Gorbals 3: Saltmarket to Tradeston

Welcome to my wee photoblog on Glasgow, where we feature the joys and unjoys of walking and cycling through a fascinating, beautiful and often badly run city. For the blog's origin and an alphabetical list of posts see the 'Introduction' post -

http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/introduction.html
Today is 5 October, the second day of the Tommy and Gail Sheridan trial - see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/swingergate-day-2-tommy-and-gail.html
We have been taking pics in the Saltmarket on this beautiful day 
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/saltmarket.html
and are now heading across the Albert Bridge.

We are looking over to the east at the moment. NB: for pics of the Albert Bridge itself  and Glasgow Green see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/09/glasgow-green-2010-scottish-junior-run.html
and for more on the Clyde see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/clydeside.html

Clouds look nice in sepia version

Victoria Bridge in west

We are now across the bridge into Crown St and are in Ballater St; for the front view of this nice development see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/gorbals.html

Glasgow College of Nautical Studies. . .

. . .has an impressively wide curriculum, from Aviation Studies to Beauty Therapy. Their slogan is 'nautical - and so much more', which sounds like a line advertising a lost Carry On film - Carry on Sailing perhaps

Heading west down Ballater St

10 Ballater St, cosy home of Glasgow's Procurator Fiscal. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procurator_Fiscal
The decision to prosecute Tommy and Gail Sheridan was taken by the Edinburgh PF, incidentally. Ask here why prosecute, and they will say 'It wisnae me, honest.'

Arches on Mosque Avenue

Glasgow Central Mosque. See
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/churches-working-and-converted-other.html

Mosque Avenue

What was said to the rose that made it open
was said to me here in my chest.
- Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks)

The idea was to frame the rose so that it was in focus and the frame out of focus. I am not very good at this.

The doom-laden entrance to No 10 (see above)

Looking back

Now at Gorbals Cross

For a spirited defence of the Norfolk Court flats (and its community) that were demolished the previous day see
http://ukhousing.wikia.com/wiki/Norfolk_Court

Looking up Gorbals St

Gorbals St - into town

A warning to parents

For pics of Norfolk Court standing see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/gorbals.html

The Citz

Cleland St, which is opposite. . .

. . .Bedford Lane

Laurieston Rd is the other side of the bridge

'Join the Army. Die for American Oil'

'Fuck Neds' - 'The System is Corrupt'. 'Fuck Neds' is an odd piece of graffiti to find in Glasgow as graffiti is usually the work of neds themselves, ie disaffected white boys (ned = non-educated delinquent). I'd guess that this and the oil slogan across the road are the creation of disaffected Muslim yoof.

'Democracy is a Lie'. Not an uncommon thought and not an uncommon slogan, and especially so among Islamists - fits with the neighbouring graffiti. The fact that there are no spelling mistakes in this wee bunch of street graffiti and it's all quite neat is another indication of a non-white working-class origin. Bad boys: they wouldn't do it within sight of mum and dad at the mosque, however.

In the Citizens Rose Garden

The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sharp and sweet – and breaks the heart.
—Hugh MacDiarmid,
The Little White Rose'

October Roses - so beautiful

'We Are All Slaves'. I like this Neil Innes song -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fC5B778Oeg
I like Neil Innes a lot as it happens. I saw him once being heckled at the Stand Club and he sighed ' Ah, Glasgow - the Sparta of the North'

You can't see it, but there is an old and faded 'PIRA" (Provisional IRA) slogan on the wall. Graffiti of yesteryear.

Now past Cleland St and Citz, heading up Gorbals St

We now swing to right of billboard to look at arches

Out of focus damn it

Cumberland St ahead

Now in Cumberland St, heading west, view off to right

This building has eyes, a nose and a mouth. Glasgow is one of the finest Victorian cities in the world and sometimes it seems as much a city of MR James spookery as of industrial heroics. Or perhaps of Arthur Machen - the world of The Three Impostors - where nothing is what it appears to be - seems never far away in bits of Glasgow such as this, or on days such as this, the second day of the Sheridan trial.

Looking back along Cumberland St

Looking west on Cumberland St

Now coming on to Eglinton St looking left. . .

. . .but we are heading right, into town (Eglinton St becomes Bridge St in a few yards)

Something going up. . .

. . .Ah great, a fast food outlet - just what Glasgow needs more of

Bridge St Underground where we will be heading to soon

The O2 Academy; fab 30s art deco

Let's take a wee detour into Tradeston. . .

. . .and keep our balance

Looking back, I noticed a strange flapping motion under the bridge on the left. . .

. . .so went back. . .

. . .and it was bits of netting

Noticed these drums which I hadn't seen before. No, I have no idea. The poorer parts of Glasgow have many such caches

Back into Tradeston

Not sure what the City Business Centre is or indeed was

I can't help thinking of the 'Tunnel of Goats' in Father Ted

Last 3 pics stitched together

Ah - one of my Bad Posters
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/bad-posters.html

It will go bit by bit; Mr Happy, like Glasgow, is 'Mi etter'

Back under the bridge and in Gorbals

Faded imprint of 'Glaswegian'

That's not my bike, so subway again for me - on to Kelvinbridge, home and a cup of tea. It's been a long day, but not as long as it's been for Tommy and Gail I reckon.