Performing at Greyfriars Kirk
Classic David Davidson
William Wallace Monument as seen from Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Shannon - Our guide at Stirling Castle
The group at the beginning of our tour
Finally the ringers get a break. We say goodbye to Dunblane and head to Stirling for a visit to Stirling Castle - the first opportunity for those of us ringing to do something other than ring, sleep or eat.
Stirling Castle is beautiful and a wonderful presentation. We have our own private tour guide - Shannon. A very Scottish girl with amazing enthusiasm for the history she shares with us. It is a cold and windy day (yes it's June - but we're bundled in jeans, sweatshirts and coats), and Shannon moves us through the castle grounds giving us the important highlights and pointing out the "must-see" features of the site. It is obvious that a great deal of work has been, and is still being done to present a top quality historical exhibit.
After the morning in Stirling, we head on to Edinburgh for a quick lunch in the Castle district (great fish and chips!) and then check in to our hotel (again very quickly) before we load into our second concert site - Greyfriar's Kirk. We have become much better at the load-in process - the bass train is well organized now! After load-in, we have a short rehearsal, addressing the mistakes of our first concert, then another quick meal and change to concert dress.
Our second concert is an improvement over the first ( a trend I hope we continue through Paris), but rainy weather has provided us a small audience. Tonight our audience includes some interesting listeners. Two traveled 300 miles just to hear us perform. One plays in what she tells us is the only Scottish bell choir not affiliated with a church. We also have friends of Jeanne Jessup - one of our group - Malcolm Robinson and his wife who have brought a friend fr0m India direct from the airport. Their Indian friend has never heard handbells and is entranced. Tonight we have an intermission (interval in Scotland) and several of the audience come into the choir asking questions and looking curiously at bells and music.
We are loaded and back at the hotel by 10:00 pm UK time. We are all looking forward to tomorrow - no ringing on the schedule. A free day after a short guided walking tour through Edinburgh. We are all in need of some rest and relaxation after 5 packed days.
3 comments:
A great idea for you to post a blog about your travels including pictures. It makes all of us bell ringers in the states wish we were with you. What a job to move all the equipment from place to place! I know you will have many memories to reflect upon, long after the trip is over. Safe travels as you continue your journey.
I am so glad that you are blogging about the tour! I, too, really wish I could be there. The pictures are great and help us here at home get an idea of how thing are going. I am looking forward to hearing stories in New Bern in OCT! Have a great time and make some awesome DB music.
Greetings to Joyce Terry and any other DBers I met last year!
Debbie Shaw
I am exhausted just reading about everything you are doing! Glad you are having some "fun" time as well. We're really enjoying reading about your adventures. Looking forward to hearing more.
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