I just blew in from the windy city...

Now the windy city in the song is actually Chicago but the wind had started to blow a bit in Glasgow "The Day" as I got off the bus. The wind made the clouds move across the sky pretty sharpish so got a day of showers then almost immediately sunshine, then showers again. Rainshine is a good way to describe today. Well if Eskimos are meant to have over 100 words for snow then Glaswegians should have over 200 for rain!! :)

Anyway, decided today to go down to Trongate and walk all the way along Argyle Street then up to Cadogan Street. But decided to cut through George Square on the way down. Glad I did cause got to see this...



The coolest VW beach buggy sitting in George Square outside the City Chambers!! It was built by the young people of the Clydebank College EVIP Project. They were at the City Chambers for a presentation. Everyone involved in this project should feel extremely proud as this vehicle just looked fantastic!! The photo from the back does not do the engine justice. It was a work of art in itself. If I had the money I would have made them an offer to buy it!!

And then down George Street. Now I had heard a rumour that Google had become worried about this blog putting Google Street View out of business in Glasgow. Rumour had it that they were putting more cars out on the streets in order to compete with my tours. Well here is the evidence!!!

Google Street View car at the traffic lights. Now this may also mean that I will appear taking a photo of this car in George Street Street View in the next few weeks!!

For those of you reading this blog that have never met me, then look for a handsome man in his mid 20's, about 6 foot 2 with dark hair. For those who have met me... Shhhhh!! Don't spoil the illusion!!! :)

So eventually down onto Trongate. This is a very old part of Glasgow. The top picture is the famous Tollbooth Steeple, which is all that remains of the Tollbooth building built in 1627. And the bottom one is of the nearby Mercat Cross, which is a common sight in market towns to mark the centre of commerce for the area. Any merchandise brought into Glasgow had to pay a toll. The merchanise was weighed here with a "tron", which is a type of beam or balance used for weighing things and comes from the French word "trone" meaning scales. Trongate simply means the way to the tron. So that's where the name comes from. Up until 1790 this steeple was surrounded by spikes where the heads of the executed would be hung as a warning to others!! (And yes I had to look all that up when I got home :) ) But it is a truly unique area. A real icon of Glasgow.

And here is another iconic Glasgow building. The old Tron church steeple which now forms part of the Tron theatre. This steeple dates from 1636 and is all that remains of St. Mary's church. And there is that angel that appeared in this blog back on 1st June. That seems so long ago now!!

This plaque is on the side of the Tron theatre building just below the angel. It commemorates the fact that this was also the first meeting place of the Glasgow police force when they were formally established in 1800.

There is the Glasgow crest again. This time inside the Tron steeple archway. Once you start looking for this crest you pretty much see it somewhere on every building in Glasgow!!

This is the impressive building that forms the corner of Glassford Street and Trongate. From what I can gleam this building was built in 1903 for the National Bank of Scotland. It stands on the site of the Shawfield Mansions which belonged to John Glassford, one the greatest tobacco lords, and after whom Glassford Street is named.

Crossing over from Trongate into Argyle Street now. And who should I bump into but Papa Joe out collecting for Yorkhill Children's Foundation!! Now it is only 2 weeks since I first met Papa Joe when I did the Street Theatre post. But meeting him today was like meeting an old friend. Turns out he is still following this blog which was great to hear. Thank you. So if you are reading this then was great seeing you and hope to bump into you again soon.

Here is the link again to have a look at the great work they do at Yorkhill and why Papa Joe is out here doing his bit to collect for them. http://www.yorkhillchildrensfoundation.co.uk/

If you do bump into Papa Joe in your travels through Glasgow please donate what you can and also tell him the "Glasgow the Day man" sent you!! :)

Now this building brings back memories of my childhood. This for me will always be Lewis's. And the 3rd floor was the toy department. An Alladin's cave for me as a child. This is where I walked about wide eyed looking at Star Wars toys and Airfix kits. Lewis's also had a big part to play in my Christmas. It was here that had the best Santa's grotto. You used to be able to walk through it with little snow scenes before you got to talk to Santa. And Christmas wasn't Christmas until Lewis's had decorated all their front windows with little Christmas scenes with mechanical Elves and Santas and Reindeer.

It is now Debenhams and the ground floor is different stores. But I think these stores should get together at Christmas and recreate the old Lewis's Christmas scenes for the kids!!
If you are old enough to have memories of this then please leave a comment or send me an email.

Across the road a view up the Argyll Arcade. Note this is actually spelt differently from Argyle Street. People used to be pretty flexible with the whole spelling thing!!

This wonderful wee arcade that runs in an L shape round into Buchanan Street was built in 1828 as if full of jewelry stores. Many an engagement ring has been bought in here by Glaswegians. Including the one I bought for my now wife. :)

Along Argyle Street a wee bit more, through a small archway leads into a courtyard which contains Sloan's bar. Glasgow's oldest bar and restaurant established in 1797. See :http://www.sloansglasgow.com/history.htm

I've never actually been in here before and once again a cool wee hidden corner of Glasgow.

On the corner of Buchanan and Argyle Street another Glasgow landmark. The House of Frasers store. Frasers has been trading on this site since 1849. A wonderful old building both inside and out. Will maybe see if they will let me take some photos inside when I go down Buchanan Street one day.

Just further down Argyle Street from Frasers are these two giant sculptures holding up the doorway. They are seemingly called Stewart and Macdonald after the company Stewart & Macdonald limited that built the warehouse building that this is the entrance to.

KFC and Waterstones at the corner of Argyle and Union Street. But for a lot of Glaswegians, including myself, this will always be the Boots corner as a Boots the Chemist traded here for many years. It was a famous meeting point for couples. People have told me that was because it had a clock on it and meant you knew what time it was. Also seems to have been called the "dissy" corner. Since if you get stood up in Glasgow it is called "getting a dissy".

http://www.glescapals.com/profiles/dissycorner1.htm

Anyone have memories of this or shed anymore light on it?

The bridge over Argyle Street at Central Station. Also known as the "Heilanman's Umbrella". Now umbrellas been bit of a theme for this week. This name comes from the fact that Highlanders would gather under here while waiting for the trains back home.

The bridge really is an amazing structure and if you look at the picture closely you can see the roof detail inside. Underneath is seems to be an almost random collection of shops and food outlets. Could do an entire post just on this bridge alone.

Couple of shots of the Radisson SAS Hotel that opened in 2002. Really is quite an original piece of design. Though it is a luxury hotel so perhaps need Golden Balls to stay here ?? :)
The balls are actually from the Biggar's Pawn Shop across the road. Perhaps a handy facility if you find you have spent too much at the mini-bar in your room? :-)

After that headed up West Campbell Street and onto Cadogan Street. Another tour complete. And one I again really enjoyed. Got to visit some old favourites, discover some stuff I've never seen before, relive old memories and then there is the random events that make any city walk an adventure, like finding a cool beach buggy or meeting Papa Joe.

Though wouldn't be being fair to Glasgow "The Day" if didn't mention tonight's big event!! Take That are playing at Hampden to relight the fire of all their old fans!! Took this photo of a souvenir stall outside Central Station selling flags and pink cowboy hats for the big event and doing some good trade. If Take That are reading this then welcome to Glasgow!!

Be well, be happy!!