Scotland II

The free internet computer in this hostel seems not to allow me to upload the day's pictures so text will have to suffice until I decide to spend £££ in an internet cafe. While on the hostel subject, I met not one but TWO Norwegians working here. I love surprising them with the old "Jeg snakker norsk" line. They said I can speak quite well for just 9 months.

Today I went to see the built-in-12th century Gothic pile that is Glasgow cathedral. The hodge-podge architecture is great and it has a massive crypt, a must if you're building a cathedral in my opinion. Supposedly, the cathedral was constructed the site of St. Mungo's tomb, patron saint of Glasgow. There is also a museum about religious life and art next to the cathedral that takes his namesake. Originally I thought the guy who wrote the Glasgow section in my travel book was just cheap, but it turns out that all museums in Glasgow are free!

So was the Necropolis, which my Greek friends would tell you means city of the dead. Victorians obsessed with death and flush with money from burning coal built thousands of elaborate tombs and monuments ranging from Celtic crosses to obelisks. It's a massive and scenic graveyard, but kind of neglected and deserted in an eery sort of way. It closes at dusk, presumably to let the ghouls have free reign.

Tonight I head to a concert at Glasgow Green. The University of Strathclyde music society will put on a show of Elgar and Beatles; I fully expect the green to be lush with great oaks and those quaint red telephone booths...