Glasgow

I made it. The trains, as you know, from a previous post did not run. The rails were submerged. They may not be usable for upwards of two weeks or more. It was a very long bus ride, nearly ten hours. The congestion on the A6 through the heart of England into Scotland was severe. It looked like I95 south of Washington during a summer rush hour with vacationers and commuters all going in the same direction on a Friday afternoon. The extent of the flooding was evident along each side of the motorway. Rivers were well beyond their banks. Planted fields and pastureland alike were underwater. Some towns have been completely cut off, especially Tewkesbury. Others are without, and will be for a time, both water and power.

Pipe School is demanding. The memorization required is a little more than I am accustomed to, but, in time, my feeble brain may muster the energy to pull it off. Regrettably, the workload has allowed only the shortest of walks here and there in Glasgow. The Piping Centre is near the Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University. The main building of the Art School, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau style, is impressive. It sits on a high ridge in the heart of the city. Its view of the city, and especially of the Clyde River, is memorable.

Glasgow feels like San Francisco on the back of one's calves. It also takes its toll on the neck. The ground floor of many buildings look quite modern. To appreciate the city's Victorian past, you have to look up to the first floor and beyond.

That's it for the moment. Peace.