Last night I had a fantastical journey around the city of Durham. It isn’t every day that you find an elephant trumpeting and snorting in a city centre, but this was definitely one of the highlights of Lumiere 2013. Where do people find the imagination and “know-how” to produce light installations like this? I have no idea, but I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.
From the other side of the bridge, he shakes his tusks at me!
I thought I was going to be in for a disappointment, because the Park and Ride was already full when I arrived in Durham at 16.30. No right-minded person attempts to drive beyond the outskirts when an event such as this is taking place. But not being in your right mind sometimes pays off, and with a bit of frustrating driving and a hike at the end, a suitable slot was found for the car.
Was it worth it? Of course! The sight of the Lindisfarne Gospels marching across the face of the Cathedral to rousing music can compensate for a lot! It was the only feature to be repeated from Lumiere 2011, and in a year when the Gospels had been on a summertime visit to the city, they were wholely appropriate.
My favourite part? I could have loitered in the Cathedral cloisters endlessly (in fact, I did, and lost my husband for a little while). Did you ever see anything more magical?
The frocks shimmered in the dark and then began to change colour
I was spellbound! The setting was perfect, the colours enchanting! The night was bitter but for a while I didn’t notice. Overall I think that Lumiere 2011 was more spectacular, but as I ended that occasion with a black eye, I was more than happy to celebrate light with Durham in 2013.
The event runs biennially and the organisers seem to have learnt since 2011, when the crush around the Cathedral was sometimes frightening. This year there is restricted access to the city centre between 16.30 and 19.30, when you need a ticket to get beyond the barriers. There is plenty to see elsewhere and maps are provided online, or handed out at the event itself. (having printed one off, I forgot to take it, but the programme guides were readily available) I suspect they will run out over the four day festival.
Some brisk walking took place around the city, passing excited groups and families with smiling faces. There are lots of nice places to eat in Durham and after a meal in Bistro Italiano, it was time to enter the city centre for the finale.
I’ll leave you dancing! (courtesy of Michael- his shot is better than mine)
Do visit if you can. I’ve included links to the programme and the interactive site is full of suggestions for a good time. It won’t be repeated till 2015!
restlessjo 
Tell us about the black eye….. Spectacular pictures.
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The link to Lumiere 2011 tells that story, Viv. Senility has set in because I’ve been properly in the wars with falling over lately (more stories to follow) Looking on the bright side, I can’t have osteoporosis or I’d be in pieces! 🙂
Don’t know when I’ll get round to 6WS today, Viv, but I’ll get there. Still responding to Lumiere stuff and recovering from last night’s zumba-thon 🙂 Did you see Torville and Dean on “Strictly”?
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They were sheer magic. Knocked spots off any other celebs who’ve ever been on it.
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Those dresses are beautiful.
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Aren’t they just! 🙂
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What a great event. I haven’t heard of anything like this before. I think it must have been great to be there. 🙂
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It was my first time there in 2011, Elaine, and I was bowled over. Have a look at the website- it’s good fun. 🙂
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It looks fantastic Jo. When will the next one be…..month I mean? Are they always at a set time in November or does it vary a bit? Love all the photos and I for one would love to see more posts and photos of this. Oh and I do hope you found your hubby in the end!
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Mid November 2015, Michelle- it’s usually about the same time. If you follow a couple of my links, one takes you to the event in 2011 and the other to the Lumiere website. You can play around with stuff and see other photos on there too. 🙂
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Thanks Jo. I did have a quick look at some of theictures on one of your links. It looks like a really fun event.
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Superb and lucky you – I really must make the effort to get there next year.
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It’s not on again till 2015 but you can still go this weekend. It’s on till Sunday evening 🙂
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wow! this is fabulous! you shots of those shimmering dresses are just wonderful.
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Glad you like them, Deepali 🙂 I took lots because it was hard to tell how well they’d come out in the dim lighting. I didn’t get any decent ones of the lazer show on the sides of the Cathedral but I think there will be a YouTube video.
