The Art of Glasgow

Our first Friday in Scotland was forecast to be rainy. Glasgow, we understand has some phenomenal museums so we have it in mind to explore them ourselves.

As Thursday wound down, one delightful aspect of the day gives me joy looking back at it. We had a chance to meet and get to know some delightful people from all over. We already knew that Scots are friendly and engaging. The Scottish people are a major reason we love to come here. Jane had a lovely chat with a lady on the bus.

On our boat tour of Loch Lomand, we met a group of British travelers and later met up with them and much comradarie and laughter was exchanged. Waiting for a bus, Jane and I enjoyed getting to know several young people from Sweden. While often the joking is about cultural differences, it is all in good fun. This is a part of our travels to Scotland that I value very much.

Friday’s goal is Kelvingrove Museum, which is by all accounts a “must see”. We slept well and enjoyed brisk 3 mile hike through Kelvingrove Park and breakfast at a quaint cafe nearby called Pulp.

Thus fortified,  it was a short walk again through the vast and beautiful Kelvingrove Park. What a lovely way to start the day. As we approached the museum,  the beauty of the building told us we were in for a great experience.

As we entered the Kelvingrove museum, Jane was delighted to discover that we had arrived just in time for an organ recital by James Hunter, musical director of the gallery. It worked out perfectly so that I had ample time to explore the many art exhibits while Jane thoroughly enjoyed a lovely concert. The Kelvingrove organ was built in 1901 for an international exhibition and has been lovingly preserved at the museum ever since.

You will thank me I am not uploading every art pic I took. I love a good museum.  The Kelvingrove was superb. As Jane enjoyed the music, I lingered over some of their 8,000 items in their collection, just letting some jump out at me.

I could hear the organ concert and kept getting drawn back to it. The entrance hall itself was perhaps the most magnificent work of art of the museum.

I joined Jane for the last part of the recital and we both especially enjoyed the final song, The Halleluiah Chrorus.  I captured all but the first few musical phrases to share.

I wondered if the practice of standing for the Halleluiah Chorus would be observed on this setting and decided I would not stand up if the other boys and girls didn’t and they did not. I promised also not to sing along but I did a little bit.

After the concert I was struck in awe at what to me was the premier artwork of the gallery.  The painting was by Salvadore Dali entitled Christ of St. John of the Cross.

Dali is a unique artist to put it mildly. But I did find this piece quite moving. The display had some good background about Dali’s religious journey.

The museum was the main objective of the day but much lay ahead.  We walked leisurely through the big beautiful park and watched some children playing.

Our last notable stop was a public library – Mitchell Library.  Jane enjoys seeing and sometimes visiting libraries in our travels.  But  like so many notable buildings in Scotland,  this library building were watched over by gargoyles and statues.

The day ended with a lovely meal and an Uber ride “home”.  One aspect of our first week in Scotland is the huge increase in walking every day. We travel by foot between 5 and 9 miles a day. That is a bit tiring  but it is very  good for us, especially in light of the wonderful meals we enjoy. Fish and chips and steak pie are our menu choices nearly every night.