Wandering Glasgow

So much for the harsh Scottish winters.  Today was brilliant with light winds and temps of 5-6c/42-43f so a walk was called for.  I wanted to return to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum so I went down a very steep Hope Street  to Sauchiehall Street, a name I just love, that begins as  a traffic free area from the shopping center at Buchanan Galleries eventually after many blocks turning into a vehicle road through a great part of central Glasgow. On the way I noticed a large golden dome.

Which turned out to be Gurdwara Singh Sabha. A Sikh temple.

Outside the only English words were “One God”.  I liked that and went in.  As this was my first time in such a place of worship I sought out the first person I saw to ask if I could enter and how to do so without causing offense.  He directed me to a place to deposit my shoes and where I could get a scarf for a headcovering.  Alas, no turban.  No photos are allowed.  Inside I was educated as to the history and principles  of this religion which I will sum up as: The Sikhs must believe in the following values:
Personal right: Every person has a right to life but this right is restricted and has certain duties attached to it – simple living is essential. A Sikh is expected to rise early, meditate and pray, consume simple food, perform an honest day’s work, carry out duties for his or her family, enjoy life and always be positive, be charitable and support the needy, et cetera.
Actions count: Salvation is obtained by one’s actions – good deeds, remembrance of God – Naam Simran, Kirtan.
Living a family life: A Sikh is encouraged to live as part of a family unit to provide and nurture children for the perpetual benefit of creation (as opposed to living as a wild hermit, which was, and remains, a common spiritual practice in India).
Sharing: It is encouraged to share and give to charity 10 percent of one’s net earnings.
Accept God’s will: One should develop one’s personality so as to recognise the unity behind happy events and miserable events – the will of God causes them.
The four fruits of life: Truth, contentment, contemplation and Naam (in the name of God).

As religions go, this one seems benevolent and humane. I’m glad I went in as I now have a better understanding.

From there I aimed for the Observation Tower at the Science Center on the Clyde.

At 417 ft it is the tallest tower in Scotland and is in the Guinness Record book as the worlds tallest that can rotate 360 degrees with the wind.  Although I had checked before starting my long hike over the Clyde to be sure I could take advantage of such a clear day, it was sadly not open due to winds that were too strong at the top. This part of Glasgow has numerous creative buildings on both sides of the Clyde like BBC Scotland, the Science Center, SSE Hydro Concert Center, the egg shapes Imax theatre and across the Clyde the Riverside Transportation Museum I’ve written about on my 2015 trip.

And from the footbridge some great views of the Clyde.

And tied up to the dock was the PS Waverley, the last sea-going passenger paddle steamer left in the world.

Not to be confused wit the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer on Loch Lomond.  Also described in 2015.

And finally as my 4 hour wander was taking my last remaining juice, Kelvingrove.  Adjacent in the first photo to Glasgow Uiversity.

. I like this one and was lucky to once again be there for the afternoon organ recital. Here are a few shots of the inside starting with the organ room from each end.

By the time the concert ended, my dogs had reduced their barking to a whimper & I wandered about looking for things I had missed before. The Churchill and Roosevelt statues may have been there but I didn’t recall them.

I think the Spitfire was new.

But the Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibit is not new but I very much like his work.  Go back to 2015 where I was able to see his creation in Helensburgh, the Scottish School and his furniture in the Willow Tea room. He does a lot with vertical and open walls.  Brilliant stuff.  Someday I hope to replicate one of his chairs.

But the one thing that I saw that I have never seen anywhere in Scotland although it has become a national meal is a Haggis!  This one was obviously just a baby.

Seems every large city in the UK has curved living spaces as Glasgow has this:

Another interesting building:

It helps if you zoom in for details on some of these shots.

Frasers was still in holiday mode.

Off to England next.  That if Berwick-on-Tweed is still in England as it has changed between Scottish and English rule over a dozen times.