Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Images of St. Andrews (Dec 6)

Some of you who have been looking at my blog might have been asking "why don't we see pictures of where Parker lives." I find it an interesting phenomenon that when one lives in a area and lives in that environment for sometime, the thought of taking pictures to immortalize those places and memories just does not cross ones mind. However, I took it upon myself to walk around town between a meeting and class in the afternoon to capture images of my favorite places, and images that have yet to be seen. Take a look and see the places that have become 'hot spots' among my travels in St. Andrews.

 St. Katherines Lodge, home of the Department of History. My professor for the Medieval Castle in Scotland 1100-1550, Michael Brown, has his office on the 3rd floor.

 The Scores

 Great photo of St. Andrews Castle. Almost a perfect postcard

I visited the cathedral again to try and get some different angles and images of the cathedral ruins. Plus I had not been in the square tower nor the museum. When I was there, the museum was closed for lunch, but I did go up the tower.




 I went up this tower. This tower is quite tall and gives one of the best panoramic images of St. Andrews. To get in you must go through a extremely small turn style and continue up a skinny metal spiral stair case which opens up into an equally small stone stair case that goes up and up. It's a decent climb. 

 I liked the lighting of most of these pictures. When these were taken, it was only around 1 pm but it looks more like 3 or 4.



 Image from the top of the square tower at the cathedral.

 Another architectural shot of the square tower


 I have seen this shot in postcards, so I wanted my own version of it. I never noticed it before

 Framed shot. I am getting so artistic


 St. Andrews Pier. 

 Every Sunday, students who attend the church service at Salvators Chapel and wear their red robes go on a pier walk. The pier walk is memorial for a student who in the past saw a shipwreck off the pier and swam to the wreck saving several men before drowning himself. This pier is famous within St. Andrews and beyond. As it turns out, my last Sunday, this coming Sunday, I will participating in the pier walk. A fitting end to my experience in St. Andrews

 Although there are signs for now swimming, at the end of the pier is a set of stairs that come out of the water. This being the case, in May, students take part in the May Dip and jump off the pier. Many students do this in their experience in St. Andrews. I have not decided to do a pier jump with how cold it has become. I am sure it would be similar to a polar plunge. 


 The pier stands quite high over the water and has no rails. So obviously I walked on the highest part. I know my Mom will cringe at this though :).  It was a worthwhile walk.


 Younger Hall, where St. Andrew's students go for matriculation. Located on North Street.

 Salvator's Chapel and Tower. Located on North Street

 This is a popular stop for me when I am going to the library. Often I get a sandwich, pasty, or scotch pie to eat for lunch on my way to the library. When have a sweet tooth, Fisher and Donaldson has excellent fudge doughnuts and chocolate cream towers. All of their items are really good.

 Butler and Company is a local butcher and the only place that sells Jiffy peanut butter, lucky charms, reeses peanut butter cups and other American food items for a high price. However, the only thing besides reeses that I have bought here are really good wraps. They use really interesting ingredients and combine them in wraps called "dirty harry, ploughmans lunch, Indiana Jones etc..."

 Curiosity, the local thrift store of odd items. They have so many cool and odd items. A great place for silly gifts. I have looked at its contents many times. Located on South Street.

 This looks really non impressive or significant, but on contrary is where I attend my history class. My class room is the door next to the blue door. The building is St. John's house, which is one of the oldest buildings in St. Andrews that has been restored. It houses the Department of Medieval History

 St. Johns House and Department of Medieval History. Located on South Street

 Jannetta's is a popular ice cream shop. They have many flavors of ice cream ranging from the classics of chocolate, cookies and cream, rocky road etc... to Scottish Tablet, Irn Bru sorbet and more.  When it was warmer, I made many stops at Jannetta's with friends to experience good ice cream. Located on South Street.

 This is not usual for St. Andrews. Usually in this area, musicians usually do "busking" (playing for entertainment and money). I heard the music from far off and decided to investigate. To my surprise, it was three guys playing music and selling their CD. Well, they are Native Americans, in Scotland of all places. It was odd to see them in a place like St. Andrews. The music was entrancing and mystical in a sense. I did not purchase a CD unfortunately.

