🏴 Glasgow via Iceland - 10.13.23
Sleepy landing in Glasgow, Scotland after a chilly layover at Keflavík Reykjavík, Iceland. The IcelandAir pilot guy said “Wear a jacket when you exit the plane.” “Wha?!?” It was windy and cold and snowrainy, and I had a jacket ,and why am I standing on the tarmac in the dark? 🥶 There were warm things to drink and weird pickled Viking fish things to eat in the terminal. I paid 1,700 krona for my treats and was way too tired to attempt the math on that one.
I have a great flat in an old building in the cool Merchant City district just across from the University of Strathclyde. I could easily live long-term in this joint. Tall south facing windows, super quiet and ten tons of food options around. The neighborhood (and Glasgow) is crawling with students. I love the vibration of young minds cooking. If I were a zombie… here is where I’d want to be. Good eat’n. 🧠
The time change and jet lag equals an erratic schedule. Lots of wondering around town, figuring out transportation, and glorious dinner snacks. And… even with the exchange rate it appears that it’s cheaper to eat out here than Taos…
It’s a walking culture and public transportation here is vast. The subway system is the 3rd oldest in the world. And built for small people. Hobbit people so it’s said. Totally suits my stature. It has a route map on the side in Gaelic. Old world cool. Simple and easy… and I love it. Except… the seats are cloth… vintage cloth… all kinds of spills and stains and some places do not not smell like pee.
One afternoon spent in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. There is sooo much stuff that a return visit is a must. Plus, they had cheap snacks and cutie Scottish gals at the cafe. Win and win.
I made it down to something called Hidden Lane today after my fish and chips lunch/dinner… but all the things were closed. My schedule is still on New Mexico time so my day has been starting late. More train rides and hands-in-pockets strolls. It’s not cold enough for gloves but just enough of a bite to want the hands covered.
It’s time to leave my super cool flat tomorrow to track down my lovely friends, the Millers of Edinburgh, in you guessed it, Edinburgh. You pronounce Edinburgh by annunciating “Ee-din” and then mumbling the rest “buiirrrrraaah.” I can totally speak wha-eva language is that they speak here.
Side note… I have been working so much on my Spanish lately that I’ve been answering the people here in Español. We look similar but I can barely understand them, and they can’t figure me out… we all mumble some more and smile… I walk away with snacks or a train ticket and yup… the world is a deliciously small place sometimes.
🏴💙☺️
