A Week in Scotland and thoughts
Well, I was going to try something new, but it doesn't seem to have worked. I was looking at doing a weekly update of what I have been doing during the week, no matter how mundane and boring it may have been, but I don't seem to have started it yet.
So let's try from this week forward and I;ll try to remember to do a weekly update on a Monday from now on.
Anyway I was away all last week touring Scotland - which has left me very short of cash now for a few weeks. Anywho enough of my money troubles, below is the daily update of what I did while away.
Saturday 31st Jan:
Caught a bus from Birmingham up to Glasgow - about 7 hours to get there, with a half hour rest stop on the way. Ended up having pizza for tea from a nice little independent joint that served a variety of different products.
That night I met a nice young couple from Belgium who were over in Glasgow for a weekend, and as a result I now have somewhere to stay when I go to Belgium. Also met a French Canadian who was also over on holidays.
Sunday 1st Feb:
Walked around Glasgow for the day. Went past the very old and interesting Glasgow University and saw the Millenium tower from a distance, along with the Millenium bridge and BBC building.
On the walk I also went to see the Peoples Palace which is free and shows what life was like over the recent decades of Glasgow, as well as some older history. From there I walked to the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis both of which were very interesting in particular the Necropolis.
On the walk back to the hostel I walked along the main shopping strip and back through the backstreets of Glasgow suburbs.
Once back at the hostel I ended up chatting to the Belguim couple again as well as a group of portugese who have been living in Belgium for a number of months.
Monday 2nd Feb:
From Glasgow I caught a bus up to Inverness. As I was leaving Glasgow it started to snow, and we drove through a mini blizzard on the way though the lowlands and highlands. With about a 1/4 of the way to go, the snow cover stopped and it was clear and snow free for the rest of the way.
Inverness is very scenic, quaint and pleasent. I has been very cold though, although oddly enough warmer up there that what it was in Birmingham.
Tuesday 3rd Feb:
Visited the Victoria markets as well as part of the Great Glen Way and other parts of the city centre on the way to the bus depot to catch a bus to the Urquhart Castle. Ended up having to walk about 2 miles from where the bus stop is to where that castle was - very nice walk but it was cold, windy and raining for most of the wya up there. Unfortunately the buses only come about every 2 hours, so had to sit a while after getting back from the Castle.
Wednesday 4th Feb:
Walked to Inverness Cathedral, then over to the locks at Clachnaharry/South Kessock (suburbs of Inverness).
From there I went to catch the bus from Inverness to Edinburgh. Within 1/2 hour of leaving Inverness we were back into another snow blizzard with snow covering everything all the way down to Edinburgh which had more rain than snow when I arrived. Once in Edinburgh and checking to the hostel I left to wander the city at night for a while.
Thursday 5th Feb:
Went stright from the hostel up to Edinburgh Castle where it was snowing for most of the way and got heavier once I got in and was waiting for a free tour of the castle. Great view from up there of the city and it surrounds. From the castle I made my way to Calton Hill and it's monuments. After which I walked around the city, went to the national gallery and spend sometime there including having a go in their interactive area with a F1 race simulator.
After that I went to the movie theater and watched Underworld III - the rise of the Lycans, before heading back to the hostel.
Friday 6th Feb:
Walked down to the Palace from the start/finish of the Royal mile all the way (From Edinburgh Castle to the Palace), where I also had a look at the Scottish Parliment building before heading back up the side streets to join a free walking tour of the city which took about 3 1/2 hours or so.
So enjoyable and interesting with a energetic tour guide (they work for tips). From there I took another walk through the city, stopped in at Waterstones bookstore for a new book, then abck to the Greyfriers Church for a photo op.
Saturday 7th Feb:
Caught the train from Edinburgh to Newcastle - about 1 1/2 hours long. Walked around the city for a while and visited the Baltic Mill modern art building and other various touristy and non-touristy locations.
At the hostel I ended up chatting to a fella staying there while looking for work and somewhere to live form NZ (he's been living in England for about 6 years) as well as a group of Pharmacy & Chemistry students who were having a reunion as they all worked in the same company for a 2008. After that I went to a club with the NZ fella and finally got back at about 2:30 in the morning then chatted to the last fer Chem/Pharm guys still up before heading off to bed.
Sunday 8th Feb:
Walked around the city with John (the NZ fella) for a bit more and ended up a the CityHope Church of Newcastle at their starting time - very coincidental asI had no idea where they were and had never heard of them before. Was a good group of people and I enjoyed in immensly. From there we walked to the Newcastle Football Stadium which is a very large stadium to say the least, then down through Chinatown and back to the hostel. We both then went to a pub to watch the 6 nations match between Scotland and Wales.
