Glasgow Explained

I find that unlike London or Edinburgh, I often have to "explain" why I visit Glasgow with some regularity. I do have a family connection.  My great-great grandparents Matthew McAdam and Mary Burnet hailed from Cambuslang and Rutherglen before immigrating to Minnesota in 1867. That is the reason that I first visited back in 1979 when I was in college.  Glasgow at that time was not terribly appealing - it was run down and dirty with a slight edge of danger.  

Since that time Glasgow has really cleaned up its act!  In 1990 it was the European Capital of Culture. It has a long and storied history.  It was of huge economic importance from the 18th through the mid-20th centuries.  The city birthed a group of successful tobacco merchants and others of importance like Thomas Lipton and Joseph Lister. Favorable trade winds allowed clippers from Glasgow reach America 20 day sooner than those from London.  At one time there were 62 shipyards along 20 miles of the Clyde River.

I like to think that I might continue to visit Glasgow once in a while, even if I did not my family connection.

I spent the morning at the University of Glasgow Archives.  In the afternoon my Mom and I went on a bus tour of the city. This is Glasgow Cathedral with a statue of David Livingston in the front.  More about the cathedral tomorrow.

I haven't posted pictures of a wedding since we were in France, but today as the bus stopped at a light, there was a wedding party in front of St. Andrew's in the Square.

Everyone, the bride included, appeared to be having a glorious time!

George Square was closed off - it is under going renovations of some sort. 

Locals call this bridge across the Clyde the Squinty Bridge.

I cannot imagine how hot the glass houses at the Botanic Gardens must have been today.

Pretty as a picture.

A bridge over the Kelvin looking up toward Glasgow University.

Kelvingrove Art Museum and Gallery is the most popular free-to-enter attraction in Scotland and the most visited museum outside of London.  It has one of the bestcollections of arms and armour in the world as well as a large natural history collection. The art collection includes European artworks, including works by the Old Masters, French Impressionists, Dutch Renaissance, Scottish Colourists and exponents of the Glasgow School.

The most famous work is Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí.

We bowl in Glasgow though differently than we do in the US.

Here's a "typical" Glasgow residential street. I think the red brick is warm and friendly.

These are bits and pieces that caught my eye as we rode the bus and walked about Glasgow today. 

Look at the throngs of shoppers on Buchanan Street.  Glasgow is famous for its shopping.  My sister had been here twice with me and she happily shops and shops and then shops some more.