Edinburgh Festival!
Trip Start
Mar 01, 2005
1
11
71
Trip End
Jan 01, 2006
Edinburgh,
United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
I was pretty excited to be going to the festival. I had heard about it before I left Canada, and it sounded pretty crazy and something I had to see. Other than large crowds and things going on everywhere, I really didn't know what to expect. So as I got into Edinburgh at 11am and left the train station, I got the same feeling of excitement, anticipation, and curiosity about what I would find as I had last month when I had been in Edinburgh.
There were definetly lots of people! Everywhere! The first place I went was the Royal Mile. Awesome. They had most of it blocked off from traffic so people could walk around, and there were tables outside cafes and bars, street performers, markets, music, magic, promoters for events. It was like a freak show and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Men in dresses, girls in everything and anything promoting their shows, lying in the streets, underneath signs, tied to street lights. It was nuts but so cool. The best part was just being able to let yourself be guided by your senses rather than your brain. Going from one crowd of people to the next to see what everyone else is watching, hear some music just up the road. The bagpipes, the drums, accordians, guitars, and as many instrument that I can't name. It was great.
As for the performers, I hung around the square just outside City hall on the Royal Mile for a while as it was sort of an outdoor venue for a lot of street performers. I saw a Scottish woman putting on lipstick, and juggling, while on a unicycle, an Aussie who juggled machetes over a volunteer as well as a chainsaw and ate fire, a hilarious Japanese guy called "hangerman" - so funny, practically the only words he knew in english were "very dangerous" and "me hangerman" definetly my favourite!! Guess you had to be there for that one! Another good Aussie whose act included an ax, some knives, and a whip. He was great because he really got the crowd engaged and cracked up over his own jokes which came across as really sincere and genuine. An Icelandic guy, another aussie, a canadian, americans, there were from everywhere.
Then I went over to Princes Street Garden and the museum and watched this really rude american guy doing magic and attempting comedy. But he kept insulting the dwindling crowd, go figure. I only watched him because I wanted to see people's reactions to the idiot. Oh well. A great south american band was playing in front of the museum too. Stalls selling jewelry and braiding people's hair, artists doing charicatures, clowns, and so on. It really is an international festival and it was great to see people of all ages from all over enjoying something like the festival together. With all the crap going on in the world, it really makes you proud of people in general.
So after walking up and down the royal mile, to Princes St. and back, numerous times, it was time for supper. My evening was set, and I was off to the ballet. Ballet's never been something I've been particularly interested in, but when I saw it in the International Festival guide, I had to go. I got a cheap seat, so that may have influenced my decision just a little. Swan Lake! So I headed down to the Edinburgh Festival Theater on North Street. The show started at 7:30 and I was definetly pleased with my seat. I could pretty much see the whole stage from the top balcony I was in. And for £7, I can't complain. The Pennsylvania Ballet, and Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio. Really cool to see the orchestra down below the stage. The music was so great, and the ballet was interesting as well. I had no expectation or preconceived notions as to what ballet would be like, so I was like a clean slate. And then when you hear the famous piece of music being played, it was so exciting. The story ended sadly because the Prince who fell in love with the Swan Odette didn't stay together. Because of a spell, she was turned into a swan forever. Obviously I don't write reviews, but that's the jist of it. Really good night for my first ballet. I loved it. I've been told to see an opera, so who knows...
Left the theater at 10:15 and hurried down to the train station and just caught the 10:30 train back to St. Andrews.
Now I definetly plan to go back to Edinburgh and see some people and some more of the festival...maybe next week! TTYL
