Day # 8 - Glasgow is CLOSED!

Since our inn was so close to downtown Glasgow, we were literally steps away from the largest brewery in Glasgow- Tennent Caledonia. We considered doing a later afternoon tour that day if we could, but it wasn't a high priority, as our primary goal was to visit the Glasgow Necropolis & Cathedral that day.

Surrounding the massive brewery were brick walls with some pretty impressive artwork for the brewery. And who doesn't love al fresco artwork, even if it's for beer?

The Necropolis (cemetery) was located right next to the Cathedral, and both were very near the brewery. I was far too excited to do the outdoors (Necropolis) experience first, as it was supposed to rain that day. The cemetery has over 50,000 people buried there, but as was common at the time, only the most prominent (merchants, usually) could afford headstones. Those same wealthy merchants also funded the bridge they built to connect the nearby Cathedral to the cemetery.

This is the bridge built to connect the cathedral to the cemetery.

The Glasgow Cathedral

Rich was happy to find the monument for the Scottish poet of the rhyme, "Wee Willie Winkie." I had never heard of it or him. ;-) 

Every time we visit a cemetery, I pick out the monument I feel is most fitting and appropriate for me, and show it to Ryan.

Sadly, our tour of the area ended at the necropolis, as we once we walked over to the Cathedral, we found it was closed due to COVID (closure #1).

We planned to head over to the Glasgow Riverside Museum next, but found that it too, was closed, and reopening the day we were leaving town (closure #2).

So we adjusted course, and headed to town in search of a particular architectural wonder (the City Chambers) I had read about. We were temporarily distracted by yet another open air shopping district/mall on the way, but it was fine, as we got to cruise a few international stores we enjoy and buy a donut to nosh on. ;-)

We were thrilled to find the building, coincidentally in St. George's Square (another destination on the walking tour). The City Chambers were built in the later 1800s, in the Italian Renaissance style (another favorite of mine). The interior arches/stained glass are breathtaking, and have been featured in more than a few films (as the Kremlin or Vatican). There are free daily tours, and I was angling for one...but- the tours were paused/closed due to COVID (closure #3).

So instead of a tour, we got to peer through the doors instead. Almost the same experience! ;-) 

I am not ashamed (well, only partially ashamed) to say we had spied a Five Guys on our last day in Edinburgh, which excited Ryan immensely. But we had to tell him we had dinner reservations that night and that we couldn't eat there...so we promised him we would try to find another one later. And you know what? Just like in the US, it was...amazing. We loved our meal!!! 

On our our walk back through town, we stumbled upon something we did not expect- an Asian food store/restaurant. Ryan was thrilled to grab his favorite furikake nori chips and ramune drink.

So despite Glasgow largely being closed to us, we ended our day fat and happy! 

We left town in the early evening so we could catch a later afternoon tour at Tennant Caledonia, but surprise, surprise...we couldn't book the tour! Not closed, but closed to us. ;-) So it was time to end our walking tour and enjoy a quiet evening in one of our favorite places to stay...the Seton House.