Harry Potter - The Finale

POTTERMANIA

As the Harry Potter last film nearly ending, the eight and final, part 2, the Deathly Hallows, I would like to share with you some of my personal encounter to the famous films’ backstage stories. I am not really a Potter fan per se but a movie fanatic in general. I am just so fascinated with those iconic film landmarks I usually discover along the way elsewhere in the world.

Seeing the eight installment’s part 1, gave me so much delight when I personally visited its location in one of its scenes, remember that Sanyo neon light in Piccadilly Circus in London I mentioned in one of my early article? That was just accidental that I passed by to that area and knowing it is really famous, so there was my camera taking photos; and that Sanyo LED as my back draft.

This time around, my visit to Scotland recently never short of surprises! Never thought there was this humble restaurant in one corner of the city of Edinburgh boasting the words “Birthplace of Harry Potter”, ‘The Elephant House’ gourmet tea & coffee house and restaurant, made famous as the place of inspiration to writers such as J.K. Rowlings (by the way, is it true that she has amassed more money than the Queen of England?), who sat writing much of her early novels in the backroom overlooking Edinburgh Castle. Other authors of best selling novels and series of novels also frequented the Elephant House throughout the years according to its website.

So, for the films worldwide popularity that new generation of today grew alongside Harry as he aged called themselves “The Harry Potter Generation” should be delighted as well as this almost untold behind the curtain tidbits of a story gets into their collective psyche.

The Elephant House and the Castle overlooking from below and the inside of the historic coffee shop.

Captured clip from the films' part 1:  A scene with London's famous double decker red bus.

Captured clip from the films' part 1:

A scene with London's famous "Ripley's Believe it or Not" museum and shop.

... at the Ripley's

Captured clips from the films' part 1:

A scene with London's famous Sanyo neon sign board opposite the Ripley's Believe it or Not building
at the Picadilly Circus.

...with the famous red busses.

ODEON THEATRE  the venue of the red carpet world film premier at Leicester Square.

 Goodbye Harry!

The Athens of the North

THE ATHENS OF THE NORTH

THE NATIONAL MONUMENT
Edinburgh, Scotland
Built: 1822-29
Architect: C.R. Cockerel and William H. Playfair

The National Monument commemorates the Scottish soldiers who died during the Napoleonic Wars of 1803-1815.

By the late 18th century Edinburgh was enjoying a remarkable reputation as a city of intellectual brilliance and beautiful architecture.  Many new public buildings were built at great expense in the Greek neo-classical style. The National Monument, based on the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, kept up the tradition, but when fund ran out in 1829 work ground to a halt and the monument was never completed.

The buildings in Calton Hill were instrumental in gaining the city the title of “The Athens of the North”.

(just for comparison:  Parthenon, the Acropolis, Athens, Greece)

 

(all photos from Calton Hill)

Statue Pétrifié 1: Crocodile Dundee?

Petrified?  Croc statue at the Taronga Zoo, Australia

Pimp My Ride III (Bonding Bondi)

Australia's Bondi Beach famous for its locals and foreign tourists alike specially in summer, of course.  Once a location for TV series, BONDI.  Visit this place and expect a movie star sightings! 

Bondi Beach, NSW, Australia

Travel Quote Of The Day #1

“When you travel, lay down all your clothes and your money, then half the clothes and double the money”.

CHOCOLATE HILLS, Bohol, Philippines

SCOTLAND: My Scottish Adventure

Visiting Scotland was a relaxing retreat as there were a lot of attractions at stake just before you reach its capital city, the Edinburgh. The beauty of the countryside's scenery, along the way on a Virgin Train, offers good view of the hilly landscape of Scotland. The sheep grazing on a grassy land added with shallow rivers running under a footbridge gives me thrills all alone. I suddenly felt immersed in nature.

Upon reaching Edinburgh, through the Waverley Station, you can find magnificent views of the city boasting with a lot of many wonders that makes this city really worth a trip for sight seeing. From their gigantic monuments to castles that once enveloped with many sweets and scary histories made Edinburgh a place to return back to times as every corner has its own story to tell about the past.

Today, Edinburgh is one of the vibrant cities in the United Kingdom, I should say; I am trying to visit as many cities as possible and tell you later which one is on top of my list. Let’s see which will topple the City of London in terms of beauty of the place and hospitality (Hospitality that is… is still in question!) of its people!