Glasgow - Scotland sans shorbread, bagpipes and kilts.
 

Just got back from a weekend in Scotland and thought you might like to read a different take on life north of the border. As the title implies this was not a shortbread tin trip, but if you are interested in gothic architecture, eclectic art collections, cafes and cocktails this might just be right up your street.

There will be no discussions of the merits of Airbnb vs hotels, nor corporate hospitality vs boutique as I was staying at Tommy's (Stilldontknow/Weegie/Uruabam etc) so you will be spared tedious info on size of bathrooms, sheet thread count and so on. Apart from that it will be my usual format of a post to cover each day I was away. Oh and for a bit of variety, unusually for me I am starting with pictures:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/494523...7649154788709/

There you go!

Day 1 (heading north, xmas market) to follow tomorrow when I've got my horrid work presentation out of the way...

Back soon....

OK - I'll be waiting. :)

Nae chips with yer pie?!

Beautifully atmospheric pictures.

There will be a full and frank explanation of the circumstances surrounding the consumption of the pie later Patrick.

Ty Willit - it was a bit overcast at times so I tried to make the most of that with the not-so-subtle use of art filters.

Thursday

I travelled up to Glasgow by train, starting out roughly mid-day. £64 return for my trip into London from the home counties, tube across town, and the 4.5 hour Euston to Glasgow leg. Top tip – don’t book on the day these fares come out as although it’s generally cheaper to book well in advance there seems to be a period of about 2 weeks after the initial release when prices actually drop a bit. Euston is badly in need of a makeover and is definitely the poor relation relative to the other London termini with their Victorian glass rooves, terrazzo floors and newly repointed brickwork. However on the upside, it’s relatively compact and the walk from the tube is not too far.

In common with 95% of the other passengers using the station that day I got my lunch at the M&S in the station, ham sandwiches and a bottle of fruit juice, boarding the Virgin Pendolino train and stashing my luggage (one roller-case) overhead. I’d booked rear-facing airline style seating so naturally was allocated a forward facing table seat (which I meekly sat in, being quite well brought up and not the complaining type). There were a few arguments among other passengers who had also not been assigned the seats they thought they’d booked – someone who got travel sick was refusing to move from their forward facing seat into the rear facing seat shown on their ticket but this being a) The Quiet Carriage and b) Britain, this amounted to no more than a few whispered threats and some dagger-like stares for the rest of the journey.

The train left on time and I enjoyed a smooth journey, reading ‘Angel with Two Faces’ – a 20s Agatha Christie style murder mystery populated with Lettices and Archies. From Lancaster onward I put my book down and (briefly) admired the scenery before it got too dark. The track skirts parts of the Lake District so the views are pretty impressive with some of the highest hills in England, rushing rivers and tiny stone walls hemming in winter-woolled sheep. We arrived dead on time into Glasgow Central – a considerably more attractive station than Euston - a grade A listed building with the fabulous old Edwardian era wooden booking office still in situ (though now converted into shops). Tommy met me at the end of the platform and we headed straight into town.

First port of call was the Christmas market on Argyle Street and into the drinks tent where we had spicy mulled cider – I actually prefer this to mulled wine to be honest. There was actually quite a variety of different drinks all with cheesily xmas themed names and it was very pleasant chatting and boozing under the warmth of the heaters just having a bit of a catch up. We next decided to dump my case in the car (I’d managed to run over a few feet just wheeling it round the beer tent). Luggage dropped off we explored more of the xmas market – not huge but of good quality with local cheeses, bottled beers to take away, delicious looking sweets, Italian cakes (including my favourite cannoli), some good quality knitwear (mostly hats) and an array of high quality street food. Bypassing goat curry, churros and burgers we opted for the hog roast served with sage and onion stuffing and crackling on floury baps. Having eaten, Tommy then took me on a tour of the xmas lights –surprisingly tasteful canopies of tiny white bulbs providing a sort of false roof. I was also (cruelly!) tantalised with a tour of the jewellery quarter and various designer shops.

We headed for HMV as a friend had texted to let Tommy know a favourite band of his were doing a promotional event at the store, however when we arrived it didn’t look as though they’d even started setting up, so we opted to head home to try and catch Masterchef, fretting en-route that this was probably proof of fast approaching middle age. Curled up on the sofa with copious amounts of tea, Monica and Marcus, charging our batteries ready for Friday.

Next time – Brunch angst, a play, a pie and pint, culture, and grubbing.

"Glasgow - Scotland sans shorbread, bagpipes and kilts."

What's with the "sans" bit? You going all Yank on us? :-)

That is french I will have you know :-P

<<What's with the "sans" bit? You going all Yank on us? >>

Yank???


"Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."

W.Shakespeare

It "may" be Shakespeare but I bet you won't hear many locals in the UK saying it,our North American cousins seem to be very fond of the word though, along with "entree", although why they use it to describe a main course, I have no idea.

Nice report. I do not understand, however, your reluctance to tell us exactly where in "the home counties" you reside.

I live in a small market town half way between London and Cambridge but I don't normally name it in my reports because I don't think many people will have heard of it or know where it is, Dukey.

In my defence Hooameye, I would never say entree :-P

Hi RM67,

On your way to Glasgow...

"...The track skirts parts of the Lake District so the views are pretty impressive with some of the highest hills in England, rushing rivers and tiny stone walls hemming in winter-woolled sheep."

So well written. I love well written! Will continue to follow along.

Ty Latedaytraveler and LCboniti

There are some great pictures. Glasgow is a much under-rated city and there is so much do do and see there. I actually prefer it to Edinburgh!

<<It "may" be Shakespeare but I bet you won't hear many locals in the UK saying it,our North American cousins seem to be very fond of the word though, along with "entree", although why they use it to describe a main course, I have no idea.>>

As a North American, I rarely hear the work used, except of course by my compatriots who speak "la langue de Molière".

I've often wondered why entrée is used in North America to refer to a main course. It's a long story, but essentially an entrée originally was not an appetizer or starter course, but one served between the fish and the roast courses. For a detailed explanation see this:

http://languageoffood.blogspot.ca/2009/08/entree.html

I hardly ever hear an American say "sans". I think most never heard the word.

I haven't spent a lot of time in either city, but I also liked Glasgow better than Edinburgh.

Nice report, and I love your pictures.

Lee Ann

Beautiful pictures!

Lovely pictures. I like hearing about Glasgow.