Thursday, 13 August 2015

Frauenkirche, Munich

The Dom su Unserer Lieben Frau (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady), or Frauenkirche as it is commonly known, is a church in Munich that also serves as a cathedral.

Construction began in 1468, but due to financial difficulties, Pope Sixtus IV granted an Indulgence. The church was completed in 1488 and consecrated in 1494. Of the two towers, the tallest is the North Tower, standing at 98.57m, with the South Tower only 0.12m smaller. There is a law prohibiting any building being taller than 99m, which is why you won't see any skyscrapers in the city centre, giving Munich the feel of a small town.

The church suffered severe damage during WWII and had to be restored. One feature which survived was the Teufelstritt (Devil's Footstep), which is believed to be where the Devil himself once stood.  There are a few legends regarding the footstep, one is that the Devil made a deal with a builder so that the church would have no windows. The builder tricked the Devil by building columns to obscure the view of the windows. However, once the building was consecrated, the Devil could not enter and could only stand in the Foyer stamping his foot. He is supposed to have manifested his evil spirit in the wind, which rages furiously around the church.

Buried in the church are the tombs of many Archbishops, Dukes and even King Ludwig III and Louis IV, the Holy Roman Emperor.



Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Nelson's Monument, Glasgow

This monument was the first civic monument in Britain to honour Admiral Horatio Nelson's victories, being built in 1806, and was restored in 2002 to the cost of £9,000 to repair damage from over the centuries. It is one of the many sights you can see when visiting Glasgow Green.

The obelisk on its plinth reaches a height of 144 feet. At the base of the monument, some of Nelson's most famous battles are enscribed, including Aboukir (1798), Copenhagen (1801) and Trafalgar (1805), where he was shot and killed. Nelson was so popular that approximately 80,000 people attended the laying of the foundation stone.

Monday, 10 August 2015

Glasgow Green, Glasgow

McLennan Arch (entrance blocked off during Commonwealth Games 2014)

Glasgow Green is Glasgow's oldest park, having been established in the 15th century during the reign of Kings James II. A short walk from the city centre, it is home to some of Glasgow's oldest sporting clubs, and has seen artists such as Michael Jackson and the Stone Roses perform on the grounds.It also boasts an orienteering course, play village and more. It was even the meeting place of suffragettes between 1830 and 1914.

Glasgow Green Football Centre can be found on Flesher's Haugh, the very site Rangers FC played their first ever game in 1872. The Football Centre features 18 different football pitches.

Other landmarks include Nelson's Monument, the Doulton Fountain, the People's Palace and Winter Gardens and McLennan Arch.


Stage with performances during the Commonwealth Games 2014 with the Winter Gardens conservatory to the right

Sunday, 9 August 2015

River Clyde, Glasgow


The River Clyde is the second longest river in Scotland (8th longest in the UK) and flows through Glasgow, playing a big part in ship building and trade, particularly throughout the times of the British Empire, and even earlier during the early medieval Kingdom of Strathclyde. A walk along the river on a nice sunny day offers amazing views of the city and surrounding buildings.