info for the diehards here https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/brisbane-sir-thomas-makdougall-1827

#scotland #scottish #australia #colonial days #history

[kenz1frenz1]

The vibes of places I went to in Scotland, no particular order.

Stirling Castle: weirdly had a party vibe to it? I mean, if there's a lion pit and a hall big enough to cart in a ship full of sweets, I'm sure some real shenanigans were going down.

Edinburgh Castle: the jock. Taller than you, better than you. Has more trophies than you. Can steal your girl.

Holyrood: vibes were absolutely rancid here. I legit almost asked to leave early. I would rather have been in the South Bridge vaults

Kelvingrove Museum: (not gonna lie I was trying not to cry laughing at the taxidermy) Immaculate vibes. Like when you first discovered a new fantasy series as a child.

Greyfriars Kirkyard: all I am saying is that I was staying across the street and I wasn't *not* hearing strange noises at night.

Rosslyn Chapel: some people carved some proto-memes into stone and now people are making conspiracy theories about it.

#thats it for now #Scotland I love you and i respect u Im just having a bit of fun #i miss it every day

[moonmausoleum]

The Ghosts Within the South Bridge Vaults

A paranormal investigator's dream, the South Bridge Vaults in Edinburgh have been investigated for its hauntings on many occasions and many have left with a feeling of having experienced something paranormal and ghostly in the dark. Read the full story!

A paranormal investigator’s dream, the South Bridge Vaults in Edinburgh have been investigated for its hauntings on many occasions and many have left with a feeling of having experienced something paranormal and ghostly in the dark.  In the late 18th century Edinburgh was a growing community with a limited space in the Old Town nicknamed Old Reeky because of the bad smell and old buildings. The…

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#1700s #1800&039;s #article #burke and hare #child ghost #curse #demon #edinburgh #Europe #featured #female ghost #Ghost #ghosts #haunted #haunting #male ghost #old town #scotland #serial killer #south bridge vaults #UK #underground #wicca #witch

[shibalen]

♡︎ 𝑳𝒆𝒏'𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 @sincerely-and-eternally-yours

𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 i match you with . . .

𝒛𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊 !!

Zhongli held her hand firmly in his, making sure she would not fall on the cobblestone street. His darling had her nose buried deep in a tiny history book and hummed every now and then in facination. He found it amusing to observe and thus made sure not to disturb her reading as much as he could.

On one hand, he understood this was a short vacation and Ruby was eager to learn everything she could. On the other, Zhongli wouldn't have minded if she joined him on this leisurely walk either.

"Dear?"

"Hm, what is it, Zhongli?"

"Does it read that the South Bridge vaults have been a hotspot for criminal activity and illegal gambling? According to a rumour, it has also been used as a storage by grave robbers."

"Wait, really? That's creepy but so cool." She was finally looking over at him again with that sweet smile. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief and happiness. "I can't wait til we see them ourselves. Ooh, we're almost there!"

Her excitement made it impossible not to smile, it was infectious. "Yes," he said. "In that case, I am certain we can find some more literature about these vaults after the tour."

"We can?" Her eyes lit up like stars. He squeezed her hand gently and she returned the gesture. "I'm sure a lot of authors have found inspiration in this place! I already want to read their ideas with you."

#sincerely-and-eternally-yours #len's 101 #matchups #genshin impact matchups #i hope i wrote Zhongli's character well enough ahah #please enjoy !!

[the-deeds-to-shibden]

Monday 27 July 1840

[up at] 4 35/..

[to bed at] 12

[written on] Wednesday 29 July fine morning – had had cold boiled rice and quite ready at 6 at which hour Reaumur 12 1/2° – Off from Oni at 6 50/.. – beautiful morning – above an hour in getting to 3 towered castle of Veltettskikhé Dubois ii. 394 – at 9 13/.. pass over new wood bridge over the Rion (to right bank) the 3 trees (on which the cross planks are laid) carry 12 yards hollow and then there are at least 56 yards of log buttress at each end of the bridge therefore the river is 24 yards wide here at least, tho’ they have taken advantage of an island 50 or 60 yards broad (the river very islandy) which the bridge lands upon, and we forded the broadish shallow stream on the other side – at 10, Sori with 2 ruined square towers and little mills – picturesque scattered village – at 10 35/.. enter narrow but richly wooded gorge, (Dubois’s 2nd ecluse 1 verst long volume ii. 393) and out of it in 24 minutes – sun and hot but fine air just now, and the valley opens out gradually – Grashoppers’ noise loud and like that of rather distant guinea fowl – at 11 1/4 pass under the picturesque high almost inaccessible rock-seated castle – 3 towers (2 round and 1 square) and part of old overhanging gallery still remaining over 1 of the round towers – at the wood bridge over the little rapid Lokouni (Dubois ii. 390) – 

