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Wounded Samurai continue Cup quest at GFI HKFC 10s
Matt McCarthy • December 19, 2016 • 0 Comments
Samurai again try to win the one Cup missing from their trophy cabinet, while three-time champions Asia Pacific Dragons and two-time finalists Tradition YCAC are also among 13 teams returning in 2017
Hong Kong; Despite losing three finals in the past seven years, Samurai International have pledged to again try to win the GFI HKFC 10s when they compete at the tournament's 32nd edition from April 5-6, 2017.
The UK-based invitational side will make an eighth successive appearance – and 11th in total – at Hong Kong Football Club, where The Penguins will defend the Cup after beating Samurai 5-0 in this year's final following a try in the second period of sudden-death extra-time.
Three-time champions Asia Pacific Dragons and two-time finalists Tradition YCAC lost in the semi-finals this year and are also among the leading 13 teams from the 2016 competition who will compete in 2017.
BCG Asia Pacific Dragons (in red) defeat Devils Own Shanghai Rugby (in grey) 48 to 0 during day 1 of GFI HKFC Rugby Tens 2016 on 06 April 2016 at Hong Kong Football Club in Hong Kong, China. Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano / Power Sport Images
A-Trade Overseas Old Boys, Scottish Exiles, Projecx Waterboys, King's College at UQ, Kir Club Pyrenees, UBB Gavekal, Irish Vikings, GFI East Africans and hosts Natixis HKFC also return. Overseas Old Boys, Pyrenees and HKFC won the Plate, Bowl and Shield respectively in 2016.
Samurai could be the sentimental favourites in April as the GFI HKFC 10s is the only tournament the well travelled touring side have participated in that they haven't won at least once.
After appearances in 2003, 2004 and 2007, Samurai first reached the final in 2010, losing 10-0 to seven-time champions Aliens. In 2013, Samurai were denied a late try by the touch judge before The Penguins counter-attacked to score and win 21-14.
Samurai International RFC vs Penguins during the Cup final at GFI HKFC Rugby Tens 2016 on 07 April 2016 at Hong Kong Football Club in Hong Kong, China. Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano / Power Sport Images
Samurai manager Terry Sands still believes his side should have been awarded what would have been a winning try, but said the extra-time defeat in 2016 was even more painful following an exhausting half-hour final described as "the hardest game I've ever played" by Penguins co-captain Antonio Kiri Kiri, an All Blacks Sevens forward.
The star-studded Samurai squad featured 2015 Super Bowl winner Nate Ebner, four England Sevens players, the Canada 15s captain and six New Zealanders, but injuries and call-ups to the Hong Kong Sevens took their toll and Sands was heartbroken to see the trophy remain out of reach yet again.
"Both 2013 and 2016 losses hurt. In 2013 we had a try disallowed that was later shown as being a good try and not in touch. That hurt us bad, but 2016 hurt us hardest," said Sands, who founded Samurai International RFC in 1996 and is a former England Sevens team manager.
"We lost John Brake before the semi-final as he was called up by England Sevens and then just before the kick-off for the Cup final we also lost our MVP Cameron Cowell to England Sevens.
"We only had a squad of 13 players for two 12-minute halves and gave everything we had, but then had to endure extra time. Maybe we're destined never to win the HK10s. The GFI HKFC 10s is the only trophy missing in our cabinet and it's getting harder to win every year."
Tradition YCAC (in flowered shirts) defeat XBlades Rowzy Pegasi 63 to 0 during GFI HKFC Rugby Tens 2016 on 06 April 2016 at Hong Kong Football Club in Hong Kong, China. Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano / Power Sport Images
This year Sands' side won the Super Sevens Series UK, the Bury 7s and Chester 7s in England, the Independence 7s in Nigeria and the Dublin 7s in Ireland.
"We have won several tournaments this year, but all are sevens, which is our speciality," Sands said.
"The only 10s we play is in Hong Kong. We are not 10s specialists and it is a very different game, but we have been close! We will be back in 2017 and of course we would love to add the GFI HKFC 10s trophy to our list of successes."
Immediately after this year's GFI HKFC 10s, Ebner was called up for USA for the Hong Kong Sevens and later played in the Olympics, while New Zealand-born Dan Temm went on to make his England debut on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai this month.
Renowned as the world's best annual 10-a-side tournament, the GFI HKFC 10s has long attracted the game's top players including seven of the New Zealand team who won the 2015 Rugby World Cup – Conrad Smith, Jerome Kaino, Ben Smith, Beauden Barrett, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Sam Cane and Charlie Faumuina.
Along with GFI, other sponsors in 2017 include Natixis (gold sponsor), DHL, Q-Net and Withers (silver), CBRE, CPA Global (bronze) and Pure Blonde (official beer).
Website: www.hongkongtens.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HKFC10s
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GFIHKFC10s
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gfihkfc10s
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/hkfc10s
#HK10s #WorldsBest10s
Press release distributed by i3 Sports on behalf of GFI HKFC 10s
Photo credit: Power Sport Images for HKFC.
PR & Media: i3 Sports
Contact: John Higginson, Director of Communications, i3 Sports
Tel: +852 2459-1655; Mob: +852 6626-1443; Email: john@ii-int.com
Website: www.ii-int.com
Tournament Director: Will Thomas
Will Thomas, Director of Rugby, Hong Kong Football Club
Mob: +852 6383-3970; Email: william_thomas@hkfc.com
Website: www.hkfcrugby.com
Tournament Organiser: Laxton Events
Contact: Andrew Brown, Director of Operations, Laxton Events
Tel: +852 2866-6077; Mob: +852 9821-4020; Email: andrew@laxtonevents.com
Website: www.laxtonevents.com
About GFI HKFC 10s
Hong Kong Football Club has hosted the 10s every year since it was first staged in 1986 to celebrate the club's 100th anniversary. The GFI HKFC 10s is annually held on the Wednesday and Thursday before the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens and is also sanctioned by the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU). GFI Group, a leading provider of brokerage services and trading support products, has title sponsored the event since 2006. The tournament traditionally attracts many stars of the game, including seven of the New Zealand squad that won the 2015 Rugby World Cup. In the past decade, the tournament has featured Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima and Israel Dagg (2008), Bob Skinstad (2009), Waisale Serevi, Beauden Barrett and Sam Cane (2010), George Gregan and Christian Cullen (2011), Justin Marshall (2011, 2012), Mils Muliaina (2012), Marty Holah and Nehe Milner-Skudder (2013), George Smith, Alesana Tuilagi and Rupeni Caucaunibuca (2014), Todd Clever (2012, 2013, 2015) and Rico Gear (2011, 2013, 2015), Jimmy Cowan, Carl Hayman and Nate Ebner (2016). Website: www.hongkongtens.com
About GFI Group Inc.
Founded in New York in 1987 and acquired by BGC Partners in 2015, GFI Group Inc (GFI) provides competitive wholesale market brokerage services in a multitude of global over-the-counter (OTC) and exchange listed cash and derivatives markets. Over more than 25 years, GFI has expanded both organically and through acquisitions into a broad range of markets, including fixed income derivatives, cash fixed income, emerging market financial products, energy and commodity derivatives, and equities. GFI employs more than 2,100 people with additional offices in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, Cape Town, Santiago, Bogota, Lima, Dubai, Dublin, Tel Aviv, Calgary, Los Angeles and Sugar Land (TX). GFI provides services and products to over 2,600 institutional clients, including leading investment and commercial banks, corporations, insurance companies and hedge funds. Its brands include GFISM, GFInet®, CreditMatch®, GFI ForexMatch®, EnergyMatch®, FENICS®, Starsupply® and Amerex®. Website: www.gfigroup.com
Filed in: 7s • Matt McCarthy • Men's 7s • Southern Hemisphere • Super Rugby • USA
Tagged with: A-Trade Overseas Old Boys • All Blacks • Asia Pacific Dragons • Beauden Barrett • Ben Smith • Cameron Cowell • Charlie Faumuina • Conrad Smith • England Rugby • French Top 14 • Gallagher Premiership • GFI East Africans • Ireland Rugby • Irish Vikings • Jerome Kaino • John Brake • King's College at UQ • Kir Club Pyrenees • Natixis HKFC • Nehe Milner-Skudder • Old Boys • Projecx Waterboys • Pyrenees • RFU • Rugby Wrap Up • RugbyWrapUp • RugbyWrapUp.com • Sam Cane • Samurai International • Scottish Exiles • Terry Sands • Tradition YCAC • UBB Gavekal • USA Rugby • World Rugby
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Rugby World Cup 2019 fixtures: Match dates and complete tournament schedule - The Telegraph


