Glasgow, Scotland - May 2016

Fun fact travelers: Flights from Dublin to Glasgow are only 12 euros!  When we discovered this we knew that it would be silly to pass up such an opportunity so of course we booked it!  We only had a week in Ireland and a ton we wanted to do but since it is less than an hour flight to Glasgow we thought spending one day there would be totally worth it. 

We booked the earliest flight in the morning and the latest flight that night to get an entire day there so we were of course exhausted but that is part of the fun of adventuring. Sometimes I think I would like a vacation that involves sleeping late and laying on a beach somewhere because we are always pushing ourselves as hard as we can but that is how we are able to see and experience so much!

We have a lovely friend Heather, who I have mentioned a bunch in these blogs, and she being from Scotland insisted that it was the best place to visit.  She was right!  I can honestly say of all the places we have traveled Glasgow was one of my favourite cities.  I wish we had more time there to enjoy not only Glasgow but explore the rest of Scotland. 

My most treasured friend Heather 

The history, the architecture, the dark gothic charm, the people, everything about this city filled my heart with joy. I wandered the streets with enthusiasm and child like wonder.  I didn’t want to miss a single detail!  Sometimes there are places you will visit that will hold onto a piece of your soul forever and you let it because you fell in love.  I feel like Scotland has a little part of me that it is keeping until I return for it one day.

We didn’t have anywhere specific in mind to visit (other than the Necropolis – which I will get to) so we just wandered as we so often do.  It was so interesting talking to people here having just come from Ireland and really noticing the difference in accent.  Heather always got pissed at me for never knowing the difference but now I can say for sure I get it! 

And the people were so friendly.  We popped into the tourist office to grab a map and the guy working there told us everything about the city, mapped out a route for us to take to see everything and told us where all the best free stuff was.  Everyone we met was just as nice, whether it was in a shop or just someone on the street, if you had a question or concern they were happy to help.

One of my favourite things to see and the only place I knew I needed to visit was the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis.  The Cathedral is one of the only remaining Gothic Cathedrals on the Scottish mainland.  It is gorgeous, dark and full of incredible energy.  You can feel the time that has passed under that roof.  It was an incredible place to explore. The basement is home to a crypt and the scent of the age stayed in my nose long after we left.

http://www.glasgowcathedral.org.uk/

Once we were finished inside we ventured out and behind the cathedral to the necropolis. This was seriously the cemetery of my dreams.  Huge tombstones, crypts and monuments crawl up the hill and cover the grounds.  This Victorian gothic cemetery is so peaceful and full of beauty I could have stayed all day.  It has been around since 1832 and over 50000 people have been buried here.  Of course not all the people have stones or any sort of marking so only around 3500 monuments exist.

If I lived in Glasgow I would spend all my free time wandering the grounds, and taking in all the loveliness that surrounded me. 

After our necropolis wandering we went to the Cathedral House Inn for lunch which was fantastic.  Vegan soup and Sandwich’s and the cutest little gothic waitress.  Also a great view of the tombstones from our table.  Dream day for me!  

http://www.cathedralhousehotel.co.uk/

We took a lovely walk down the River Clyde which runs right through the city.  It is the second longest river in Scotland and is such a beautiful walk and a perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. We stopped at some great look out spots, parks, fountains and churches.  We really felt like we saw a ton of the city, especially since we only had twelve hours!

I must say I was slightly disappointed not to see more men in kilts but I would say the trip was a success despite that.  There was also a lack of bagpipes but that part was alright with me.

I hope to return to Scotland one day to do more exploring especially Loch Ness. I still believe in Nessy and I plan to see her one day! 

If you ever have the chance to visit Scotland, especially Glasgow, take the opportunity!

Besos