GLASGOW - Tues July 9

            “WELCOME TO INVERCLYDE” screamed the notices around the Port of Greenock – the gateway to Glasgow. Our ship’s wharf was surrounded by containers and huge cranes, so we must have been at a Container Wharf. This happens either because there is no Cruise ship Terminal available or our ship is just too big for what’s available.

            We had booked a ‘City Drive’ ship’s tour for the afternoon and weren’t too sure where we were going. We thought it was only a couple of hours and so must be around the City of Greenock – not very big now we were here.  But we were welcomed to the coach by a little man in a kilt and full Highland dress with a shock of grey hair who turned out to be more like an Irish Leprechaun than your dour Scott.

            We set out about 1.30pm and headed straight for Glasgow, with a cheerful, informative and amusing commentary all the way. We did not arrive back till almost 6.30pm so it was much more than a couple of hours of the sites of Greenock.

            What do I say of Glasgow? A very tidy city of orderly streets, homogenous streetscapes,  buildings and gardens, and a clean river Clyde. Everything seemed to be in the same red brick and buildings looked to me  ‘drab’ -  but very dignified. There was a sameness in styles in the city – tall, rectangular windows and no balconies anywhere, even in the big hotels of International names.  No colours or neon signs  anywhere. Businesses named in discretely painted signs above doors.

            Of course, the lack of balconies and big windows must be influenced by the climate. Who would need balconies when they have snow and ice? There was a section of more modern apartments of lighter colour and with balconies facing the afternoon sun with people enjoying the sunshine on them. It was again an uncustomarily warm day with sunshine 24-25°. In the parks there were many people relaxing in the sun, especially the young people around the University. I don’t think I saw anyone shirtless as around Dublin.

            Nor did I see any graffiti anywhere. Not around the dock areas, the older parts of Greenock, or anywhere on the way to Glasgow. Not that I was looking for it, but it does hit you in the eye when you see it around. None around Dublin either.

            Our last visit of the afternoon was to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. This was a really magnificent stone building with lots of arches, its own great organ, and hall after hall of great exhibits. We had a coffee in the Centre Hall while we sat to admire the building. It was a shock to find that the coffee shop counter would not accept any currency except Sterling, and we only had US dollars. Euros and Australian dollars. One of our friends at table was later quite indignant that Britain was so fussy about its own currency. For us, someone from the ship who was also having coffee was happy to swap 5 pounds Sterling for €5.

            In one hall a whole Spitfire aeroplane from World War II was suspended above  Wild Life exhibits. The plane was from The City of Glasgow Squadron.  

            The other Exhibit that inspired me was Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross in its own upstairs balcony little room. Alas time ran out before we could see the rest of this amazing building and its exhibits.

  Bruce – who has spent much of his life involved  with buildings - was fascinated with the whole impressive building. He wondered if it was built as  a Cathedral or some other great public building. But the Reception Desk said “No”. Its construction as the Museum began in 1888 and it was opened in 1901.

            All in all our trip to Glasgow was a really good afternoon with commentary by our Scottish Leprechaun.