Dundee: The Sunniest City (in Scotland)

It’s been a busy week or two.  I moved flats (How does that expression go? Good friends will help you move. Really good friends will help you move a body. Really really good friends will help you haul 50-pound suitcases through the London Underground. Or something like that). And last week I was in Dundee for work. Everyone there seemed to feel the need to make excuses for the place, but I thought it was lovely. Green and slightly hilly and just like I’ve always pictured Scotland to be (They are knocking down a few buildings in the City Centre, but I was staying and working more on the outskirts).

Dundee Airfield

Dundee and Fife across the Tay River.

The Botanical Gardens

St Andrew’s Cathedral, built in 1158 (!) and ruined during the Reformation. Thanks Wikipedia!

St Andrews

This one’s for you Grampy.

Castle in St Andrews

Back in Dundee

A shot of Dundee from the water

It’s hard to get a shot that captures the Tay bridge, but I have about 40 attempts. This one came out the winner, mostly because of the train.

It’s okay little bridge that is not the Tay, I’ll take your picture too.

The RRS Discovery, sailed by Captain Scott on his more successful mission to the Antarctic. His next ship…didn’t quite make it to a museum.

The McManus Gallery (opted for this instead of the Discovery because it was free)

Things you may not know about Dundee: Grand Theft Auto was created there. Also, they produced the factory there produced first Timex watch in 1950

Churchill was an MP for a bit

Robbie Burns

Two ladies from Dundee were sent as journalists around the world in the late 1800s. These are their comments for Canada.

European log boat from 485 AD

Piece of a gate from when the Romans were around. For Mom and Dad: the markings apparently indicate it’s by one of the guys who built Hadrian’s wall.

Pictish stone

Scottish dancing (or is it just dancing there?) in the city square. Apparently this was part of some festival, but I like to imagine it happens every day at 4 in Dundee.

Desperate Dan