When we arrive in Perth it appears that we have 12 minutes to make our connecting train to Inverness --- along with approximately 50% of the other passengers disembarking. We all make a dash, asking directions along the way and arrive at the correct track. Shortly the train arrives and there is a scramble to find spots to stow luggage and find seats. We have reserved seats, though they are not all together. Once settled in there is an announcement that we will depart 15 minutes late as we must wait for the conductor to arrive. Oh well, hurry-up and wait.
When we were planning this trip we debated between renting a car and driving ourselves, hiring a driver/guide to take us about or primarily using the the public ScottRail as transport. We landed upon ScottRail. Sunday morning the four of us wheel our luggage the six blocks to Queen Street Station for a train to Perth, connecting us to Inverness. The scenery along the way keeps us looking out the windows. Beautiful! When we arrive in Perth it appears that we have 12 minutes to make our connecting train to Inverness --- along with approximately 50% of the other passengers disembarking. We all make a dash, asking directions along the way and arrive at the correct track. Shortly the train arrives and there is a scramble to find spots to stow luggage and find seats. We have reserved seats, though they are not all together. Once settled in there is an announcement that we will depart 15 minutes late as we must wait for the conductor to arrive. Oh well, hurry-up and wait. The scenery changes from tree forests and farmer's crops to more barren grazing land, then back to tree plantations. At last we arrive in Inverness and take a short taxi ride to Hotel Columba, our home for the next three nights. We have some time before check-in so we explore the city and stop for a small lunch and a pint. Later that evening we dine at a restaurant long the Ness river.
From our research and observations from the Hop-on Hop-off Bus we decide that we want to see the Necropolis, Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and potentially Tenement House. Our hotel is only a half mile from Cathedral Square and the entrances to both the Necropolis and Glasgow Cathedral. It's a slight walk uphill on an overcast Saturday morning. Old graveyards are usually interesting and the Glasgow Necropolis does not disappoint us. It is a Victorian cemetery, laid out more as a meandering park. It's on a small hill, providing us views of the surrounding town. At the top is a statue to John Knox, the leader of the Scottish Protestant Reformation. It's fun walking thorough the Necropolis reading the grave markers. Glasgow Cathedral is an imposing structure right next to the Necropolis. The church was originally Catholic and the tomb of St. Mungo is in the lower church. For a bit of an adventure we decide to take the subway to Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Musuem. It's a short downhill walk to Queen Street Station to purchase tickets and catch the subway. We examine the map to determine the stop nearest Kelvingrove then confirm with the agent when we buy our tickets. A few stops on the subway Inner Ring and we are within 5 blocks of the museum. The architecture is beautiful, it is made of red sandstone in the Baroque Spanish style. Inside we are greeted by a singing group with the massive Lewis pipe organ as a backdrop. Approximately an hour later we have walked through much of the museum enjoying the paintings, armor and ancient artifacts we have seen. After lunch at a brew pub located across from Kelvingrove we find ourselves again examining the map of the subway. We agree that we will take the subway outer ring to a stop which appears to be a four to six block walk to Tenement House. Upon exiting the subway we are uncertain of how to get to Tenement House, since there is a highway in the direction we intended to walk. We look at Google Maps, but we also stop a local to ask directions. She provides some guidance and off we go, often walking single file. After a bit, Fergus once again references Google Maps from his mobile and determines we are headed in the right direction....which shortly becomes largely uphill. It is challenging for most of us and William goes into what he calls donkey mode - making progress, but at a very slow pace. At last we take a right at the street for Tenement House which is relatively level. Whew! Tenement House is an original 19th century tenement house which was largely unchanged over the years. We learn that the family was probably middle class. The daughter was fairly well educated, especially for the time. Fergus recognizes some of the same Scottish ceramics which his mother had in their home as he was growing up. Merida talks with some of the docents about the period and the clothing as well as the appointments in the apartment.
As we finish our visit we ask directions to the subway from the staff and find out that the next subway stop is eight blocks away and largely parallel to Tenement House. We are all delighted, but curse the reality that distance on a high-level map is not always the primary indicator of the best router to take. Thoroughly exhausted we make our way back on the subway and then the six block walk to our hotel for a nap. Later we finish the evening with a light dinner and a round of whisky. Our flight and arrival in Glasgow is without issue. We hop (well, drag) our two 40 pound bags, rolling electronics case and backpack into a cab and head to our hotel near George's Square. On the way our cabbie provides commentary on the sights, provides advice on whisky and recommends areas near our hotel for restaurants. We arrive at the Premier Inn tired and hoping to check-in early. No luck. We are shown to where we can store our bags until the 2 pm check-in time. Our friends Fergus and Merida were scheduled to arrive at the hotel a couple of hours before us and a few minutes later they come through the front door. After hugs and handshakes William announces he is starving and we all agree it would be good to find some food. We stroll over to George's Square to one of the many pubs which have taken over old bank buildings. Following lunch it is still too early to check-in, so we decide to get an overview of Glasgow by taking the Hop-On Hop-Off bus. Along the 1 1/2 hour trip way we see Glasgow Cathedral, Merchant Square, Glasgow Science Museum, Riverside Museum, Kelvingrove Art Museum and Glasgow University along with many other places of interest. Finally it is time to check-in and we crash into a 3 hour nap waking up just in time to consider dinner. On our bus trip this afternoon we passed by the Merchant Square neighborhood which is filled with restaurants. It is also an area which our cabbie recommended as having many good restaurants and pubs and only a short walk from the hotel.
We stroll over to the area and are delighted to find City Merchant restaurant which we had spied from the bus. We start with an appetizer of haggis balls - essentially haggis formed into meatballs which are lightly battered and deep fried. They are surprisingly good. I've been dreaming of Scottish salmon, so when I see salmon with crab on the menu I cannot resist. William is ready for a steak, and rib eye is his favorite. All of our meals are very, very good and the four of us agree that City Merchant deserves it's high rating on TripAdvisor. |
AuthorHi. I'm Anne. I wander around the world with William. Enjoy Some of our Favorite Links below
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