Scottish Enlightenment

Ed  and I saw the city in style today taking the Hop On, Hop Off bus to visit many of the sights around Glasgow.  It is a large city with many of the points of interest several miles from our hotel. We were able to have the guided tour of the city and a ride to our first stop, the Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

Glasgow Botanic Garden is an Arboretum and public park.  It features several glasshouses, the most notable is Kibble Palace.  The gardens were created in 1817 and were intended to supply the University of Glasgow with botanic specimens.  In Kibble Palace the main plant group is the collection of Australian tree ferns, some of which have been there for 120 years.

There are also several marble statues in Kibble Palace.

Ed and I had a very lovely lunch in the newly open Tea Room.  It looks like it has been a tea room for several years, but it has only recently been opened.  It is the former Curator's home.  I enjoyed a spicy carrot soup with a cheese & onion sandwich, and Ed had the spicy tuna.  The sandwiches were accompanied with some very delicious vegetable crisps. 

http://www.glasgowbotanicgardens.com/the-gardens/view-a-virtual-tour/

The University of Glasgow is not far from the Botanic Gardens.  To get there we walked down Byres Road.  It called the heart and soul of western Glasgow.  There is something for everyone on this street.
.http://www.byres-road.co.uk/
Glasgow University was founded in 1415! It was a leading centre of the Scottish Enlightenment during the 18th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Glasgow#History

A quick stroll through the main hall to the other side and we arrived at a view overlooking Glasgow downward toward Kelvingrove Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvingrove_Park

Our destination was Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. The building was constructed in 1888 with the proceeds of the Great Exhibition in Glasgow.  It houses several art collections, but what I had wanted to see was Salvador Dali's painting, Christ of Saint John on the Cross.

We returned to the city centre around 5pm and walking back to our room saw that the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GOMA) was open until 8pm this evening.  All of the museums and art galleries are free in Glasgow, and I felt I couldn't pass up the chance to a free admission.  (I hope that is not saying something about my Scottish roots).

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We found an Italian restaurant close to our hotel for dinner, then it was back to the room.  I was ready for a nice relaxing soak in the spacious bathtub.  Aaaaah.