Dryburgh Abbey

Fall 2012 - Dryburgh Abbey 

This was the last Abbey we got to go in to. It is unique compared to the others because it's not in the middle of a town, but was actually incorporated into a Romantic garden in the 18th century. It's a shame I don't have more photos, (not very many of them stood out to me...) but I really like the ones I have! 

Jedburgh Abbey - Architecture

Fall 2012 - Jedburgh Abbey, The Borders

For some reasons, I have more photos of Jedburgh Abbey than the others. Perhaps it was the afternoon sunlight, or perhaps it was the way the architecture layers in photos. 

Jedburgh Abbey - Room, of Uncertain Function

Fall 2012 - Jedburgh Abbey, The Borders

Jedburgh Abbey is considerably more intact than Kelso Abbey. I really love how the whole shell of the church is still standing - it makes for some great photos.

Kelso Abbey

Fall 2012 - Kelso Abbey, The Borders

The Border Abbeys. Let's see if I can explain this in a way that makes sense. The Abbeys, I believe, were all built in the 1100s, and from about the time they were built, they were being attacked by the English. And then Henry V became King, and the monasteries and abbeys were disbanded. 

This is Kelso Abbey. Apologies for the lack of general shot of the Abbey - there's so little of it actually left that there's not a lot of space around it. In fact, it takes up about a block of a the town of Kelso, where it seems as though no one really notices the abbey in the middle of their town. 

Sunset - Hailes Castle

Fall 2012 - The Lothians, Hailes Castle

The way we found this was actually a bit odd. On our way to look at another site, we saw a sign for a castle. So, once we had seen the other location (Traprain Law,) we went to investigate the castle. We figured it would be shut, as most Historic Scotland locations shut at 4:30pm, but thought it still might be pretty. The thing is, it wasn't shut. And we got there at sunset.

 The other crazy part - when I got home, I looked up the castle to see if we could find out more about it. It was at that point that I discovered it was successfully attacked by none other than Henry Percy, probably best known by his nickname - Harry Hotspur, and made famous by Shakespeare.

 

From on High

Fall 2012 - The Lothians, Tantallon Castle

Some of the highest parts of the castle are still safe to walk around on, so if you're brave enough to scamper up the stairs, you can get great views of the ocean and the countryside around. In the first photo you can see North Berwick Law, a volcanic hill that is quite drastically different than it's surrounding landscape. And that 5th photo is the remains of a staircase. 

Tantallon Castle

Fall 2012 - The Lothians, Tantallon Castle

Tantallon Castle is about an hour drive from Edinburgh. We got there, due to car rental difficulties, in the late afternoon, and the light was gorgeous.

When approaching the castle you first go through the ruins of a gate house (1st photo,) and then round the corner to see the blue-stoned front gate. Why is the gate built out of a different stone than the rest of the castle (which is built of sandstone)? The theory is that the stone was softer and thus could take more blows from an attacking army. Well, it sure looks great too. 

Rainy Days

2012 - Kilchurn Castle

That's my mother with the blue umbrella, taking a photo of me. So as you can see it really was quite rainy. I guess it's the traditional Scottish experience? 

Castle Hunting

Fall 2012 - Doune & Kilchurn Castles 

Doune Castle

Kilchurn Castle

Obviously the weather changed a bit in between these two locations. When the parents and I were in Scotland before classes started, we decided to go on a "Western Highlands" tour. It was absolutely beautiful for the first few hours, then it poured, then it got a little better but by then we were all soaked. My mother and I bought new socks halfway through. Though it was a bit horrendous at the time, I have to say I a little bit love the blurry rain photos that came out of it.

So Doune castle is, unsurprisingly, right outside the village of Doune, and though you can't see it, is just by the edge of the River Teith. Both Monty Python and Game of Thrones have filmed here - Monty Python used it for every castle in the Holy Grail, and Game of Thrones used it for the pilot, but still cool. We didn't get a chance to go inside, but I guess that leaves me more to do as the year goes on! 

Kilchurn Castle. Well, first off it's on the edge of Loch Awe, i.e. essentially in the Loch if it rains too much. Something about being on the ruins of a castle in the stormy weather was actually quite beautiful. It just may have actually been worth getting soaked. 

So I Found...

Spring 2011 - Sicily

I can't believe I forgot that I brought my Diana Mini with me to Sicily! Took me forever to use up this film, too (as you'll be able to see by the next few posts...). 

The first photo is from Poggioreale, digitals here, the second is from the ruins of a castle in the town of Enna. 

I especially love the next three. I didn't really get a good shot of the Greek Theatre at Segesta with my digital camera, but I quite love this film one. There's also something about shooting ruins with film that just works. Digitals here.

Final shot from Cefalu, the same church as in the first photo of the other post here.

Basilica Cistern

Spring 2012 - Istanbul

So this place is beautiful. 

The Basilica Cistern lies beneath the modern metropolis of Istanbul, quietly still standing after about seventeen hundred years. It was probably originally built to hold water for the palace complex of Constantinople, though it certainly was not the only one (we had dinner in another cistern that's been converted).

The Hagia Sophia

Spring 2012 - Istanbul 

Where do I start? The Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Roman/Byzantine (depends on who you ask) Emperor Justinian. The Church was built very soon after riots had destroyed the previous church on the site. There are many things about the design of this church that made it groundbreaking for it's time, but perhaps the one that hits you the most upon entering (and is most clear from the photos) is the way the central dome seems to float without visible support. 

The third photo is of the Blue Mosque (seen in my last post) from a window of the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia is actually cited for being a major influence on the design of the Blue Mosque, as well as many other mosques throughout the Ottoman Empire. 

The whole thing is absolutely breathtaking - I would go so far as to say the most beautiful church I have ever been in, and I have been in many.