alighted at the bridge (Ann went forwards with the people and horses to the church) and took Adam and off to the castle at 11 25/.. – no road – not even a clear path of any kind – all grown up – thick wood all round except a little clear arable land East and rather Southeast belonging to a little cottage farm below (bridge over Lokoumi west side) – pushed our way thro’ the young wood (much oak and hazel) last climbed the hot, bare, dark-coloured rock (no trace of road or former approach) and then climbed 8 or 9 feet of old wall up to the little entrance door (East side) – another such door same side, nearer South end, but the wall rather higher and worse to climb – had the rock, and wall-stone been a little hotter, it would have been impossible to touch them with the naked hand – got in at 12 – not even goats here – saw no living animal not even a lizard – the court small as usual and encumbered with rubbish and tall rank vegetation and brambles – almost impossible to stir – the round tower north west corner (as it appeared from below) was the little church 5 x 4 yards long and broad in all except a little narrow vaulted now dark aisle on each side; and the overhanging gallery was a plank square tower made up with rubbish said Adam but no! more probably a living room or house over the church and close up against the square tower at northeast corner – then a little covered well then the square tower about middle west side, about 4 yards square or rather more? full of great koupchines buried up to the neck or above in ground floor – no communication from this room to the room above – and could not get up 

– then there was another square tower forming the South end of the castle something like the diagram as to irregular shape occupying the whole summit of the jet of rock that finely commands the valley –

a square tower filled up with rubbish

b church          

c square tower with koupchines

d South end square tower       

dot about the place of the well –

this South end tower also about 4 yards square – thought at 1st it might have been a stable – no! a living room – no communication with the rooms above – the door too high – could not get up – not much living or stirring room in these castles – all equally ruined by the Russians – about 10 minutes there and at the church at 12 40/.. – the horses turned to graze in the stubble – Ann sitting 

in the Ŏtāch wooden gallery

Hê-ĭ-vān open part of large stone house as at Satchekhére and Oni

and the servants there asleep – a wood house – comfortable sâcle, but far from so good as the house at Tzessi – much heated – Ann went off   to sketch – I lay down and slept till 2 – dinner from 2 1/4 to 3 35/.. – dawdled over it – Ann had 2 eggs beaten up with Djirootchy monastery red wine and Lavache, and I had one hard boiled cold egg a little cheese and a cucumber and a little Eristaf white wine with water from the milky Rion always good tasted   Prince Yorghi Kaidza’s son (when they called yesterday) from Khotévi gave us 2 cucumbers – neat square quite plain exterior except a cross or two saw the interior of the church – 12 yards from west door to iconostase and suppose behind iconostase 5 + 12 = 17 yards long – and about 11 1/2 yards broad – 2 aisles of 1 arcade to dome 12 windows, 1 arcade against underdome and 1 arcade behind iconostase, finished in apse inside and square outside the 2 small tall circular niches, east end, are mere grooves – merely a souvenir of the niches at Koutaïs and in the east ends of other Georgian churches – Ann sketched the interior – west end of each aisle lighted by one window 

and west end of nave, and north and South end of each transept lighted by 3 little windows 

– foundation of church 1753 – (Dubois ii. 392) – went into the little garden and gathered kindzi (no name for it in Russian but the Georgian word kindzi, coriander[)] and ukrop, Georgian kām-măh, fennel, which I had seen tied up in little parcels in the house and hung up to dry –

