Glasgow, Part 3, Botanic Gardens

Tags

carniverous plants, Clyde, Glasgow, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Glasgow School of Art, Kibble Palace, Rennie Mackintosh, San Francisco, Squinty Bridge

Before hopping on the bus again, I walked to the nearby Glasgow School of Art, by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, still sadly closed after the disastrous fire in May last year. But this is all I could see.

Before getting to the next hop-on bus stop, I noticed that Glasgow should be called San Francisco on Clyde.

After some bits of shopping and a very efficient encounter with the branch of my bank in Queen Street (it is only recently, because of the current inquiry, that I have realised that I was where the horrific bin lorry incident took place a few months ago), I took the bus again.  This at one point took me over what Glaswegians call ‘The Squinty Bridge’, properly known as the Clyde Arc.  Not at its best here because of the rain, from pictures it seems in any case to be prettier lit up at night.

Choosing to believe the weather forecast that, if it was not to get any warmer, it was at least due to stop raining, I arrived at the Botanic Gardens, my confidence justified.  My first visit was to the Kibble Palace,

where I was particularly taken by the display of carnivorous plants.

I then moved on to the main glasshouses, where I was delighted to find one of my favourites, begonias (slideshow).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Here are some other plants I enjoyed in the conservatories:

I didn’t spent a great deal of time outdoors, as the weather really wasn’t favourable. The Gardens are abundantly supplied with dedicated benches,

but, as you can see, the populace felt just as I did about being outside. I did visit the rose garden, though it seemed to be past its best for this year, then had a little sit-down in a sheltered spot for a while. Lunch was in the swelteringly hot café.

In better weather, I felt I could spend an entire day visiting these lovely Botanic Gardens, but chilly and with by now very sore feet, I decided to end my visit to Glasgow at that point. Having recovered my suitcase from my hotel, I took a taxi to pick up my pre-booked ‘compact’ hire car. On being asked by the company if I would mind having a slightly larger one, for the same price, I cavilled when I saw what they were offering,

The BMW/BWB in Dumfriesshire

and asked whether there wasn’t an alternative as I had never driven such a wide car in my life.  There wasn’t, they said.  I have to report that it was no pleasure to drive this BMW 3200 D Sport, aka the Big White Beast, for the four days I had it.  I was nervous all the time, terrified that it might be stolen or vandalised, and the ride was no nicer than that of my 14-year old Peugeot 206. Only the steering felt a little better, though I couldn’t tell you why. Oh, and I did enjoy the fact it was automatic.

On next to beautiful Dumfriesshire for three full days.

Glasgow, Part 1

Tags

Glasgow, Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove, Riverside Museum, St Mungo, Tall Ship

The symposium at Northumbria University in Newcastle finished on Sunday afternoon (19th July) and I travelled on to Glasgow by train.  I B and B’d for two nights in a small, central hotel, with small but sufficient facilities, and at a small price.  To get around the city, where I was to be for nearly two days, I had already booked a two-day pass on a hop-on hop-off, sightseeing bus, which gave easy access to many of Glasgow’s attractions.  (I tried to sit in the open part of the semi open-top bus, but wind and rain made this impossible for much of the time.) Having got on just round the corner from my hotel, I alighted at George Square, where the City Chambers looked to me remarkably like a French Hôtel de Ville.

City Chambers

From there the bus took me to St Mungo’s Cathedral.  It’s dark exterior:

and interior:

came as quite a shock after the light stone of Newcastle’s cathedral, but I came to appreciate it.  The mediaeval building was absolutely enormous. The first thing I noticed on entering was the modern stained glass west window.

The lovely views between pillars tempted me on to explore:

The Crypt

Finally the choir:

Outside could be seen part of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.  The 1794 6-floor, 100-bed Adams building was demolished to make place for this one, opened in 1914, though the infirmary has been much expanded on the site over the years since, and now has a capacity of about 1000 beds.

I hopped back on the bus, and continued taking pictures.

I got off at the Riverside Museum (the Clyde River that is) where I had an excellent lunch, and much enjoyed looking at some of the very well presented historic  transport.  I could have stayed much longer, but was discouraged by the very noisy presence of half of Glasgow’s children and their parents, as it seemed to me all taking refuge from the weather.

An original char-à-banc

There was a Tall Ship outside on the river, but I gave up on trying to get a good angle on it for a photo, until I turned round…

To complete my first day I Glasgow, I moved on to Kelvingrove Park and particularly the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.  That’s for the next post.