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| Me at Crookston Castle |
Whiskey and haggis. Stone castles and beautiful dialects. Lochness Monsters and over a thousand years of history. All of these things bring the gorgeous country of Scotland to life in your mind's eye.
In June of 2017, my mom and I embarked on a 10-day journey, across the ocean to the unforgettable land of the Scots. Our first stop was Glasgow, where our plane landed. A busy city and lively atmosphere is what we could expect during the time we spent there. On day one, we arrived in the early morning but check in at the Kelvin West Hotel was at 2:30pm so we had some time to kill. The first place we stopped in to was the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
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| The Floating Heads at KelvinGrove Museum and Art Gallery |
One of the most majestic and artistic exhibitions you may ever see. Admission is by donation only as most museums, exhibits, and galleries in Scotland are run on donations alone. Inside, you will find a lovely cafe on the first of 3 floors holding countless fascinating exhibits that will offer an astounding appreciation for art in all forms. In the photo above, the floating heads hang from the ceiling with vibrant blue light. In my interpretive opinion, I believe the faces hold the many different expressions and emotions humans experience daily. In Glasgow, it is possible to rent or borrow a bike to get around. There is a bike station just outside of the museum. While my mom and I decided not to do that, I highly recommend it.
Keep in mind, we were going on 24 hours with no sleep as we had an overnight flight. So, with burning eyeballs and the oh-so-trendy "same clothes as yesterday" look, we trekked on in exploration until check-in. Mom and I found a great restaurant called "Bread Meats Bread". Their specialty? You guessed it! Sandwiches and burgers. With a jaw-dropping delicious menu and an excellent gluten free selection, they will be the tastiest burgers you ever "meat"! (Pun intended!) Mom being celiac had me worried that she would be limited in what she could eat. Turns out, the Scots have gluten free dishes down to a science and offer a great selection of gluten free options and modifications. There are several locations of Bread Meats Bread around the city so it won't be difficult to find. On our excursion around town, we stopped in to a few thrift shops to have a peak and there are some attractive sales you can find.
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| Bread Meats Bread |
When we were finally able to check in to the Kelvin West Hotel, the sight of a cozy bed to collapse onto had never been so pleasing to the eye. And collapse we did...against the great advice we were given to stay awake until nightfall, in order to adjust to the 4 hour time difference sooner rather than later. Waking up 3-4 hours later (at some point wondering what year it was) in the dark, we decided to save our new-found energies for the following day.
Our hotel room was on the first floor of the building and it was a great size for a double room. The women who run the hotel are very helpful and informative about the area. The hotel offers a continental breakfast first thing in the morning and a map of the city at the front desk! There definitely is room for improvement at this hotel, but for just a couple of nights until you make your next move, it is perfectly suited. I believe I booked this room for $312 CAD for 3 nights.
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| Kelvin West Hotel |
The next day, we were off exploring again but this time, with a plan. The subway proved a very effective and fast way to travel around the city. Using the subway makes navigating a big city much easier as you only need to know what subway stop to exit at. The subway runs every 10-15 minutes. We took the subway to Pollok House.
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| Pollok House |
This grand establishment has existed since 1931, and it is full of artwork, old furniture, and a library that is an antique as they come, and is meant to hold 7,000 books. The Maxwell family spent their days in the glorious garden park and made big business decisions in the smoking room of the Pollok House. Downstairs, you will find a lovely little cafe that sells sweets, coffee, pastries, and more. My Mom and I certainly enjoyed the likes of that.
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| My Mother and I enjoying a latte at Pollok House |
Make sure your camera is fully charged and there is plenty of room to get lots of photos. You won't regret it! As for admission, this one is not by donation only. For a single adult, it is 6.50 in pounds, and for a family, it is 16.50 in pounds. Mom and I did not take a scheduled tour but I definitely recommend it as you will be filled with knowledge about the Maxwell family and their business dealings, as well as conflict they may have faced.
Next, we went back to the Kelvin West to get cleaned up and get ready for our evening outing. This outing consisted of going to the Citizen's Theatre for live theatre. This venture is one that every person should experience first hand. I believe the tickets for the play we saw were $25 CAD each. Flawless acting and a beautiful story is how to best describe what we saw. A writer with syphilis who's short stories became darker as the play went on. It was heart wrenching and funny, and dark. I recommend throwing caution to the wind with this one. If you are planning on seeing a play, see something edgy and with substance. While waiting for the play to begin, they offer different types of beverages and snacks. I enjoyed both a latte and nice glass of wine during the intermission.
After the play, we were looking for somewhere to have drinks and relax, but a place that also served food. We came across this place called "beGIN". I'll give you 3 guesses as to what they served most. While it had been quite some time since either one of us had consumed the "pine-tasting" beverage, it was no holds barred on this night! We ordered some drinks but food was no where to be found, unless you enjoy peanuts and trail-mix. When we reached the bottom of our glasses, we ordered more, and more. We drank to the point of being totally social and wanting to meet some of the wonderful people that live in this place. We went over and popped a squat next to 2 wonderful ladies that we struck up conversation with. Multiple drinks, and 2 new friends later, I believe we were ready to head on back to the hotel. "BeGIN" had such a high-spirited atmosphere and great music to dance to. A really great place if you are looking to let your proverbial hair down and enjoy a night out. Afterwards, we went and got what looked like a poutine but without the gravy. Let's just say that I understand why Scotland is not known for their poutines.
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| At beGin |
Princes Square Shopping Centre is where we would land next. What a place to be! With cobblestone roads and bars, restaurants, and loads of little shops to do your souvenir shopping. There is a subway station right in the centre so getting there is easy peasy! You will end up right at Buchanan Street which lies in the busy shopping district of downtown, Glasgow. There are lots of souvenir shops and clothing stores. Here, I picked up a silver whiskey flask with the Scotland coat of arms on it. It was 15 pounds. Shopping here is not at all expensive and the taxes are included in the posted price so there are no surprises at the sales counter.
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| Buchanan Street (Shopping District in Glasgow) |
On our last full day in Glasgow, Scotland, we went to visit the abandoned ruins of Crookston Castle. Crookston Castle was built in the 15th century, but found itself under siege in the 16th century, followed by abandonment. The castle is accessible during the hours of 9-5, and there is no admission. You can climb all the way to the top of the castle using the steep ladders leading up. The castle is about 3 miles south east of paisley and you can spot the castle from about a mile away, up in the hills. These stunning and fascinating ruins are just a glimpse into the history of Scotland during the 15th and 16th centuries. There is a plaque with historical information on it, as you walk through the gate and toward the castle.
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| Crookston Castle |
The next day, we were on our way to Inverness, Scotland via rental car; but that folks, is another article! Just a piece of hilarious advice, REMEMBER TO STAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING!!! Do not drive your loved ones into oncoming traffic. :) I hope you take what I've written here and store it away when visiting Glasgow. A beautiful city full of art, culture, and lovely people awaits you. <3
AnneMarie - Global Travel Writer
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