off from Baragone church at 4 25/.. – at the gorge (ecluse. Dubois ii. 388) in 1/2 hour – alighted at the source about mid way – 4 little rills – all alike – before I took the water for fresh – this time thought it very agreeably tasted and drank freely – proof it is very slightly sulphurous – the very slight taste I could discover was as much chalybeate as sulphurous? off from the bridge at 5 1/4  did not cross it – kept on the right bank of the river (Rion) very fine rich valley 1/2 yellow with corn or stubble – the corn gathered, or in cutting or gathering or in little sheaves perched up (some on poles as in Norway?) or ripe – a little young green corn not near in ear – the people housing hay as we went and returned from Satchikhéri – at 5 35/.. stopt at isolated shop – a few little things to sell printed calico handkerchief and blue pieces (shirt pieces) of calico – the man a a /Anne’s repetition/ little dyer – just wrapped up a piece or two in undyed calico, and put them into a little press i.e. between 2 boards and a great stone on the top in his little dye-house – the kelossan for here we came for a guide – a youth who knew the way to the village of Sardmêli /Sadmeli/ (Dubois ii. 426)   

off again at 5 55/.. fine rich valley – pass under Sardmêli, high (right) above us, pretty picturesque little scattered hamlet-like group of houses, among trees, and hardly seen, and at 6 25/.. beginning to calculate that it was 3 hours to Kouantchegkara /Khvanchkara/ (prince Léon Pépiani Dubois ii. 426) and we had better sleep chez le mourave at Sardmêli    Ann impatient – wished to go forwards – said we lost so much time in stopping that I gave the order for Kouantchegkara telling Ann however that it was 3 hours off and I doubted very much that we [were] right to risk it – she did not give any sign of caring for it, so on we went – Dubois says many villages left bank but no villages between Sardmêli and Kouantchegkara (right bank Rion) (ii. 426) – apparently as many villages, little picturesque tree-embosomed groups of cottages, on this side as the other (none in the bottom on either side all along the mountainside, generally about midway) but all these little groups on this side form the one large village or district called Sardmêli – instead of turning up (right) to Sardmêli kept down in the bottom (the corn being all gathered hereabouts) leaving the high road much above us right, and went along the fields and kept nearly to the river for nearness’s sake – at 6 3/4, on the other side Rion, (left) in the woods towards bottom (no pine) little narrow rounded ridge-jet, like a wall, of Calcaire coped with porphyre pyroxénique (dark coloured stone) very striking and curious – fine, beautiful corny and Indian corny crassy, viny, rich, wooded and wood-girt valley well-peopled – left bank Rioni, Ratcha – right bank, Sardmêli – beautiful ride – what a pity to do 1/2 in the dark! at 8 as we gradually got high on the mountainside the river beautifully winding deep below it was too dusk to see anything clearly – soon afterwards what with night and narrow lanes thro’ thick woods we groped in the dark – even Ann asked what I should do – our guide did not know the way – she had wanted to send the Cossack forwards before 8 – I merely said (not knowing then the ignorance of our guide) that we could not be left without guide or without Adam, and what could the Cossack do? – we could not see each other 1/2 dozen yards off – Ann was so impatient one time for me to get on, I before called every now and then to know she was close behind me, that I then supposed her at my heels and she (before the Cossack and George) lost us (not in reality far off) and George had to seek us out – 

arrived at 9 35/.. lights and a comfortable looking well galleried wood house and large open court – I rode up to the lights to see the hour – some ladies asked us in – we declined till our papier ouvert had been examined and our quartiers regularly assigned – we were taken to a large sacle (1 room as at Outséré) at 9 3/4 across the court 1 divan carpeted (for Ann) and long low Georgian narrow table for me, and they brought a higher (European – rickety) table and eggs and cucumbers and fine filberts and bread and wine and good water for supper, very sorry we were too late for better fare – very civil – we had 2 young men – princes Pépiani nephews of prince Léon – no milk to be had at that hour – ate 2 of the 4 cucumbers, and some filberts, large and excellent from their garden – of the nuts in the woods and hedges the kernels hardly formed – as yet a little kernelly string, like the 1st push at vegetation with a bean – a nothing to eat – supper at 11 to 11 50/.. – took off my pelisse and boots and lay down at 12 – very fine day –

 Anne’s marginal notes:

Leave Oni.

Baragone. /Barakoni/

Mindastsikhé forteresse de la necessité Dubois ii. 390.

Otach

Hêivah

Sardmêli.

Kouantchgkara capital of Pépianoff.

Kouantchegkara.

WYAS pages:  SH:7/ML/E/24/0165  

#anne lister #ann walker #anne lister code breaker #gentleman jack #diary1840unannotated #russianempire1840 #georgia1840

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Monday 27 July 1840

4 35/..

