Thursday, 22 August 2013

19 August 2013 - Edinburgh Military Tattoo

After a day exploring the castle and enjoying the Festival Fringe we were lucky enough to have tickets for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  I KNOW that readers of this blog have been waiting for this post, so here you are. We queued down Johnston Terrace as per usual, and said a sad farewell to a lovely young woman as we did so.


Bagpipes suck! But only when it's one solitary piper busking in a shopping centre. Sam and Dad both love the massed pipes and drums of the Tattoo.



This year's theme was Scotland Through Time, and the castle was illuminated throughout, here it's winter.



The show this year opened with a sprinkling of musicians and lots of sry ice smoke.



The South Korean traditional band were fabulous, and their dragon was very amusing, including cocking a leg.  Big drums mean big noise, excellent!



Sam's favourite act was The Imps motorcycle display team, scary crossover moves, jumps, and riders as young a 8 years old. Sam now wants to join The Imps.



It was a real treat to see Mexico's military band, there were loads of them! Great music and great dancing, and they were the only band to make the seating vibrate as they marched off.



The New Zealand band were very entertaining, performing many genres of music from Star Wars to Wagner.  They performed the Haka too. Here you can see them dancing Gang-nam style!



The whole cast gather in the arena at the end of the performance, and it's impossible to not feel emotional as the lone piper plays on the castle ramparts.  Sam felt sad thinking about past events but a big cuddle helped. As the bands march out you really wish the show was starting over again.



The final illumination of the castle was a message we really should take notice of.


Of all the places and events we visit in Scotland, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo is THE one we recommend you to go to.  But book early, tickets are very hard to get hold of.


1 comment:

Z said...

I've just been catching up with your adventures - it all sounds brilliant!