A slightly weird notice warning passengers not to shake their umbrellas in the station!
Outside we took some photos of the Grand Central Hotel main entrance with, just discernible in front, the statue of a firefighter - rather appropriate considering the blaze two days ago at the Glasgow School of Art! It was originally commissioned by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue to remember all the firefighters of the area who had lost their lives, but took on a new meaning when, in October 2001, over 200 firefighters gathered there to honour those who died on September 11th.
We walked the few hundred yards up Hope Street to Sauchiehall Street, where we went past a couple of buskers, one playing a violin and the other panpipes. He was dressed in Central American headdress and clothes.
We reached the Glasgow School of Art, which was roped off and guarded by police and firemen. It was a sorry sight to see the roof in the central section burnt out and the magnificent Charles Rennie Mackintosh windows blown out by the fire.
We talked to a fire marshal who said the library had been totally destroyed, but the firefighters had managed to contain the fire and 90% of the building was undamaged. he also told us that the firemen had taken great personal risks to save such an iconic landmark and had therefore preserved more than expected. The fire marshal was about to go into the school to help sort out the students' art work, much of which had been produced for their degree assessments. It was some consolation that not all the work had been destroyed. Apparently, 20% of it had been lost, so it could have been much worse and, more importantly, nobody was hurt or killed.
The wonderful library windows totally destroyed.
At the rear of the art school is the new Reid Building that houses the GSA Design School. It was opened in April 2014 by Robbie Coltrane, a former student at the Glasgow School of Art.
We left the GSA and walked back along Sauchiehall Street to M&S where I bought a couple of pullovers. Then, after sheltering from the rain, we walked to The Lighthouse, a building designed by Mackintosh for the Glasgow Herald. The tower was built to house an 8,000 gallon water tank to protect the building in case of fire. The Herald occupied the building until the 1980's when they moved and, for the next fifteen years it remained empty. In 1999 it was opened as the Scottish Centre for Architecture and Design. It houses an excellent exhibition of Mackintosh's work.
We took the lift to the 6th floor viewing platform, which had good views across the city to the hills in the distance.
Looking across to the Lighthouse Tower.
Standing high above the surrounding buildings, the tower of the Grand Central Hotel.
A view across the city with the cranes at the numerous construction sites that are being developed all over Glasgow.
I liked this giant creeper 'climbing' across the front of this building.
We stopped for tea in the Lighthouse, in the Doocot Cafe. We learned this was a reference to the fact that the Herald used to have a dovecote at the top of the tower, where they housed pigeons which were used to send news messages. We were shown the impressive spiral staircase that winds all the way up the inside of the tower.
We got back to the hotel to find our room had not been cleaned. We had to wait half an hour before we could return and use it.
We did some research on restaurants and decided to go to Mussel Inn, a fish restaurant a short distance from the hotel along Hope Street. We had an excellent meal, starting with clam chowder, which we both agreed was the best we have ever had! It was a great way to end our day in Glasgow.
Tomorrow afternoon we board Silver Explorer and set sail for Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland. Another Silversea expedition cruise is about to begin!
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