No damascene revelations or deep truths today, folks. The Impressionist and l'Impressionista visited Edinburgh yesterday where the International Arts Festival is in full swing, as is the Fringe - its anarchic offshoot. The Impressionist strongly recommends visiting - Edinburgh is the world's largest Arts festival and has something for everyone.
The Impressionist took in a couple of musical events, including a very short but very sweet a cappella concert by the inappropriately named Oxford Gargoyles at C-too. In fact, some very sweet young ladies and gentlemen with voices to match their looks.
Minging monikers seem to be a characteristic of a cappella groups - the worse the name the better the music - Sweden's execrably named Real Group being the best example (of both).
The Impressionist also had his Art Fix at the National Gallery of Scotland where there hang a few delicious works by James Guthrie. A Van Gogh exhibition was on but we didn't have enough time for it.
The weather held mostly and we were entertained by a mini-tattoo at lunchtime in Princes Street Gardens (free). Turns were gleaned from the tattoo proper, which is held every night at the Castle, and included the New Zealand Army Band whose repertoire and choreography is, er ... refreshingly different. You have to be there.
We spent a while soaking up the ambience - a curious mixture of anarchy, commercialism, enthusiasm and talent.
The good thing about Edinburgh is it's quite compact so walking from one venue to another is quite practical. And it's cheap - our concerts cost 6 ($11) to 8.50 ($16). It's also quite intimate: the performers are quite happy to chat after the gig (and sell you their CD).
You can meet all sorts of interesting - if not talkative - people in the street; in the bars and cafes that line the Royal Mile; and in the venues that are scattered all over the city centre.
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