From our research and observations from the Hop-on Hop-off Bus we decide that we want to see the Necropolis, Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and potentially Tenement House.
Our hotel is only a half mile from Cathedral Square and the entrances to both the Necropolis and Glasgow Cathedral. It's a slight walk uphill on an overcast Saturday morning. Old graveyards are usually interesting and the Glasgow Necropolis does not disappoint us. It is a Victorian cemetery, laid out more as a meandering park. It's on a small hill, providing us views of the surrounding town. At the top is a statue to John Knox, the leader of the Scottish Protestant Reformation. It's fun walking thorough the Necropolis reading the grave markers.
Our hotel is only a half mile from Cathedral Square and the entrances to both the Necropolis and Glasgow Cathedral. It's a slight walk uphill on an overcast Saturday morning. Old graveyards are usually interesting and the Glasgow Necropolis does not disappoint us. It is a Victorian cemetery, laid out more as a meandering park. It's on a small hill, providing us views of the surrounding town. At the top is a statue to John Knox, the leader of the Scottish Protestant Reformation. It's fun walking thorough the Necropolis reading the grave markers.
Glasgow Cathedral is an imposing structure right next to the Necropolis. The church was originally Catholic and the tomb of St. Mungo is in the lower church.
For a bit of an adventure we decide to take the subway to Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Musuem. It's a short downhill walk to Queen Street Station to purchase tickets and catch the subway. We examine the map to determine the stop nearest Kelvingrove then confirm with the agent when we buy our tickets. A few stops on the subway Inner Ring and we are within 5 blocks of the museum. The architecture is beautiful, it is made of red sandstone in the Baroque Spanish style. Inside we are greeted by a singing group with the massive Lewis pipe organ as a backdrop. Approximately an hour later we have walked through much of the museum enjoying the paintings, armor and ancient artifacts we have seen.
After lunch at a brew pub located across from Kelvingrove we find ourselves again examining the map of the subway. We agree that we will take the subway outer ring to a stop which appears to be a four to six block walk to Tenement House.
Upon exiting the subway we are uncertain of how to get to Tenement House, since there is a highway in the direction we intended to walk. We look at Google Maps, but we also stop a local to ask directions. She provides some guidance and off we go, often walking single file. After a bit, Fergus once again references Google Maps from his mobile and determines we are headed in the right direction....which shortly becomes largely uphill. It is challenging for most of us and William goes into what he calls donkey mode - making progress, but at a very slow pace. At last we take a right at the street for Tenement House which is relatively level. Whew!
Upon exiting the subway we are uncertain of how to get to Tenement House, since there is a highway in the direction we intended to walk. We look at Google Maps, but we also stop a local to ask directions. She provides some guidance and off we go, often walking single file. After a bit, Fergus once again references Google Maps from his mobile and determines we are headed in the right direction....which shortly becomes largely uphill. It is challenging for most of us and William goes into what he calls donkey mode - making progress, but at a very slow pace. At last we take a right at the street for Tenement House which is relatively level. Whew!
Tenement House is an original 19th century tenement house which was largely unchanged over the years. We learn that the family was probably middle class. The daughter was fairly well educated, especially for the time. Fergus recognizes some of the same Scottish ceramics which his mother had in their home as he was growing up. Merida talks with some of the docents about the period and the clothing as well as the appointments in the apartment.
As we finish our visit we ask directions to the subway from the staff and find out that the next subway stop is eight blocks away and largely parallel to Tenement House. We are all delighted, but curse the reality that distance on a high-level map is not always the primary indicator of the best router to take.
Thoroughly exhausted we make our way back on the subway and then the six block walk to our hotel for a nap. Later we finish the evening with a light dinner and a round of whisky.
As we finish our visit we ask directions to the subway from the staff and find out that the next subway stop is eight blocks away and largely parallel to Tenement House. We are all delighted, but curse the reality that distance on a high-level map is not always the primary indicator of the best router to take.
Thoroughly exhausted we make our way back on the subway and then the six block walk to our hotel for a nap. Later we finish the evening with a light dinner and a round of whisky.
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