Last evening in Glasgow, walked to and through a park with lots of green space and then by the river as the sun was setting. It was lovely to see the natural light on the spring green grass and trees.
Waking this morning and thinking of how the day will go, trying to stay in the moment. It is quiet in my hotel room and I am getting ready to go search for what is happening today in the city.
In the meantime looking through recommended reading list from the Women’s Library in Glasgow. So grateful to have access to all this amazing information and the inspiration and suggestions of women who come before me.
I leave my bags at hotel, drop the room key and out for a morning walk in the sunshine under blue skies.
Walked in an old part of Glasgow to check out the old large and beautiful cathedral and cemetery. Then back to hotel and an uber to Glasgow airport to catch EasyJet flight to Paris at 245 pm local time.
Through security with no issues and to our gate on time. Blue skies reported for Paris also. It was a lovely flight.
Arrived on time in beautiful sunny weather in Paris. Took train and metro to Rachel’s place near Sacre Couer. It’s pretty steep walk up 🙂
Dropped our gear and headed to get a SIM card for my phone. No wifi at Rachel’s place. Got there at some underground mall in time before they closed. Yay. Grateful. Then we walked to the river. Thousands of people along the Seine. Sitting, walking, running …. Wow. Watched the sunset as we walked and then found grocery store Walked all the way from the river to her place. Up up up again.
24,000 steps, some 16 Kms today. My my my.
Exhausted and grateful for all is well in this beautiful city of lights. I have a bed to sleep in, food to eat and we have safely arrived.
Goodnight faithful readers. Till tomorrow. A demain.
Good day to the blog readers, from bonnie Scotland.
A day by myself to roam around this city … walking and walking and walking. Listening and being. No pressure, no destination.
I find and walk along the river Clyde . .Relax. Enjoy. Breathe. Gratitude for being in Glasgow Scotland for a few days to explore. There is a woman’s library but it is closed today. I googled some places of interest and opt to just see what is here around me in the George Square area of this city. I have some roots here, I am told, my paternal grandfather was born here and his father had a shop. As this is my first and who knows, maybe my only trip to this part of the world, can I just wander and wonder.
Maybe sit in a cafe and read some. People watching is fun. I spend a few hours in the Waterstones book shop. Huge. 3 stories. Lots of great suggestions for reading. I spent a long time pouring over the shelves and noting books to borrow from library when I get home. I read titles, covers and backs of books … it is a way of searching for meaning and fit, for finding interest and inspiration. It tells a lot about me to know what is in my library!
Beautiful old architecture lines the commercial streets. Many high end stores, lots of security. And some Poundland (like our dollar stores). Some buskers on the pedestrian street.
Music everywhere… from stores, in shops and on the streets. I walk and walk. Wandering in and out again. Taking in the culture. Just noticing and being with whatever shows up. Listening to accents.
Down to the river, looking up at the buildings, the reflection of old cathedral in the glass of the much newer building next door. The gentle cooing of the pigeons alighting on the cobblestones.
Walked about 9 kms today, although they use miles and feet here :). It still is a good walk. Will probably do one more walk tonight down to say good night to the river.
Last night settled in to our hotel, we went for a wee walk after dark to see the night sky and stars from our hotel. It was late and we did not venture far. It felt good to be outside in the clear night air. Aye, lassie, it was grande! Quiet peaceful with only night sounds and blackness above holding space for the twinkle of nightstars.
We had a decent sleep and were up and on our way before 930 am for today’s great adventure, aye. We have been practicing our Scottish accent, so try to read this using your best brogue. Use expression and a lyrical kind of sound … aye.
As we drive to the highlands I keep my eyes out for sheep and cows and am happy to say out loud … “ sheep” when there are those to see. Black sheep, white sheep, many with baby sheep and we even saw one white baby sheep jumping all four feet straight up in the air. We will remember her! Cows less often, so today we picked up a stuffed emotional support cow … or is that coo?
You have heard of FOMO – well, we are FOMC. Fear of missing coos!