Odisha Hockey World Cup, the Temple City of Bhubaneswar is set to host one of the most-awaited tournament for the hockey fans.
As the clock ticks 6 pm today, the Kalinga Stadium will be lit with performances from Bollywood celebrities, Odia actors and music maestro AR Rahman.
Hockey Men's World Cup will be declared open with this ceremony on Tuesday, with the first match of the tournament to be played on Wednesday, 28 November.
When is the Opening Ceremony Scheduled?
Men's Hockey World Cup opening ceremony will start at 6:00 pm IST on 27 November. The overall duration of the ceremony is 90 minutes.
Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and AR Rahman will be performing at the opening ceremony of Men's Hockey World Cup.
The curtain raiser will also feature a theatrical production and dance ballet by artists from Odisha.
The opening ceremony of the Men's Hockey World Cup can be streamed live on Hotstar and on 'Heartbeats for Hockey' Facebook page.


The first single "Ticket To You" is a story from a 9 year old girl in London, Nikita Charles, about visiting the Jimi Hendrix museum. Nikita's original words, describing Jimi Hendrix's room and how it made her feel, were workshopped by Fetherstone and fellow songwriters Henry Mitton & Alex Gillespie. The song reflects the absurdity of paying to visit a dead famous persons old home when it might be as plain jane as yours and mine. The track was produced with London based engineer and composer Luke Brooking (aka Brew) over the past 6 months, a real labour of love from Fetherstone.
The new BREW remix sees the beginning of an artistic collaboration with Sydney based graphic designer/videographer Design By Studio B, who has interpreted the new remix into an imagery filled, avant-garde music video. Vitale expands upon her previous investigations with paint and a macro lens to capture what appears to be a set of lungs fluidly moving to symbolise the lyrics "What's the point of breathing if you can't feel you're lungs moving in and out."
Covers, originals, collaborations., experimentation on the loop pedal.... subscribe to the youtube channel to stay up to speed!


