Scott Macdonald
@scottmacdonald86.bsky.social
Seeking sanctuary here from the binfire formerly known as Twitter.
On summer evenings like these, it's difficult to best a walk along the Tay estuary down at Balmossie.
August 6, 2025 at 9:15 PM
On summer evenings like these, it's difficult to best a walk along the Tay estuary down at Balmossie.
Across a few pleasant visits to Melrose, until my most recent visit last week, I had somehow failed to notice this handsome building a mere stone's throw from the Abbey: the commendator's house.
August 6, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Across a few pleasant visits to Melrose, until my most recent visit last week, I had somehow failed to notice this handsome building a mere stone's throw from the Abbey: the commendator's house.
The gardens at Caserta made for a pleasant walk in February. The fountains had classical themes to them, though it felt for o e fountain that Nintendo had been awarded the contract to design the monstrous fish!
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The gardens at Caserta made for a pleasant walk in February. The fountains had classical themes to them, though it felt for o e fountain that Nintendo had been awarded the contract to design the monstrous fish!
The summer palace houses a curious Papal chapel.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The summer palace houses a curious Papal chapel.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
The Palatine Chapel (used for court religious ceremony, rather than for the Royal Family's private spirituality) was another ostentatiously Baroque highlight, but there is no shortage of elaborate rooms.
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The Palatine Chapel (used for court religious ceremony, rather than for the Royal Family's private spirituality) was another ostentatiously Baroque highlight, but there is no shortage of elaborate rooms.
Caserta's purpose certainly smacks of Versailles: to project the monarchy's power and prestige.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Caserta's purpose certainly smacks of Versailles: to project the monarchy's power and prestige.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
I enjoyed a jaunt some 35km north of #Napoli to the summer palace at Caserta.
It was built by the Borbone - the Neapolitan Bourbons - in the mid-18th century. The kingdom's most celebrated architect, Luigi Vanvitelli, took Versailles as his inspiration.
It was built by the Borbone - the Neapolitan Bourbons - in the mid-18th century. The kingdom's most celebrated architect, Luigi Vanvitelli, took Versailles as his inspiration.
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I enjoyed a jaunt some 35km north of #Napoli to the summer palace at Caserta.
It was built by the Borbone - the Neapolitan Bourbons - in the mid-18th century. The kingdom's most celebrated architect, Luigi Vanvitelli, took Versailles as his inspiration.
It was built by the Borbone - the Neapolitan Bourbons - in the mid-18th century. The kingdom's most celebrated architect, Luigi Vanvitelli, took Versailles as his inspiration.
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
Herculaneum is well worth a visit. The excavations are more compact than those at Pompeii but no less interesting and, going on today (admittedly very much off-season!), Herculaneum is much quieter than Pompeii.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Herculaneum is well worth a visit. The excavations are more compact than those at Pompeii but no less interesting and, going on today (admittedly very much off-season!), Herculaneum is much quieter than Pompeii.
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
Herculaneum is well worth a visit. The excavations are more compact than those at Pompeii but no less interesting and, going on today (admittedly very much off-season!), Herculaneum is much quieter than Pompeii.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Herculaneum is well worth a visit. The excavations are more compact than those at Pompeii but no less interesting and, going on today (admittedly very much off-season!), Herculaneum is much quieter than Pompeii.
Duolingo's graphics continue to perturb...
February 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Duolingo's graphics continue to perturb...
San Carlo was built by the Bourbons shortly after their seizure of the Kingdom of Naples.
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli
February 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
San Carlo was built by the Bourbons shortly after their seizure of the Kingdom of Naples.
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli
It was great to be back in the over-the-top sumptuousness of the Teatro di San Carlo, an opera house that has been operating since 1737.
#Napoli
#Napoli
February 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
It was great to be back in the over-the-top sumptuousness of the Teatro di San Carlo, an opera house that has been operating since 1737.
#Napoli
#Napoli
Best image of 2025 so far. 😻
January 16, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Best image of 2025 so far. 😻
I went to see the film "A Real Pain" recently and really liked it.
Good, well-paced storytelling, some really moving scenes, and a great performance from Kieran Culkin in particular. I recommend it!
Good, well-paced storytelling, some really moving scenes, and a great performance from Kieran Culkin in particular. I recommend it!
January 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I went to see the film "A Real Pain" recently and really liked it.
Good, well-paced storytelling, some really moving scenes, and a great performance from Kieran Culkin in particular. I recommend it!
Good, well-paced storytelling, some really moving scenes, and a great performance from Kieran Culkin in particular. I recommend it!
I finally got round to reading a book I've had for some time but never got round to picking up: "The Pike" by Lucy Hughes-Hallett.
It's a biography of Gabriele d'Annunzio (1863-1938), the Italian poet, warmonger, womaniser, and eccentric aesthete.
It's a biography of Gabriele d'Annunzio (1863-1938), the Italian poet, warmonger, womaniser, and eccentric aesthete.
January 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I finally got round to reading a book I've had for some time but never got round to picking up: "The Pike" by Lucy Hughes-Hallett.
It's a biography of Gabriele d'Annunzio (1863-1938), the Italian poet, warmonger, womaniser, and eccentric aesthete.
It's a biography of Gabriele d'Annunzio (1863-1938), the Italian poet, warmonger, womaniser, and eccentric aesthete.
There are times that Duolingo manages to be unnecessarily unsettling, like with this image.
There's something of a Mesoamerican apocalypse about this reminder to practise.
There's something of a Mesoamerican apocalypse about this reminder to practise.
January 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
There are times that Duolingo manages to be unnecessarily unsettling, like with this image.
There's something of a Mesoamerican apocalypse about this reminder to practise.
There's something of a Mesoamerican apocalypse about this reminder to practise.
Today was a rather cold day for a trip out onto Loch Katrine, but it was definitely worth it for the views.
I wasn't expecting to see so much colour in January, and the mist clinging to the trees was very pretty.
I wasn't expecting to see so much colour in January, and the mist clinging to the trees was very pretty.
January 4, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Today was a rather cold day for a trip out onto Loch Katrine, but it was definitely worth it for the views.
I wasn't expecting to see so much colour in January, and the mist clinging to the trees was very pretty.
I wasn't expecting to see so much colour in January, and the mist clinging to the trees was very pretty.
Encountered - at some distance - a curious seal out at Newhaven. 🦭
#Edinburgh
#Edinburgh
January 2, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Encountered - at some distance - a curious seal out at Newhaven. 🦭
#Edinburgh
#Edinburgh
The @vadundee.bsky.social's exhibition on the kimono is interesting and beautiful.
It only runs until Sunday 5th January - if you have time and opportunity then do go and see it!
(www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/whats...)
#Dundee
It only runs until Sunday 5th January - if you have time and opportunity then do go and see it!
(www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/whats...)
#Dundee
December 22, 2024 at 8:43 PM
The @vadundee.bsky.social's exhibition on the kimono is interesting and beautiful.
It only runs until Sunday 5th January - if you have time and opportunity then do go and see it!
(www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/whats...)
#Dundee
It only runs until Sunday 5th January - if you have time and opportunity then do go and see it!
(www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/whats...)
#Dundee