Wednesday 9th July 2025

My friend, Simon, since he retired, has been undertaking trips to various cities and towns around Britain, and visiting interesting buildings, churches, and photographing them.

I like that idea, and Simon's favourite city was Glasgow, so I thought I would spend just a day here, getting a feel of the city, and to ride the Subway.

Glasgow is the only UK city other than London with an underground railway, though Glasgow's is pretty much just a loop, its tunnels are of a small bore, and they have recently taken delivery of some smart new trains.

I would ride that too.

There is the cathedral, and maybe a traditional Glasgow boozer too for a pint or two of heavy or eighty shilling.

We shall see.

I lollygagged in bed until half seven, maybe later, then going down for breakfast where the choice was either linked or Lorne sausage.

I chose both, along with bacon and hash browns. And coffee.

Lorne wins by a landslide thanks to rough texture and taste. One more coffee, then off I go.

I would make for the cathedral and Necropolis beyond. I had "Maps" on my phone, so wouldn't get lost.

I walked past the bus station, then up Cathedral Street, through the University, taking my time as although it wasn't sunny, it was hot and humid.

I reach the cathedral and find there were multiple walking tours, each lead by someone with a flag on a stick, and a flock of blank-eyed people with earphones listening to every word, but not paying attention.

The cathedral is impressive, the Nave was bare with no pews or chairs, the Chancel and Quire, large and round, and filled with two tours.

Underneath St Mungo/Kentigern is buried, and the columns supporting the cathedral above made for very pleasant patterns and shapes.

The glass was stunning, but didn't have my big lens, so will return, maybe, on another occasion.

To the south is the Bridge of Sighs (another one) leading over a road and up to the Necropolis.

I won't lie, it was slog climbing up, but I made it 80% to the top, all around were memorials to the great and good and dead from 19th century civic and industrial Glasgow.

Not very Gothic on a bright summer's day, would have been much more atmospheric on a gloomy winter's afternoon.

I walked back down, back over the bridge, then taking a break, I bought an iced coffee from an independent place, sat outside to watch the world go by.

I was making for George Square, which is very picturesque, and on all four sides, huge and impressive civic buildings. Sadly, for me, it is being renovated and the whole square is hidden behind hoardings, so the buildings only half-seen.

Sigh.

Best ride the subway, then.

I walk up to Queen's Street, as I walked past the entrance the afternoon before. Then down the travelator to the foyer, bought an all day ticket for £4.60, and went down to catch a train.

The trains run of foot foot gauge, and through tunnels 11 feet in diameter, smaller than even the deep tube lines in London. And the trains themselves are far smaller than any in London.

But they are new, modern, air conditioned. I like them.

I rode to Ibrox station so to see the football stadium. I had hoped to see Ibrox and Parkhead, but Parkhead is not served by the subway, being further out from the centre.

Ibrox was hiding behind the station, so I didn't see it at first. But walking back along the street outside, I saw the floodlights and top of a stand. It stands in the middle of a huge concrete car park, isolated from the buildings surrounding it.

I took some shots and walked back to the Subway station.

I rode round the outer until I came back to Bridge Street, as I thought this the most modern and photogenic with its island platform and no screens to ruin the shots.

As luck would have it, as I got of the train, one was on the inner platform, so I got the shots I wanted in less than two minutes, and could have got on the train to take me to St Enoch station, where I hoped I would find a pub and a place for lunch.

After a half hour wandering, I came across a small bar beside the Museum of Modern Art, they supplied me with several ice cold pints of Tennents and what they described as a "posh fish supper".

The batter contained gin, and the fish came with a scallop. And it was magnificent.

I ate it all and called for another pint as dessert.

I was done in. Nearly 17,000 steps, and it being sunny, hot and humid. I walked back to the hotel, up beside Queen's Street, then up West Nile Street, diving in the entrance, going up the lift and into my ice cold room.

Phew.

I had another shower, and lots of cold water, but wasn't hungry. So I stayed in the room, listening to podcasts and watching yet more football.

Outside, there was sirens, people shouting. It all went quit when I closed my eyes and fell asleep.