A glimpse at the Open Championship
What is the Open Championship? It's one of the world’s biggest golf tournaments and the British Open has the honourable tradition of alternating venues between Scotland and England. This year, it's back north.
To be played where? At Camoustie. The competition was last played there in 1975 when Tom Watson won the first of his five British Opens, by pipping Jack Newton to the final post after what is known in the cliche business as a titanic
struggle.
And this year? The favourite may well be the world’s number one, Tiger Woods but stiff opposition may come from South Africa’s Ernie Els, Swede Jesper Parnevik and new young turk, Spain's Sergio Garcia. For those looking to a British winner, the likes of Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke may be out of
their depths this year.
What of the Scottish contingent? Colin Montgomerie is still looking for his first Open success and his hunger may be questioned while Gordon Sherry is still looking for the spark which made him such a cult favourite during his amateur
days.
Open Championship, Thu 15-Sun 18 Jul, 7.30am. era-£25. Camoustie Golf
Course, info: 01334 478478.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh. 225 9846. Daily 9.30am-6pm (last admission 5.15pm). £6 (£2—£5). Although much of the castle’s medieval character was lost when it was converted into barracks in the 19th century. continuing excavations aim to redress this. Other attractions include James lV‘s famous cannon. Mons Meg. lots of military silverware and. ofcourse. The Stone Of Destiny. used to crown Scottish kings since time began.
Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
Meet at The Beehive Inn. Grassmarket. Edinburgh. 226 6665. £6 (£5). Daily 2pm. 6pm & 8.30pm. Pre-booking required for parties of ten or more. An excellent way to imbibe culture by visiting the favourite watering holes of Scotland‘s literary heroes. including Sir Walter Scott. Robert Burns and Irvine Welsh.
Huntly House
142 Canongate. Edinburgh. 529 4143. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Packed with historic artefacts. this restored l6th century mansion tells the story of Edinburgh's past and its people ar 1 houses important collecti is of Edinburgh silver and glass. Scotti ‘. pottery and shop signs.
Mary King‘s Close Tours
Meet at Mercat Cross (beside St Giles” Cathedral). Edinburgh. 225 6591. £5 (£4); children £3. Various times between I 1.30am and 9.30pm — advanced booking is necessary. Literally. a trip to Edinburgh's underworld. Mary King’s Close is part of a now subterranean network of streets. walled off in the
middle ages during an outbreak of the plague. Visit the restored (or at least made stable and safe) street and hear the horror stories of the residents left to die.
Medieval Torture Exhibition
45-47 Niddry Street. Edinburgh. 557 4700. Daily 10am—7pm. £1. If thunrhscr'ews and jawbreakers are your thing then drop into this new Edinburgh attraction. featuring the latest and greatest in medieval torture devices and instruments of humiliation. including the enigmatically-named ‘Scavenger‘s Daughter‘.
Museum Of Childhood
42 High Street. Edinburgh. 529 4142. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Founded in 1955. the museum has five public galleries with all manner of archive material and old toys relating to childhood through the ages. From antique dolls to 1980s computer games. there‘s plenty here to send you off on a trip down memory lane.
Museum Of Scotland
Chambers Street. Edinburgh. 247 4219. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon-5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50) under 18s free. This is the newest addition to our national museum selection and the only one dedicated solely to Scotland's history and heritage. The building contains five thematically-arranged exhibitions. moving from pre-history. through the Industrial Revolution. to the present day. at which point national heroes such as Billy Connolly and Elaine C. Smith get involved. Also showing The Parliament OfSr‘otIum/ - see Edinburgh Art listings. page 68.
Palace Of Holyroodhouse
Royal Mile. Edinburgh. 556 i096. Daily 9.30am—6pm (last admission 5.15pm). £5.50 (£2.70—£4); family ticket £13.50. Starting life as a 13th century abbey. the palace has evolved into a sumptuous regal residence crammed full of paintings and artefacts dating back primarily to the 17th century. The tower apartments housed a sad and lonely Mary Queen of Scots’ for a time. but with a spectacular view of Arthur's Seat. and magnificent gardens to look at. it‘s hard to feel too sorry for her.
Royal Botanic Garden
lnverleith Row. Edinburgh. 552 7171. Daily 9.30am-7pm. Free. A sea of tranquillity in the hubbub of the city, the Botanic Garden is home to a wealth of flora and fauna from all over the world. The glasshouses give you the opportunity to check out tropical plants as well. The site also hosts art exhibitions. horticultural courses and various countryside events. including daily guided walks in the summer.