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Home » Articles » The Royal Society of Sculptors begins £6.5m restoration of its historic home, Dora House Over 55188 entries
Tuesday, 23rd November 2021
The Royal Society of Sculptors begins £6.5m restoration of its historic home, Dora House
The Royal Society of Sculptors is undertaking a conservation project to transform its historic home, Dora House, the Grade II listed building. The project that has achieved planning consent will be completed next Summer and is the first phase of capitals works to revitalise the building and support the Society's vision as the leading home for sculpture and 3D art.
Dora House has been home to the Society and a place for artists and creatives to congregate since the 1970s. Situated in the heart of London's museum district, it was formerly used as the studios and homes of distinguished sculptors, photographers and architects, and was gifted by Cecil Thomas to the Society. Originally constructed by William Blake in 1820 as a pair of Georgian houses, Dora House, which is now the oldest building in the Queen's Gate Conservation area of Kensington, was remodelled by architect Willliam Flockhart in 1885. The facade is characterised by its striking Dutch Baroque style and was home to Elliot and Frys Society Photographic Studio.
The beautiful listed building occupies a unique and prominent position on the Old Brompton Road and is somewhat of a local landmark. It's unique red stone and steep curved gables pay homage to 17th century Dutch design and stand out from the Italianate villas that dominate the area and afford the building its jewel-like aesthetic. The works will uncover and reinstate some of the beautiful architectural detail of the building. Bequeathed to the Royal Society of Sculptors in the mid 1970s, the building's ornate frontage is befitting of the contemporary sculpture and artists the Society champions.
The Society is actively fundraising to support the significant work to restore and revitalise the building and has launched a fundraising campaign, Saving Dora House to support these goals. The plans for its refurbishment provide improved public facilities and access with enhanced spaces for shows, learning and research.
Clare Burnett, President of the Society said:
"Dora House has been in need of repair for many years and the situation is critical – one staff member has to sit under an umbrella when it rains, the basement is out of bounds due to damp and the front and chimney are in need of a complete overhaul."
"Dora House has been our home since the 1970s when it was donated to us by an extremely generous member, Cecil Thomas FRSS. It underpins the financial stability of the Society as the bulk of our income comes from renting out half of the building commercially alongside membership fees. It provides a secure base for staff to work on our behalf; a central London headquarters for international and national members; and a gallery space for an exciting programme of sculpture exhibitions and talks. Each year an estimated 12,000 people visit the building and 2.9 million pass the sculpture terrace."
"I am absolutely delighted to announce that we have raised £435,000 of the necessary £600,000. With these donations from trusts, foundations and individual donors we will be able to get started and work our way down from the roof, but we still need a further £165,000 to make the building dry and secure and to fully restore its facade."
Louise Mark, architect from Purcell, who is leading on the conservation repair works to Dora House, said:
"The project, which has been granted full planning and listed building consent, focuses on repairs to the external building envelope, as well as improving safe access across the site to facilitate better maintenance of the building in future. The works focus on masonry repairs to the front elevation and sculpture garden, including the rebuilding of the front boundary wall, gate piers and front entrance steps, as well as repairs to the brickwork and stone dressings across the main facade. Specialist repairs will also be carried to the balcony railings and signage to restore them to their former glory."
Paul Temple, marketing and branding manager at PAYE has said:
"At PAYE, we are proud of the role we play in the protection, restoration and conservation of the built heritage of our nation, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to help restore the fabric of Dora House for future generations to enjoy. Our works at the Royal Society of Sculptors will include a masonry clean, repair and repoint. We will also take down and rebuild the main chimney stack, boundary walls, piers and strengthen masonry. New windows will be formed and other enlarged and new windows and doors fitted. Roofing repairs will be undertaken with a new mansafe system as well as final decorations."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Since 1993, JMA has helped over 1,000 professional services firms and other expert service providers win work through competitive tenders, bids and proposals.
Download the full list of organisations here.
What do JMA clients win?
In the last two years*, JMA has secured for clients revenue streams of $89M for the first year of their appointments. And that's just the first 12 months – most preferred provider contracts run for a minimum of two years, and many appointments roll over and become five or six-year appointments resulting in revenue streams worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
A JMA client had played a long game by establishing an excellent 'keep in touch strategy' with a prospective insurance client. The positive attention earned in the two years prior to the RFP release meant this firm made it on to an 'invitation only' list. With JMA's support to strategise, construct and deliver the bid along with shortlisting coaching the firm unseated two incumbents and won a significant new client. The team looks set to achieve $1M in fees in the first 12 months of a three year appointment.
Helping a regional law firm retain their exclusive sole provider status with their largest local government client in an open public tender, competing against multiple local and next entrant competitors. Demonstrating true value to their local government client, meant the client did not erode their profitability by competing on price.
as well giving us a great base for other tenders for new clients".
Assisting a law firm win an appointment as one of only five service providers to a state government health panel, taking the client's overall state government revenue from $500K to $3M annually.
"JMA is well worth the investment – especially getting them involved before the tender came out, which meant that they already understood my business and what I wanted to achieve. Thanks to their assistance, I won a seven year appointment to government.
Helping an investigations company pitch the pilot of a new vendor management model to a leading Australian insurer, and start a complementary business that will be rolled out to other insurers.
Helping an Australian software as a service (SaaS) provider secure implementation and licencing contracts with major banks and insurers, beating off much larger global IT vendors.
Shoring up the $10M annual revenue of a services provider to a large international insurer, beating off new disruptors offering a cheap (but inferior) version of the service.
Strategising and managing a complex bid response for an incumbent global security and logistics company during a contract renewal with a big 4 Australian bank.
Achieving via an alternative tender a sole national appointment for a specialist law firm for a lucrative ongoing stream of dispute resolution work with a Commonwealth Government Business Enterprise.
*August 2014 to January 2018.


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Ludwig Pekarna (oft als Pekarna II geführt; * 28. Februar 1896 in Wien-Nußdorf; † 30. Juli 1920 in Solingen) war ein österreichischer Fußball-Torwart. Der jüngere Bruder des österreichischen Nationaltorhüters Karl Pekarna spielte 1919/20 in der höchsten österreichischen Spielklasse.

