Melrose and it's Abbey

Fall 2012 - Melrose and Melrose Abbey

By the time we got to Melrose Abbey it was shut - though we knew that would be the case ahead of time. Luckily, you can get a pretty good view around two sides of the Abbey from outside the gates. So, I climbed up on the gates to get a better view - despite the wary looks from my father.

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. 

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. 

Stirling - The Castle

Fall 2012 - Stirling Castle

About three weekends ago I went up to Stirling with one of the societies at Edinburgh to wander around Stirling Castle. It was an absolutely beautiful early fall day, and it did not rain once! We were so lucky. 

Inveraray

Fall 2012 - Inveraray

This is Inveraray in the rain. Almost the whole town is built in the same style as the building in the first photo as at one point the whole thing was rebuilt. Basically the Duke of Argyll, at some point, wanted the town to move to facilitate the building of his now castle/manor house, and so he did. Or at least that's what our guide told us. Anyway, the town is right on the shore of Loch Fyne, which is actually a sea Loch, hence the seafaring vessels. Like Kilchurn Castle, it still managed to be beautiful in the rain. 

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. 

The Castle

Fall 2012 - Edinburgh Castle

The photo at the top is one of the only good photos of the castle without a bunch of people in it. People are distracting. For instance, there is this other photo I like, but there's a couple kissing in it. So distracting!

The second photo is from St. Margaret's Chapel, which was built around the 12th century, and is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh. The stained glass image, then is of St. Margaret, looking very Saintly with the light from behind. 

The Unicorn & The Lion

Fall 2012 - Edinburgh Castle

The Scottish Unicorn and the English Lion flanking the doorway of the Scottish National War Memorial. 

The Castle - Memorial

Fall 2012 - Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh. When I was here last, I didn't make it up to the Castle, so when my parents were here, we most certainly went. All of these photos are of the Scottish National War Memorial, which was opened in 1927. 

Utrecht

Summer 2012 - Utrecht

Even though I've called Holland my home base for a little over seven years, before this summer I had never been to Utrecht. Luckily, my friend Chris lived in Utrecht, and he is a Medieval historian, so he knew quite a few interesting places to visit. 

One of the most famous sights in Utrecht is the Dom Tower. The tower is the tallest church tower in Holland, but it's not actually connected to the church. The construction for the church and tower began in the 1300s, but the church was never completed. A few hundred years later, a tornado (seriously) swept through Utrecht, and through the church, separating the tower from the nave. Eventually the nave was reconstructed but not reconnected to the tower. If you visit now, look at the church - there are still pieces of the broken wall visible on the outside. Also look at the ground in the square between the church and the tower - there are gravestones, like one would normally see on the floor in a church.

Just peeking out from behind the building on the left in the second photo is the Catholic Cathedral. 

And in the bottom photo is what looks like another church - but also a bar. Yup. It is an old church converted into a pub! It looks like just a normal restaurant from outside, and that is because it was a hidden Catholic church - built inside a normal house but hidden from the Protestant officials.

The Cloisters

Spring 2012 - The Bronx

Last Spring I was taking a class called Art and the Sacred in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Or Art and the Sacred for short(er). Seeing as though I went to school just outside of New York, we were lucky enough to go on a field trip to The Cloisters. If you ever have the opportunity to go, go. 

These photos are from the largest cloister - I couldn't get enough of the capitals, but I suppose that's the point!

Safely Above

Spring 2012 - Leiden

Rising above the flat landscape of Leiden, the Burcht van Leiden (Hill of Leiden) still stands at the top of the hill as a reminder of a time when the city just encircled it's walls. Today, it's a public park and a great vantage point to see the rest of the city. 

Quite well framed through the red doorway of the Burcht is the Hooglandse Kerk, a church I've tried to go into many times, only to find that it's never actually open. On the other side of that doorway are what I can only assume are the Coats of Armour of influential families in Leiden. And then, there's me. Sometimes I attempt to take self portraits. Sometimes, I even like them!