Other Stuff
GOOD THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN ABERDEEN
ABERDEEN MARITIME MUSEUM, SHIPROW
This is a good museum. And it's free. Located not far from the Mercat Cross and the Tourist Information Office, once again the city's architects have managed to wonderfully blend the old with the new. The ancient stone of Provost Ross's House has been spliced with the glass and metal of a modern structure in an utterly stupendous manner. I don't think I have ever seen such a splendid amalgam. The museum is on a number of levels, and takes you through the modern structure and into the small rooms of Provost Ross's House with their old fireplaces and nooks and crannies. Amongst the many displays - including one on North Sea Oil - is a 1920s medicine chest from an Aberdeen trawler. Amidst the various dusty bottles are 'Stomach Mixture, 'Cough Mixture', 'Rheumatism Mixture', 'Soothing Mixture', 'Diarrhoea Mixture', 'Colic Mixture', 'Fever Mixture', and the intriguing 'Gargle' and 'Black Draught'.
This is a good museum. And it's free. Located not far from the Mercat Cross and the Tourist Information Office, once again the city's architects have managed to wonderfully blend the old with the new. The ancient stone of Provost Ross's House has been spliced with the glass and metal of a modern structure in an utterly stupendous manner. I don't think I have ever seen such a splendid amalgam. The museum is on a number of levels, and takes you through the modern structure and into the small rooms of Provost Ross's House with their old fireplaces and nooks and crannies. Amongst the many displays - including one on North Sea Oil - is a 1920s medicine chest from an Aberdeen trawler. Amidst the various dusty bottles are 'Stomach Mixture, 'Cough Mixture', 'Rheumatism Mixture', 'Soothing Mixture', 'Diarrhoea Mixture', 'Colic Mixture', 'Fever Mixture', and the intriguing 'Gargle' and 'Black Draught'.
PROVOST SKENE'S HOUSE, GUESTROW
Initially hard to spot as it's tucked in behind some modern buildings. It's a seventeenth century townhouse with many rooms furnished with old things and, yet again, it costs nothing to get in. Amazing, huh? The Painted Gallery is not to be missed. It was discovered in 1951 hidden behind some false panels. The whole wooden room is covered with religious paintings that somehow managed to survive The Reformation. Upstairs there's also a costume gallery, a very spooky place, let me tell you, and not the sort of room you will wish to hang around in for too long if you're on your own. There is also a tearoom, although the soup is not made on the premises. Nevertheless, it's worth a look, as through a squeaky door you will find a dim undercroft with ancient stone walls and something deep and dark beneath the ground.
Initially hard to spot as it's tucked in behind some modern buildings. It's a seventeenth century townhouse with many rooms furnished with old things and, yet again, it costs nothing to get in. Amazing, huh? The Painted Gallery is not to be missed. It was discovered in 1951 hidden behind some false panels. The whole wooden room is covered with religious paintings that somehow managed to survive The Reformation. Upstairs there's also a costume gallery, a very spooky place, let me tell you, and not the sort of room you will wish to hang around in for too long if you're on your own. There is also a tearoom, although the soup is not made on the premises. Nevertheless, it's worth a look, as through a squeaky door you will find a dim undercroft with ancient stone walls and something deep and dark beneath the ground.
ABERDEEN'S MANY TRAILS - THEY'RE EVERYWHERE
If you go into the Tourist Information Office you will find a number of trail leaflets. They provide information on any number of short walking trails within the city, everything from the 'Old Aberdeen Trail' to a 'People & Places' trail, 'Granite Trail', 'Heritage Tree Trail', 'North Sea Trail', 'March Stones' trail, and a 'Sculpture Trail', all with their own little map. Well, I think we could probably add to that comprehensive list, and perhaps suggest a 'Soup Trail.' Just take one of their maps, mark all the good soup places on it, prepare your bowels, and off you go.
If you go into the Tourist Information Office you will find a number of trail leaflets. They provide information on any number of short walking trails within the city, everything from the 'Old Aberdeen Trail' to a 'People & Places' trail, 'Granite Trail', 'Heritage Tree Trail', 'North Sea Trail', 'March Stones' trail, and a 'Sculpture Trail', all with their own little map. Well, I think we could probably add to that comprehensive list, and perhaps suggest a 'Soup Trail.' Just take one of their maps, mark all the good soup places on it, prepare your bowels, and off you go.
FOOTDEE
I didn't make it down here during my day in Aberdeen. I wish I had. So much to see yet so little time to see it. I think the lesson here is that one day is not long enough in Aberdeen. Footdee, it seems, is a charming little fishing village right in the heart of the city, down in the harbour area (foot of York Street and the Esplanade). It is said to be 'one of the most unique parts of the city'. All the cottages face inwards to give cover from any wind and rain that might blow in off the sea, and there are apparently still old poles that were used to dry fishing nets. Sounds utterly charming.
I didn't make it down here during my day in Aberdeen. I wish I had. So much to see yet so little time to see it. I think the lesson here is that one day is not long enough in Aberdeen. Footdee, it seems, is a charming little fishing village right in the heart of the city, down in the harbour area (foot of York Street and the Esplanade). It is said to be 'one of the most unique parts of the city'. All the cottages face inwards to give cover from any wind and rain that might blow in off the sea, and there are apparently still old poles that were used to dry fishing nets. Sounds utterly charming.
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