Month: June 1998

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Pitlochry to Aviemore

9:17 AM

I’ve had a terrific night. My internal alarm clock is working fine!

Breakfast was definitely worth £2! I couldn’t even finish! There was fresh fruit (I took an apple to eat later, as a snack!), yoghurt, excellent O.J., hard toast (there were 2, I could only eat 1), cereal (Alpen, again. What can I say? It’s great!). I also drank some of the very good cool milk. I’m all set to face the day. There’s about 2 ½ hours to go until Haggis picks me up.

This is my 1st rainy morning in Scotland. It’s sort of a relief. I was getting used to the good weather! It’s time to take out the parka. It’s going to be a pain in the butt, though, this wet weather. I’m going to be soaked all the time and laundry will take longer to dry. Ah! Welcome to Scotland!!! Anyhoo, I’m going to look through my guidebook to see if there are ‘Wallacey’ places near Aviemore. (nope) The closest I’ve come to dear old Bill was yesterday’s hike through Bobby Bruce country!

12:22 pm

I’ve just crossed over into the Highlands. It’s magical, misty, and (brown) heather covered. Just as I’ve always dreamt.

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4:25 pm.

I want to catch up on a ton of stuff that’s been lagging since Glasgow, so please excuse any rambling.

So… this is the Highlands. While Aviemore is butt ugly, They are majestic!!! Tomorrow, I’ve planned a hike around Loch an eilan, which I suppose means lake and island. There’s a castle in the middle of the loch (on the eilan, of course). This is the ugliest hostel I’ve ever stayed in. The building was obviously built with this purpose in mind. Walking down the halls, one’s feet resonate as they do when one walks through a mobile home. This group of French students has just come in and they’re loud! There is nothing to the town and it is very unfriendly. Still, it looks like good walking country. This is a ‘resort’ town and there’s an Americanish feel to it. I glanced at a restaurant menu and guess what was the first item on the menu? I’ll give you a hint. Their version comes with a choice of cheeses and sauces/gravies. Give up? POUTINE!!! And spelled just that way ! ! Unbelievable !

As I walked down to the visitor’s centre (a fair walk, but much more useful, cheap, and friendly than the information centre), there were these weird little black things on the ground. Thinking they might be dog poop, I tried to shove one aside so that people wouldn’t step on them. To my surprise, they were kind of… mushy. I poked on a little, trying to guess what on Earth it could be. Eventually, I gave up and went on my way. A few metres down, I found another. This one had a face. It was a slug. I feel so bad, I most likely killed the other one. I also saw a hare/rabbit in a meadow.

Now, some notes of a much more general nature:

1)         SYH (that’s Scottish Youth Hostels) sleep 5 nights, get 6th free. My 2nd night in Inverness will be free, I guess. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my voucher in Glasgow. If I did, tomorrow night or my 1st night in Inverness would be free. Oh well, I have a whole other voucher, too.

The hostels appear to have a ‘formula’. Big, comfy, comforters  with linen included in the price.

2)         taps: this is the 1st place I’ve encountered where hot and cold water come out of the same faucet (Yay! I won’t have to wash my hair in cold water tomorrow!)

3)         Haggis: basically, I call Edinburgh at least 24 hrs. before I want to move, give them my # (9337) and tell them where I want to go. I’m picked up at the time I was dropped. It’s that easy! The drivers chatter non-stop about anything remotely related to Scotland! Craig, whom I had today, seems more… approachable? than John whom I had Glasgow to Edinburgh to Pitlochry. Both, though, are excellent guides and heaps of fun!

4)         heather: the hills are fuzzy with the stuff! It’s just on the point of blooming, it has a purpley tinge to it already. I’ve been told that a few more days of sun and the hills will come alive, a full month and a ½ early! (no such luck. I’ll have to go in August next time!) Oh! I hope so !

I’ve probably forgotten some stuff, but that’s it for now.

past 8

The kitchen here is unbelievable! A long row of (gas) stoves and several others of sinks. All very clean. I just had soup and milk for dinner, I wasn’t feeling up to par today, maybe it’s the water?.. (I finally clue in!)

