After a restful night’s sleep from traveling all day previously, I wake up early and start planning out my second day in Glasgow. I decide to stretch my legs by walking over to Pollok Country Park and seeing if I can find the Burrell Collection of art.
The park itself had previously won awards for the best park in Europe, and with woodland trails galore, a mansion and art museum on grounds, and fields where one could see the infamous hairy coo, it seemed perfect for my 2nd day of exploration.
In the early morning I walk across the river bridge and through the quaint neighborhoods of South Glasgow. The impact of WW1 and WW2 are felt in the buildings all around me. So much history here. After an hour or so, I come to the park entrance and find a trail through the woods. I’ve no idea where it leads…
Eventually I emerge from the woods onto the grounds of the mansion. It’s an impressive house, no doubt, but not one that I wanted to pay for a tour to see inside. I’d rather enjoy the grounds outside, the gardens within, and even a quaint little hobbit village.
I keep going, and find myself trying to avoid being hit by golf balls from an adjacent course, and in doing so I stumble upon a field with hairy coos in the distance. I fancy myself lucky to see them on my second day in country, and don’t realize how lucky I am, as I won’t see them again for weeks…
In the center of the park is the Burrell Collection, a building holding some very impressive pieces of art. Such a peaceful and serene setting for a museum, and I thoroughly enjoy my time here.
After a full day, I finally make my way out of the park and start walking back towards downtown. The south side of Glasgow is filled with small middle eastern and African communities, which take me back to my time in Kenya. I feel more than comfortable with the halal signs at market shops and the Muslim culture in the air.
Being back in Europe feels so good.
