Finding Family and Being Tourists

We've noticed that both the English and the Scots are mad about their dogs -they're allowed in a lot of places, like pubs. In Dumfries we ate at a bar called The Granary, which had a set of Dog Rules!

We spent a few days in Dumfries as this is where Graham's forbear (Wellwood Anderson) left for NZ.The local Council genealogic service helped him find Wellwood's brother, Captain Sir James Anderson who commanded the ship which laid the first trans-Atlantic cable - very exciting! We visited his grave at St Mary's Greyfriars Church, there were more Andersons in the neighbouring grave. 

While in Dumfries we took day trips - visited Caerlaveroch Castle, a ruin but really impressive; the very ancient Celtic Ruthwell Cross, now beautifully housed in the old Ruthwell Church; Drumlanrig Castle, still in use by the Duke of Buccleuch and very magnificent; and several places associated with Robert Burns - his house in Dumfries, his memorial in the grounds of St Michael's Church, and Brow Well which we accidentally found on the way to Ruthwell - the poet visited to "take the waters" for his health, it didn't work unfortunately as he died shortly after.

We also visited Anderson's Kilts - a very busy kilt hire and Highland apparel business, it was great to check out the latest trends and compare experiences with someone in a similar business to ours. Then back to Glasgow - got some rain there, but managed to do touristy things - hop on/hop off bus tour, went to Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and had High Tea in the Salon de Luxe at the Willow Tearooms with its lovely Charles Rennie MacIntosh designs.