Can you believe I saw a car today that had honest to goodness, genuine HAWAII licence plates? I’ve seen a plate like that on a car in Chambly, but in Aviemore, Scotland?! Now, that car’s a long way from home ! Anyhoo, I’m going to retire with a book someone left on the pamphlet rack. Whenever I’m done with it I’ll leave it in some pamphlet rack ! I have yet to decide where I’m going to stay in Inverness. There are tons of hostels! I’ll ask for advice, I guess, I’d like to stay in a relatively small and quiet one.

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In Which I Discovery Whisky and Uskeba is Born

10:27 AM

I’m following the orange trail. I’ve stopped at the Golf pond. You should see the ducks! I shared part of my lunch with them!

11:08 AM

I’m sitting on a carved piece of wood that has a plaque which says ‘sit and enjoy the view’. So I am. The whole of Perthshire is laid out before me. Everything is so painfully beautiful and green. I’m following a road that Robert the Bruce marched across in 1306! Is it a wonder that I have ‘Scots Wha Hae’ running over and over in my mind! And to think that I couldn’t get myself out of bed this morning! It was 9 when I finally dragged myself out. Well, I’ll be on my way. I do want to make it to the distillery today and I must do so before 4. Lots of time, you say? I’m still at the beginning of this walk and it’s like 9.5 klicks or something. I haven’t felt so at peace since Colorado. Here’s another place where I’ll leave a chunk of my soul.

time? I don’t care! near noon

I’ve just finished an incredible hike up. The view here is so clear we can see straight through to the Glencoe mountains in the west. This place is called Craighower Hill. (The view out to Skye is ‘the Road to the Isles’, which can only be seen on a clear day, which are very rare. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky!!!)

12:58

Well, I’m back on the bench! It’s taken me 2 whole hours to get up and back. The road down was very twisty. The people who design roads in this country must be a little loco! The view from Craighower was incredible. I felt like I had the whole of Scotland at my feet. I used to find Canada rugged, well it isn’t, it’s untamed. Scotland has tamed its lands, while not foregoing an endearing ruggedness. ‘How could people have survived here for so long, fought to keep the land?’ (I took this paraphrase from the Lonely Planet guide to Great Britain) Oh! It’s so beautiful, better than in all my dreams! I walked through meadows of what I assume to be unbloomed heather. I’ll be on my way now, I want to do the distillery walk and the distillery opens in an hour. I can’t wait to taste the supposedly foul tasting brew. I’m told that most people don’t like ‘water of life’, so, since I’m so unlike most people, I’ll probably like it! Yeah right! I’m not expecting to enjoy it, but I look forward to finally tasting some.

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5:38 pm.

I think I’m in trouble. My initial reaction to whisky was the same as my initial reaction to beer: ‘I don’t like it, but I don’t hate it’. One knows how I have come to acquire a palate for beer, to say the least!

I’ve done more than enough walking for today! I am so stiff! I luxuriated in a scalding shower and put on totally fresh clothes, including jeans. I’m spending 2 nights in Aviemore, so if I launder straight away when I arrive I should have pretty much 2 full days for my laundry to dry! (turns out Aviemore is one of a few hostels I encountered which has a ‘drying room’—a room where the heat is turned way up at night so that clothes may dry more quickly.) I’m so pooped I can’t envision going down the steep hill outside leading up to the hostel in order to get dinner. I’ll have to go up it, after!

I’m very ahead in my budget so if I manage to get my butt ‘downtown’ I think I’ll have dinner in a restaurant. I should be eating more. Maybe that’s why I’m not up to my usual speed.

On my way back from Craighower, I stopped to feed the ducks (again). I got some to eat right out of my hand! One even clamped his beak down on my finger, but it didn’t hurt. One of the birds had a lame foot. I was extra generous to it!

It’s almost 6 so I guess I’ll go in search of dinner. I think tomorrow will be a ‘down’ day. They are necessary, I think. Tuesday, I’ll explore the area around Aviemore just like I did today in Pitlochry. Later.

7:48 pm

I returned from a yummy dinner of a veg. burger (hey, they’re cheap and filling, and this one was (and still is) the best I’ve ever eaten!) to find 2 guys in my room. Thanks to Edinburgh, I was hardly fazed. I nonchalantly headed down to the common room to discover that in my absence one of the ‘hostesses’ confronted the Aussie who was also staying tonight, claiming that she and I hadn’t paid for tonight! Well, my roomie got that sorted out. Anyhow, I found out that 6 guys had been put in the room and we had to move. It’s no big deal, but it is a hassle. I’d just spread out some wet stuff (now all those guys know what my undies look like!) and after rummaging through my bag, I’d left stuff strewn all over the bunk. Plus, I had to remake the bed. Oh well, it is better than sleeping w/ the sheep! I hope I won’t be hassled about ‘not having paid’ tomorrow! I asked for directions to the ‘small dining room’. I was told to look for a door marked ‘strictly private’… and go in. Boy, I love the Scots!!!

