Glasgow

 We have seen many of these scenes, these taken from the train.
Brilliant yellow fields of Rapa seed "Canola oil". 
  
Now on to.....

Warm day to enjoy the largest city in Scotland.

The downtown pedestrian walkway ... just like being on La Rambla.

We visited their museums. This is the Kelvingrove. 

Opened ~ 1901

We viewed some of their street murals......

..... big !

There are many Glasgow colleges...this particular one was started back in 1451.

And of course .....there is the Glasgow Cathedral.
This building was consecrated in 1197 and actively used for more than 800 years.

Walk'about

......of Edinburgh aka "auld Reekie". Older bldgs appear black....due to years of smog. Most early bldg. were made of soft sandstone which easily absorbs soot. Soot from their many homes burning coal and smoke from the nearby railway lines. Example ..

Edinburgh is a busy, busy place and ... not very "charming".

Ice Cream !?....or maybe the oysters. Hmmm

Their Museum....original building completed in 1888.

and...their new addition in 2011.

The Grand Gallery ~ late 1800's ! A splendid interior !

St Giles Church ~  on the Royal Mile.
The Royal Mile is the main walkway between Castle Hill/fort + Holyrood Palace.

A busy Church

A farewell to Edinburgh, now we take the train to Glasgow.

Edinburgh

                 We are having a...

This is the view up.. to Edinburgh Castle / Fort on the hill.

One of the Castle structures....

...and the view down on Princes Gardens from the Castle wall.

~ Princes Gardens ~

it included a tour of..

They reside here in late summer.

Holyroodhouse ~ "Palace"

T'was a lovely visit, followed by...

Charming York

York Minster ~ the largest gothic cathedral in northern Europe.

York is a fortified city with the river protecting one side .

Walking the fort walls around the city allows a peek into private property.

The downtown areas are historic walks...above is the well known Shambles. The 2nd floor of the buildings almost touch.

Remains of St. Mary's Abbey c.1080 are above. It was the largest and wealthiest of all Benedictine institutions in northern England. It now provides a lovely park setting.

These walls show addditions over "many centuries".

The York Castle Museum was a fun walk thru York's history.

Their Railway Museum is one of the best anywhere !

Charming city, indeed.

Train to York

....now departing London 'n north to York.

                                   May 6 ~ 8