We are early risers. Many places promise to open at seven to serve breakfast ... but don't. This tardiness may have something to do with football induced hangovers. Outside the Glasgow Subway station - and an open and functioning Starbucks - a Salvation Army gentleman tries to sell ( or possibly give away ) some uplifting tracts to busy commuters. I'm not sure the market for uplifting tracts is a large one. It certainly isn't first thing in the morning. He might have better luck at the other end of the day when the pubs close and minds are focused on the Scottish team ... and the need for divine intervention.
Detouring through a side street we chance upon a small hidden garden .
Local mothers clearly make good use of it.
On the other side of the road a house that we both agree would make for wonderful city living. There was a time thirty years ago when the upkeep of these old things was prohibitive and they could be had for a song. Today they've risen in price to where they're more 'upper end of the market' than 'a bargain' but the upkeep remains prohibitive. Replacing one of those curved glass window panes can't be cheap.
We head up the hill to the cathedral. This is going to be a 25,000 steps day.
Off to the side of the nave a group of German tourists in matching orange jackets are clustered around what we think is a picture but , as we get closer , turns out to be a carefully embroidered poem. A tour guide is reading the poem to them in an enthusiastic style that wouldn't be out of place in an Edwardian music hall. 'Some maithers brodt their bairnies oot to show them to the Lord '. The poem is a particularly awful example of nineteenth century Scots religious verse. Sentimentality doesn't so much seep as gush from every line. The Germans struggle to understand what's being said. The guides florid theatrical style either means she does this to alleviate boredom or, more probably, she deals with tour groups by going through the day gently stoned.
A stained glass window with the strange invocation 'Ruth gleaned in the fields until evening' . This is presumably some call to work long and diligently. The angel also looks as if she's gently stoned. A solitary foot peeps out from a mass of tangled robes.
15 comments:
I too love the 'high maintenance' Glasgow townhouse.
As for the 'Tartan Army', the husband and son of one of my cycling group are among their number and apparently having the time of their lives, irrespective of the results. One has to wonder what older Germans in particular think of the rampant nationalism on display, however innocent the context.
Gleaning was picking up by hand the bits that fell off from the main harvest. I also suspect that the frames in the circular bay windows are flat.
Potty, I can confirm, having been in one of these flats, that the panes in the bay windows are indeed flat.
Angus, not for the first time, you make me laugh out loud. Are you going to tell us where the other meal was, or are you keeping it a secret?
I loved the Tartan Army clip. From the random sampling of clips I've seen on Twitter, the Germans seem to be patient hosts.
The Germans on the whole think that the Scottish-fans are pretty decent, except for the beer(plastic cups)-throwing in the first match.
In Cologne, the people are avid carnival-revellers and love a good parade and they loved the Scots!
Grüße aus Bayern
Barbara
Scotland has something to offer to take the edge off, while dealing with that tour group for the day. Glasgow looks wonderful, I need to go there.
Anonymous - We were able to get a reservation at Cail Bruich despite it being the start of the Glasgow graduation season.
I don't know the last time I saw a Salvation Army gentleman (or lady). Surely his reading materials were free; after all, salvation is a gift.
Glad to hear that you had an enjoyable time in Glasgow. I imagine it's greatly changed and much improved, in the forty odd years since we last went - to a celebration in husband's family. We stayed at the Holiday Inn (a new addition then) and the highlight for me was visiting the Burrell Museum and the School of Art.
Gleaning the fields has made Ruth into a contortionist as she appears to be on her knees (if you follow the line of the purple clothing) so I wonder who the odd foot belongs to!
The light in that cathedral is so soothing and calm - or maybe it's just a stark contrast to the 93 F heat here today with extremely bright sun. I'm watching a beautiful doe nibbling in the shade under a tree outside.
This Netflix documentary from 2020, Crip Camp, is about a summer camp for kids with disabilities in the 70's. I can't get Netflix to actually open the film, but here's a link. Clearly the fresh air and freedom these young people experienced made a huge impact on the world. I highly recommend. Well, I can't paste the link, either. I hope you can find the film.
I found it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OFS8SpwioZ4
Rottrover - Thank you
Living in the center of NH, on Lake Winnipesaukee, I've observed, for many decades, the area always centered on and accommodated so very many childrens summer camps. Sadly, far too many are quickly falling away and closing due to rapidly increasing land values and rabid demands for new construction of waterfront housing units. It's heartbreaking to watch it unfold. I suspect, ten years from now, most of the childrens camps around here will be gone. No doubt its occurring in nearby states and communities.
How good was it?
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