… (extremely tentative itinerary)

Hell, I’m never going home!

Despite its beautiful name, it would appear that there isn’t much in Inverness. That doesn’t matter, I guess, since I’ll be using Inverness as a ‘springboard’ to the northern Highlands. I’m even starting to think that I shouldn’t ‘rush’ things with Haggis and just make a quick ‘overnight’ to Edinburgh to meet John and Linda (the authors of the ‘MacBraveheart’ homepage). I think Skye will take a long time to explore. It would appear that Eilean Donan (castle) is worth the trip. Besides, Skye is part of the Hebrides! ‘And we in dreams behold the Hebrides’. (‘Canadian Boat Song’) I have to go!

It’s 8:35 and I’m just about ready for bed! I hiked almost non-stop and was up for 8 hours. I guess this is how I’ll feel once I’ve tackled Ben Nevis ! Actually, I have a ton of packing to do. Breakfast is from between 8 and 9 AM. And I have to be out of the room by 9:30. I’m supposed to be out of the hostel by 10 :30, but I’m sure I’ll be allowed to stay until the Haggis bus comes (there are 4 of us leaving, at least). I hope that the Aviemore hostel isn’t on top of a hill.I’m going to have to rethink my travel arrangements, I’m losing a lot of time.

 

I just discovered that Aviemore is in the Highlands!!! Yippee!!! This is way cool. Cool, cool, cool, cool!!!

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Edinburgh to Pitlochry

7:37 AM

I’ve had a most comfortable night. What I like about this B and B is that a whole family lives here (the owners, of course). I’m getting a taste of what life is like for a family in Edinburgh. I’m glad that Yvonne picked me up yesterday. The B and B is situated in this tiny courtyard called Coiney House Close, just off New Skinner Close. To get into the building, you have to open this great big barn-like door, go up 3 flights of stairs until you reach another number 3 (the address is 3/3). The courtyard is so European, all cobblestone and stone buildings, very beautiful. I must say that finding this place was more than luck, it’s the sort of thing you read about in travel journals but never have happen to you. Breakfast, though, was not great, it was adequate: oatmealy cereal with raisins (I ate it with milk) and (white, yuck) toast with pineapple jam (yum!).

Of course, I never expected much sun in Scotland, so I didn’t bring much in the way of sunscreen. You should see my nose! I also have a nasty scrape on my wrist from scraping it against the rough wall as I clambered up the stairs after Yvonne with my huge pack (I would soon become known by everyone on Haggis as ‘the Canadian with the *really* small pack! I must say my packing job was *excellent*. I had nothing I didn’t need, and I’d only forgotten two minor things I could live without!). I have to make sure it doesn’t get infected. I never thought I’d be using the 1st aid kit so soon in my trip! Well, I’d better be going. Haggis is expecting me in 15 min. Both Michael and the guy from Laval are with Haggis also, except they’re doing 6 and 3-day tours.

Later (from Perth or Pitlochry?)

9:24 AM

I’m crossing the Firth of Forth.

10: 32 AM

We’re driving through the very pitiful remains of Birnam woods.

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3:24 pm

Well, I’m in Pitlochry. It’s very beautiful. I’ll most likely take a day trip or 2 from Edinburgh into Fife. I saw Perth and that was enough. I’ll be staying here for two nights. Tomorrow, I plan on hiking. Scotland’s smallest distillery is here, and I’ll be visiting it tomorrow (supposedly we get a free dram at the end of the tour).

Figures. I leave a big city for a town with a pop. of 2,000 and I find my 1st (and only, so far) stop sign and a ‘real’ supermarket. I’ve got my next three meals covered (that’s 4 in all) if I don’t mind eating bread, cheese, peanut butter, apples, and water for a while. I’ve bought Galloway cheddar. It’s delicious. On the way here, we stopped to hike a bit. I saw ‘Braes Folly’ (actually I’m not sure if that’s the real name, but ‘Braes’ and ‘Folly’ are 2 of the names associated w/ the area. Lodging here is £15… for 2 nights, breakfast not included. Even with the breakfast you can buy (£2), it’s still cheaper than Glasgow or Edinburgh, and the sheets are provided.