12

Wednesday 29 July   Leave Oni   fine morning – had had cold boiled rice and quite ready at 6 at which hour R12 ½° - off from Oni at 6 50/.. – beautiful morning above an hour in getting to 3 towered castle of Veltettsikhé Dub. ii. 394. at 9 13/.. pass over new wood bridge over the Rion (to right bank) the 3 trees (on which the cross planks are laid) carry 12 yards hollow and then there are at least 6 yards of log buttresses at each end of the bridge .:. the river is 24 yards wide here at least, tho’ they have taken advantage of an island 50 or 60 yards broad (the river very islandy) which the bridge lands upon, and we forded the broadish shallow stream on the other side – at 10, Sori with 2 ruined square towers and little mills – picturesque scattered village – at 10 35/.. Enter narrow but richly wooded gorge (Dubois’s 2nd Ecluse 1 v. long. vol. 11. 393.) and out of it in 24 minutes – sun and hot but fine air just now, and the valley opens out gradually – Grasshoppers’ noise loud and like that of rather distant guinea fowl – at 11 ¼ pass under the picturesque high almost inaccessible rock-seated castle – 3 towers (2 round and 1 square) and part of old overhanging gallery still remaining over 1 of the round towers – at the wood bridge over the little rapid Lokouni (Dub. ii. 390.) alighted at the bridge (A- went forwards with the people and horses to the church) and took Adam and off to the castle at 11 25/.. – no road – not even a clear path of any kind – all grown up – thick wood all round except a little clear arable land East and rather South east belonging to a little cottage farm below (bridge over Lokouni west side) – pushed our way thro’ the young wood (much oak and hazel) last climbed the hot, bare, dark-coloured rock (no trace of road or former approach) and then climbed 8 or 9ft. of old wall up to the little entrance door (East side) – another wall-stone been a little hotter, it would have been impossible to touch them with the naked hand – got in at 12 – not even goats here – saw no living animal not even a lizard – the court small as usual and encumbered with rubbish and tall rank vegetation and brambles – almost impossible to stir – the round tower north west corner (as it appeared from below) was the little church 5x4 yards long and broad in all except a little narrow vaulted [?] dark aisle on each side; and the overhanging gallery was a plank square tower made up with rubbish but said Adam no! more probably a living room or house over the church and close up against the square tower at north east corner – then a little covered well  then the square tower about middle west side, about 4 yards square or rather more? full of great Koupchines buried up to the neck or above in ground floor – no communication from this room to the room above – and could not get up – then there was another square tower forming the south end of the castle something like a diagram as to irregular shape occupying the whole summit of the jet of rock that finely commands the valley –

a square tower filled up with rubbish

b church c. square tower with koupchines

d south end square tower  dot about the place of the well

this south end tower also North about 4 yards square – thought at 1st it might have been a stable – no! a living room – no communication with the rooms above – the door too high – could not get up – not much living or stirring room in these castles – all equally ruined by the Russians – about 10 minutes there and at the church at 12 40/.. – the horses turned to graze in the stubble –

in the Ŏtāch wooden gallery

Hê-ĭ-vān open part of large stone house as at Satchkheri  [Sachkhere] and Oni

A- sitting and the servants there asleep – a wood house – comfortable sâcle, but far from so good as the house at Tzessi [Tsesi] – much heated – A- went off to sketch – I lay down and slept till 2 – dinner from 2 ¼ to 3 35/.. – dawdled over it – A- had 2 eggs beaten up with Djirootch monastery red winde and Lavache, and I had one hardboiled cold egg a little cheese and a cucumber and a little Eristaf white wine with water from the milky Rion [always] good tasted Prince Yorghi Kaidza’s son (where they called yesterday from Khotevi) gave us 2 cucumbers – saw the interior of the church  neat square quite plain exterior except a cross or two – 12 yards from west door to Iconostase and suppose behind iconostase 5+12 = 17 yards long – and about 11 ½ yards broad – 2 aisles of 1 arcade to dome 12 windows, 1 arcade against under dome and 1 arcade behind iconostase, finished in apse inside and square outside the 2 small tall circular niches, east end, are mere grooves – merely a souvenir of the niches at Koutaïs and in the East ends of other Georgian churches – A- sketched the interior – west end of each aisle lighted by one window and west end of nave, and north and south end of Each transept lighted by 3 little windows - foundation of Church 1753 – (Dubois ii. 392.) – went into the little garden and gathered Kindzi (no name for it in Russian but the Georgian word Kindzi [?] and Ukrop, Georgian Kām-măh, fennel, which I had seen tied up in little parcels in the house and hung up today -

