Today we decided to make it a museum day. The weather was not rainy but was overcast when we started out. We went to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. They had a special exhibit of Linda McCartney’s (Paul’s dead wife) photographs. It was fantastic. She was very talented. Then we toured the museum.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum opened in 1901 and has stunning architecture and a great atmosphere. There are 22 galleries ranging from art to animals, Ancient Egypt to Charles Rennie Mackintosh (a famous Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist). The exhibits are easy to follow and well documented. The collections at Kelvingrove are extensive, wide-ranging and internationally significant. They include natural history, arms and armour, and art from many art movements and periods of history. The most famous painting on display at Kelvingrove is the Salvador Dali masterpiece ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’. Sir Roger the Asian (stuffed) elephant is another exhibit. There is even a Spitfire plane hanging from the ceiling in one of the rooms.

Then, of course, off to lunch. We decided to go to a trendy area near the university called Ashton Lane. It has lights overhead and is full of restaurants, pubs and cafes. We were walking down the street and heard our names being called. One of the guys we met at Tennents Bar saw us so we stopped and talked with him. He suggested a restaurant in a converted church where you could watch a play, have a pint and a pie for 10 pounds. We thought that would be fun so we headed over there. Unfortunately, we were late so couldn’t get in to see the play. We stayed for lunch and a pint though. When the play was over the people watching came into the bar and wouldn’t you know it a lady started chatting us up. The people here are very friendly. That is one thing that I’ll remember forever.

We then went to another museum called Tenement House, a flat in an 1892 tenement building. At first glance, the Tenement House appears to be an ordinary middle-class tenement from the late 19th century. However, when you step inside, the accurately restored four rooms appear as if frozen in time and provide a rare glimpse into life in Glasgow in the early 20th century. Shorthand typist Miss Agnes Toward lived here from 1911 until 1965, and preserved her furniture and possessions with love and care. She held on to all sorts of things that most people would have thrown away. There was even a jar of plum jam made in 1929! It’s like stepping into the past. I was surprised at how big the rooms were but this was a middle class home not a working class home. I, also, got a sense of what it meant to be an ‘independent woman’ at that time.

We were so full from lunch (and I have to fit into my dress for a wedding I’m attending in a week) so we decided to forego dinner and go back to the flat to start packing for our journey home. I feel like I’ve been gone for a long time.
I will try to add photos when I get home but there are some from every day I posted on Facebook.