8:25 pm

I attempted to do the ‘Moulin’ walk today, but somehow got off the trail! (during the summer, the sun sets incredibly late. You can go out for a long walk/hike after dinner, and be back before twilight!) I still got some great mileage in cow country and soon discovered to my relief that I wasn’t lost but merely misplaced since I finally ended up just where I should! The countryside is so very much like the Cantons de l’est, that must be why so many Scots settled there. On my walk, I crossed some very noisy sheep and some stupid, staring cows. I also scared a… pheasant! Or something that looks a hell of a lot like a pheasant. I also saw a hare. I really got a taste of the ‘freedom of passage’ thingamabob. I was walking straight through fields of grazing cows for Pete’s sake! I even had to open and close a few barriers and climb over another. I ended up in some ‘old’ couple’s yard. I was embarrassed but the lady only glanced up long enough to say ‘hello’.

I called (my mother) tonight through ‘Canada Direct’. It was ridiculously easy. She’s happy to have a more detailed itinerary. I’m thinking of Aviemore for 2 nights, then Inverness and my long sought Ben and Loch Loyal up way north! I’m doing fine financially and time-wise (the former, yes ; the latter no, as I would soon discover to my ‘horror’!), so why not see if there’s anything to be seen! Of course, once I enter the Highlands I’ll enquire about whether it’s actually worth going up there.

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Exploring Glasgow and on to Edinburgh

About 8:25 AM.

J’ai fait le ‘tour de l’horloge’. That is, I slept from 7:30pm to 7:30 am (interrupted, of course, but only briefly). Why don’t I feel refreshed? Because my body says that it’s early morning! But, since I got up at ‘normal’ G.T., I’ll most likely go to bed at a normal time and wake up on time tomorrow!  Breakfast was great. I haven’t spent any money this morning and I have in me a full bowl of Alpen cereal, two glasses (warmish, but very tolerable) milk, one glass powdered O.J. (icky), and two sandwiches (1 whole wheat, the other yummy white) composed of cheese (processed, naturally…!) apricot marmalade ,and real butter. Now that’s an ideal breakfast for the type of day ahead! None of that American sweetroll ‘crap’. I’m all set to go to the city centre, now. It seems that the Necropolis doesn’t have an opening time. The cathedral (me going to church?!) opens at 9:30. It’s 8:28 (am) now, so by the time I get going it’ll be about 9:00. The walk to the city centre I’m told takes 30-45 minutes, so I should be arriving just as everything opens. I think that I might spend the morning in the city centre, then hike back to see the transport museum this afternoon. I’ll see.

My first ‘real’ morning in Scotland (ie. awaking in bed!) is bright and sunny, a few harmless clouds can be seen in the distance. It looks coldish, though. Anyway, later, I’m anxious to go and explore!

P.S. glad to see I got over the depression?!

10:35 am

I just finished touring the Glasgow Cathedral and its cemetery. This church was constructed during the Middle Ages and finished a few centuries later. I touched stone that was cut by a man who lived in the 12th century!  Contrary to North American equivalents, we could go everywhere and touch everything in this cathedral with one minor exception.  The cemetery is so old that most of the names have disappeared from the stone. The oldest I’ve seen is mid-eighteenth century. (The oldest gravestone I saw during my month long stay in Scotland was mid-fifteenth century! It is a St. Kentigern’s church in Lanark. There’s no date on the gravestone, but you can easily identify it by the skull with crossbones. It’s to the left of the entryway into the cemetery by way of the reconstructed arch in the ruins.) I like cemeteries. They are so peaceful, they don’t care how their inhabitants got there! That’s enough morbidity, I’m going to climb the Necropolis.

P.S. jaywalking appears to be the favourite Glaswegian pastime! Remember, look right then left! (It took me over a week to ‘learn’ how to cross streets in Scotland, and even after a month it still didn’t feel all that natural! I don’t even want to count the number of times people told me to ‘go back to Canada if you don’t know how to cross a street’!!!)

3:50 pm

I’m back at the hostel, waiting in the lobby for Haggis. It’s been an excellent day.

