.May 14. After getting settled, wanted to take it easy so decided just to explore around the flat a little. Found a quickmart (they are all over UK) right done the street for some vodka and coffee. What else do you need? Around the corner was Market Square converted into space for restaurants, bars. Very nice. Had good burgers and beer in pub. You have to order at bar and take drinks to table. They then serve food. That's everywhere. Made our way back to the flat and just chilled. Limited TV.
JACK SEZ: Pub was Irish (in Glasgow?), First intro in to service we'd find strange. In even better places, you are expected to go to the bar to order and pay. Food is delivered by "Floor Server" who have little interest in further service. No waiters in evidence.
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I say this means you can't drink TOO much. You have to be able to get back to the bar, order, pay, and carry a full glass each time.
May 15 Turns out we are in a really great location. Just a few blocks to the main square - St. George Square I think, Lots of scaffolding, etc because setting up for the Commonwealth Games in a few weeks. Apparently a very big deal. Easy access for on and off city tour. Very nice people who wanted to be helpful rather than had to be helpful. I think people are just more unfamiliar with wheelchairs/scooters. It's not flat Florida so you don't see as many perhaps. Often heard they were afraid of damaging scooter or themselves. Also, Jack's looks different so that's another issue.
Great tour of city. I really like Glasgow. Would spend more time in future to focus on industralists from late 19th c. I love that era in history-- industrial revolution etc. A lot of those guys were Scottish and a lot of it happened out of Glasgow. Before that shipbuilding, textiles, etc. They are kind of vague about Scots involvement in sending slaves out and raw materials in. When I met people and said I liked Glasgow, I kind of got a dead silence. Apparently there are very bad sections of the city but we didn't see them. Also don't know what that means to them. The Polish are the second largest ethnic group in Scotland, so it can't be that the Poles are any trouble, right?!?
We also didn't focus much on MacIntosh, their big deal designer/architect. Very hard to get to because of hills etc. After we got home, learned the school had got fire. Too bad. We did see a lot however, old stuff, neighborhoods, and the new. Beautiful Clyde River. Had lunch at Brown's on the main square. Too early to be seated so bar was OK with us. Limited menu so got cheese plate with wonderful cheeses and bread. Then too full to eat lunch.
Spent quite a bit of time at Riverside Museum. All about transportation. Just great and won award for Museum of the Year. Lots and lots of stuff. (see pix). Can't remember if we ate dinner or just went back to flat and pooped out.
JACK SEZ: Museum new in 2011, is LOADED with old cars, trucks, motorcycles. I would be happy just to stare at the fully restored 1934 Bentley Sedanca Convertible Coupe near entrance. Kas will have pix--or I'll send her back. Example at http://www.charlescrail.com/inventory/179-1934-bentley-3-1-2-litre-fixed-head-sedanca-coupe-by-barker. One we saw is better. Bikers may like Docati Monster among 60 - 70 others.
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May 16 Tried for breakfast at Brown's since they make big deal of advertising it, but they were closed because of no gas or something. Ended up in big hotel next to train station. Buffet only, not very good. Hotel undergoing renovation for Commonwealth Games. Our flat is even in more convenient place than we thought. Then onto bus again to get off at Kelvingrove which is major museum (8000 things). Just a gorgeous building in and outside. Eclectic collection of "lots of stuff". We couldn't quite figure out the plan for where they put things. Everything from mummies to modern art. Were able to listen to the organ recital in the main hall. Nice little respite. Seems like collections of the rich industralists that were donated or something. But the focus is Scotland but primarily late 19th c. but there is also a Dali and ancient Egyptian stuff. Of course the expression heads hanging in the one gallery were really fun. The Glasgow Boys were an important group of artists - like the impressionists in France who all knew each other. There was a very strange smell from the cafe near the gift shop. By the way all museums in the UK are free entry.
JACK SEZ: Kelvingrove museum only recently reopened after couple years renovation. Think they intend to group things to be more related, maybe understood in popular manner--possibly to accent relation to Scotland. Loaded but somewhat puzzling. Impressive entrance is 3 flights of steps. Took me couple blocks, round about, to get to ramps that led to handicap lift.
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So pooped out again. Just went back to the pub for a bite, finished laundry, packed.
May 17. Left early by a different train station for one of the most beautiful train rides in the world.
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