Karriere
1913 wechselte Ludwig Pekarna vom Nußdorfer AC zur Vienna; nachdem deren Torhüter Steinbrecher zur k.u.k. Armee einrückte, wurde Pekarna Viennas Stammtorhüter. Dann nahm Pekarna selber am Ersten Weltkrieg teil und spielte danach zunächst für den SK Slovan, ab 1918 wieder für die Vienna, die mit ihm den Wiederaufstieg in die höchste österreichische Spielklasse erreichte. Er galt als einer der besten österreichischen Torhüter seiner Zeit.

Am 28. Juli 1920 bestritt der First Vienna FC ein Freundschaftsspiel beim Ohligser FC 06 in Merscheid in Deutschland. In der zweiten Halbzeit verletzte sich Pekarna schwer, als er nach einem Eckball von einem gegnerischen Stürmer unterlaufen wurde und auf den Rücken fiel. Er wurde nach Solingen ins Krankenhaus gebracht, wo sich herausstellte, dass er die Wirbelsäule gebrochen hatte. Zwei Tage später starb er im Alter von nur 24 Jahren. Aufgrund finanzieller Engpässe wurde er auf dem katholischen Friedhof in Ohligs beerdigt.

Gedenken
Als 1972 Vienna wieder in Solingen spielte, legte eine Delegation einen Kranz auf dem vermeintlichen Grab von Pekarna nieder, allerdings auf einem anderen Friedhof. Fußballfreunde aus Solingen und Wien machten später das Grab ausfindig und spendeten im Juli 2020 einen neuen Grabstein, der das Abzeichen von Vienna trägt. Die katholische Kirchengemeinde St. Sebastian übernahm die Kosten für das Grab.