The Necropolis was beautiful despite the fact that several crypts and nooks and crannies were obviously the lodgings of derelicts. It’s a huge cemetery built on a hill. What I liked is that while they maintain the grounds (ex. grassmowing) they don’t repair the stones, allow things to crumble, etc. I almost tripped on a vase that had rolled down a steep hill and was lying flat on its back in the middle of the road! It was obvious that it had been lying there for a while.

Lunch was yet another yummy veggie burger with onions. They’re cheap and plentiful in Glasgow, to my surprise. (Actually, they are very common all over Scotland, even in the smaller towns and you’ll soon discover that it almost became a sport to try the local veggie burger! Although I occasionally found two that were similar, generally no two burgers were exactly alike in taste, texture, or condiment. They made for a cheap meal which varied more than one might imagine!)

After, I bought postcards and a Father’s Day card for Dad. I mailed a postcard to (my stepmother) for her birthday, as well the card for Dad. After, I rode the ‘Clockwork Orange’ (ie the Underground, subway, metro, metropolitana, etc.) back here. It’s clockwork, orange, convenient, and easy to use! as well as cozy and comfortable. (I soon came to realise that it’s a lot easier to use the U to get to the hostel, even if you have to walk maybe five minutes more than if you took the bus. Here are the directions from the Kelvinbridge (bridge, not hall) station. Once above ground, you turn right on the road. You follow its natural curve, and cross an intersection. Keep going straight, this road will merge into Woodland Road. Cross Woodland Road (careful, it’s dangerous!) Follow the youth hostel sign you’ll encounter almost immediately. Easy when someone tells you, but very difficult when you have to discover for yourself! I took the long way for all, but one of about six trips on the U!) Now, I’m going to ask the hostel if I can use their bathroom to freshen up.

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4:08 pm

‘No problem.’ It’s amazing what going to the bathroom, washing your hands, and refilling your canteen (I didn’t carry a water bottle on this trip, rather a 2L hiking canteen. With its strap, it was easier to carry, and its flat shape made it less cumbersome than a bottle.) can do to your spirits! I must that the tap water here is excellent, (that stopped in Inverness, where the water situation went bad. It just didn’t taste good in the Highlands; most likely this is do to the peat which makes the water brown. I also noticed in Pitlochry that the water was making me mildly sick, but not enough to stop my fun, so I put off buying expensive bottled water until the last possible moment. Inverness.) I’m refilling my canteen in bathrooms (the water in bathrooms runs very frequently, so it is usually fresher and better tasting.). Speaking of which, the public one near the Necropolis is unbelievable. It’s clean enough to eat off the toilet bowl , the sink and faucets are sparkling, there are (fake) flowers around the mirrors (there were some in the airport bathroom too, and someone said it was ‘unScottish’), drinking cups and soap are within easy reach, etc. The paper towels are blue and the toilet paper is pink, which makes the water go red!) It’s obvious that Glasgow takes pride in itself. I’m going to wait outside now. Later, perhaps in Edinburgh!

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7:00 pm Edinburgh (!)

Luck does follow me! Haggis was about 45 min (no, that’s not the lucky part, let me finish!) late. The road here was lovely, I saw sheep. Our Haggis driver was most cordial. Arriving here, the people from Haggis asked if I had lodging. No, I said. Well, they said, we’ll ring a couple of places for you. Less than 15 minutes, later I’m settled very comfortable in a B and B two whole minutes from Haggis where the proprietor, Yvonne, picked me up!  For £10, I’ve got breakfast, too! I’ll be staying here, most likely, when I return to Edinburgh. I’m going to take a shower, I stink!

Oh! and I’m sharing a room with a guy from… Laval!!! I’ve had a whole conversation in French today!

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10:16 p.m.

One of my ‘roomies’, a great guy from Edmonton named Michael, and I went out for dinner tonight. Unfortunately, my meal had a bit of hidden meat in it. Considering what I’ve eaten today, I figured a little extra protein wouldn’t hurt, even if it was gross! Besides that, the pasta and sauce was wonderful. One problem: how much to tip! I just realised I probably gave too much! Like 75p too much! Oh, well, the service was good, and I had a little extra. I will have to watch that, however.

