Museum of Modern Art

Visit to the Modern Art museum in Edinburgh to have lunch with friends. Always good to get in a bit of culture and some good café food. Especially good to arrive and find out that everything was going to be alright.

The big sculptured pond area at the front is a nice outlook for the museum but I found a 'top up' pipe which was interesting.

Edvard Munch was featuring as the special exhibition but we didn't see that, as the museum wanted some money, and I am famously mean when it comes to culture. I've seen his pictures in other museums and find his images a bit depressing - but good they are.

Big smile generated by the huge sculpture in the café area of, I presume, Thor (didn't see an info card).

A stroll down the Water of Leith (again) to help the food go down gave a few more chances of images. Looking over the side of the first bridge an overhanging tree provided an oil painting result.

One of the numerous access points which probably daunt the less athletic.

Presumably Dutch Elm disease or similar prompted this very warmly radiant bonfire. The camera just about captures the feeling of intense heat. Nobody had any marshmallows.

 Took a shot weeks ago of a new chestnut leaf - this could be the same one looking a little worse for wear now.

Back to the museum for a . . . comfort break and the aforementioned date slice and coffee. This 'pile of stones' art is on the way in.

The stairs down were to the loos - nice sculpture.

Before going out for lunch we had a quick 10 miles of exercise going to West Linton on the bikes. This field, on the way, usually has a couple of horses - instead, a duck and ducklings were taking advantage. It doesn't look as like it's going to dry up quickly.

 Happy pedalling.

Today we had a trip to the East Neuk of Fife (or the east corner of the the county of Fife in Scotland). We had a good lunch in a hotel with friends and stopped later in Anstruther, a old fishing village. These days there are few fishing boats as they have mostly moved down the coast to Pittenweem,  but it's reinvented itself as a tourist town -  marina, shops and pubs.

The weather, when I was taking some photos, was taking a break from raining, but still overcast. You'll have to imagine the sunshine lighting up the painted houses and sailing boats. The tourists had come out from hiding (somewhere in the dry) and were making the best use of the reasonable weather. Boat trips to the Isle of May, an ice cream sitting on the harbour wall, a stroll round the craft shops, fishing museum and maybe a pint in a pub.

 One of the older vessels in the harbour - a restored sailing fishing boat.

 The outer harbour - with Berwick Law peeping through the harbour entrance.

 Traditional (well recent traditional) cafe food - the ice cream cone has been around for a long time though.

North from the harbour

Finally one for the street furniture geeks. 

Down one of the wynds (or lane) heading to the harbour, there it was - a Ductile Iron 550 Saracen, Grade B. Made by Stanton and Staveley Iron works, a North Derbyshire iron foundry which started up in 1846. I don't know how many of them are scattered round the country but they obviously last well - as long as nobody steals them of course.

Too far to pedal for happiness.