Clyde | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Glasgow River Clyde Scotland

May 30, 2015 by David Herd

More interesting than I expected.

Glasgow River Clyde Scotland

Glasgow River Clyde Scotland was our destination after we drove from Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands. My English friend Bill Austin who was happy to do all the driving. Both cities are vastly different, Edinburgh rather cultured and conservative and Glasgow brash and noisy.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow.

It reopened in 2006 after a three-year refurbishment and since then has been one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions.

Clyde Auditorium Glasgow.

The Clyde Auditorium is commonly referred to as “The Armadillo”. Apparently the animal was not the inspiration for the building, nor was the Sydney Opera House the inspiration for the building, but rather the shape was modeled after an interlocking series of ship’s hulls, in reference to the Clyde’s shipbuilding heritage.

Glasgow Tower

Glasgow Tower is a free-standing tower located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland and forms part of Glasgow Science Centre complex. It holds a Guinness World Record for being the tallest tower in the world in which the whole structure is capable of rotating 360 degrees. It has been closed for more than 80% of its life. It re-opened to the general public in July 2014.

Gorgeous girl at the Boudoir.

The Boudoir wine bar in Merchant Square was a real bonus for us in Glasgow, great atmosphere, good snacks and nice girls behind the bar. Put it on your list as a great place to visit.

Jamie Olivier’s Italian restaurant.

Food here was very good indeed.

David Herd & Bill Austin in Glasgow.

Here we are at another bar. 🙂

Glasgow River Clyde Scotland

Most cities I visit the first thing I do is take the bus tour to get my bearings.

Tollbooth Steeple

Standing on an island in the middle of Glasgow Cross is the Tolbooth Steeple, built in 1625-26 at what was the crossing point for the main streets of Glasgow at that time. The Steeple is all that remains of the old Tolbooth buildings which were demolished in 1921. The Tollbooth was the site of the Glasgow Council Chambers until 1814, when the council sold the Tolbooth and moved to Jail Square in the Saltmarket, before eventually moving to the current City Chambers on George Square. The 126ft tall Steeple was repaired in 2008 after cracks were discovered in the structure, along with masonry, lead and guttering repairs. The Tolbooth Steeple was where the public hangings of Glasgow used to occur. Along with the nearby Tron Theatre, it is one of the few remaining medieval buildings in the city.

Glasgow River Clyde Scotland George Square

George Square is today home to the headquarters of Glasgow City Council, and boasts an important collection of statues and monuments, including those dedicated to Robert Burns, James Watt, Sir Robert Peel and Sir Walter Scott.

George Square Glasgow

The heart of the city.

Gallery of Modern Art

Opened in 1996, the Gallery of Modern Art is housed in a neoclassical building in Royal Exchange Square in the heart of Glasgow city centre. Built in 1778 as the townhouse of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, a wealthy Glasgow Tobacco Lord, the building has undergone a series of different uses. It was bought in 1817 by the Royal Bank of Scotland who later moved onto Buchanan Street; it then became the Royal Exchange. Reconstruction for this use was undertaken by David Hamilton between 1827 and 1832 and resulted in many additions to the building, namely the Corinthian pillars to the Queen Street facade, the cupola above and the large hall to the rear of the old house.

University of Glasgow

I think this may have been around for a few hundred years. In fact the university has been located in the city’s West End since the 1870s. The incredible main building is found high up on a hill, making it an iconic sight in Glasgow. It is a popular attraction with travelers who stop to admire its whimsical look.