Tomorrow, I’m either off to Perth or Pitlochry. Haggis doesn’t run on Sundays, so I’ll have to spend two nights wherever I do go. I’m told that there isn’t much in Perth, but I wanted to see Scone, Dundee, and Saint-Andrews, not to mention… The Cliff (at Kinghorn that King Alexander III rode his horse off of in 1286, pretty much launching the Wars of Independence)!!! I might just get off at Perth, make my own way around Fife, get to Pitlochry and go on from there.

… (long rambling about possible plan. I ended up pretty much missing Fife. It’ll be for next time!)

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Traveling to and Arrival in Scotland

Wednesday June 10th, 1998 6:52 pm

I’m on flight 425 to Toronto, waiting for takeoff. I’m so nervous! Everything’s gone well so far, though. (My mother) and Grand-maman (who insisted on coming) took me out for supper. I tried a ‘Rickard Red’ beer. It’s… red! And delicious. Both agreed it would loosen me up but wear off by the time I got on the plane. They were right! I suppose that my nervousness comes from the fact that this is my first major trip where I’ll have only myself to rely on. I guess I’d feel better if I hadn’t listened to (my mother) and booked my bed at the Glasgow youth hostel. Anyhoo, I’m getting there early. If worse comes to worse I’ll have time to go to Paisley (!) Or Milgavie (pronounced ‘Mullguy’) and sleep there.

It’s so… peaceful here. Soothing music is playing. The setting sun comes through my window in golden rays. I feel that my whole life has come together, it’s all existed to reach this point in time. Yes, it’s like everything I’ve done in my life has lead up to this moment. It’s my hour, my month, and my dream. It’s up to me whether or not it becomes a nightmare. Think good thoughts! If this is a dream, it’ll be the best dream of my life, so there!

8:41

Waiting patiently for my 9:30 connection. [Everything’s going off without a hitch! It was funny, landing in Toronto, the new developments look like models of houses!]

The flight to Toronto was wonderful. The pressure I felt was minimal thanks to a bit of gum and some ginger ale! We even got free cheese flavoured ‘Sun Chips’.  At one point, we were flying between two levels of clouds. Our optimum altitude was about 35,000 feet. (My mother) bought me 3 magazines and I read one, as well as a terrific short story by (my best friend at the time).  So far so good.

9:17

I’m nestled quite comfortably in my seat for the flight to Glasgow. This time I knew how the seat belt worked! Why I don’t remember from last time is beyond me! Later.

July 11th, 1998 6:25 Glasgow time

The sun is rising over the Atlantic in golden pink magnificence.

8:16 GT

The food (I got my vegetarian option) has been delicious! I got an hour snoozet after seeing ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’. Now, the clouds have cleared. ‘The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls’.

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12:36 GT

[I am so discouraged!!!] Nothing is going as I ‘planned’. Haggis (the operator of the jump on/jump off tour I followed the first half plus a bit of my journey) is picking me up at 4:30 tomorrow. I’ll be sleeping in Edinburgh tomorrow night. I guess I’ll be doing my circuit backwards, backtracking to Edinburgh for the 27th. I’ll do Ben Nevis later rather than earlier. Now that I’m putting this down on paper, I’m getting more relaxed. I mean I’m here aren’t I? (The Glasgow youth hostel that is?) Unfortunately, I won’t have access to my bed until 2:00. Since I’ll be ‘stuck here’ till tomorrow, I think I’ll just stay in this afternoon (maybe I’ll feel different once I’m clean and changed) and get an early night! I’ve already spent the £20 allocated to today on bus to the city, bus to the hostel, bed (£11.50) and £5 phone card. I’ll pull out £5 and try to get some dinner. I did say £25 a day. It’s understandable that the first day is a little more expensive.

I must say that my first view of Scotland was breathtakingly beautiful. It’s so lush and green and hilly! I saw Loch Lomond from above. Unfortunately, fatigue and stress are masking any joy I should be feeling. To be honest, I’d give my right arm to be in my bed right now! But this is only the first day. It’ll most likely get better once I’m out in the country.

I sat next to a really nice woman on the plane. She’s from Calgary, but she’s lived in Scotland. She told me lots of great stories. She also gave me a card so that I can contact her if I have any questions.

Actually, I think that once I get access to my room, I’ll go straight to bed! I’m not in a mood to go anywhere. I’d better perk up soon, I have ‘I’m-so-enthusiastic-I-never-want-to-leave’ postcards to send! Yes, I’m sure that the picture will be brighter in the morning.

