By Andy Hayes
Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, doubles in size come August as tourists descend from all over the world to enjoy the Edinburgh Fringe (7 - 31 August 2009), dubbed the world's largest arts festival. With so many people pouring down the steep slopes of the city's streets, the old world vibe of Edinburgh can start to feel distinctly crowded. Here are some top tips for surviving:
1. Book Your Tickets in Advance
Not only do many popular shows sell out, but by buying in advance you'll avoid the sometimes lengthy queues at the Fringe box office (180 High Street, Edinburgh; +44 (0)131 226 0026). If you do want to buy something later on see if you can get tickets at the venue itself – it might save you the extra trip and save time. You can buy tickets online at the Edinburgh Fringe website but get a paper copy of the entire programme (it's easier to read), then go online to search and buy.
2. Eat Early
Restaurants become a real problem during the Edinburgh Festival – few if any take reservations and the numbers of people coming through all but break many kitchens. The staff at most places do a great job coping (after all, it's a yearly event) but you'll have to wait. To ease the pain, try eating early. Otherwise, look for a restaurant further away from the city centre – great food can be found near Haymarket and Stockbridge, where there are fewer Fringe venues and subsequently fewer tourists.
3. Spend some time away from the Fringe
It's easy to come to Edinburgh and get caught up in the excitement of the event, but don't forget Edinburgh is a city full of other sights and plenty of outdoor activities. Get some fresh air up on Arthur's Seat, the highest point in the city, or check out the monuments on top of Calton Hill at the end of Princes Street. Head down to Leith and check out the harbour area. When you get back to the crowded Fringe venues, you'll feel refreshed.
There's no use hoping that your Fringe visit will not be crowded; it's part of the experience. So relax, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy Edinburgh's transformation into an arts and theatre wonderland – there's nothing like it.
Photo Credits: Crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe by freefotouk, Edinburgh desde Calton Hill by estorde via Flickr (Creative Commons).
On Saturday, Jersey celebrated the 64th anniversary of the island's liberation from five years of Nazi occupation during the Second World War. An international music festival, street parades, an outdoor service of thanksgiving and a enactment of the arrival of the British troops all commemorated the 9th May 1945 – the day when, as the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, "our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed".
The Jersey Liberation Festival took centre stage over the weekend, hosting a number of world-class musicians at concerts and masterclasses.
The highlights included the Liberation Gala Concert at the Jersey Opera House. The Sitkovetsky Trio steered the audience through an intense musical line-up, played with great feeling and energy. The trio consists of violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, pianist Qian Wu, and cellist Leonard Elschenbroich. The communication between the three was powerful; they played Smetana's haunting Piano Trio with thrilling intensity.
Guy Pratt struck a more lighthearted chord during his comedy gig "My Bass and Other Animals". Pratt, the former Pink Floyd bass guitarist turned stand-up comedian and "Betsy", his bass guitar, kept the audience laughing with his anecdotes about working with Madonna and sessions with an elusive Michael Jackson.
Musicians from Germany, China, Spain, Russia and Italy served to make the Jersey Liberation Festival a truly international event. The Italian-Thai opera singer Maya Sapone got the crowds swaying to the 1940s favourites "We'll Meet Again" and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" at the street party in Liberation Square.
One thing that made the Jersey Liberation Festival special was the engagement with the local community. At the start of the festival's grand keynote event, the Liberation Gala Concert, the master of ceremonies read out poems from a recent children's poetry competition. Entitled "What Liberation Means to Me", the poems had been published in the local newspaper and gave the classical concert an injection of local colour. Schoolchildren's poems rarely feature at classical concerts, and in Jersey they made fantastic addition.
At the Coffee Concert in the Arts Centre the next morning, young Jersey musicians got the chance to perform on stage with pianists Wu Qian and Tessa Grobel. Grobel, who also directed the festival, said young musicians in Jersey really benefited from the concert, and not just for the chance to perform. "So many children came [to the masterclasses] from around the island. Everybody just raved about them, being able to watch performers rehearse, and being inspired by performers who are young enough that they could relate to." The musicians involved in the festival – no matter how acclaimed or well-known – made an effort to connect with the islanders.
The Liberation Day festivities and the Jersey Liberation Festival were both heartening and moving. Although upbeat, the celebrations reflected on a solemn historical occasion. The impassioned music of the musicians cast light on a dark chapter of Jersey's history.
Watch an exclusive interview with star pianist Wu Qian about the Jersey Liberation Festival, her favourite concert venues and why Chinese food is the best...
