After Dublin we Zitos boarded a paltry 40 minute flight to an absolutely soaking wet Glasgow. This was the only place besides Ireland on the trip I had never been before and I was really excited to getting a taste of another Scottish city apart from Edinburgh.
I was not disappointed. Glasgow is a beautiful working city that has a laid back atmosphere and is super easy to get around. Day one included some light shopping and a visit to the Botanical Gardens.
We were staying off the Kelvinsbridge Subway station. Now coming from a New Yorker the notion of a single subway line that runs in a loop is a laughably concise public transport system but, it made getting around so quick and easy. It's basically not possible to screw up.
The first thing we actually did to get our bearings was walk about 20 minutes down the Great Western Road into the city center at Buchanan Street.
I love it when old cities mix their old and their new things. It's my favorite thing about visiting places that are so old.
Buchanan Street is just like a basic shopping thoroughfare in most cities except better. Better because there is no vehicle traffic and about half as many people as you would find in a place like Oxford St or 34th St.
Despite a brief dalliance with some unfortunate bird poop (Sorry Dom) it was a very relaxing morning.
We had lunch at a cute little (and highly recommended) place called The Butterfly and The Pig. It is tea room by day and a bar by night and they feature a long list of delicious sandwiches and even better desserts.
You should pay them a visit.
After lunch we hopped back on the Subway towards The West End where we were staying to check out things closer to our rented apartment. We got off at Hillhead Station and checked out some of the shops along Byres Road before ending up at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
We found this little number outside.
The Botanic Gardens themselves are housed in a public park all their own. They are free and open to the public. Say what?!
It has several green houses, a food garden, a rose garden and a feature that actually chronicles plant trends throughout the decades starting in the late 19th century.
Needless to say I took many, many, many, pictures here.
So many flowers!!
...and a shot of the West End for good measure.
Edinburgh next week and after that a little more of Glasgow before we head on to the last leg in London!
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