After the rugby match I went back to the hostel, got my bags and went to the train station and caught my train back to Birmingham where I got back at about 9:50pm then had to walk through the snow covered ground back home.
So let's try from this week forward and I;ll try to remember to do a weekly update on a Monday from now on.
Anyway I was away all last week touring Scotland - which has left me very short of cash now for a few weeks. Anywho enough of my money troubles, below is the daily update of what I did while away.
Saturday 31st Jan:
Caught a bus from Birmingham up to Glasgow - about 7 hours to get there, with a half hour rest stop on the way. Ended up having pizza for tea from a nice little independent joint that served a variety of different products.
That night I met a nice young couple from Belgium who were over in Glasgow for a weekend, and as a result I now have somewhere to stay when I go to Belgium. Also met a French Canadian who was also over on holidays.
Sunday 1st Feb:
Walked around Glasgow for the day. Went past the very old and interesting Glasgow University and saw the Millenium tower from a distance, along with the Millenium bridge and BBC building.
On the walk I also went to see the Peoples Palace which is free and shows what life was like over the recent decades of Glasgow, as well as some older history. From there I walked to the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis both of which were very interesting in particular the Necropolis.
On the walk back to the hostel I walked along the main shopping strip and back through the backstreets of Glasgow suburbs.
Once back at the hostel I ended up chatting to the Belguim couple again as well as a group of portugese who have been living in Belgium for a number of months.
Monday 2nd Feb:
From Glasgow I caught a bus up to Inverness. As I was leaving Glasgow it started to snow, and we drove through a mini blizzard on the way though the lowlands and highlands. With about a 1/4 of the way to go, the snow cover stopped and it was clear and snow free for the rest of the way.
Inverness is very scenic, quaint and pleasent. I has been very cold though, although oddly enough warmer up there that what it was in Birmingham.
Tuesday 3rd Feb:
Visited the Victoria markets as well as part of the Great Glen Way and other parts of the city centre on the way to the bus depot to catch a bus to the Urquhart Castle. Ended up having to walk about 2 miles from where the bus stop is to where that castle was - very nice walk but it was cold, windy and raining for most of the wya up there. Unfortunately the buses only come about every 2 hours, so had to sit a while after getting back from the Castle.
Wednesday 4th Feb:
Walked to Inverness Cathedral, then over to the locks at Clachnaharry/South Kessock (suburbs of Inverness).
From there I went to catch the bus from Inverness to Edinburgh. Within 1/2 hour of leaving Inverness we were back into another snow blizzard with snow covering everything all the way down to Edinburgh which had more rain than snow when I arrived. Once in Edinburgh and checking to the hostel I left to wander the city at night for a while.
Thursday 5th Feb:
Went stright from the hostel up to Edinburgh Castle where it was snowing for most of the way and got heavier once I got in and was waiting for a free tour of the castle. Great view from up there of the city and it surrounds. From the castle I made my way to Calton Hill and it's monuments. After which I walked around the city, went to the national gallery and spend sometime there including having a go in their interactive area with a F1 race simulator.
After that I went to the movie theater and watched Underworld III - the rise of the Lycans, before heading back to the hostel.
Friday 6th Feb:
Walked down to the Palace from the start/finish of the Royal mile all the way (From Edinburgh Castle to the Palace), where I also had a look at the Scottish Parliment building before heading back up the side streets to join a free walking tour of the city which took about 3 1/2 hours or so.
So enjoyable and interesting with a energetic tour guide (they work for tips). From there I took another walk through the city, stopped in at Waterstones bookstore for a new book, then abck to the Greyfriers Church for a photo op.
Saturday 7th Feb:
Caught the train from Edinburgh to Newcastle - about 1 1/2 hours long. Walked around the city for a while and visited the Baltic Mill modern art building and other various touristy and non-touristy locations.
At the hostel I ended up chatting to a fella staying there while looking for work and somewhere to live form NZ (he's been living in England for about 6 years) as well as a group of Pharmacy & Chemistry students who were having a reunion as they all worked in the same company for a 2008. After that I went to a club with the NZ fella and finally got back at about 2:30 in the morning then chatted to the last fer Chem/Pharm guys still up before heading off to bed.
Sunday 8th Feb:
Walked around the city with John (the NZ fella) for a bit more and ended up a the CityHope Church of Newcastle at their starting time - very coincidental asI had no idea where they were and had never heard of them before. Was a good group of people and I enjoyed in immensly. From there we walked to the Newcastle Football Stadium which is a very large stadium to say the least, then down through Chinatown and back to the hostel. We both then went to a pub to watch the 6 nations match between Scotland and Wales.
After the rugby match I went back to the hostel, got my bags and went to the train station and caught my train back to Birmingham where I got back at about 9:50pm then had to walk through the snow covered ground back home.
posted by Matt at Saturday, February 14, 2009
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