GLASWEGIAN SIGHTS

Well, it's taken a little bit longer than expected but we've finally set up our new blog - so welcome to Evan and Carly in Scotland!
If we haven't caught up with anyone for a little while (sorry!) we should let you know that we have since moved on from France! Therefore, our French blog (www.evancarlyfrancais.blogspot.com) has finished, but is still online and viewable if you want to have a look..
So into the present and a new adventure with a new blog. Welcome to Glasgow!

During our first week in town the weather was beautiful - well, sunny and clear anyway! So we decided to explore the city and its surroundings. This is the People's Palace in Glasgow Green, a large public park in the SE of the city..

The Doulton Fountain next to the People's Palace. The largest terracotta fountain in the world! Queen Victoria is on top with 4 water carriers below her symbolising Australasia, India, Canada and South Africa..

From Glasgow Green we walked along the Clyde River to the SW corner of town. Here we found the Scottish BBC headquarters, Glasgow Science Centre and the Scottish Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC). This is the view of the area from the 127 metre high Glasgow Tower - looking along the Clyde, over the SECC (just behind the Crown Plaza building) to the city centre beyond..

Another view of the Crowne Plaza building and the SECC. From this angle it's easy to see why it's affectionately known as 'The Armadillo'..

The Glasgow Tower - 127 metres tall, designed like a giant aerofoil, able to turn 360 degrees to face the oncoming wind (the entire tower) and the whole thing sits on a thrust bearing only 65cm in diameter! You can still feel it swaying with the wind though..

From the banks of the Clyde we walked north into Glasgow's West End. Just out of the city this area is home to Kelvingrove Park, the Botanic Gardens and this building - the University of Glasgow. Founded in 1451 (albeit in a different building) the university is the 4th oldest in the English speaking world and Scotland's answer to England's Oxford University..

Opposite the university is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Opened in 1901 it is now the #1 (free) tourist attraction in Scotland and the most visited museum in the UK (outside of London)..

Whenever you walk through Kelvingrove Park or the Botanic Gardens you inevitably come across one of these guys - the Grey Handface Man, otherwise known as the Grey Squirrel. Native to the USA and Canada its introduction to Britain and Ireland has largely displaced the native Red Squirrel. They are cute though, and not afraid to come right up to you in the hope of being fed..

The area we've moved into is called the Merchant City, right in the heart of Glasgow. This pic was taken in the forecourt of the Gallery of Modern Art, where they turn the 'roof lights' on every night..

In George Square, down the road from our building, stand the Council Chambers and the WWI Cenotaph (foreground)..

Although the weather was nice that first week this IS Glasgow and it's not always sunshine! This is the view from our bedroom window one Sunday morning. It's not snow (yet) just hail..

We didn't let the weather deter us that day though. Not far from home is the Glasgow Cathedral, a fine example of Scottish Gothic architecture..

The lower crypt of the cathedral (beneath the main hall) - a forest of massive stone pillars..

The tomb of St Mungo - the patron saint of Glasgow. The cathedral is said to stand on the spot where he built his church..

The cathedral was built during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. This is part of the nave, with some of the roof beams original pieces from that time..

Adjacent to the cathedral is the Necropolis. In between hail showers we managed a quick tour of this haunting place. Situated on an almost perfectly domed hill it overlooks most of Glasgow and it's eastern suburbs..

Dr Whoooooo, hey! Dr Who! As it was raining we decided to head home via TARDIS..

Another wet day was Remembrance Day. At 11am Evan headed down to the cenotaph in George Square (while Carly worked!) where a 2 minutes silence was conducted. The veteran in this pic was asked to attend this less formal service instead of the main service in another part of the city. He was a little upset at the absence of any dignitaries but 2 members of the council did arrive and presented him with a wreath - which he subsequently laid on the memorial..

Glasgow cenotaph - 1100hrs, 11/11/08

The view of the park from our windows on a better day..

Well, it's a sort of park. It's actually called the Ramshorn Cemetery! The best thing about living next to a cemetery in a big city? It's quiet, dead quiet..

We've since ventured back into the West End to visit the botanic gardens. This is the Kibble Palace. A huge greenhouse erected in 1873 to serve the University of Glasgow. It covers over 2000 square metres and is home to many Australian Tree Ferns - some that have lived here for 120 years..

Since moving into our apartment we've been lucky enough to watch 2 fireworks shows without leaving home! The first was the Fawkes Day celebration on Glasgow Green, which we watched from our kitchen window. The second was this, the opening night of the Glasgow Winterfest in George Square. This is the view from the stone balcony out the front of our apartment..

Some of the crowd in George Square. To give you an idea of our position in relation to the square - these people are standing just to the left of the Council Chambers and the cenotaph. We'll have some more pics from Winterfest in our next update!