to Kirkcudbright - Part 2

This wasn't designed as a two-part blog but some software gremlin decided that's how it's going to be.

Our destination is the Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright. The name of the town comes from "Kirk of St Cuthbert."  It is pronounced "kir-koo-bree" and is a fascinating and attractive Scottish town.  The businesses and houses are painted, mostly pastel colors.

A monastery had been established here by 1000AD, and in the 1100s the area was also home of a Cistercian nunnery and an Augustinian priory.  A Franciscan friary followed in the 1200s

But not everyone thinks this is a great town.  Daniel Defoe - an 18th century English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, spy, and most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe - had this to say about Kirkcudbright: "A pleasant situation, and yet nothing pleasant to be seen,  Here is a harbor without ships, a port without  trade, a fishery without nets, a people without business."

But the town has a history of being a home for artists.  In fact the town seal proclaims "The Artist Town".  And art is coming back.  The Town Hall (see next photo) has been converted into a contemporary art gallery.  The 600 first floor exhibits are all from local artists over the years.

We also visited Kirkcudbright Parish Church, "The Church of Scotland".  The humorous lady care-keeper told us about what she called the "many lies of the church".

1. It's big, originally designed for 1,500. But these days they're lucky if there's 150 in attendance.
2. Concerning the organ, the pipes on the sides are fake, to make it look like a big organ.  
3. And it hasn't worked in over 20 years because they can't afford the 37,000 pounds to repair it.

It's supposed to rain a lot tomorrow so we're planning a bus ride to Dumfries.

The bus service between Scottish towns is excellent.  On the second leg of our ride to Dumfries all seats were full; it was standing room only.

For two of us on a two hour ride the fare was less than $12 US dollars.