Wednesday, December 07, 2016

My Home Away From Home, Tokyo

 The apartment, is very central, between Shinjuku and Shibuya and is a lovely place to be. It is extremely large by Japanese standards, more expat than local I am sure. The kitchen is larger than my little space at home!

My bedroom


A balcony with lots of sunshine and a garden view.  


The entrance and the garden are lovely , but carrying my suitcase through wasn't much fun.



















Monday, January 04, 2016

New Year's Day Portobello Style


 On most mornings Portobello beach looks a little like this, although usually there are a number of dog walkers and other brave souls. On the weekends, particularly on a "nice" day there are lots of people strolling along the promenade enjoying the views and the VERY fresh air.



But on New Years day there was an air of expectancy as many lined up at the food stands and grabbed a hot coffee before heading down the promenade, camers or phone in hand to watch the spectacle of the day.

There were lots more spectators and phones, cameras and tablets all focused on the line up of, sometimes oddly dressed, people waiting for the 1 o'clock count down before they headed for the water. It was cold enough standing watching and waiting, I can't even imagine what the water was like - although I have swum in Antarctica, so I guess I am just as crazy.

Happy New Year everyone.




Deja Vu

There is something about Edinburgh that sings to me. 

Since my visit all those years ago, it has been a place that I have always wanted to return to, and this visit has just made the feeling all that much stronger. There are many cities I have visited and enjoyed, but none have had the same effect as this city.

I just love the Old Town. The buildings with their crooked walls and narrow winding staircases. Buildings narrow and tall and not quite straight, or wide with layer upon layer of floors all slightly different, some jutting out over the Royal Mile. All so different and charming in their own way - though I don't think I would  enjoy running up and down those staircases on a daily basis now! I love the rough cobblestones, so hard to walk on and noisy under traffic and the closes and wynds that run between the buildings and the various levels of the city.

I am enchanted by the skyline of chimney pots, turrets, gargoyles, cupolas and carvings, the varied colours of the stonework. Edinburgh has the feeling of a city so old, with so much history that it just oozes charm and mystery. 

I am sure that I have had a previous life here - maybe as a gutter urchin, who knows?