River of fire

The annual torchlight procession was held in Edinburgh tonight marking the start of the Hogmanay celebrations. So went into town after work.
Around 8,000 torch bearers snaked down the Mound, preceded by a pipe back ( with fairy lights in their pipes!) and the Shetland Up Helly Aa' Vikings. They led a river of flame up to Calton Hill where a longboat was set alight.

Apart from the difficulty of getting a focus on moving torches with my compact, the greater frustration was the modern habit of raising phones above one's head to take photos. Just when you thought you had a shot a bobble hat appeared stage left or a LCD screen popped into view. (I'm sure the people behind me were muttering too.) At least I did not hold an iPad up videoing everything! And don't get me started on selfie sticks!
So pleased with this - the blotches are torches on the Mound. Great atmosphere among the crowd: met some visitors from Rome who were enjoying the event and Edinburgh. Then some superb fireworks to round off the night. More potential blips there, but there will be other opportunities for fireworks, hopefully tomorrow.