Royal Museum Of Scotland
2 Chambers Street. Edinburgh. 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); under 18s free. A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history. geology. science. technology and the decorative arts. plus two permanent exhibitions: Art & Industry and The Ivy Wu Gallery.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive. Leith. Edinburgh. 555 5566. Daily 10.30arn—6pm (last admission 4.30pm). £7.50 (£3.75-f5.75); family ticket £20. The former royal yacht opens its doors to members of the public after a £25 million refit. The onshore visitor centre contains historical information on the boat and its furnishings while. on the yacht itself. members of the public can have a good nosy round the royals‘ fonner quarters. Also showing Octo International and Sentimental Journey — A History Of Souvenirs - see Edinburgh Art listings. page 68.
The People's Story
Canongate Tolbooth. I63 Canongate. Edinburgh. 529 4057. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. Situated in the Canongate Tolbooth. the sights. sounds - and even smells of Edinburgh folk from the 18th century onwards are faithfully reproduced.
Witchery Tour
Meet outside The Witchery restaurant. Castlehill (Royal Mile). Edinburgh. 225 6745. £7 (£4). Times vary and advanced booking is necessary. Take a trip to the dark side of Edinburgh with your guide. Adam Lyal deceased. who will regale you with stories of torture. murder and witchcraft - but watch out for ghosts and ghouls lurking in the shadows.
Writers Museum
Lady Stair's House. Lady Stair's Close. Edinburgh. 529 4901. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. A treasure-house of items relating to three of Scotland’s most famous writers: Robert Louis Stevenson. Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Also showing [Am Ever Yours 2 - see Edinburgh An listings. page 68.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Events
Stirling Highland Games Sun I I Jul. 12.30-5.30pm. £3 (£2/£ l ). Bridgehaugh Park. Causewayhead Road. Stirling. info: 01259 761735. If you thought that Highland games were all about tossing cabers and tugging wars. think again. here we have terrier racing. a bucking bronco. a gyroscope and quad bikes as well as the traditional piping. dancing and drumming.
listings EDINBURGH lIFE
Millennium UFO Roadshow Sat I0 & Sun 11 Jul. 11am. £15 (£10) for both days; £10 (£7.50) for one day. Rothes Halls. Glenrothes. 01592 611101. Whether you do or don't believe (in aliens. UFOs and stuff). this is still a fascinating subject and the talks. lectures. discussions and slide shows should have you making up your mind one way or t'other. See Frontlines.
Sport
Open Championship Thu tS—Sun 18 Jul. 7.30am. £10—£25. Camoustie Golf Course. info: 01334 478478. The biggest swingers in the golf world come to bonny Camoustie for the first Open there since 1975. See photo caption.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Bo'ness 8. Kinneil Railway
Bo'ness Station. Union Street. Bo‘ness. 01506 822298. £7.50 (£3.50—£5.50 (single tickets are available for the separate attractions». Visit the Scottish Railway Preservation Society‘s collection of locomotives and railway memorabilia before taking a trip on a steam train along the Firth of Forth to Birkhill. where guided tours of the local fireclay mine are also available.
Vikingar
Barrfields, Greenock Road. Largs. 01475 689777. Daily 10.30am—5pm. £3.50 (£2.50). An award-wining experience which tells the story of the Vikings in Scotland. from their first pillaging forays to their defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263. with the help of costumed story interpreters and multi-media exhibits. The centre also houses various leisure facilities and a cafe specialising in Viking-themed cuisine — barbequed Christian anyone?
THE PRECIOUS TANTRIC PATH OF BALI
RATU SR1 ACARYA VAJRA KUMARA PANDJI PANDITA Incarnate Meditation Master Head of the Indonesian Vairayana Buddhist Lineage
EVENING INTRODUCTORY TALKS
20 July and 27 July, 1999 7:00pm Cost £10
ATI YOGA - HEART ESSENCE OF THE DAKINI
24 and 25 July, 1999 10:OOam - 6:00pm Cost: £115 Concession £95
THE ART OF THE INDESTRUCTIBLE LOVING RELATIONSHIP
31 July and 1 August, 1999 10:00am - 6:00pm Cost £115 Concession £95
AT SALISBURY CENTRE 2. SALISBURY ROAD, EDINBURGH
INFO: brochures at Salisbury Ctr. email: pandii@tig.com.au website: www.pandii.org
mobile (ire): +353 868 708 996 fax: +61 [3] 9852 8942
8-22 Jul 1999 TNEIJST'IS