Haggis, Beer and Football in GlasgÉ™
Saturday, 22nd June - Monday 24th June
Summary: I had to think of something to do for a couple of nights whilst Leb was with one of her besties in Edinburgh and it didn't take much thinking at all. Glasgow is only about an hour away, is full of pubs and football grounds that I had never seen before. I'd been to the city a few times but never as a tourist with a couple of nights to indulge myself.
I stopped off at Uddingston on the way, famous for it's Tunnock's Tea cakes and caramel wafers, but also for being the home of one of my favourite players - and in my opinion the greatest Forest player ever, John Robertson. I had hoped to find out where he was born and to have a selfie taken outside but no-one seemed to know where he lived so I gave up and headed for my Travelodge hotel for a two night stay.
The first night I headed off into town and went to a couple of pubs and watched the Euros. This set me up perfectly for a the whole of Sunday to spend there. I spent the morning getting a laundry run done, and as it was close by Firhill, home of Partick Thistle FC, I couldn't resist driving across to take a look. I went to four other grounds - Hampden, The City Stadium (the new home of Queen's Park), Celtic Park and Ibrox. Then in the evening I started the night with a small taste of some Scottish Whiskey before scoffing a haggis and chips before joining the throngs watching Scotland get cruelly piped by Hungary in their last group game to get eliminated from the tournament.
After that, it was "Goodbye Scotland" in more senses than one as I left Glasow and headed east along the M8 to drop the car off and rejoin Leb as we continued our holiday of a lifetime by flying over the North Sea to Oslo, Norway.
Seeking out Robbo and Tunnocks Tea Cakes. (Saturday 22nd June)
Day 107. Robbo and Tunnocks Tea Cakes
Day 106 ~ Popped in to the rather underwhelming Holy Island on the way to Edinburgh to drop Leb off with her dear friend, Rosie. I then drove to Glasgow via John Robertson's home of Uddingston (also of Tunnock's Tea Cakes) to explore the city's old pubs. Last fish & chips in this trip were not great.
Glasgow Stadium Tour. (Sunday, 23rd June)
Day 107 ~ This was, sadly, the last day in the UK in our first spell there after six weeks. I started the day looking for a laundrette and after a frustrating time visiting a few, I think I found the best, not too far from Firhill, the ground of Partick Thistle F.C. So, having dropped of my clothes at the very kind and hard working owners, I popped across to see Firhill before going back to pick up my clean and dried clothes.
On the way back I stopped to take a quick look at the "Tall Ship" docked on the right back on the Clyde.
Having visited Partick Thistle, I was on a role and I had to tick a few more gounds off. Next on the list was Celtic Park.
Next stop was Hampden Park, home of the Scottish national team. This was very appropriate because later that night Scotland played Hungary in their last group game of the Euros, needing a win to progress in the tournament.
Right next to Hampden Park is the ground of Queen's Park. They actually played at Hampden for many years but, perhaps inevitably, they moved to their own, much humbler ground, The City Stadium.
The final ground of my whistle stop tour of five Glaswegian Stadia was Ibrox Park.
Later, the day was further enhanced by having a good chat with a lovely paramedic over a malt whisky at the Pot Stll and then after haggis and chips (not so boring then, eh?) onto to see Scotland's tragic exit from the Euros. Why did two key decisions not get checked for VAR?
Bye Glasgow, Now where's Leb? (Monday, 24th June)
Day 108 ~ After getting up and doing my "goodbye video" I set off back to Edinburgh to drop the car off and reunite with Leb. And so ended my brief, but enjoyable, time in Scotland.
Scottish Financial Summary
Mainly because the Travelodge is quite cheap, and paid for well in advance, this was a relatively cheap couple of days. Beer, fish and chips, haggis, one whiskey and one laundry run was pretty much it. I had to fill the tank up before handing the car back, which was the single most expensive item for the two days.
Scottish Mood Summary
This was a pleasant two days on my own. In terms of my mood it was a couple of the best days so far. I filled it will all the usual crazy self-indulgent box-ticking activities I like to do. Lots of pubs, five football grounds, and several matches on TV. No bad moods there at all.
Scottish Booze Summary
No surprises here. Me on my own in Glasgow with pubs to visit and football on the Tely... it was alsways going to be a boozy time. 'm quite proud of myself, actually. It could have been much worse!
Trip So Far Summary
This signalled the end of our seven week spell in the UK. Next we were heading back to the rest of Europe.