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Takes my breath away, Jo! That is amazing to come up with a different theme each year. I can’t imagine to stand in front of the Lumiere… Thank you so much, Jo!
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It was total fantasy, Amy. They stage the event every two years and I was so looking forward to it. Cheered me up after my return from Barcelona. 🙂
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That is amazing, magical and a little big ghostly. Woo! I can imagine you were spellbound, I’m sure I would be too.
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I wish my photos of the lazer show on the Cathedral had come out, Lorna, but there wasn’t enough lighting. When I have a minute I will hunt out a YouTube link 🙂
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Wow – what an amazing event! You seem to be doing so many wonderful things right now you lucky lady 🙂
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Everything seems to tumble together in this bit of the year, Tonya. I’m at a zumbathon for charity tonight, then hopefully a few days of quiet to catch up 🙂
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You’re so very lucky to experience this!My favorite image is the dresses!! How pretty that must have been!! I wish we wore dresses like that today, it would be so much nicer (maybe a pain?) but so lovely to see everyone dressed up like that!
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It was truly fabulous, Smidge. My posts have been about my Barcelona trip all week but I couldn’t miss this. I’m not great at glamour but how can you not love this? 🙂
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I agree with Smidge – why can’t we wear lovely dresses like those any more? They are lovely and the lights make them even more so!
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WOW! Seems that it was amazing show… Fascinated me, dear Johanna, Thank you, have a nice weekend, love, nia (sorry for my previous comment, something happened wrong)
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No worries, Nia. I love to have you visit me 🙂
Sorry I haven’t found much time to return your visit lately. I have a charity zumba-thon this evening but hope to have a free weekend, so see you then 🙂
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WOW1
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The frocks look amazing!
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I was totally mesmerised by them 🙂
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This is what I love about the blogosphere – finding out about events and places that you have not heard of. I am putting Durham in my ‘to visit list’ for November 2015.
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You should, Jude! If I’m still about we might even have that coffee (or something stronger). I meant to include a link to the Cathedral lazer show, which is spectacular. Will look for something on YouTube later. Got a Zumbathon event tonight! Help! 🙂
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Wow, what a spectacular event, Jo! Your pictures are wonderful. Those dresses and the colors…no wonder you didn’t want to leave!
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I’d been looking forward to it ever since I got back from Barcelona, Jill. I didn’t have the equipment to photograph the lazer stuff on the Cathedral so I’ll have to put up a sequel maybe with a link to YouTube. 🙂
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Fabulous frocks Jo and that elephant just looks fantastic.
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It’s an amazing effect, David. You should take the young uns- they’d love it! It wasn’t too busy last night and it’s on till Sunday. 🙂
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Wow, Jo, what an event! I love the dresses, but those elephants are really amazing! It is wonderful what they do with lights these days, isn’t it? 🙂
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Absolutely fantastic, Cathy! And even better, I didn’t fall over! (I fell down some stairs in Barcelona and tripped over a bollard in Girona- too busy with the camera 🙂 Black and blue!)
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Oh dear, be careful Jo! Thank goodness you didn’t fall at this event. 🙂
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This is so lovely Jo – is it really two years since you last wrote about this? Reminds me of Burning of the Clocks which is held in Brighton on the shortest day 21 Dec. Gorgeous shots.
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Once my birthday has come and gone, it all seems to go past in a mad whirl, Suze. I LOVE Lumiere, and really didn’t think we were going to make it last night.
Zumbathon-ing tonight- crazy me! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Living and Lovin and commented:
AMAZING!!!!!!
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Eunice, you are a darling! Thank you so much for spreading a little happiness. Have a great weekend 🙂
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You are welcome honey have a great week!
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How Beautiful are those dresses and your shots of them! GORGEOUS makes me want to be there 🙂
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I was totally mesmerised by the dresses, Eunice, and these are maybe half of my shots. It was absolutely my favourite bit 🙂
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I loved them! I am glad you had so much fun capturing them 🙂
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