Kouantchegkara.

off from Baragone church at 4 25/.. – at the gorge (Ecluse Dub. ii. 388) in ½ hour – alighted at the source about midway – 4 little rills – all alike – before I took the water for fresh – this time thought it very agreeably tasted and drank freely – proof it is very slightly sulphurous – the very slight taste I could discover was as much chalybeate as sulphurous? off from the bridge at 5 ¼ did not cross it – kept on the right bank of the river (Rion) very fine rich valley ½ yellow with corn or stubble – the corn gathered, or in cutting or gathered on in little sheaves perched up (some on poles as in Norway?) or ripe – a little young green corn not near in Ear – the people [horning] hay as we went and returned from Satchekhéri [Sachkhere]ò- at 5 35/.. stopt at isolated shop – a few little things to sell printed calico handkerchiefs and blue pieces (shirt pieces?) of calico – the man a little dyer – just wrapped up a piece or two in [undyed] calico, and put them into a little press i.e. between 2 boards and a great stone on the top in his little dye-house – the Kelossan for here we came for a Guide – a youth who knew the way to the village of Sardmêli (Dubois ii. 426.) off again at 5 55/.. fine rich valley – pass under Sardmêli, high (right) above us, pretty picturesque little scattered hamlet-like group of houses, among trees, and hardly seen, and at 6 25/.. beginning to calculate that it was 3 hours to Kouantchegkara (prince Léon Pépiani Dub. 11. 426). and we had better sleep chez le mourave at Sardmêli A- impatient – wished to go forwards – said we lost so much time in stopping that I gave order for K- telling A- however that it was 3 hours off and I doubted very much that we right to risk it – she did not give any sign of caring for that, so on we went – Dubois says many villages left bank but no village between S- and K- (right bank Rion) (ii. 426) – apparently as many villages, little picturesque tree – embosomed groups of cottages) on this side as the other (none in the bottom on either side all along the mountain side, generally about midway) but all these little groups on this side form the one large village or district called Sardmêli – instead of turning up(right) to S- kept down in the bottom (the corn being all gathered hereabouts) leaving the highroad much above us right, and went along the fields kept nearer to the river for nearness’s sake – at 6 ¾, on the other side Rion, (left) in the woods towards bottom (no pine) little narrow rounded ridge-jet, like a wall of Calcaire coped with porphyry [?] (dark coloured stone) very striking and curious – fine, beautiful corny and Indian corny grassy, viny, rich, wooded and girt valley well peopled – left bank Rioni Ratcha [Racha] – right bank, Sardmêli – beautiful ride – what a pity to do ½ in the dark! at 8 as we gradually get high on the mountain side the river beautifully winding deep below it was too dark to see anything clearly – soon afterwards what with might and narrow lanes thro’ thick woods we groped in the dark – even A- asked what I should do – our guide did not know the way – She had wanted to send the Cossack forwards before 8 – I merely said (not knowing then the ignorance of our guide) that we could not be left without guide or without Adam, and what could the Cossack do? – we could not see each other ½ dozen yards – A- was so impatient one time for me to get on, I before called every now and then to know she was close behind me, that I then supposed her at my heels and she (before the Cossack and George) lost us (not in reality far off) and George had to seek us out – arrived at 9 35/.. light and a comfortable looking well galleried wood house and large open court – I rode up to the lights to see the house – some ladies asked us in – we declined till our papier ouvert had been examined and out quartiers regularly assigned – we were taken to a large sacle (1 room as at Outséré) at 9 ¾ across the court 1 divan carpeted (for A-) and long low Georgian narrow table for me, and they brought a higher European ricketty table and eggs and cucumbers and fine filberts and bread and wine and good water for supper, very sorry we are too late for [?] fare – very civil – we had 2 young men – princes Pépiani nephews of prince Léon – no milk to be had at that hour – ate 2 of the 4 cucumbers, and some filberts, large and excellent from their garden – of the nuts in the woods and hedges [the] kernels hardly formed – as yet a little Kernelly string like the 1st push at vegetation with a bean – a nothing to eat – supper at 11 to 11 50/.. – took off my pelisse and boots and lay down at 12 – very fine day  -

[spine-buster]

Do you mind sharing what placed you're seeing in Scotland/Edinburgh? I wanna plan a trip but don't want to go the the most tourist-y places.

