Na rathaidean fada, lùbach tro Chuimrigh agus Alba

Today’s trivia on Glasgow:

• The name Glasgow is believed to derive from Gaelic, meaning “green hollow” or “green glen”.
• The popular curry, Tikka Masala is claimed to have been invented at the Shish Mahal restaurant in Glasgow’s West End.
• Inside Victoria Park, you can see 330-million-year-old fossilized tree stumps that are older than the dinosaurs.
• Glasgow City Chambers contains more marble than the Vatican City in Rome.
• Known by locals as the “Shoogly” (rattling) train, the Glasgow Subway was the third to be built in the world.
• The bones of St. Valentine are said to be buried in the Blessed St. John Duns Scotus Church in the Gorbals area.
• Charles Macintosh, who invented the modern waterproof raincoat in 1824, was born in Glasgow.
• Glasgow was the first city in the world to award Nelson Mandela the “Freedom of the City

We’ll see today how much an influence the Italian immigrants had on the Scottish coffee culture!

The view from breakfast, one floor above ground. I don’t understand why a hotel would put rooms on ground floor and not amenities.

The coffee wasn’t too bad, along with the Shakshuka and Annette’s pancakes.

  

Is it me or what? They come and take dirty plates away but leave glasses or something else. Why not take all dirty items. Or is there a dirty plate person, a dirty glass person etc and one can’t cross demarcation lines?

I know I’m the tour guide and expected to be worldly and give clear advise and impart information but serious, some of the things Annette asks! The latest is how do you do that special 11 in Elizabth II🤔😱😭. As my favourite daughter in-law would say, God, give me strength!

We started the day with some city murals . . .

and in between we managed . . .

that was free as our National Trust membership has now paid for itself  . . .

Miss Agnes Toward, a shorthand typist, made this house her home from 1911 until 1965. With great affection and care, she preserved her furniture and belongings, refusing to part with items that most people would have discarded. She was an ‘independent woman’ rare for that era.

Miss Agnes Toward and her mother enjoyed what would have been considered a fairly luxurious living experience at their Buccleuch Street flat. Unlike most other homes in the vicinity, their flat boasted exclusive amenities such as a private toilet and gas lighting (still in use now), providing ample space and comfort.

The official photos are better than mine. She had a fine apartment and only converted to electricity in 1965.

So far, all the National Trust sites have volunteers all over the place that are enthusiastic about their venue. Here it was a bit of a non ascent sounding Scottish lass. Turns out she’s from NZ and been here 12 years.

along the way . . .

and we arrive at Glasgow City Chambers with a tour that is free, for now as apparently on the 25th Feburary Council voted that tours to be charged in future.

Unassuming from the outside . . .

and inside is a different story . . .

The tour was great. Depending on price, knowing now what you learn, I’d pay for the tour.

The main staircase is often described as being one storey taller than the staircase in the Vatican.

The staircase is constructed entirely from white Carrara marble.

The luxurious construction was intended to show off Glasgow’s immense, industrial wealth at the end of the 19th century

We made it back to the hotel for the hotel’s afternoon free happy hour. There ware no nibbles, just a selection of wines., actually just two. A red or a white. I got talking to John Scott, or was it Scott John, the concierge and said a friend told us about this place that there’s free drinks, you just walk in and no one word know! He looked a little blank for a second and then said I’ve seen you before, but that does happen! I then asked about nibbles and a little while later, just Annette and I got . . .

Also asked about two steak houses, Mini Grill Steakhouse and Gōst Bar & Restaurant. Of course he recommended the later, the more expensive one! Which he duelly booked for us.

After dinner at Gōst Bar & Restaurant I spoke to the night manager about how cold our room was.  He said I’ll come up and have a look. We chatted about fire risks and how council is cracking down on things. Only last week a 200 year old building was burnt down. I mentioned about Tunnicks and how I liked them after being introduced to them back down under. He said would you like some more. What a silly question, who wouldn’t say no?

Today’s travels . . .

Coming soon, I hope once connectivity is regained between garmin aand strava