Unleashed Gromits Still in Bristol

A few Gromits are in the shopping centres. This is in the new Cabot Cove, oh sorry Cabot Circus, shopping centre. It's quite large and connects with another shopping centre. I say new but its been open five years now. I did look for Jessica Fletcher but I couldn't find her. Probably busy investigating the death of yet another nephew or cousin, not enough time for shopping.

Back over in the harbour area now. I'm by Arnolfini which is an arts centre in an old tea warehouse. It has all manner of things going on here - art exhibitions, music, dance and poetry readings. On the plus side it has a cafe bar that serves wine! There is water on three sides at this point and a swing bridge to get to the other side of the harbour. On the other side of the harbour are four old cranes, at least one still works, and the Pyronaut, a fireboat. She was built in 1934 and retired in 1972. She was sold with plans to convert it to a diving boat, which never went ahead, and sold again with plans to move her to Ireland. This didn't happen either and she got sold to Bristol City Museum where she was restored. She travelled to London in 2012 to take part in the Queens Jubilee Pageant. Though she went by road.

Gromit Still Unleashed in Bristol

Not far from Cascade Steps is this Gromit. He is dressed as a super hero. He still can't fly though, unlike me, as you need wings, not a cape or a leotard. Otherwise the sky would be full of people going to their latest keep fit craze. Which wouldn't be nice for me and my fellow dragons.

Over to St Nicholas Market now. There has been a market here since 1743. The building Gromit is in is the Corn Exchange. Not that it was ever used exclusively as a corn exchange. It was used by all different types of merchants. Initially it didn't have a roof over the internal courtyard as the traders weren't used to trading indoors. Around 100 years later they changed their minds and a roof was put on. It's the last surviving exchange building from the 18th C as the other two, in Liverpool and London, burnt down. There's a market here and in the surrounding streets every day.

Gromit Unleashed Bristol - Again

More of Gromit having his photograph with me. This is in a new development near Millennium Square. Lots and lots of new flats being built and a bit off the beaten track, so very quiet round this Gromit.

Here we are by the Cascade Steps. The Cascade Steps being a series of steps with water running down them at the city centre arm of the floating harbour. Where we are standing covers the River Frome. The floating harbour was constructed in the 19th century to increase the docks capacity as Liverpool was attracting more trade. It created a stable water level by creating locks to the River Avon, which has a high tidal range. It cost more than expected - nothing changes. The docks fell in to disuse in the 20th C. There was even a plan to fill in part of it and build a road in the 60's. Luckily things went badly for the council, despite getting a bill through parliament, and the docks were saved. The area is still being redeveloped but what has been done makes it a very nice palace to go for a walk and have a drink.

Gromit Unleashed Bristol

More from Gromit Unleashed in Bristol. I'm in King Street for this photo. Gromit is just by the Llandoger Trow, a very old pub. A Trow was a flat bottom barge, Llandogo is a village 20 miles away in South Wales. It's said this pub is where Daniel Defoe met Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe. It also appears as The Admiral Benbow in Treasure Island.

This Gromit is in Queens Square. Being largely red it was a bit difficult to photograph him with me. The statue behind is William III, he has been there since 1736. In 1937 the council decided to put a dual carriageway through the centre of the square and moved William III as a result. It took until the 1980's before they realised it was a silly idea and plans were made to restore the square. In the 1990's the dual carriageway was closed and the restoration of the square began. It's now a very nice place.

Gromit Trail in Bristol

I'm in Bristol and looking at Gromits. To raise money for charity there are 80 Gromits around Bristol, though one is in London. There is a map showing the location of each one on the trail. Each Gromit has been decorated by an artist and will be auctioned when the exhibition is over.

I didn't see all 80 Gromits. These are the first two photo's of Gromits with me.

Scottish Parliament Building

Here I am outside the Scottish Parliament Building. It's opposite the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Salisbury Crags. It was designed by Enric Miralles from Spain. It uses granite from China, I'm sure there is granite in Scotland. It is described as innovative, drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape, paintings of flowers and upturned boats. I don't see that at all. It was completed three years late and cost ten times more than it was supposed to.

I don't like it. It looks a mess. It's not as nice as the Welsh Senedd. It needs a few dragons outside, big ones so you can't see the building.

Arthur's Seat

At the bottom of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queens official residence in Scotland. Alongside the palace is Holyrood Park, a huge park with hills and lochs. The highest of the hills is Arthur's Seat at 823 feet. There are a number of different routes you can walk to get to the top, or fly if you are a dragon. I went along the route that takes you past Salisbury Crags. These are 150 foot tall cliffs of basalt. This photograph was taken after I passed most of the crags. The walk gives great views over Edinburgh. It's a very popular park so you aren't likely to be by yourself at any point. It was a nice sunny day, but a bit cold, which meant the views were clear. It can be a bit cloudy round here so the view can be of clouds.