Day 2 - July 8

Today we breakfasted with several people – a couple from France who were on holiday, a couple from Denmark here to see their 18 month old granddaughter and two young women who had come up from Manchester for the TRNSMT music concert here this weekend.  Quite a mix of conversations going on!

We left the B & B at 9:30 and walked to the Cathedral to catch the Hop-on/ Hop-off bus for a tour of the city.  The first place we got off was at St Andrew’s in the Square.  Though no longer used as a place of worship it is the Cultural Centre for Glasgow and you can rent the space for events.  It wasn’t open to us but we could see it was all decorated for an event.  Built in 1754, it is still considered one of finest classicla churches in Britain.

Next we walked over to the Barras – a place where in the early 1900’s a couple allowed poor people to rent “plots” so that they could sell used clothing and other wares.  It still goes on today but only on weekends.  It is still organized and run by people who are struggling to make a living but it was a bit like a flea market.

Back on the bus and off to see more sights of the city.  We got off downtown and wandered around for a bit and found the Tim Horton’s!  Absolutely packed in there so I guess Canadian coffee is popular here.  It only opened in April 2017 and they have been doing a booming business.  Back on the bus and we headed to the University of Glasgow. 

This university is the 4^th oldest in the English speaking world having originated in 1451.  It was relocated from its original location of being on a monastery’s site to where it is now in the 1800’s.  The area was beautiful with

cloisters, lovely architecture and blue skies.  We toured the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.  The featured exhibition was about Rome’s last area conquered in Scotland – the Antonine wall.  There were columns from the fort, coins, shoes, tools and everything else to showcase Roman life in AD 142.  
The artefacts were remarkably preserved and so interesting to look at.  We ventured next into the gallery which was full of remarkable scientific finds from hundreds of years ago.  There were fossilized dinosaur eggs, old microscopes and all the work from a physician who had preserved medical anomalies!

Back on the bus to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.  This was a free museum which could take you days to go through; from art painted by the “Glasgow Boys” to fashion and art, to the ancient peoples of Scotland to Egypt.  You name it and it was there.  After this we went out into the Kelvingrove Park to enjoy a bit of lunch and some sun. 

After several more hours of walking and taking in the sights and sounds of Glasgow, we made our way to the Drygate Pub for some dinner.  Back to the B & B to relax and plan tomorrow’s adventures.

Distance walked:  at least 15 km,– we lost track!