Impressions of Glasgow

Glasgow is a BIG city with many impressive and imposing stone buildings (gothic architecture?).  It is a modern city with  a European feel to it.  There are so many restaurants and shops in the city centre from high end to common.   We had to laugh about “Poundland” – the UK equivalent to the Dollar Tree!!  There are many familiar food chains here including McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC,  and Starbucks.

We are staying at yet another Jurys Inn (this is the 4^th one including Dublin, Galway, and Belfast).  The hotel chain is consistent, the rooms are clean, beds comfortable.  They get a 3-star rating and are placed in city centres throughout Europe.  I would agree with the rating.  Our travel agent booked us with full breakfast at each place we stay; I wouldn’t recommend it to another.  The Jury’s buffet breakfasts are boringly consistent – scrambled eggs, beans in tomato sauce, bacon/sausage, fruit (usually stewed, sometimes fresh), and toast.  In Ireland they had porridge and croissants but not in Scotland.  Each city centre has many pastry and breakfast shops that probably offer a better meal for less money.

We found our “pub” in Glasgow last night just next to the hotel, just ½ block from the River Clyde (which our room overlooks).  MacSorleys is a beautiful old establishment, has a laid back feel, serves food, and has music usually most nights (but not on Sunday).  We will be here next Friday night again so we will probably go and listen to that night’s band.

Beer here is Scotland is not any better than Ireland.  Rick is thinking of giving up drinking beer altogether.  Drinking beer here is the equivalent of wearing a nicotine patch to stop smoking!

But there’s a fine selection of Scotches….