 The Whey Pat Taven is a popular pub for those who enjoy traditional Scottish and Irish music. Every tuesday nights are reserved for this style of music. The atmosphere is quite friendly. I had my first Guiness here, and I liked it.

 Kinness Fry Bar has had the pleasure of my business, and the business of my friends. As with everything in St. Andrews, every place shuts down for the night (excluding pubs). After a certain time, even pubs do not make food. That leaves only 2 options, the Kinness Fry Bar and Empire. Both deliver and are open till two in the morning. I prefer the Kinness Fry Bar. As the name implies, most things are friend. However, they are known for doner kababs, and pizza. I have not had a doner kabab yet. This is where I experienced my first deep fried mars bar (not first fried candy bar). When I am hungry late at night, Kinness is always there. 

 The Rule looks rather silly with the big red sign stating "book for christmas." Many places have notices like this on or outside their restaurant.  The Rule has been a popular stop for people as it usually shows American Football on a large screen. This is also the normal stop for the socialization after Scottish Country Dancing. This is also where I had Sticky Toffee Pudding for the first time, and it was delicious. Located on South Street.

 The Noodle Bar...really good noodles. You pick a sauce and can add meat if you want. Just the veggies and noodles are really good. Its really fast too. I usually get this when I want to sit down, but for not too long. On Market Street.

 My whole time here, Market Street has been under construction. It finally got done this week. They spent the whole time re-cobbling the road. So it looks really nice now. It did not a week ago. For most of my time here, cars could not drive so walking on the street was completely fine. Now pedestrians have to watch for cars and buses. At least it looks nice.

 Le Rendez-Vous is an Italian sandwich, pizza, and pasta shop. I have gotten taste panini's here on occasion. Also located on Market Street, right next to the Noodle Bar. So I sometimes have to choose my allegiance.

 Fritto fish and chips is probably my favorite fish and chips stop in St. Andrews. I don't know what it is, but it has always been good. It is also where I ate my first deep fried haggis which was equally tasty. 



 The Central is the only english style pub in St. Andrews. I enjoy going in for Bangers and Mash (sausages and mash potato with gravy). The dish is really good, and is usually included in the lunch special every day from 12-5 for 3.75 pounds. A really good deal. When I was in London, I ate at the Silver Cross which is the same establishment with the same menu. So they are all over the UK. 

 Fat Face is where I bought my red knit sweater. I bought it in Oxford, but this one is in St. Andrews.

 Le Rendez-Vous and Noodle Bar

 shortcut to reach the library from Market Street


 Boots is a pharmacy where I buy my soap, razors, hair clippers for my head and other necessities that I need in my time in Scotland. It has never let me down.

 The Tailend is a higher end fish bar. The fish is a slightly better quality than Fritos and is just as good. I go here when Fritos is not open for lunch or dinner, depending on what I am feeling.

 Tesco, the main grocery store in St. Andrews. This Tesco is actually the most expensive in the great expanse of the whole UK. They can raise prices for the high demand. Mind you a grocery store in Scotland is very different from home. There is far less selection. Take your grocery store at home, and cut it down to a 4th that size and you would get Tesco metro. It's rather small for the number of people it serves. 

 Bibi's cafe is a place where I go with friends to have a lovely lunch. It is the first place where I ate when I got to St. Andrews in October and the first place where I ate haggis for the first time in a panini. They have really visually stunning and delicious shakes and hot chocolate. They are really bad health wise I am sure, but they are so good.

The Library. The main level was just redone before the semester started. The main level is set up very logically and looks appealing. This changes as you go up to the 2nd and 3rd floors. Those floors have yet to be refurbished. It has mustard yellow (plus added dirt over the years since the 70's) carpet that looks really gross. But the library has a decent amount of books. The library is where all students read for class as we do not purchase books for class, but rather read them in the Library. I rather like the system.

So that is a brief view of what St. Andrew's is like. I like to say the pictures don't do the city justice. What this refers to is the fact that there was sun. The sun does not shine for very long at this time in the season, so I took advantage of having sun and nice lighting for pictures. I hope you all enjoyed seeing where I have been living. I hope to have more up about my accommodation and buildings that I have missed. Little more than a week left before I come home. Until then, keep reading.

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