You know that you've arrived in the new Scotland when...

...you see buskers that look like these guys: dreadlocks, kilts of khaki and brown tartan, Army Surplus accessories and a black golf shirt! But what a sound on Argyle Street in the centre of Glasgow. A total of 5 drummers and a lone piper shaking the windows of every office building in the area.I felt bad that I was out walking by myself when I came across them. It would have been a great way for the whole group to kick start our Scottish experience.

On Friday morning, we made it to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery in the West End of Glasgow. As it turns out Marion, our guide who will be with us for the 11 days of our time in Scotland, is a volunteer guide at the museum and gave us a highlights tour that meant that we got a taste of the breadth of  the museum's offerings in just over an hour. It's amazing - everything from an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus to skeletons of prehistoric animals, to Salvador Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross, to a fabulously comprehensive exhibition of the works of Glasgow centered designer/architect, Charles Rennie Macintosh, whose beautiful metal wall piece above just mesmerized me.

As I was hurrying to the door to make it on time for the bus, I spotted this Shibori style felted jacket. Isn't it stunning? I have no idea where it came from or what its significance is as part of the museum's collection but I had to get a picture of it for all you felting fans.

We finished off the afternoon by driving about an hour outside of Glasgow to visit New Lanark Mills. This World Heritage Site became famous originally as a model industrial community under Robert Owen from 1800-1825.  The villagers/workers at the mill (which included children who were well treated and rewarded for their labour) were provided with decent homes, schools and evening classes, free health care and affordable food. Such ideas that were at least 100 years ahead of their time and laid down the foundation for the cooperative movement which has made its way around the world.

Had it not been for the Scottish mist that dogged us the whole time that we were there, we would have been able to enjoy more fully the idyllic vistas of this valley. As it was I had to content myself with this quick picture of the workers' housing. There are still a hundred or so villagers living in the town although I'm surprised that it's not more...it truly is a magnificent setting.