THURSDAY
Late start today as Megan and Ethan (Natalie's sister and husband) were video conferencing with her at the Olympic Village and catching up. Made it over to Edinburgh Waverly train station for the 1045 service to Glasgow Queen Street, and after 52 minutes to travel time we were walking over to George Square.
George Square had some Olympic exhibits that I got photos of, including the Olympic Rings. Right next to George Square is the City Chambers which has ornate stairways and walls. We're only allowed entrance to the ground floor there, but the photos will give you a pretty good idea of the details that make the interior of this building stand out.
Walked around a street market nearby with both food and bakery items (I bought a danish as I had missed breakfast), then through the shopping area on Argyle Street before a turn up Buchanan Street which has more upscale shopping. Got a photo at one of Natalie's sponsors, Omega, of a watch display adjoining a small starting block for the pool. No miniature Natalie on it, though. While in this area we had an ambulance and fire engine pass us, en route to emergency calls, and took photos of those.
Once we got to the top of Buchanan Street there were some bagpipe players. Took a photo and left a tip. Just past them turned left by the concert hall and down Sauciehall Street, where there is more shopping, and eventually a couple blocks of restaurants and a kilt maker. Continued into a residential area, turned into Kelvingrove Park, and arrived at our destination of Kelvingrove Museum.
There was filming of a TV program underway for BBC called Flog It (looks a lot like Antiques Roadshow) with a crowd of people waiting to have items looked at. Just before we arrived there was an organ recital underway just above the crowd. Took a number of photos inside, but perhaps the highlight was a controversial piece by Salvador Dali Christ of St. John of the Cross.
Here's one of the pieces where the artist recalls his mother's reaction when he broke some of her china:
Look for the floating heads in the gallery itself.
Lunch stop at Wetherspoons Pub on Sauciehall Street (I had beef madras curry) and then back to the train station where we caught the 1630 train back to Edinburgh. Arrived back in Edinburgh to light rain. Had a light dinner near our hotel at another Wetherspoons (mac and cheese for me) and back to hotel after. Plan to get the 0830 train in the morning to London and have seat reservations in place.
FRIDAY
Caught the 0830 train to London Kings Cross. The normal 4.5 hour trip took 5.5 hours because of a train delay in front of us. Tube to the Coughlins hotel near the London Eye and we arrived in the lobby at 1445. I headed over to my hotel in the financial district to find, to my delight, that the internet is fast and not capped, so got the Glasgow photos right up.
Tonight we're meeting at 7 and heading over to a hospitality event in the City. We'll watch opening ceremonies from there. They don't start here until 2100 (odd time to start, isn't it?).
Glasgow photos start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/2012Olympi...4711&k=7MGQJPZ