I used to live there so I’m not particularly going to “see” any places, but I can give you some recs! The thing with Edinburgh is that most of the stuff that is on the tourist-y lists are worth it:

Climb Arthur’s Seat

Have a picnic in Princes Street Gardens (and get your food from the Marks and Spencer food hall on Princes Street)

Explore the streets of New Town by just walking and getting lost!

There’s an antique market on Grassmarket on the weekends in the summer

Pubbing on Grassmarket OR Rose St. in the New Town (less tourist-y)

Ghost tour by Mercat Tours or City of the Dead if they’re still around (make sure you do one that takes you to Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, and DO NOT do one that goes into the South Bridge Vaults. They’re creepy as fuck and I felt like I shouldn’t have been there)

Haggis at World’s End Pub

Picnic in The Meadows

Wandering along the picturesque streets of Marchmont, finding cute cafes, etc.

Dean Village and Stockbridge

If you’re into history, a tour of Edinburgh Castle and Palace of Holyroodhouse

#answered

[adventurebeforedementia]

Full on celebration

After arriving in Edinburgh, we had a chance for some sightseeing before the wedding celebrations began. So we visited the Scots Monument, watched a local band including piper, entertain the crowds in Princes Street and visited the National Gallery before meeting the family for dinner.

The following day we caught up with the brothers and their families again to visit the underground vaults. These candle lit passages in the Old Town, dating back to the 1700s, are considered to be the most haunted places on earth. The tour took us under the South Bridge where the poor and homeless lived, a witches’ coven gathered and crime was rife. I didn’t want to spend too much time down there and wouldn’t have gone near the place without a guide with a good torch!

It was finally time to start the wedding celebrations at the spectacular Borthwick Castle - one of Scotland’s best preserved fortifications dating back to 1430. But before we could relax and celebrate John and Stephanie’s wedding, we had to go to war with the other guests at the Highland Games in the walled gardens. We were divided into three clans and after we had added our war paint, we went into battle.

Our first challenge was to toss the caber. No mean feat, a long telegraph pole rested on your shoulder which you are expected to toss so that it lands on its end and falls forward. I’m proud to say we both took on the task and successfully delivered even though mine landed on the row of bunting completely flattening the Scottish flags and poles! A guest commented: “Typical English, trying to scupper the Scottish Highland games!”

Then it was onto tossing the log on a piece of rope backwards over your head and clearing a metal bar. Every time we successfully achieved this, the bar was moved higher and I was terrified one of us would be knocked unconscious.

Throwing the wellie and the haggis, learning a Scottish reel - a major cardiac workout - and trying to get a musical note out of the bagpipes completed the two hour games. Our reward - a barbecue - and the whole event proved a real ice-breaker allowing us to meet the other guests before the big day.

The wedding itself was stunning. Guests were welcomed to the castle by a piper who also played a key role in the ceremony earning a traditional dram of whisky from the bride for his efforts.

The ceremony took place at the top of the tower accessed by many flights of spiral stairs. Negotiating these steps in high heels proved almost as challenging as the games. Stephanie looked radiant and John every bit the smart clansman in his specially made Innes clan tartan kilt for the occasion. After dinner and speeches, Stephanie and John’s favourite band entertained the guests until midnight.

No sooner had we left than we were back again at the castle for the third day and the final farewell Scottish brunch. This was a chance to catch up with new friends and say goodbye to Alex’s brother John and his family as they prepared to return to the States.

We spent our final day in Scotland with Alex’s oldest brother, Michael and his daughter. We went to Crieff to visit the family’s home town. The brothers had grown up here and we saw their old family home and primary school before taking a tour of Morrison’s Academy independent school where all three won scholarships to attend; another trip down memory lane 55 years on. There was also time to walk to the top of The Knock for a fabulous view across the town to the mountains beyond.

After saying goodbye, we left Edinburgh and are now pitched up in Maryport Marina in the Lake District for the final leg of this amazing journey.

[frogs-robots-and-wizardry]

Fact of the Day 21.5.22 The first person to cross Edinburgh’s South bridge in 1788 had died a few days before the bridge’s opening. An agreement had been made that the woman in question would be the first to cross and while this was honoured, it was taken as a bad superstition to the locals. South Bridge houses around 120 subterranean vaults that have seen mixed use in the nearly two and a half centruries since their creation.

#FOTD #FactoftheDay