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks

Fußballtorhüter (First Vienna FC)
Person (Österreich-Ungarn)
Österreicher
Geboren 1896
Gestorben 1920
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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17 Best Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Edinburgh (+ Map!)
Visiting Scotland's capital city and wondering what are the best things to do in Edinburgh? In this article, we share all the musts-sees. Take a look!
Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK and the most beautiful city in Scotland. There's so much charm, so much history here… But Edinburgh is also a very lively city with a great mix of history and contemporary lifestyle.
There is so much to see and do in Edinburgh that the choice of where to go and what to skip might be really overwhelming. Especially if you are visiting for the first time and only have a day or two…
So in this guide, we selected only the most unique experiences, the very best things to do in Edinburgh. This list features the most famous landmarks and best tourist attractions in Edinburgh that are worth your time the most. Depending on how much time you have, simply start with the attractions on the top of this list, and work your way down.
If you have the time to cover everything from this 'best of Edinburgh' list, you'll have seen the very best that the city has to offer. Even if you just see half of these places, you'll have a very good idea of what Edinburgh is truly about. Find out!
The People's Story Museum building on the Royal Mile
To help you plan your visit, we created this map of the best things to do in Edinburgh that are mentioned in this article.
If you are short on time and are wondering how to best plan your time in the city, please check our guide to one day in Edinburgh. It has a suggested 1-day itinerary that covers the main attractions of Edinburgh in a day.
These are the top tourist attractions, absolute best things to do in Edinburgh:
1. Edinburgh Castle
No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to its magnificent Castle, which overlooks the city from atop an extinct volcano. It is, of course, steeped in history. Many exhibitions focus on the long-running Wars of Independence when the Scots fought with the English for control of their country.
On arrival at the Castle, head straight for the Honours of Scotland, which are the Scottish crown jewels. They are the most popular part of the Castle for most visitors, so try to beat the crowds and long queues by visiting here in the morning.
Another popular spot is St. Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh. Serene and beautiful, it's a lovely spot to linger and think about the Scottish Royals who would kneel for worship within its walls.
You can get a real glimpse of what life at the Castle must have been like in times gone by, particularly when you pay a visit to the Great Hall. With one of the best wooden roofs to be found in Britain, the Hall was used for magnificent banquets and ceremonial events. Its high, wood-paneled walls are lined with suits of armor and weapons. You can easily imagine important dignitaries warming themselves in front of the roaring logs in Great Hall's beautiful fireplace.
TIP: At 1 pm be sure to join the crowd gathered outside the Redcoat Cafe in order to see (and hear!) the firing of the One O'Clock gun. This tradition started in 1861 when it was used for time-keeping, and the gun is now fired at 1 pm every day (except Sundays).
Practical info: For opening times and tickets, please check the official website of the Edinburgh Castle. Or you can also opt to visit with this highly-rated tour that includes skip-the-line tickets and a local guide.
2. Views from Calton Hill
For the very best views of Edinburgh and beyond – and for some stunning photos by which to remember your visit – you must take a stroll up Calton Hill. It's just a short walk from the East End of Princes Street. The walk itself is not too demanding, but absolutely worth the effort. On a clear day, you can see for miles, taking in the city's skyline and Arthur's Seat, across to Leith, and the Firth of Forth.
The 360-degree views are breathtaking whatever time of day you choose to visit but are simply spectacular at sunrise or at sunset. It's also a great spot to stand at night, when you can see the lights twinkling across the city and when certain monuments are beautifully illuminated.
There's more to Calton Hill than just the views! At the summit, there are some amazing buildings, including the Nelson Monument, with its Time Ball that drops daily at 1 pm, and the City Observatory, a beautiful building that looks just like a Greek temple.
You'll also see the 12 columns of the National Monument – a commemorative building inspired by the Parthenon in Athens that was – sadly – never completed.
TIP: If you are lucky enough to be celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh (the Scottish celebration of the New Year), head up Calton Hill to enjoy a bird's eye view of the fireworks!
Calton Hill is not to be missed in Edinburgh. The views are amazing!
3. Walking the Royal Mile
Extending from the Castle and all the way down to Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile is the name given to the succession of streets that make up the main thoroughfare of the city's Old Town. The Royal Mile functioned as a processional route for kings and queens and is 1.81 km long (1 Scots mile long), thus the name.
Lined with cobbles and bustling with visitors, it has a vibrant atmosphere and is one of the most famous streets in Britain.
The area is quintessentially Scottish and the best place to see men in kilts (along with the shops selling them) plus buskers dressed in traditional clothing and playing bagpipes. There are scores of historical sites – including St. Giles Cathedral and the Real Mary King's Close (see below) – and dozens of lively cafes, restaurants, and pubs.
The Royal Mile is a great place to buy souvenirs, although it's best to avoid the tourist traps and look for shops selling authentic Scottish merchandise. These include specialist whisky from Cadenheads, luxurious cashmere from Elgin Cashmere, and a genuine kilt from Geoffrey Tailor!
It's easy to spend a full day walking the Royal Mile, particularly when you take the time to explore every little staircase, alley, and courtyard you pass along its length. Taking your time here is the best way to discover wonderful little boutiques, antique shops, and eateries that you may otherwise have missed. This is also an excellent place to find traditional pubs serving typical British dishes.
Royal Mile is not to be missed when visiting Edinburgh! Photo by richie0703/Depositphotos.com
4. Palace of Holyroodhouse and Holyrood Abbey
Often referred to as Holyrood Palace, this is the official residence of the Queen of England when she comes to visit Scotland. The ruins of the Holyrood Abbey are connected to the Palace on one corner.
Despite its city-center location, the Palace of Holyroodhouse – set in beautiful parkland and overlooking Arthur's Seat – feels a million miles away from Edinburgh's hustle and bustle.
The Palace is open to visitors all year round. It gives you a fantastic opportunity to take a glimpse into history without battling the crowds that you tend to find at Edinburgh Castle.
The State Apartments are truly gorgeous, lavishly decorated, and with beautiful ceilings and tapestries. You can climb a narrow winding staircase that leads to the chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots'. Don't miss the sumptuous Great Gallery which was used for balls and receptions by Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Palace gardens are also worth a visit.
Holyrood Abbey was one of the Scotlands' grandest medieval abbeys. It was a site of the marriage of James IV to Margaret Tudor in 1503 and the coronation of Charles I in 1633. Whilst it may be in ruins, it remains one of the best places to see in Edinburgh. It has a somewhat ethereal atmosphere and – with its incredible stonework – is hauntingly beautiful.
Practical info: You can find more information and book Palace of Holyroodhouse tickets here.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyrood Abbey
5. Harry Potter Tours
J. K. Rowling's beloved Harry Potter books are intrinsically bound to Edinburgh. This place not only inspired many of the characters and scenes but some of the books were actually written in Edinburgh.
Harry Potter tours are great for the whole family; Harry Potter fans and non-fans alike. They visit sites like the High Street that inspired Diagon Alley and the spot where Lord Voldemort is buried. You can also see the real Grave of Tom Riddle in Greyfriars Kirkyard and even JK Rowling's golden handprints outside the City Chambers!