Rachel has a few ideas for our big day of travel … some waterfalls for some dips in the cold mountain rivers in highlands, Glencoe so I can see my plot of land that made me a “Lady”. (My mom bought it for me a few years ago and I brought the coordinates with me so we could find it). And then to Cavers to a small town where Rachel’s family has some roots. We plan to end our day returning the rental car and staying at IBIS Styles hotel in downtown Glasgow. Aye, those were the plans. We still have fruit and crisps and veggies in the car from yesterday so we snack on the road. Another sunny warm day in the bonnie Scotland highlands.
Rachel finds a turn to Glen Etive Mor waterfall area she wants to try. We pull off the main road to a single lane roadway, no wider than the car except for the passing areas every so often … sometimes oncoming cars have to go in reverse so two vehicles can pass. Lots of folks camping over the weekend along here … we comment on how beautiful it all is. The river, the hills, the greenery. The road is narrow and driving a bit stressful. No shoulders on the road when large trucks and buses are heading our way. I comment on the one lane road. “Rachel, this is not a road!” We press on enjoying the view. Wow. Wow. We are in the highland hills close up. We probably travel a km or two and stop.
We traverse down the hill and get to the waters edge. We quickly change clothes and get into the river down a bit from the waterfall. We can see it and others are jumping and diving off the rocks. Such a freedom experience to be way out here and in the cool clear water.
We get our feet dried off and shoes back on, up up the path to the car. We get settled back in and turned around in one of the pullouts … a notification indicates we have a tire malfunction…. Rachel checks and can hear the air fast leaving the front left tire. We searched for a spare…. None.
No cell phone service so we need to drive a bit to get back out to the road to call for assistance, driving slowly, hazard lights flashing.
Rachel makes some calls, it is a Sunday and not much open for garages in nearby towns and none has the tire type we need for this upscale Mercedes. Ok … they will send someone in one and a half hours. Determined to enjoy our time in the Highlands while we wait … we walk and find a lovely river. Dropping clothes again we enjoy the double dip! The second one in two days … beautiful. The stress drops away.
Around 230 pm a large flat bed tow truck rescues us and loads us into his truck and off we head to the town where we stayed last night. There to be met and car to be transferred to another tow truck to take us into Glasgow where we can drop the car at the airport for repairs. The tow truck drivers were all very nice and Peter, the last one helpfully took us to our hotel reservation in downtown Glasgow.
We went out for a walk in search of warm food. And found gluten free fish n chips. Here we are … two days in Glasgow. I will be on my own as Rachel is at a conference.
Aye, not sure what the days ahead will present … stay tuned.
I woke up from a lengthy exhausted travel jet-lag sleep. I would not say refreshed, but better than the day before and ready to explore. I have no expectations really from Scotland. I love that the opportunity presented itself for me to be here and see some of the old country.
My grandfather was born in Glasgow. My parents have been here and explored some of my heritage details. what will the day bring? What will happen between wake and sleep on this historic ground? What will the day offer between Glasgow and our little hotel reservation in Tyndrum, Perthshire.
We stayed at nice clean walk up spiral stairs hotel. So cute on the outside, so plain and lovely inside …. Sandyford Lodge. Recommended and I would stay there again.
Heading out to find gf groceries and Rachel is going to practice driving on other side of the road today as we head into the highlands for an adventure. Specifically we are looking for a place to swim in the cold water!!! Yup. That is the intention.
We check out and walk to Eurocar where Rachel has reserved a car. She specifically is looking for small car with automatic drive to rent. She gets a black large Mercedes Benz with sunroof, 4 doors, low and wide, computer screens and lights, cameras and sensors all over it. Once she figured it out, and started driving on the left side of the road in the city … we popped in to the Lidl cheap clean grocery store.
We purchased some great salad fixings, snacks for the day, water and some cheese and olives. Getting used to the size of the car and the traffic patterns is a challenge and she does very well. We head out noticing a few things. Yellow lights follow red lights and predict green. Huh.
Navigation in feet and sometimes yards …. Interchangeable. Lots of roundabouts … we head out of the city to the highlands. Rachel has a few prepared play lists and we start with Scottish music beating through my seat back – vibrating from the speakers and kind of like a massage… only on my seat.
