Happy New Year
I hope everyone had a good time last night. Unfortunately, my evening didn’t go quite as planned, since the authorities in Edinburgh made the surprise decision to cancel the Hogmanay festivities at the eleventh hour (the first time it hasn’t gone on in its twelve year history).
The increasingly insistent voice over the loudspeakers asking the huge crowd on Princes Street to disperse blamed the problem on “inclement weather,” though, in my estimation, things weren’t that bad. It had been very windy earlier in the evening, but by the time 11:00 rolled around, it had quieted down a lot (and believe me, I would be the first to complain about the wind here!). I suppose it was the only responsible thing to do, since the winds posed some safety problems for fireworks and the (evidently rather shoddily constructed) main stage, but it left many out-of-town visitors like myself more than a little nonplussed. We had a few hot donuts, hung around with the rest of the crowd until midnight, and then shuffled home.
Fortunately, unlike the most of the overseas visitors present, I had a fantastic (and extremely funny) group of Scots to hang out with afterward, which made the whole debacle a lot less disappointing. After profuse apologies from Jamie’s friends on behalf of their city, some curry, and my introduction to the Scotch and Irn-Bru cocktail, I was back in a festive mood.
Here are a few more photos for those who are interested…
The Fun Fair on Princes Street.
One of the events that did go on: A Bollywood tribute.
Bollywood in the shadow of St. Giles Kirk.
More Bollywood action.
The Royal Mile at sunset (from the castle).
The Castle gate.
Ascending the castle esplanade.
The Union flag flies over the castle.
Looking toward the Firth of Forth from the castle.