Lumiere London 2016

While I was visiting England, I was lucky enough to be in London the same weekend as Lumiere. So with a downloaded map and a vague notion of where I was heading and what I was going to see I hit the streets of central London.

If you've never heard of Lumiere before, that's okay (no judgement here. That would be a weird thing to judge you on, really if I was going to judge you, it would more likely be on what your wearing right now. I mean, pjs at this hour?) Started in Durham in 2009 it's the world's largest light festival and this year, London took part and according to the website there were 1 million visitors to the free event! (It did seem to be a bit crowded!) 

Spread over the neighbourhoods of King's Cross, Leicester Square, Piccadilly, Regent Street, St. James' and Carnaby, when the sun set, the lights turn on and you were free to explore the 30 artists outdoor (mostly) light installations. It ranged from simple light displays to timed light shows. 

It did remind me of Nuit Blanche which I attended last year. My favourite part of the Toronto event where the ones outside, where there were no queues. Since almost all of these were out of doors there was very little waiting despite the throngs and we managed to see 22 of the 30 installations. We didn't manage to get to them all because they don't keep the lights on very late. 

Enjoy this photo essay of my tour, but you must go yourself next year as my static, camera phone, images just don't dazzle the way they did IRL.

Les Voyageurs (The Travellers)by Cédric Le Borgne

Sanctuaryby Sarah Blood

Brothers & Sistersby Ron Haselden

Lightbenchesby Bernd Spiecker for LBO LichtBankObjekte

Spinning Night in Living Colourby Elaine Buckholtz

I Haven't Changed My Mind in a Thousand Yearsby Beth J Ross

195 Piccadillyby NOVAK

Luminéolesby Porté par le vent

Eléphantastic

Garden of Lightby TILT

Centre Point Lights

Neon Dogsby Deepa Mann-Kler

Plastic Islandsby Luzinterruptus

IFO (Identified Flying Object)by Jacques Rival

Dressesby Tae gon KIM

Litre of Lightby Mick Stephenson, Central Saint Martins, UAL, MyShelter Foundation

Shaida Walking. 2015by Julian Opie

1.8 Londonby Janet Echelman / Studio Echelman

Aquariumby Benedetto Bufalino & Benoit Deseille

Keyframesby Groupe LAPS

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Experiencing Scotch Whiskey in Edinburgh

Jumping up to Scotland in this post from my epic trip to the UK, I hope you don't mind the jumping around, as I recap my adventure. I'm loving being able to relive my travels through these posts, this is one of the ways I'm choosing 'joy' in 2016. 

I meet up with my 'doing things' buddy and after dropping my bags off at her super, lovely flat we set off to the Scotch Whisky Experience. 

We took the Silver Tour (£14.50) which started with a ride in a barrel, swirling around like a bubble learning about the history and process of making whisky. The tour ended with a little whisky tasting education, a free dram (yay swag!) and a glimpse at the extensive collection housed in quite an impressive manner. 

I was enthralled by the display and the warm, golden, glow from the whisky in the darkened room with only the light dancing off the prized collection of 3,384 scotch whisky bottles. (Totally, had to look that number up, I couldn't be expected to remember the details, I had been drinking whisky after all).

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Our lovely guide, "Angus" (not his real name. Details, people!) taught us how to experience the whisky; its colour, its smell, its clarity, and finally its taste. Love a man with a passion! Especially when it's expressed with rolling R's and a smattering of  'wee'.

After I finished my dram (and my friend's) we were ready to tackle the rest of the delights Edinburgh had to offer.

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