Irvine, rain - Glasgow, summer

Wednesday 18th July

We woke this morning to find that it had been raining overnight and was quite cool and overcast. We headed for Glasgow,  our next stop, hoping that the day would fine up, and it did.

It was only a short drive so we were in Glasgow before lunch. Too early to check in, too early to leave the car at the hotel, so we set off in search of all day parking where we wouldn't need to win tattslotto. What an exercise! Finally settled on a car park near the hop on, hop off bus, and we would use the bus to get to the places we wanted to see.

First stop Glasgow university. The university dates back to 1451, though not always on the current site. In comparison, Melbourne University was founded in 1853. Some beautiful buildings, but the main point of interest was the cloisters that featured in Outlanders.

Beautiful buildings around lovely green courtyards.
It is holidays here at the moment so not a lot of students about
- just a lot of tour groups with their umbrella toting guide.

Another entrance to the university.
A lot of the buildings in Glasgow are built with sandstone
and are either a lighter colour, or this red sandstone.
During the time of heavy industry in Glasgow, mainly shipbuilding, 
a lot of the buildings got a very dirty, grimy look.
Many of them have had work done to clean them
- though there are still a lot of grey buildings.

The cloisters used in Outlander. I don't remember the particular episode
but I'll look out for it when I watch it again.

The main entrance to Glasgow University. 

 

This blue carpet and wallpaper in one of the university office buildings looked very regal.

This painting was hanging in the university chapel
where they had an exhibition to honour the contribution,
made by the university, to combat aircraft in the RAF from WWI to today.

Lunch at a french restaurant where we both had Italian Wedding Soup - ham and beef meatballs in a vegetable broth.

Next up Glasgow Cathedral. This is a bit like a babushka doll - it's a church within a church within a church. Rob walked to the top of the Necropolis next to the cathedral while I sat and people watched. There is obviously at least one cruise ship in town as there were 5 or more tour groups walked by in the 10 minutes I sat there - Princess cruises I think their lanyards read.

The Kelvingrove art gallery. We didn't have time to visit here
but it is a lovely building set in beautiful green parkland.

Another view of the main entrance to the university taken from the bus.

Glasgow Cathedral.

Beautiful original wooden ceiling inside the cathedral.
Protected by a sheet of copper on the outside.

Organ in the cathedral

Rob climbed to the top of the Necropolis next to the cathedral
and this headstone took his fancy.

Mausoleum at the top of the necropolis.

The Doulton Fountain with a statue of Queen Victoria on top.
This was built by the Royal Doulton Company in commemoration of
Queen Victoria's golden jubilee.
Believed to be the largest terracotta fountain in the world.

A statue of the Duke of Wellington.
Apparently many years ago a traffic cone appeared on his head overnight.
Council removed it. Two days later it was back. Council removed it.
This went on for some time until Council eventually gave up
and so the traffic cones remain.
Apparently you can even buy Glasgow postcards with this statue on them.

Stained glass inside Glasgow Cathedral.

This bridge is at the station and all the trains come in across the bridge.
The bridge has a name - the Highlandmans Umbrella.
Displaced highlanders would take shelter under the bridge
while waiting to find accommodation in Glasgow.   

The Tardis - just across the road from our hotel.

Back on the bus and instead of the recorded commentary we had a live commentary. This was fabulous and probably the best hop on, hop off tour we've ever done. Instead of just the historical facts, we got little stories. Like the cop who after breaking up a fight in a pub, got on stage and sang 'I will survive' karaoke; the Susan Boyle audition at the Scottish events centre; Gerry Raferty and his song Baker Street; Rod Stewart's final show of his last tour at the entertainment centre, etc, etc. He also pointed out lots of street art, some of it by the Australian artist Sam Bates. As I said, a fantastic tour.

Final for the day was an Indian restaurant for dinner. A really nice meal again, and I have enough left over for tomorrow night's dinner.