Rainy days and mondays...

"What I've got they used to call the blues,
Nothing is really wrong,
Feeling like I don't belong,
Walking around, some kind of lonely clown,
Rainy days and mondays always get me down"

Got to love the Carpenters.
Was Monday and raining today.

Didn't really have the blues, but was feeling bit tired as I set off.
Though knew it was going to be one of those days...
Firstly it was dry outside until I got 10 steps from the house and then the rain started. Got to end of the street and saw the bus coming. Ran to get it. Got to the bus stop in time. Phew!! Then realise that this bus said "Out of service".
Definitely was going to be one of those days.
Put my face back to let the rain splash on my cheeks and let out a chuckle. Bring it on!! :)

There was only one place to head after that. Hope Street. :)

Now as I said in Thursday's post Hope Street's name has actually nothing to do with having hope or in honour of Bob. It was named in honour of Sir John Hope for his bravery in the Peninsular War against Napoleon. (Was Copenhagen Street before that). However when I think of Hope Street it actually conjures up images of this...

... noisy and full of buses. But today went to see if there was hope to find in Hope Street.

Started up at the Cowcaddens end of Hope Street and walked down. Of course first real building of note right on the end is the Theatre Royal. Not a bad start!!

I'm not a big theatre goer. But best memory of here was a couple of years ago going to see Starlight Express. We were in the first few rows and felt like right in amongst the action of what is a really fun show. Need to make a point of going to the theatre more often.

Maybe a good place to start ? Just seemed appropriate for the weather as I started down Hope Street. :)

Now I said in Friday's post that once you start noticing that Glasgow Crest you see it everywhere. Here it is on the flats across the road from the Theatre Royal. Fine example of red sandstone tenements. These ones date from 1907 according to the sign.

Still within sight of the Theatre Royal and you come across the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama. Now I grew up watching Fame so always expect a troupe of dancers and cello players to come dancing out of here over the cars everytime I pass. So far been disappointed. Maybe it's not like Fame after all ? :)

A Glasgow institution.
Watt Brothers department store on the corner of Hope Street and Sauchiehall Street.
Still going strong since 1910.

And there is the usual Sauchiehall Street crowd. No matter what time of day you seem to be at this crossing it is always busy.

Now this did give me the Monday blues.

The Lion Chambers building. This is a lovely building which has a very unique structure. And it is in a terrible state. Once again it dates from 1907 and was only the second building in Glasgow to be built from concrete. But it is seemingly falling apart and is wrapped in wire mesh to stop bits falling off. From what I can work out the owners want to demolish it but can't as it is a Category A listed building. But going to take a lot of money to restore it. Hopefully something can be done to save this landmark on Hope Street.

Told you about that Glasgow Crest thing. Here was anther interesting adaptation of it the building at the corner of Hope Street and West Regent Street.

There are a number of fantastic pubs and restaurants on Hope Street. Couldn't hope to post them all up here. Will put up the Pot Still though. The pub has a very good whisky collection. Though I always laugh when I think of it cause the night I went here was on business with some guests and I was driving so couldn't have any of the whisky. Had to watch as the guests savoured every drop. Was tempted to go back in today just for a taste ... but it was a bit early in the day for that :)

Then you turn the corner onto West George Street and there is that Tron Church again. Always makes me stop and look at it. Has been designed to look stunning from any angle.

Now down to the junction with St. Vincent Street and this grand old lady. The Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Building. From whay I can gleam again this was built in 1900. It is simply covered in little statues and sculptures. And for once didn't see the Glasgow Crest. But did spot this ...

A Liver Bird in the middle of Glasgow!! This is of course Liverpool's Crest and obviously here as this is the Liverpool Insurance building.

And then down to Gordon Street. And Central Station. Spent the rest of this tour just walking around the station. It really is a wonderful place when you take the time to study it. I used to come through here everyday on my way the college in Paisley. But was always running up the platform as the doors were beeping to close. Hey, I was a student, it's what students do!! :)

And most people do come rushing in and out through here.

But today, taking a bit of time walking about it actually reminded me of the Cathedral. A Cathedral for trains ?
Here are just some of the images that caught my eye around the station.

The Cathedral Steeple ? This grand tower dominates the lower end of Hope Street.

The amazing piece of engineering that is the Central Station Roof. It's only when you walk around you realise just how huge this glass roof is. Makes the station have so much natural light.

This beautiful florist becoming as much a landmark in the station as the old clock.

The Central Hotel. This hotel now seems to be empty ?
However it's claim to fame is that the world's first long-distance television pictures were transmitted to the Central Hotel, on 24 May 1927 by John Logie Baird.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Logie_Baird



Just a small section of the beautiful mosaic that leads down into the Hope Street entrance to the station.

Now outside the station on the corner with Gordon Street. The "Citizen Firefighter" statue by Kenny Hunter. It is a tribute to all firefighters past and present who have served in Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.
You have to love this statue. Nothing abstract here. A larger than life firefighter right there in the street next to you. And it does it's purpose of making you think about those that serve in the fire service.

The canopy behind is the entrance to the Central Hotel. The lion rampant on the crest is the symbol of the Caledonian Railway Company for whom it was built in 1884.

So that was just a wee selection of Hope Street.

It was noisy and full of buses. But it also has some really special buildings. Although this was a day I got lots of strange looks as I photographed them. :)

And finally ... not in Hope Street at all. But have been making a point of going past the Griffin pub on the way home if I can to see each day what is written on their sign. Must go in one day to find out who comes up with this each day. Today had a Wimbledon theme!! Murray mania has begun in Glasgow!! :)

May have been a rainy day and a Monday but with Glasgow humour like this around how can you feel down ?? :)

Be well, be happy!!