Anna Drops

Swishing in Edinburgh: 28 January 2012

anna.drops — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:05:09 +0000

A good date in the New Year! Put it in your diary.

There are some guidelines and tips, too, so you know what to expect.

1st year arts students’ work

anna.drops — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:47:48 +0000

I love looking at creative things – like this wall display of 1st year design/arts students’ work at Edinburgh Napier. These hang on the wall in one of the campuses for anyone to see!

“Welcome to Paradise” lost on British tourism industry?

anna.drops — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:48:28 +0000

Recently I read an article about tourism and Jennie Dielemans’ book (or report) Welcome to Paradise. It’s gist is, all-inclusive holidays are the most harmful form of holidaying (although tourists spend time in an exotic country, 80% of income goes to head office in London; the locals work in low paid jobs; local people don’t have access to beaches etc.). Backpackers were also slated – for seeking out ‘undiscovered’ places and spoiling them with full moon parties, for having no respect for the natives.

We can make up for our hitherto ignorance by booking accommodation that is owned by the locals, eating in local restaurants and buying food supplies in local stores, and by not haggling till last penny when buying gifts.

What’s interesting, rights to Dielemans’ book have been sold to Estonia, Finland, Italy, Poland and Sweden but not to a British publisher. Perhaps British tourism industry, as well as its clientele, are not ready for it, yet? Well, I think if the travellers are conscious enough of certain issues to strive to offset the carbon emission of their journey or hotel stay – I think they are ready to ditch the all-inclusives, too. But is the tourism industry ready to take the hit? – that I’m not sure of.

Convert PDF to text

anna.drops — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:45:38 +0000

My latest discovery is a free online PDF to text converter – of the proper name Optical Character Recognition software – and not just any converter but one that really works. I had to try a few links claiming they worked but only this one proved effective so I had to share it. Enjoy!

Dunbar

anna.drops — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:15:32 +0000

Dunbar is a town on Scottish East Coast, past North Berwick when driving from Edinburgh. Not bad for a short day trip – atmospheric on a foggy day, cheerful in clearer weather.

Shrek Cake

anna.drops — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:32:27 +0000

Season inspired cake called Shrek – it’s green and has layers like ogres – is less sweet and more creamy than your usual coffee cake.

Halloween 2011

anna.drops — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:34:17 +0000

A few pictures from the streets of Edinburgh on the last Saturday night.

Where the Hell is Matt – Edinburgh gathering

anna.drops — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:44:40 +0000

Matt Harding of the now famous project ‘Where the Hell is Matt?’ visited Edinburgh some time ago, to record the Edinburgh part of his new video and to sell some t-shirts. Not kidding.

The people of Edinburgh proved to be welcoming and enthusiastic, and patient enough to do not one dance, but a few, including a Highland dance routine, led by a small girl. This took place at St Anthony’s Chapel on Arthur’s Seat.

Monsters

anna.drops — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:09:04 +0000

Have you even imagined Earth after a space invasion (kind of Orwell’s ’1984′) or a virus pandemic, where only machines are left and no humans? Of course the atmosphere is poluted and the sky looks grey. For me this is the mood set by these photographs.

Of course, these are relatively small monsters…

Red apple

anna.drops — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:30:19 +0000

My mum sent me this huge red apple – as a joke.
Dzieki mamo! Cmok!