Glasgow - Scotland's largest city famous for shopping, art and Victorian architecture. I arrived from Belfast by a quick 40 minute flight, which was delayed on the tarmac for over an hour due to fog. Luckily, the fog only affected the views of Glasgow, not the amazing bird's eye views on the way to. This did mean the pilot maneuvered a completely blind landing, as the sky, no - the AIR was elephant soup all the way down to the ground. It was quite impressive and I silently thanked the universe for delivering us to the ground safely.
I navigated to my flat, a remarkably splendid 19th century, West End Airbnb with the absolute nicest host, Lucy
. I had a beautiful, airy bedroom with the most comfortable bed, fluffy towels and heated floors. Heaven! The West End is also a great neighborhood, close to Glasgow University, with lots of eateries and cafes, very central as well, which made for a great home base to walk about. Not long after I checked in the other guest arrived. Rachel is from Perth, Australia and we immediately hit it off. She invited me to join her in watching the world cup of rugby at the local pub. This was an experience. I'd never watched rugby, so Rachel quickly filled me in on the rules, which are incredibly easy to understand. Then the game started... only a few words to say: These. Are. MEN. Holy cow. I mean they're like modern day Vikings going into battle. I was hooked. We also kept the Ginger Grouse flowing, which is a brilliant concoction developed by the Scots - ginger beer blended with the water of life (whiskey). Hello new favorite beverage. During the next few games Rachel and I got to know each other and we have a lot in common. It's always validating to find other solo travelers, even more so female solo travelers. We all have similar stories and goals and honestly a lot of the same world views. As I've said before, traveling makes the world smaller, and provides a global perspective. Each new friend you make knits together new connections and ideas, and cements your personal views and values as well. Being alone forces you to balance being introverted and extroverted simultaneously. You are alone most of the time, creating space to allow your inner voice to surface, but you're also forced to say hello to random people and strike up conversations. Personally, I walk up to people just so that I don't have to talk to myself all the time! Rachel gets that, and we made many new friends that night while listening to college kids rock out with bagpipes, a fiddle and a guitar. The live music over here is insane!
The next day I got up early and walked to Glasgow Cathedral, where Saint Mungo, the late 6th-century apostle, founder and patron saint of Glasgow, is buried
. Once again, I was alone (I LOVE traveling in the off season!). What a gorgeous place. I was able to go down into the bowels of the church and every turn provided a new nook with something to discover. It was another sunny day and the stained glass threw colorful pools of light over the stones, yet the crypts still seemed weighed down with the secrets of those long gone. It was easy to understand why Sir Walter Scott chose this as a featured place in Rob Roy. Emerging from the church, I then walked up the hill to the Necropolis, a Victorian cemetery that holds the bodies of 50,000 souls. Not only is this a very cool cemetery, it has breathtaking, panoramic views of the city. I could have stayed all day, basking in the sun, watching the leaves fall, and keeping the company of those below. It was a magical place, which I know I keep saying. Magic does seem to abound here, and it's no wonder why the Celts have so many stories and myths involving it. It simply exists all around you - whether it's in the rainbows that dance in the distance, the wisps of clouds that stick to the tops of buildings and gather around mountains or in the damp sound of rain dripping from your window.
I'm hitting my stride with almost two weeks abroad and over 40 miles walked. This trip has been everything I had hoped it would be, and I can only hope it continues to gather steam in the weeks ahead. Getting started is the hardest part, taking the leap is painful - but the reward is being astonished by life every single day. That is worth every penny, every sleepless night, and every skeptical look from the masses. The magic is certainly working on me!
GATHERING STEAM IN GLASGOW
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
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9SCOTTISH REVERIE
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Comments

2025-02-08
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Bunny pho pho
2015-10-21
I want to be Caitlin McAllister when I grow up.
Nicole W
2015-11-05
"These. Are. MEN. Holy cow. I mean they're like modern day Vikings going into battle. I was hooked."
I 100% agree. When I visited Ireland in 2013, I had the lucky opportunity to hang out with one of the Irish Rugby teams in a bar. Men. Suave, charming, hunky Men. And very talented! We watched their game the following day. "Hooked" is a good word for it.
"These. Are. MEN. Holy cow. I mean they're like modern day Vikings going into battle. I was hooked."
I'm so glad that you are writing this blog/journal of your travels. It will be a treasure for you for years to come. And -- your writing is so eloquent! I'm loving the descriptive vocabulary and insights of your trip. Feels like I'm there with you as I read! XO.
Nicole W
2015-11-05
Derp. I meant 2003 -- not 2013. ;) Wow, that seems like so long ago now that I write it down. Feels like yesterday.
adventureingenu
2015-11-08
That sounds like an amazing night! Thanks for your comments and for reading, lady! Sending hugs from across the pond!