Journey to Scotland Part II: Glasgow

Glasgow is the Second largest city in Scotland and is one of the most cosmopolitan. It's streets are lined with mostly Victorian architecture. 

Ticket & train journey to Glasgow:

The first area I stumbled upon was the George Square are which is surrounded by statues of famous Scotsman and city government buildings. They were setting up the area which would be the site of the 2014 Commonwealth Games (a week after I arrived). 

George Square:

 

 

My highlight was visiting the ancient Glasgow Cathedral. Built during the 12th century, it has withstood the Reformation and Independence movements. It is a towering testament of medieval cathedral engineering. It's sharp spires tower high and can be seen from miles away. It's green-colored roof is unique from other countless cathedrals I've seen throughout my European travels. I enjoyed walking and admiring the intricately carved interior and chapels within it's walls because there were few people inside. Unlike overcrowded churches like Westminster Abbey and Notre Dame, it allowed me to fully experience its austere and ancient ambiance. 

Glasgow Cathedral:

 

 

 

 

 

Nearby, spotted and discovered the Glasgow Necropolis (city of the dead) which was a massive cemetery on a huge hill which overlooks the city. There are many statues and sculptures within its walls.

Glasgow Necropolis:

 

 




After the cathedral, made my way to the City Centre. This area is the bustling main artery of Glasgow. This area is full of droves of locals and tourists, restaurants, cafes, and stores. It is a major contrast to the small medieval town feel of Edinburgh. If you enjoy the arts, fine dining, and shopping, you would enjoy Glasgow. As an art and history connoisseur, I searched for more historic sites, but found I was surrounded by mostly 19th-20th century buildings. Regardless, the buildings have been preserved and is still used today by businesses. If I had more time, I would've wandered to the Glasgow University area which I hear is filled with beautiful architecture, cafes, and unique eateries. 

City Centre:

Overall, my daytrip to Glasgow was interesting and I'm glad I saw another major city in Scotland away from Edinburgh. It is only a short ride away so I highly recommend you visit Glasgow! The city's main highlights are spread out so it's best to take public transportation to see everything (had to walk for 15-20 minutes from the City Centre to the cathedral). 

Next blog post will be on my daytrip to Wales! Stay tuned!!

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Journey to Scotland: Part I (Edinburgh)

Hello again! Sorry haven't updated in awhile. I've been busy with work and life. Anyway, as promised, here is my two-part series on my last summer trip to Scotland. 

Scotland is a mysterious, enchanting, culturally rich, and breathtaking land to visit. I never imagined I would ever visit this place, but I was fortunate to travel there while I was staying in England. From London Kings Cross St. Pancreas Station, I took a train to Edinburgh. My roundtrip ticket cost  £64.50 (around $97). The trip took around 4 hours and it was pretty comfortable (e.g. free wifi, electronic sockets, soft seats, nice views). Since we left early, I took a nice nap on the way. During the train ride, I imagined Scotland to consist of only Braveheart lore, the Royal Mile, haggis, bagpipes, and whisky, but I soon realized that it was much more than that. 

Train ticket to Scotland

London King's Cross Station

London King's Cross Station

London King's Cross Station

  



I arrived at Waverley Railway Station in Edinburgh which was right at the heart of this ancient and robust city. 

Edinburgh Waverely Station

Edinburgh Waverely Station

After navigating through the station, I went up the stairs to the street level and climbed the steep stone steps through a "close" onto the famous "Royal Mile." 

The Famous Royal Mile:

Entrance to the Royal Mile

Steps to the Royal Mile

Royal Mile

Royal Mile

It was amazing to finally walk the famous Edinburgh Royal Mile after seeing it on so many travel shows. This historic street cuts through the heart of the Old Town which is lined with cafes, pubs, restaurants, souvenir shops, and museums. When you walk down the cobblestone streets, you feel like you stepped back in time as pass by baroque style facades and imposing stone structures. It seemed quieter than most major cities I've seen which makes it more quaint and intriguing. The day I arrived it rained most of the day so I was only able to grab a snack at a pie shop and visit the famous St. Giles Cathedral. 

St. Giles was built in the 1300s and has a living active congregation. It has survived through the centuries and was restored in the 19th century during area construction work. It served under the Reformist John Knox during the 16th Century. It's crown shaped steeple is an architectural marvel for its engineering and aesthetics. 

St. Giles Cathedral (exterior and interior):

Stained glass windown

Central nave

 

The next day, I visited the famous Edinburgh Castle. The iconic castle overlooks the city upon a monolithic volcanic rock. It has been a royal castle from the 12th and continued until the 17th century. The castle is rich with history and has witnessed centuries of rule, sieges, and important events. If you plan on visiting it, I suggest you go early to beat the crowds and to fully enjoy it. The castle is huge and there are many sites and museums within it's walls so plan on spending a half day there. I was lucky that there was a special ceremony to celebrate Prince Philip (husband of Queen Elizabeth II). I witnessed a gun salute and marching band which was amazing despite the rainy weather that day. 

Edinburgh Castle:

  

William Wallace (Braveheart)

Robert The Bruce

 

Gun Salute for Prince Philip

Attendees of Prince Philip's Celebration

Scottish Band

After the castle, went to Deacon Brodie's tavern to finally try Haggis! So haggis is one of the famous traditional Scottish dishes. It is comprised of minced sheep heart, lungs, and liver that is stuffed with oats, onions, and spices which is then stuffed into a sheep stomach and is boiled for a few hours. It is usually accompanied by neeps (boiled turnips) and tatties (boiled potatoes). I've always seen this dish on various travel shows and I just had to try it! Surprisingly, it did not taste gamey at all..the blend of spices and oats gave it a delicious hearty and nutty flavor. I ordered the appetizer portion because I wanted to try it first, but I wish I had ordered the full portion because it was very tasty and delicious! I drank a traditional hard cider to wash it down. What a perfect meal in Scotland!

Haggis Meal Pictures:

Haggis, neeps, & tatties

Haggis, neeps, & tatties

After lunch I was craving something sweet so I tried the famous fried mars bar that is believed to be invented in Scotland.

Found this chip shop named "Clam Shell" which served the gooey treat.

 

Fried Mars Bar

Fried Mars Bar

After lunch, strolled further down the Royal Mile to see other famous sites.

John Knox's House:

 

The Famous World's End Pub:

Scottish Parliament Building:

 

HolyroodHouse (Official Royal Residence of the Queen in Scotland):

 

Overall, Edinburgh was one of the most unique cities I've visited in the UK. It has preserved its culture and history through it's ancient buildings, scenic highlands, and warm hospitality. I was genuinely impressed with the the old world charm and hope to explore more cities in Northern Scotland. 

Stay tuned for my next post on Glasgow which will wrap up my two-part series on Scotland!

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Cheers!!