Part 3: Scotland – Glasgow the real deal?

Note: This is a scheduled post of our Summer Holidays in Scotland (9th to 25th September, 2022)

10 hours, that’s how long I slept. It was a much needed sleep after the mental and physical agony the past 24 hours.

Customer is King

Shucks, still no internet connection! That’s definitely not expected for a 4-star hotel. After being told 3 times by the Front Desk staff that it was due to our iPhone settings – erm … Fibs! – we had to call in the Duty Manager to check out our room for himself. Spot on! ZERO internet connection. We were immediately checked out from Room 1208 to the 8th Floor. Et voilà, seamless connection!

The age-old mantra of the ‘Customer is King’ is not just a cliché but was tried and true in our case.

Immediate check-out from Room 1208 to a new room in less than 24 hours

A Scottish Breakfast

While travelling on the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Glasgow Central, we could have ordered a traditional Scottish breakfast of Haggis, sausage, baked beans, tatties, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast. We didn’t go for that for the obvious reason that 6am was way too early to consume such a hearty breakfast. Hear ye, hear ye! For the next 7 mornings in Glasgow, we had no choice but to indulge ourselves in the daily wholesome Scottish brekkie 😄

Breakfast at Maldron Hotel, Glasgow

The great Scottish brekkie pumped tons of energy in our body systems to enable us to sustain an almost 3 hours walk to Glasgow Cathedral from our hotel. We read about the Cathedral being the oldest Medieval Cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow, hence, we had to see it for ourselves, with no regrets.

Glasgow Cathedral

The Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mungo, the patron Saint of Glasgow, whose tomb lies at the centre of the building’s Lower Church.

Upper and Lower Churches of Glasgow Cathedral

An impressive interior considering the building being the oldest building in Glasgow!

With the recent passing of QEII, Glasgow was also mourning. Several people paid their last respect to the late Queen by placing bouquets beside her obituary. 

Rest in Peace, Ma’am

Glasgow Necropolis

We walked to the nearby cemetery, the Glasgow Necropolis.

View of Glasgow Cathedral from the Necropolis

The Necropolis remains one of the most significant cemeteries in Europe, exceptional in its townscape, its symbolic relationship to Glasgow Cathedral and the mediaeval heart of the city. In common with the other major Victorian cemeteries, it was designed as a botanic and sculpture garden to improve the morals and tastes of Glaswegians and act as an historical record of past greatness. 50,000 individuals have been buried there. Every grave has a stone. 

Every grave has a stone at Glasgow Necropolis

The Glasgow Necropolis reminded me of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Glasgow native, Billy Conolly has said, “Glasgow is a bit like Nashville, Tennessee. It doesn’t care much for the living, but it really looks after the dead.” 😬

John Knox Monument – This imposing 70 foot monument predated the Necropolis and has a 12-foot statue of Knox clutching a bible in his right hand

Scottish Greats

I didn’t know David Livingstone was Scottish! I knew he’s an Explorer in Africa. By the way, the popular ViaVia Travellers’ Cafés in Belgium was inspired by Livingstone.

ViaVia Café (A Livingstone Experience), Heverlee, Belgium

David Livingstone, a Scottish physician, Congregationalist and pioneer Christian missionary, an explorer in Africa and one of the most popular British heroes of the Victorian era

Another Scottish great name worldwide is James Watt. What? Yes, Watt, the unit of power used in the international system of units to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The statue of James Watt stands in the corner of George Square

James watt, a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer and chemist

George Square, named after King George III with the Scott monument in the centre

With all the walks, nature’s call came on spontaneously. It was lovely to find a little Spanish oasis in the city centre, not far from George Square.

Walking with my trusty barefoot All-Weather shoes

Café Andaluz City Centre on St Vincent Place is a Spanish/ Catalan tapas restaurant. We had the pre-theatre menu of 3 tapas. I had grilled asparagus topped with grated Manchego cheese, lemon hollandaise and crushed blackpepper, fried calamari rings served with fresh lemon and smoked paprika aioli and the classic Spanish chicken dish cooked with garlic, rosemary and red chillies

Pre-Theatre Menu of 3 tapas pp at Café Andaluz, Glasgow

Café Andaluz, a tapas restaurant serving Spanish and Catalan cuisines

The Spanish experience was a superb choice. Everything was spot on – fast service, friendly staff and great food.

We returned to our hotel, feeling hopeful for positive days ahead.

Ringgggg…

I received a call on my mobile phone from someone in Scotland, someone I have not met for more than a quarter of a century! Boy, it’s great to touch base again. It’s been too long.

The caller had this to say, “When you decide what time you plan to take the train, let us know.”

So, our journey to the ‘unknown’ continued mid-way between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Looking forward already 😉

THE Train …

Lovely Spring-like weather

Fingers crossed for a better next day 🤞