Cradles--our initial "baby steps"

In March 2017, our first trip to Scotland, instead of accepting being marooned inside Glasgow International for 5 1/2 hours to catch the commuter flight over to the Isle of Islay, we opted for taking a couple hours walking adventure through Paisley in Renfrewshire, just south of Glasgow International on the White Cart River which empties into River Clyde opposite Clydebank.

To orient the reader unfamiliar with the area, Glasgow International (GLA) is west of central Glasgow and south of the River Clyde.  Paisley is just south of GLA:

 Called "The Cradle of Kings," Paisley Abby was where Marjorie the Bruce (c. 1296-1316 A.D.), the eldest daughter of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, prematurely gave birth to Robert II--the first Stewart (Stuart) King of Scotland.

March 21, 2017  Tomb of Majorie de Brus Stewart, Paisley Abby

Marjorie, the story goes, was out horseback riding while heavily pregnant.  Her mount was startled, and threw Majorie to the ground and into labor.  She was taken to Paisley Abbey, where Robert II was born.  Marjorie  died shortly after delivery.  Thus, quite literally, Paisley Abbey is the "Cradle of Kings".

March 21, 2017  James Hogg bust, Paisley Museum

We made a waystop visit to Paisley Museum, intending to look with a "working eye"...to see how their various historical artifacts were displayed, which naturally is of interest to the Idaho County Historical Society and to Grangeville's Bicentennial Museum here.

Paisley is of course the name of a fabric...a fabric that made Paisley (who discovered the technique while in India/Pakistan) both famous and rich.  Textiles are prominently featured in the museum.

Proving a "who'da thunk it" tourist methodology, in a portico on the way up the stairs in Paisley Museum, I was surprised to find a marble bust of James Hogg (1770-1835 A.D.)  Hogg today is unknown in most literary circles.

Hogg, somewhat a cult author, wrote one of my personal favorite fictions--"The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner" (published in 1824).

It is a screamer--a psychological thriller, an early example of a crime fiction written from the perspective of the criminal.  Perhaps it is considered in the genre of "Gothic novels".  In any case, it is a disturbing tale, truly dark satire.  Hogg details the mindset of a self righteous..."justified sinner".  He takes the reader on a tour, step by step, into psychological disorders that ultimately end in horrible evil.  It is a Stephen King work...two hundred years ago. 

And of course, our walk took in the sights and sounds of the city, the motion of a population in situ...where it is, as it is.  High Street through Paisley has several interesting side trips, one of which includes Church Hill.  As we walked it, the March wind blowing down this brick paved Church Hill was surprisingly forceful, damp...eye watering brisk.

March 21, 2017  Oakshaw Trinity Church, looking up Church Hill Street

In any case, we now have a nice framed art piece on our wall of Oakshaw Trinity--one of the first things seen in our on-ground tours of Scotland.  We purchased this--at a very modest price--in the Paisley Abbey gift shop. 

One of the art pieces we found in Paisley Abbey gift shop

As for the motion of the population, the sights and sounds, we could not resist; a "had to take it" photo presented itself on the walk by.  This was a late morning delivery "lorry" evidently dropping off kegs to The Wee Howff Pub on High Street.  (Admittedly, the Budweiser case is somewhat inexplicable.)

One final item of interest--John Witherspoon, a "Founding Father" of these United States.  His statue (which we missed somehow) is just south of Paisley Museum on High Street.  A plaque inside Paisley Abbey commemorates this Scottish patriot's participation in our American Revolution.  Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister, and President of the College of New Jersey (which became Princeton University), signed the Declaration of Independence and served in the Continental Congress.  He later was a signatory of the Articles of Confederation--America's first "constitution"...who'da thunk it?

March 21, 2017  Plaque inside Paisley Abbey commemorating John Witherspoon, American patriot

Our brief exploration of urban Paisley was a short tether adventure, our first baby steps in Scotland.  And to those who may also find themselves "marooned" at Glasgow International and facing a long layover to await a commuter flight out to one of the Hebrides, this small Paisley adventure is worth walking.  It certainly beats the "comfort" of an airport terminal seat.  We checked our two carry on bags with the commuter, and so walked unencumbered.  And, we did not have to go through the baggage "dance" with airport security as we reentered.

The "Layover Walk" map, Paisley, Scotland near Glasgow International