Edinburgh's ash cloud - from the 23 bus


I looked out for it yesterday, from my vantage point on the top deck of the number 23 bus. And from the front seat too! (Does anyone else's heart lift when they climb the stairs to the top deck of a bus and discover that a front seat is free?). Not much sign of cloud here at Tollcross. The glass and white concrete brutalist thing is the corporate headquarters of the Bank of Scotland. Just peeking out behind it at the right is Edinburgh Castle, which I suppose was considered pretty brutalist in its day.


On George IV Bridge, below, I could just fancy that there's a slight pinkish haze on the horizon, behind the dome of the - gosh - Bank of Scotland building. Scottish flags snap in the wind above the National Library of Scotland.


By the time we're dipping and swaying down Hanover Street, and looking across the River Forth to the hills of Fife, there's certainly something out there.


Tomorrow I'll be posting my first occasional giveaway, inspired by today's post. No, it's not a bit of Arthur's Seat (Edinburgh's very own extinct volcano).

Comments

  1. I've never managed to get such great photos from the front of the bus. And yes, I do get a little lurch of excitement when the front seat is free!

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  2. Some great shots Linda, I think the cloud is too far up into the atmosphere to see. I expect it will fall soon and everything will be covered in ash for a while, the actual volcano erupting would of been a great sight to see.

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  3. I was wondering if you would post anything about the volcanic ash. That volcanic eruption is certainly playing havoc with air travel! A while back we hosted an exchange student from Germany. She traveled to Poland during Easter / Spring holiday. She is stranded in Warsaw.

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  4. I think Jane's right - the cloud probably can't be seen from the ground. I was probably willing myself to see it across the river, off to the North.

    It's certainly quiet without any air traffic - and no contrails, which I gather are a complex factor in global warming.

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  5. Thanks for popping by my blog and commenting. I have to say from what was on the news here in Canada, I expected everything to be overcast and gray with ash in Scotland, not bright blue skies?

    Great photos though,

    Gill in Canada

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  6. I love your photos...get to go to Scottland and never leave my house...

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  7. That looks like a beautiful day, certainly not a massive volcanic ash cloud. Those are great pictures of Edinburgh.

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  8. Great pictures from a moving bus!

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  9. Many years ago Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State. I traveled to Moscow, Idaho and there were several inches of ash on everything. It was a fascinating experience. So was flying over the mountain in a plane a few years later. The top had definitely disappeared!

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  10. Looks like what we'd call a clear day in Los Angeles!!!

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  11. Steady on Linda, I work in that building! It's owned by HBOS but leased out ot a numner of companies.

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  12. Amazing shots from a bus! And beautiful views......love the one of Edinburgh Castle tucked in behind the steel/glass building. Old and the new! Hope you are doing great! I havent been around much lately, but will be remedied shortly! Take care!

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  13. i enjoyed the ride from the bus 23 ! At last sun is shining over Scotland ;)

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  14. Hi Gill, the lack of visible dust surprised me too! We're hearing nothing else but the ash cloud on the news just now (pushing the general election into second place).

    Deb and Al: you'll have to make the trip one day. Just book a sea crossing in case of problems in the air...

    Tami, I have to admit the bus has stopped when I took these shots. Otherwise the photos would have come out a bit 'shougglie' as we say in Scots (shaky).

    mountain.mama: your description sounds like a BBC drama-documentary that terrified the life out of me, about the volcanic explosion of the whole of Yosemite. Lots of ash in that film - the special effects people were busy.

    The Chieftess: you're right, there is that LA tinge about the horizon.

    Mal's Allotment: Perhaps I've used a technical architectural term wrongly - but it is a whopping big lump of a glass and concrete thing, wouldn't you agree? I presume it's very nice inside? I do admit that it's better than the grim buildings that were there before, which included the Labour Exchange. I remember signing on there when I was looking for my first job after university.

    Hi Kristina, nice to see you. Likewise I've been busy, but will head over to visit you now.

    Babzy: glad you enjoyed the ride. It's one of the great pleasures of Edinburgh.

    Linda (PA Shutterbug): any news of your exchange student? I wouldn't mind being stranded at my destination, but I'm so sorry for everyone trying to get away on holiday at this time.

    PurestGreen: I'll look out for you in the front seat of the bus.

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  15. Have to admit to a degree of feigned chagrin, Linda. The best thing about the building is the views it affords over the rooftops to the Pentland Hills. In the other direction is the Castle Rock. Like a lot of new buildings it suffers from sick building syndrome. At intervals the air conditioning has to be defumigated as it spits out tiny black flies/fleas/bugs. Nature's revenge?

    I remember signing on at this site too - and visiting Goldberg's next door (although, unlike my other half, I don't remember it in its heyday when there was a zoo on the top floor). The area up that pedestrianised street (High Riggs) is known locally as the 'pubic triangle' because ther is a strip joint on each of the three converging corners. A different take on Holy Corner(?), up the road also on the 23 route! I'm a 27 man myself, but lived in Bruntsfield for 10 years.

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  16. Such architecture! Thanks for showing me your city. Great shots.

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  17. Delightful! In Stockholm we have a couple of double-deckers going around on sightseeing trips. Very pleasant.

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  18. Terrific snapshots. I felt as if I am on that double decker, watching the clouds and seeing the views around while traveling. Couldn't spot the ash clouds through the pics though. Really enjoyed visiting your blog.

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  19. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get any fabulous sunsets. I always took the top deck front seat into Edinburgh if i could. Any falling ash can only be good for the soil xx

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  20. What beautiful images you present us, reminding me of my trip to Scotland two years ago.

    I love all the details and textures.

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  21. Hi Linda! It is so nice to meet you and visit your lovely blog. I have perused many of your posts and just love seeing your beautiful Scotland. These shots are terrific and I find it fun to see the automobiles all driving on the "wrong" side of the street ;)

    Thank you for stopping by my place and leaving your comment!
    Kindly, ldh

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