Sadly, Nicolsons – the cafe in which J.K. Rowling did the majority of her writing – has since closed down. But most tours will include a visit to the location, where you will see a plaque on the wall recognising the area's connection to one of the world's best-loved literary characters.
6. National Museum of Scotland
Located on the south side of the center of Edinburgh and just a short walk from the Royal Mile, Scotland's National Museum is the UK's most popular tourist attraction outside of London. And it certainly lives up to its reputation! With thousands of exhibits and displays in galleries devoted to art and design, fashion, science and technology, the natural world and Scottish history and archaeology, this museum is must-see in Edinburgh!
Free to visit, this is very much a hands-on, interactive museum, making it just as fascinating for children as it is for adults! Its highlights include the 800,000-year-old iron-type Muonionalusta Meteorite, which weighs 170 kg (375 lbs) and which you can actually touch.
Fans of Harry Potter will recognize the enigmatic Lewis chess pieces. Consisting of 93 12th-century chess pieces carved from walrus ivory, this is one of Scotland's best archaeological finds. These chess pieces were brought to life in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
An even stranger Scottish discovery are the spooky Arthur's Seat Coffins, which you can find tucked away on the museum's upper floor. These tiny coffins containing wooden figures were found on Arthur's Seat in 1837. No one knows what they represented, or why they were made!
You can also visit Dolly the Sheep, the world's first-ever mammal to be cloned from an adult cell. Dolly was born in 1996 and died in 2003, but her legacy lives on and she's still attracting crowds from all over the world.
National Museum of Scotland – Photo by s4visuals/Depositphotos.com
7. Princes Street and Gardens
Princes Street marks a clear division between Edinburgh's Old and New Towns. On one side, you'll find all the high street stores you'd expect in a big city, along with countless coffee bars and eateries. Whilst on the other side, you'll find the steps that take you down to the Gardens and, further, to the Old Town.
The Princes Street Gardens are yet another of Edinburgh's many spots where you can experience the tranquility and beauty of nature within a distinctly urban setting! This is the place where both visitors and locals come to relax, to roller-skate, or to simply enjoy the gorgeous floral displays and tiered gardens.
At one end of the Gardens, you'll find the Victorian 'Gardener's Lodge' cottage, which looks like something straight out of a fairytale.
At the other end, sits the splendid Ross Fountain. Recently refurbished, this cast iron fountain is one of only three Grade A Listed fountains in Scotland. Its stunning colors look striking by day, whereas the subtle illumination placed around it makes this fountain look equally beautiful by night. Get the angle just right as you photograph the fountain, and you can use the Edinburgh Castle perched atop its hill as a striking backdrop!
Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh
Ross Fountain & Edinburgh Castle
8. St. Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' is a working church in the city's Old Town and is the High Kirk (church) of Edinburgh. Interestingly, though, it's not technically a cathedral, because it doesn't have a bishop! Nevertheless, it's wonderful to visit, with its varying architecture representing many reformations throughout the ages.
One of the Cathedral's best features is its stained glass windows. They flood the inside of the building with gloriously colored light. The rich purple hues of the north window – that show Christ calming a storm – are especially stunning.
From the windows, your eyes are drawn upwards to the high ceiling. It is tierceron-vaulted (rib-vaulted) and the effect is simply spectacular, especially set against the beautiful blue background.
The atmosphere is one of serenity and peace, and you are welcome to spend as long as you like admiring the beauty of the building and visiting the many memorials dotted throughout. Don't miss the bronze memorial of the writer Robert Louis Stevenson, which is located in the Moray Aisle.
St Giles Cathedral
9. The Real Mary King's Close
Edinburgh is full of hidden gems – and The Real Mary King's Close is one of its most popular. Located beneath buildings on the Royal Mile, just across from St Giles Cathedral, the Close is a subterranean maze of preserved 17th-century streets, homes and alleyways.
Taking the tour of the Close connects you to history in a way you've never experienced before! It's easy to picture the people that lived, worked, and died here. It's also easy to imagine – as you look at the cramped tenements and learn about hygiene standards at the time – just why the plague swept so quickly through the population.
The knowledgeable guides – dressed in character costumes – will share with you all kinds of stories connected to these streets, including fascinating myths and macabre legends. You'll learn all about the ghost of Annie, to which people from all over the world bring dolls and toys. And you'll meet a whole host of colorful characters from the past and hear their fascinating stories!
Myths and legends aside, The Real Mary King's Close gives a very authentic glimpse into Edinburgh's history. It also forms the perfect contrast to the tourist-packed thoroughfare overhead! It's definitely one of the most authentic, unique things to do in Edinburgh!
The Real Mary King's Close – © Photo courtesy of The Real Mary King's Close Edinburgh
10. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is a quirky little museum just down the hill from the Castle. It's one of the most popular Edinburgh attractions and great fun for the whole family.
The museum is set over 5 floors and contains hundreds of illusions, many of which are interactive. Sit on the opposite side of a screen to your travel companion and watch as your faces merge together. Or enter a special booth and watch as your face morphs into that of a monkey or even of the last person to use the booth!
The Mirror Maze is great fun too – and surprisingly difficult to find your way out of. One of the most disorienting exhibits is the incredible Light Tunnel, a walk through which you'll never quite forget!
The star of the show is the Camera Obscura itself. A Victorian ancestor of the modern cameras we use today, it projects an image of Edinburgh onto a large, bowl-shaped screen. It may not sound exciting, but it's actually quite amazing to witness first-hand!
TIP: You can also get some fantastic views of the city from the roof of the museum. There are also powerful telescopes here that will help you make out the smallest details, right up to the horizon!
Practical info: For more information, opening times, and tickets, check here.
Vortex Tunnel is not to be missed! – Photo by Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh
11. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Just half an hour's walk from the crowds of the city center is the 350-year-old Royal Botanic Garden. This is the place to lose yourself for a few hours among the beautiful floral displays, following secret winding paths that take you through wooded areas and past thousands of spectacular plants.
There are too many photogenic spots to list here. But one of the best places for a truly memorable shot is in front of the rock garden waterfall, with the varying hues of the surrounding foliage providing a heavenly backdrop.
The gardens contain 10 different glasshouses. They all have different climatic zones and are filled with exotic plants from all over the world. Highlights include a 200-year-old palm tree in the tropical zone and the massive lily pads which almost look too big to be real!
The Botanic Gardens are free to enter and a wonderful place to unwind. They are also the perfect spot for a delicious lunch, with a cafe and a restaurant that prepare amazing meals from ingredients grown in the on-site Market Garden.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
12. Royal Yacht Britannia
If you'd like a taste of how the other half lives, then step aboard the Royal Yacht Brittania, the personal ship of the Royal family from 1953 to 1997. Located in the harbor of Leith, which is easily accessible from Edinburgh's city center, the ship has 5 decks just waiting to be explored.
The rooms in which the Royals spent the majority of their time are on the upper decks. You can stand just where they used to relax in the Sun Lounge or entertain their guests in the impressive State Dining Room. You can even see the Royal Bedrooms and learn more about all the places the yacht has visited.
Of course, life aboard the Royal Brittania wasn't quite so luxurious for everyone. So you also get to see the engine room and all the other areas of the ship where the Royal Yachtsmen both worked and lived.