I’m in Scotland. It looks a lot like home (one part on the way from the airport looked like the 10 near St. Lambert!), but it feels different. Glasgow has yet to impress me. What I’ve seen is dirty. I said the same thing about New York, and you know how I loved N.Y.C.!

I’m enjoying using £’s and p’s, etc. ‘They’ have half-pound coins. Their shape is funny! I have no change left for tomorrow. I’m going to get more cash tomorrow afternoon since I don’t know how the banks and ATMs are on the weekend. (You can use the ATM’s seven days a week, but not every bank will accept a withdrawl from an overseas account. I had the best luck with the Clydesdale bank. By taking out money once a week, I only used cash for my trip and I had very little on me at all times, most of which I kept in a secret pouch next to my skin. The exchange rate was actually better than what was offered in ‘bureau de change’ and the exchange from dollars to pounds was made automatically and immediately.)

I’m going to be okay. I know I am. But right now I’m tired, dirty, and probably hungry, only I’m to tired to go in search of food. Maybe a short nap!

3:06 GT

Everything’s going to be okay. This is a very nice hostel. My £11.50 includes sleepsack and pillowcase as well as breakfast. We have a private shower and toilet. I just took a shower. Unfortunately, it was ice cold! I do feel much better now! Totally excited and ready to do some serious sight seeing! Amazing what a change of clothes can do!

There are white clouds, but boy is it sunny! (It was so sunny my first week I actually got a minor sunburn!)

7:02 pm (from now on, unless otherwise mentioned, G.T.)

I did about 3 hours worth of walking this afternoon. I made it to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and had one hour to wander around the unimpressive exhibits. Oh, there was interesting stuff, but nothing new except for a painting of Burns. Unfortunately, ‘Massacre at Glencoe’ was no longer on exhibit. Figures.

I then got myself purposely lost searching for food without a map. I eventually ended up buying a cheap (but delicious and filling) veggie burger at the European (or at least Scottish) equivalent of a fast food joint. But here there’s little fast but rather lots of courtesy and edible food.   ‘When in doubt, do as the locals do’ and it was obvious that the owner had ‘regulars’. Sure, the place was kind of seedy. Who cares? When I got out of there, nibbling on my very yummy potato/cheese/chive burger, I was caught by an unexpected spill of rain (ain’t that poetic?) The rain came down really weirdly, it looked and felt like long filaments of water rather than individual droplets.

Some observations:

  • the toilets flush on the other side
  • the toilets only eat half the amount of t.p. the North American toilets eat
  • there are no stop signs! (I saw perhaps a half dozen during my whole stay!)
  • driving on the left makes for confusing street corners and circulation patterns
  • although I don’t eat many at home, the ‘Snickers’ bar tastes a little different here. I could pinpoint it only if I had a blind taste test or something
  • Glasgow’s layout is confusing, you think you’re going straight, but you’re actually going around in circles!

Glasgow’s endearing, it’s actually growing on me! It’s sort of a cross between Montreal (cosmopolitan, architecture), Quebec City (hills, architecture), Ottawa (feeling of intimacy, architecture)!

I figured out why most of Scotland’s cities appear to be built on hills. Coming from a new country it is easy to forget that her towns have been around for millennia, and were originally built on top of hills for defence purposes. Eventually, the towns spilled down the hillside.

I’ll see more of it tomorrow as I’ll explore (drumroll please) the City Centre! It’s kind of silly, in a way, that I’ll have to lug my butt down there with all my luggage and then have to lug it all the way back here to catch Haggis. I think I’ll take a bus back, though. This way, I’ll have more time. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the Museum of Transportation, but it’ll be way out of my way tomorrow, it seems. I’ll recheck the map, though.

Did I mention I made my first telephone call today, to Edinburgh? It wasn’t nearly as expensive nor as complicated as I would have thought. Besides, my £5 phone card is somehow worth £6! I have Bank of Clydesdale notes. They aren’t very attractive (except for the twenties, which have a lovely likeness of Robert the Bruce on them !) I think I’ll go to bed now. The water here is really quite good. My only complaint is that I’m either too hot or too cold. (note to self: bring long sleeved tee-shirts next time! (little did I know I would head this advice during my 2016 trip to London!))