Kelvingrove - Paths that lead us

Early in the morning, Glasgow was anything but bustling, but the sun was bright, the air was crisp and we had all settled in for the bus ride around town. As we warmed up, dozing was about to begin when Terry suddenly exclaimed "Park Here!" and Davey spotted a place among the fallen tree limbs and pulled over. We scurried off the bus, watching out for scattered branches, back into the briskness of the morning. Yes, we were fully awake again, promptly!

Terry took us on what we thought was a short little stroll to see a statue, but it was so much more! We had arrived at Kelvingrove Park, another place listed on the Heritage Trail. In fact, this place is so large that it has no less than 35 important elements to take in. We could not stay that long, but it is on my 'return to Glasgow to see' list!

Once again,  you never know what is hidden just around the corner, and it takes a really great tour guide to make sure that a group of sleepyheads does not miss a thing! Thanks, Terry! Follow the captions for some of your favorite people and some new places!

The tower from the University of Glasgow. We spotted it peeking above the trees as we followed the path to the statue. The University was founded in the 15th Century and was a major center for the 18th Century Enlightenment.

I think everyone except the photographer made it into the photo! It was so cold and at the time we were anxious to see the statue and get back on the warm bus! I came to really appreciate it when the kids just jumped right in when I called out...GROUP PHOTO! They got quite good at organizing themselves very quickly.
In the background you see the University of Glasgow again. 

Look behind the beautiful ladies and you will see "the statue"...far in the background is the Kelvingrove Museum (the one that reminds me of our Smithsonian Museums). Because there was a path, it drew us in!

I can't seem to get the famous statue to rotate, but this is the statue William Thomson, Lord Kelvin. You likely recognize him by the academic robes of Cambridge University. He has his notebook and pen in hand, has his mariner's compass, and his navigation sound machine is at his back. He is remembered here because he entered the University of Glasgow at age 10. By the time he completed his advanced studies at Cambridge, he returned to become the Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow U at ....age 22!   You probably recall him from science classes, however, for he is the guy who proposed the Kelvin scale (for temperature), the Second Law of Thermodynamics, registered over 50 patents, and recorded over 600 academic papers. Whew! That was one busy scientist! (and like me, you did remember all of his accomplishments, didn't  you?)

Scotland is full of statues. They memorialize people for all kinds of things. So guess this one. His name is Lister. Hints: He is wearing his academic robes and was the Professor of Surgery at University of Glasgow. He is most known for his work with antiseptics which was a serious help since plagues and disease of all sort were rampant in his time. Did you make the association with "Listerene"....gargle gargle.

River rising. Remember the heavy rains from the previous three days? The River Kelvin is generally a rather small brook-like thing. Not so on this morning. The current was swift and the water was near the top of the banks. I quite imagine that it was cold as well! Look at the towers in the background.

Look! The fashionistas are awake! When we were not pulling darts out of the downed ladies, they were often found posing for the photographers.

Zoomed in view of the Museum. It is a red sandstone building in the Hispanic Baroque style with flamboyant pinnacled and domed towers. (Well, that is how the guidebook describes it! It fooled me!)

Next up....personality! When kids discover a trail, they are bound to try to follow it til the end. They did not make it acres and acres into the gardens, but they had a great time of discovery as evidenced by many of their photos.

The guidebook calls this statue "The Psalmist." It is supposedly a favorite of the Tree Lovers Society, since it is carved from a fallen tree.

SELF Portraits! 

OK Kiddos, it is time to come home! Back to the bus!

So, the thought for today is this....do you look right out the window each day and put one foot in front of the other and just follow your routine?  OR....do you see a path and wonder where it will take you? Do you take time to smell the roses along the way, to savor the little things that God puts in your path? It might be the strength of a rushing river, swelling to the top of its banks (don't get too close though!), or it might be a fallen tree trunk that someone creatively turned into art, or as I saw in the many photos I did not post, the tiny flowers growing between the cobblestones, the beauty of the bare branches of the trees, the shadows of students admiring the memorial of a person who lived long ago.....The kids saw a lot of these things. They observed the world around them and embraced it. They followed the path to see where God would lead them. I hope they do this for the entirety of their life!
Blessings!