TIP: The Yacht is the ideal place to enjoy a cream tea, which is served in the Royal Deck Tea Room. This beautiful cafe on the top deck of the ship gives you a taste of how it feels to dine like a Royal, whilst the glass walls allow you to enjoy the beautiful views across the water.
Practical info: You can easily visit Royal Yacht Britannia by taking a hop-on hop-off bus and booking a ticket for the yacht in advance.
TIP: If you have at least two days in Edinburgh, consider this popular combination ticket that includes the bus for 48 hours, and the tickets to the main Royal attractions in Edinburgh such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse, and the Royal Yacht Britannia. It's a great way to see some of the best places of Edinburgh and save money.
Interior of the Royal Yacht Britannia – Photo by Strelkov73/Depositphotos.com
13. Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat is a hill, the highest point in Holyrood Park. It's actually a volcano sitting 251 m above sea level. A trip up the hill and back takes a couple of hours and some parts can be fairly strenuous, with loose rock underfoot. But you are ultimately rewarded with some of the best views of Edinburgh the city has to offer.
If you're not feeling up to the challenge to climb all the way to the top, there's an easier path you can follow. Whilst it may not go all the way to the summit, you will still find countless opportunities to take exceptional photographs of the breathtaking scenery.
Yet the fantastic views are only part of the reason for taking the climb here. The journey takes you past some fascinating volcanic geology and you can actually walk through the crater and over old lava flows. Wildflowers abound and the area has several Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
When you sit at the summit of Arthur's Seat surveying the jaw-dropping landscape all around you, it's easy to forget that all this natural beauty is just a short distance from the heart of a busy and vibrant capital city!
Edinburgh as seen from Arthur's Seat
14. Scottish National Gallery
Scottish National Gallery is located right on the mound that separates the two sides of Princes Street Gardens. Free to enter, it is truly an art lover's paradise, containing one of the world's finest collections.
Here you'll find everything from Scottish art – featuring the works of local artists like McTaggart, and Ramsay – to incredible pieces by the Old Masters, including Raphael, Vermeer, Van Dyck and Rubens.
The staff are knowledgeable and only too happy to discuss the artwork with you. There is plenty of room to stand back and admire the exhibits, or simply sit and reflect on them.
Depending on the day you visit, you can also take part in one of the Gallery's events or activities – just visit the website ahead of time to see what's available. These will sometimes include fascinating storytelling sessions and the Gallery's very popular life drawing classes.
Not all the art is housed inside the museum. The building itself is well worth appreciating and is a stunning example of neo-Classical architecture.
Practical info: For more information, opening times, and special events, please check the website of the museum.
Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh – Photo by jewhyte/Depositphotos.com
15. Get to Know the Darkside of Edinburgh
Few cities have a history as dark, grisly, and rich in skulduggery as Edinburgh! And you can get to know it all by taking one of the many dark-side tours.
Take a tour that goes beyond tartan and bagpipes to get to the grimly fascinating facts. Learn why the city may have felt less than safe in times gone by when medical schools were happy to pay for dead bodies and murderers roamed the streets in search of likely victims! Hear about Edinburgh's famous serial killers Burke and Hare, who cold-bloodedly killed 16 people in 10 months and sold them to Dr. Knox for dissection in his anatomy classes.
This was also a time when witch hunts were rampant, and anyone could be accused of witchcraft and burnt at the stake. You can visit the spot at Calton Hill where the burnings took place (which these days is used instead to admire the Edinburgh skyline).
Edinburgh also had its share of graverobbers, body snatchers, and even cannibals. Some tours include visits to cemeteries and Kirkyards, where you can see for yourself the caged graves and mausoleums that families used to protect their departed loved ones.
You'll also hear the chilling story behind the death of the husband of Mary Queen of Scot's and learn about the tiny, creepy coffins discovered at Arthur's Seat that you can now see in the National Museum of Scotland.
16. Dynamic Earth
Located at the foot of the Salisbury Crags, Dynamic Earth is a five-star museum that takes you on an incredible journey through Earth's history. Using a combination of interactive exhibits, you can see, feel, and hear the momentous events that shaped our planet.
Try standing beneath the Aurora Borealis in the Polar zone, where it's so cold that you can see your breath, while your fingers and toes go numb. You can even touch an iceberg! Use the Time Machine to travel back to where it all began. And feel the ground shaking as volcanoes erupt, sending streams of molten lava your way.
Alternatively, enjoy the aquatic views from the portholes of the Yellow Submarine, where you can look for whales or man the periscope as you learn all about the oceans and their importance to life on Earth.
One of the highlights of the museum is its 360-degree full-dome film theater with surround sound – the only one of its kind in Scotland. It provides a totally immersive movie experience, taking you on a trek across the globe or whizzing through the solar system.
This museum is an unforgettable adventure for the whole family, combining a fantastic educational experience with lots of fun.
Dynamic Earth – Photo by claudiodivizia/Depositphotos.com
17. The Museum of Childhood
The Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh was the first museum in the world to focus solely on childhood. Recently completely renewed, the result is a celebration of books, toys, games and dolls all the way from the early 1800s to the present day.
Free to enter, this one-of-a-kind museum is located on the grounds of Sudbury Hall on the Royal Mile. It's a small museum and you can see most of it in about half an hour. While not a must-see, it's something nice to do in Edinburgh with kids. Also a great place to visit when it rains.
Children love to see what their parents and grandparents would have played with in the past, marveling at the comparison between the electronic gadgets of today and the more simple pleasures of times gone by. For adults, this is a great place for nostalgia. You're likely to come across many exhibits that you remember from your childhood and had completely forgotten about!
One of the highlights is the incredible 21-roomed dollhouse. It contains over 2,000 objects including tiny bathroom towels and little skittles in the nursery!
There are also some rare exhibits to enjoy, such as the Queen Anne Doll made around 1740. Also the Kindertransport bear – a little Steiff bear that, poignantly, traveled on the last Kindertransport train out of Vienna in 1939 to rescue Jewish children from Nazi Germany.
Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh – Photo Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
So, this is our guide to the very best things to do in Edinburgh and top attractions for first-time visitors.
If you are traveling to Edinburgh for the first time, be sure to also read our top tips for visiting Edinburgh. It contains more practical information and important advice for your first visit. Take a look!
You may also like our guide to the best way to see Edinburgh in one day and our similar guide to the best of Glasgow in one day.
TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels, apartments, and short-term rental accommodations in Edinburgh. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you'll see the best deals for your stay. Check it out!
READ ALSO: Isle of Skye – Best things to do & suggested itinerary for one of the most beautiful areas in Scotland
If you are also visiting London, check these guides for travel inspiration and useful tips:
Tips for Visiting London
Best Sights & Tourist Attractions in London
Hidden Gems of London
Best Views in London
2-day London Itinerary
Best Things to Do in Greenwich
London with Kids
Things to Do in Camden Town
More destinations in the UK:
Best Places to See in Yorkshire
Best Places to See in Cornwall
Top Things to Do in Blackpool
UK Travel Guide
Categories UK
San Marino Castle: Tips & Info for Visiting the Three Towers of San Marino
15 Beautiful U.S. National Parks to Visit in March


