PORTSOY ... nn SCOttish TRADitional BOAT Festival

PORTsoy.....
             .....a small fishing village turned modern town ......
             .....to find more of d' town....

Once upon a time.... fishing industry was main income to d' people on d' coastal areas... of Northern Scotland ....   NORTH Sea..was d' place to earn living... centuries ago... but now it was past history, people turned to land ... fearing furious NOrth SEa ....but now, beneath d' sea ...still have undiscovered... millions if nOT billions.... fortunes ... worth for future generations .... OIL....

Portsoy situated NORTH East corner of Scotland between INVERNEss nn
ABERDeen ...now identified as.... Scottish Traditional BOAT FEstival 's place... This year... was d' 18th anniversary... only during SUMMER .... d' dates for d' festival was 2nd  nn 3rd JUly 2011 ....

D' event during d' two days .. Saturday nn Sunday ...featuring scores of BOATs ..MUsic ... CRafts.... It was a way to remember d' past... d' diversity of traditional sailing.. fishing...  It blends together age OLD crafts ..MUsic nn traditional values with MARAtime CULTURe.....

Here ... once entered d' beach town ... would probably ...very sure to counter ... readable sign post ... big enough label to show d' positions ... activities taking place.... many people involved to make this once a year festival success ... bravoo....



Close UP ... reading... would show ... d' events taking place here in PORTsoy......

This short break festival was with destination something for everyone ...as well family affairs ...providing FUN packed .. enegetic opportunities ranging for rowing ... running for folk of all ages ...young people ... while on d' other hand ...this festival shown special emphisis on boat building, restoring ..sailing ...nn associated traditional crafts including knitting, weaving... embroiding ...of coz nOT forgetting ... music nn art  ..  adding all these opportunities for all to see .. take part ... enjoying... for visitors especially...



It all began .... soon arrived in Aberdeen ... late noon Saturday ...2nd July ....
Next day, early morning ... Peter ...as I already introduced... a helpful friendly staff of Aberdeen UNi ....with his FIAt mini car was ready to guide for d'week end drive to this boat feastival  .....


 Two cars ... me ..Jerry, pu3 nn wife with hired black car.... Peter nn Sonia on d' other ... We just followed d' leader... Peter was d' person often visiting Portsoy ...if nOt yearly in Summer...  NOt to miss this annually festival ....




It was relaxing scenery ...........a two hours journey .....
WINd Mill power generators were built .... sort of boosting energy  ........to give electrcity ..... this was country site area .....
TWO lanes one side road ... NOT allowed to 'over take' while own lane way going down hill.......



PORTsoy ..... here we arrived ... d' host providing temporary pARking space for visitors.... traffic warden shown way to football pitch ..... well cut grass ..... shown to arrange proper parking for each vehicle....... 

So entered d' compound ...waiting gate waiters offering tickets ......a hand wrist paper identification was asked to be worn ......

Another.. shuttle van picked people to d' nearest ..... market compound .......

All roads ..... all small walk tracks to port festival area ... were carefully well guarded by festival committees .... without worn wrist paid label ....visitors were asked to pay ....





LOCal products were being offered .......... at this market .... large shaded white camp .......... Demonstrating selling products  ...Icecreams ....... honey ......... specialities .....craps ... all kinds .... fishes ...should read nearer to know their names .......... nn many ..



Direction ....going to harbour - PORt sea site ......  more event to see .... more activities shown traditional way back ...long times ago... 

As could be seen ....this harbour is built comprising with massive breakwater to avoid waves on seawards ... to allow number of quays.... Seemed large stones  set vertically .... nn this is supposed to be old age ... as history pointed out built since 1692.....  wow.... 

 D' views were fantastic ..... seemed untoucable ....... with natural sea waves..
Looking from d' high level to open North Sea .... nn to d' bay .... nOT surprisingly this attracting thousands of visitors ... ever since launched in 1994 nn entrols d' valves of taste ... heritage ... authenticity .... really ..
A project for community would probably be recognised globaly....  to remind peak past.....


Small boats were kept ... from open sea inside d' protected of breakwater stones bay .... nn so .. able to do......

Demonstration .... nn try out d' OLD round boats .. to new generation .....

BUT first ..... somebody with d' knowledge of how to row nn shown to others..... as role model ...



 WOOD craftmanship ...... also a very intresting .... was part of living here....

Much to tell .... but clearly,... pottery ..whose creamics are noted for their delicate colouring .... also take note .....Jewellery ..as locally quarried ....  said ...made from Portsoy green marble which is NOt but rather serpentine ...



 PORTsoy ... as known today .... but nOT until lately ..... was named PERT SOAIdh .... locally  ... meaning as translated 'the wooden place of the worriors' (heros) ......   eeeeh



Immediate ..... vans turned stalls ..... common image of open market here....
All agencies took adventage to offer people around .......
Look carefully ..... people here were creative enough to serve people ....
NOT to mention .....
.....Locally made .... fruits ... cerries ... JAMs ... all kinds..
.....U may try ...taste .... NO objection here.....


Lastly .... now... noon ..if U're too hungry ..why NOt ... smoked FISh .....
BUt ...... chips ...potatoes ... could be purchased sepately.....  just looked around ....
Please ....read ...... eeeh


 Just around d' corner ... going to other side .... still POrtsoy .....
Specially large space for camping ground .... facing d' bay..... Caravans are common sight during SUMMer....  just please read d' notice board with pasted written papers .......
Under d' Aberdeenshire Council .... have to follow several rules .... allowed but nOt free .....


A lot of regeneration projects to turn this old declined fishing town into glamorous beautiful town .......

Looking at d' charm .... attraction of uphill town centre with fascinating streets ... gardens ...all winding down to d' remarkable harbour ..... yeh..as one of  tourists visited here ....thumbs UP ..... all are appreciated



Going to d' inner outside harbour ...town ..... wow.. another.... place offering light rowing  ...at town lake ...       
At near by..... entrance
Talking crow ...all types of owls ..... supposed ...OUT at nights...????
Exhibited .... to people ... to know more these night creatures' characters ...... ask d' caretakers of d' birds .....stood by ......near by .....!!!!

NOt all people like to open sea ... some younger people ... retreat to fresh water lake.... rowing.......... being offered here....
Nice ...refreshing area for a while ..... so here we were.......

To make d' story short ....

Leaving PORTsoy ....... nearing evening but still day light ......... to a half hour journey....    another sea town ....

Peter brought us here to see ... another similar scenery ....... harbour scenery too .... CULLEN HARBour .....

A cave in road ... showing ..NOt too old.. rejected rail project....... crossing the road ........ hill down side ...looking houses facing sea ....... 



 Just to show d' scenery photos ...d' creamic ...at shops .....
Natural grass ...with flowers ...???
Seagulls ...... too hungry .... d' bird was looking for food .... NO longer at sea.... fearing drown ... of coz.... oh nO d' habits changed ......for sure ...!!!!


Way back ...driving to ABERdeen ..... stopped at a small town ...
A refreshing break ...... drank nn ate ....


Gesture .... as Pu3 would not be seen around in Aberdeen after d' graduation....
....tall Sonia.... a  known best friend lift easily light build Pu3 ..........
                             Cheerio........... baby