Adventures in Glasgow Scotland

Last week I got to spend 5 days in Glasgow, Scotland and I have to say that it was brilliant! From the moment I stepped out of the train station I was in love with the city. It is hard to explain the feelings I had as I walked down the sidewalks and took in the surroundings. Even though it is a good sized city, it was not the bustling and busy atmosphere I had left behind in Kingston. The city is also laid out in a grid which made navigation so much easier!

How about I take you through a quick tour of some highlights from my time in Glasgow. Enjoy!

The train ride from London to Glasgow was awesome, once we got beyond London and could see the countryside, that is.
The train station, view from the train - the third one is a river not a road.

Arriving in Glasgow. I expected crowded streets and a bustling atmosphere but it was the opposite. It would get a wee bit busier during commuter times but not nearly as crazy as Kingston. It was love at first sight and it kept getting better. The Scottish people are very kind and kept commenting on my lovely accent. I wish I could hear what they hear.

The first day of adventure took us to Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis....SO COOL! I really do like a good cemetery and visiting on a blustery, grey winter day provided the perfect ambiance, although some of my fellow travelers would not agree. It really was amazing, and the view of the city from the top of the hill was incredible. A portion of the cathedral dates back to the 1200's. I am always in awe when I stand in a place like this. The architecture is incredible, the size is grand, and the details abundant, but try as I might it is hard to imagine what it took to build and create such an edifice without the mechanisms, automation, technology, and modern tools we have today. And yet these buildings are withstanding the tests of time and stand as a testament to the craftsmanship, abilities and expertise of our ancestors. Even with all of the modern advancements of our day we are not creating lasting legacies. I doubt the buildings being built today will be around in 50 years. 

We also walked through the historic merchant city, which is what it sounds like, it was the place where much of the day to day business was conducted. One of the buildings on the square was built by the merchants and was where business meetings and transactions were conducted. The merchants paid for the building themselves and the interiors are a stunning indication of the wealth accumulated by these merchants. Mosaic ceilings, mosaic floors and marble staircases. WOW! ​

On the second day we rode the train to Helensburgh to see Hill House, designed by the famous Charles Renee Mackintosh. The style is inspired by Art Nouveau and every element of the house, exterior and interior is designed by Mackintosh. Currently the house is deteriorating and in an attempt to protect it they have covered the entire house in a shroud which keeps a high percentage of the elements out while still allowing the building to breath. A chainmail surround encloses the structure which allows bugs, air and some moisture in to keep plants alive. It is pretty cool to climb the stairs and see the house from every direction, just don't look down if heights are a problem.

​In all honesty, this is not my favorite design style but some of the things Mackintosh did really are brilliant. The rose motif is something you see in all of his work, his trademark. He and his wife worked on many projects together and created harmony.
The first picture is a mural of Mackintosh painted on a building in town. The others are of the exterior and some of the interior designs. Mackintosh was known for his high back chairs. I have seen pictures of the chairs but seeing it in person was awesome, although this chair is on the petite side, the seat is about 6 inches below my knee and I think if an adult sat on it, it would break. 

Mackintosh's work, or his influence, can been seen all over Glasgow. His masterpiece, the Glasgow School of Art was destroyed by fire a few years ago and only the exterior shell remains. The building was designed by Mackintosh and built as a school of art and has run as an art school since the beginning in 1896. So sad, but there are rumors that it will be restored so there is hope. It is completely covered by scaffolding so I did not take any photos because scaffolding isn't that interesting but the pieces we could see are devastating.

We also paid a visit to the House of an Art Lover, also designed by Mackintosh, a design he created for a competition. His design was disqualified for the late entry and lack of technical drawings. Although deemed a distinctive and impressive design it was never constructed. In 1989 one of the consulting engineers working to restore Mackintosh's existing buildings had the idea to build the House of an Art Lover. After research and resolutions, on the missing elements of the design, construction began in 1990 and the house and restaurant opened in 1996. We had a delightful lunch in the restaurant!

We walked a lot and saw so many picturesque scenes that it would be impossible to show and tell all. But I will wrap up with some of my favorite views around Glasgow. I left a good sized piece of my heart in Glasgow, which means I must return!
​Brilliant, just brilliant!