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text:
Object Oriented Perl: A Comprehensive Guide to Concepts and Programming Techniques, 9781884777790 (1884777791), Manning Publications, 2000
Perl has always been a powerful and popular programming language, but with its new object capabilities, it can do even more. Written for anyone with a little Perl experience, Damian Conway's Object Oriented Perl provides an invaluable guide to virtually every aspect of object-oriented programming in Perl.
The most notable thing about Object Oriented Perl is Conway's excellent perspective on object-oriented concepts and how they are implemented in Perl. This book does a remarkable job of cutting through traditional jargon and illustrating how basic object-oriented design techniques are handled in Perl. (A useful appendix attests to the author's wide-ranging knowledge, with a comparison of Smalltalk, Eiffel, C++, and Java with Perl, including a summary of object-oriented syntax for each.) This book also features a truly excellent review of basic Perl syntax.
Throughout this text, the author shows you the basics of solid object design (illustrated using classes that model music CDs). Basic concepts like inheritance and polymorphism get thorough and clear coverage. The book also points out common mistakes and provides many tips for navigating the powerful and flexible (yet sometimes tricky) nuances of using Perl objects. For instance, Conway shows how to achieve true data encapsulation in Perl (which generally allows calls across modules) as well as its natural support for generic programming techniques.
He also pays special attention to popular object modules available from CPAN (like Class::MethodmakerK, which simplifies declaring classes) and discusses performance issues and the tradeoff between programming convenience and speed often faced by today's Perl developer. Advanced chapters cover a number of techniques for adding persistence and invoking methods using multiple dispatching.
Filled with syntactic tips and tricks, Object Oriented Perl is a sure bet for any programmer who wants to learn how to use Perl objects effectively. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered: Perl language review, CPAN, Perl objects, 'blessing' and inheritance, polymorphism, Class::Struct and Class::Methodmaker modules, Perl ties and closures, operator overloading, encapsulation, multiple dispatch, Class::Multimethods, coarse-grained and fine-grained object persistence techniques, performance issues.
Techniques and tricks to master basic and advanced OO Perl for programmers who already have basic to intermediate skills in procedural Perl.
New Perspectives on HTML and CSS: Brief
Course Technology PTR, 2011
The New Perspectives Series' critical-thinking, problem-solving approach is the ideal way to prepare students to transcend point-and-click skills and take advantage of all that HTML and CSS have to offer.
In developing the New Perspectives Series, our goal was to create books that give students the software concepts and...
Scratch 2.0 Game Development Hotshot
Packt Publishing, 2014
Get up to date with Scratch 2.0 and build brilliant games without having to code. Including 10 exciting projects that cover most game genres, you'll quickly learn the sophisticated possibilities of Scratch. Have fun!
Discover how to make the most of the new Scratch 2.0 interface
Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Real World)
Peachpit Press, 2005
Call it a control thing, but until recentlyor, more specifically, until the availability of digital raw camera formatsyou simply weren't ready to make the move to digital photography. Raw formats, however, changed all of that by allowing you to retrieve images before any in-camera processing has been performed. Photoshop's Adobe Camera Raw plug-in...
Oracle SQL:A Beginner's Tutorial, Second Edition
BrainySoftware, 2016
This introduction to SQL for the Oracle database begins by discussing exactly how data is stored and maintained in a relational database, familiarizing readers with SQL INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements. The guide then discusses how to construct basic queries, choose an appropriate output, and how to create and use groups. Readers will...
Beginning SharePoint 2013: Building Business Solutions
Wrox Press, 2013
Learn to build business solutions with SharePoint 2013
Now in its third edition, this perennial bestseller features a complete overhaul for the latest version of SharePoint. A must-have for building business solutions in SharePoint, real-world scenarios address critical information management problems and detailed...
Service Provision: Technologies for Next Generation Communications
This book provides the first overview of the service technologies available to telecoms operators working in a post-convergence world. Previous books have focused either on computer networks or on telecoms networks. This is the first to bring the two together and provide a single reference source for information that is currently only to be found...


text:
"""Class to represent Error State
"""
import os

from .base_state import State

class ErrorState(State):
    """Error State inherits from the State class. If any error is encountered in any state, it should transition to
    error mentioning the error in the payload.
    """

    def on_enter(self, payload=None):
        """Method executed on entry to Error State. Relevant error message is spoken.
        :param payload: String mentioning the error encountered.
        :return: None
        """
        if payload == 'RecognitionError':
            os.system('play extras/recognition-error.wav')
        elif payload == 'ConnectionError':
            os.system('play extras/connect-error.wav')
        else:
            os.system('play extras/problem.wav')

        self.transition(self.allowedStateTransitions.get('idle'))

    def on_exit(self):
        """Method executed on exit from the Error State.
        :return: None
        """
        pass

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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