Cathedral, Necropolis, Big Parade

What do you want? Independence.  When do you want it? Now.  That was what the 17,000 people were shouting in a parade for a referendum to vote for independence again. They were also shouting "Out Tories." Some guy gave me a small flag that says Referendum 2 Yes. I put it in my purse in case the opposition came to beat me up but I kept it to give to Teddy for its historical significance.

This seemed to be the only "float"; it was on bicycles

The March

Prior to running into the parade, we went to the Glasgow Cathedral, otherwise known as St. Mungo's or St. Kentigern's who are the same person, the patron saint of Glasgow. His tomb is in the lower crypt which was built in the mid-1200s. The cathedral is one of the few medieval churches and  the only church in Scotland to have survived the Reformation. It's huge and very impressive. It's always difficult to find out when the stained glass windows were made but all of them are beautiful. Some were made in the 1950s to replace some from the 1860s.

I'm partial to the blue and/or purple stained glass

St. Mungo's Cathedral from the front

and the back

From the church, you walk up a mountain to the Necropolis (cemetery) where 50,000 of your wealthier citizens are buried. It has great views of the city from the top and wasn't as bad as I thought. You walk up a windy paved path, stopping along the way to look at ornate gravestones. Some of Glasgow's most prominent citizens are buried there. There is a monument to John Knox who is not. As with all the parks in Glasgow, people take their dogs for walks there. I've seen lots of Scottish terriers which you rarely see in the US and also Westies.

The highlight of the trip to the Necropolis 

For lunch, we went to a pub called the Piper and had angus burgers.  For dinner, we went to the only Russian restaurant in Scotland--at least that's what their sign says. It was packed. I think the Scots (or the tourists) are looking for any kind of food that isn't Scottish.  Our meals have been mediocre; the food in Ireland and England is much better. And finally:

This piper was playing on the pedestrian shopping street; older men rushed to give him money; I'm guessing playing is a dying art.