move in, and lots of walking

I moved in to my new flat, although unpacking has been a struggle.  I will put up pictures soon.  Its the ground floor and the inside is completely modern looking, not trashy and old, and of course mostly Ikea.  Fully furnished and the kitchen was stocked with all the dishes, utensils, and gadgets, so its been pretty smooth.  I've slept a lot the past few nights getting over my jet lag and travel fatigue.  Getting broadband seems to be a bit of hassle but we're working on it and should be up and running soon.

I've been heading to the Conservatory first thing in the morning (8:30 ish) to practice the last couple days cause there are rooms open at that time.  It feels great to be practicing again and I'm looking forward to keeping it up and getting all my audition repertoire under control.  I talked to my teacher briefly and will have my first lesson Thursday or Friday.

Tuesday, I spent close to five hours walking around the city in two different shifts.  After I finished practicing in the morning I wandered through the city centre and over to Merchant City which is where the wealthy merchants built some pretty fancy buildings in the 19th and early 20th century.  Now it is part of the main center with shops, churches, government buildings and such.  

Next I went to the Glasgow Green, a large city park, and to the People's Palace, a social history museum of Glasgow.  I learned about the city's past and its changes through the years.  A very industrial city, Glasgow's population more than quadrupled in the second half of the 19th century causing various housing issues, some of which still exist.  It was known as the Workshop of the British Empire with coal, iron, and steel mining for ship and train building.  It's merchants grew rich importing tobacco and cotton from the New World and reselling it across Europe.  By the mid 20th century most of that industry was dying out and socialist plans came in to place to help the cities struggling poor.  Since the 1960's it has undergone major urban renewal with people moving to suburbs and the cultural life of the city coming into its own.  The museum also had sections on the war and the bomb raids in Glasgow, crime and poverty, and the good and bad effects of alcohol as it pertains to the city of Glasgow.

Later in the afternoon I spent a good while walking around my neighborhood in the Southside.  It is largely residential and some areas have beautiful houses on individual lots, the first I've seen in the city.  The Scottish Ballet school and a modern art gallery with gardens are just across the street so I will be sure to visit those.  I've been a bit slow on taking pictures so far but there will definitely be more to come as I figure out what I am taking pictures of.

The weather has been pretty grey and misty, as I expected, but the people are all nice and welcoming.  Tomorrow I see my first BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra concert and potentially a recital given my teacher in the afternoon.  Lots to look forward to!

 The Glasgow Green is really quite green, not sure how they do that!

 I think its just an office building but it is beautiful on the outside.

 Billy Connolly's Banana Boots, at the People's Palace.

 The Winter Garden at the People's Palace.

 McLennan Arch at the Glasgow Green

 Beautiful and old Merchant City architecture.

View of the city centre and west side from Victoria Bridge