Big stone architecture is beautiful. I love the use of stones for the homes, fences, guardrails, bridges …..
No clouds. Blue blue as far as I can see. We find a song we love and we put on repeat as we are driving towards loch lomand! On Dumbarton Rd.
Listening to the song …. Loch Lomand!! Goose bump moment. Happy and feeling what I wanted to feel. “You take the high road and I will take the low road and I will be in Scotland afore ye “…. On repeat. Over and over. Wow. Tears on my cheeks, I feel the song and the precious moment of being in and near this place.
We pull over to stop in parking lot at Luss. A quaint little town. We bring our bathing suits, towels to help us change on the beach and fixings for a picnic lunch. Baby ducks with their mom practicing their swim off to the side. Trees hanging with spring colours and lots of folks there to enjoy a Saturday at the beach. We swim, we float, we laugh and we enjoy our joyous water experience surrounded by the greenery that is Scotland on this beautiful day.
After the beach, still aglow, walking through town a man stopped us saying the lives of Jersey cows he preferred to young women these days with their fake this n fake that. What a character … an old guy watching the world go by his front step.
Then we see a sign to “the firkin point”. We tried to find it. lol. The parking and manoeuvres required are beyond us. So many people on this fine sunny warm day. We never discover the firkin point! Ha ha
Stone buildings and castles through argyle forest greenery. Loch long is beautiful setting Stone bridges Big green hills Some trees. The highlands.
We spot sheep in the fields … and keep our eyes out for the cows.
Double dip swimming in the loch Restil. The spectacular green mountain surroundings. The rail road and train sounds, the actual train out on the hills. It was wild and fun and far away from any town.
We were late to go in, but walked Argyle Inverary castle. Seeing some tourists on a bench I quickly tried wifi and posted some pictures on Facebook. Missed the woolen mill in town too … just missed closing time all over.
On the next leg of the drive we stopped to walk around the abandoned and in disrepair castle of Kilchurn. Magical. We spy more cows and take a lot of pics as the sun starts to set. The castle is located on Loch Awe!
Now settled in to our Ben Doran hotel for the night, we are sharing supper, wine, and highlights.
Highlight #1… time spent together in magical surroundings.
Now Friday 16th May and I am arriving in Paris France from the sky. Not a cloud or grey in sight. Walk walk through aeroport to find train station. I have no checked baggage to claim. Through long squiggly lines and through passport security.
Finally familiarity as I Text to Rachel from Starbucks where I met her last year.
Get Navigo train ticket it advertises – with 15 plus minute wait to use a dispenser machine. Found shorter line with a person attendant. Asked her which train. She waves her hand in a dismissive sort of way. 11 or 12. There on the platform a train is waiting for me. Relax. Breathe. Follow along. Sun streaming in the train windows and a pleasant breeze in the open air where a window is letting in sounds of the city.
Beautiful stops along the way. Terra cotta roof tops. Greenery.
People dressed in style. Some with heels. Some with scooters. Ohhhh I love Paris!
Found Rachel – well she found me. I was circulating round and round in the train station. Gare du Nord. I found a Starbucks but alas, the wrong one.
Then with backpack and purse we walked through streets of Paris. Montmarte area. Up up on cobblestone and crossing the corners, sometimes waiting for traffic and green walk lights, sometimes just crossing. Beautiful window boxes and balconies. People on bikes and scooters. People sitting at the cafe. We purchased a frozen Schar pizza for me from a grocery knowing no cross contamination is possible. We came upon a tiny gluten free patisserie.
She lives not far from Sacre-Coeur and Moulin Rouge. Charming walk through cobblestone streets. I want to take pictures and am tired, dragging my backpack and exhausted body along the way. Past doorways with a single doorknob in centre of the door. Quaint. Many colourful doorways and metal knockers.
We went to her little single apartment for Rachel to do some work. Charming little courtyard down below out her windows. Exhausted I fell asleep for a few hours. Did on line check in for tonight’s flight. Then we cooked the pizza and ate it and repacked for our flight to Scotland tonight.
Off in search of SIM card for my phone but no luck on that one. We found a Five Guys who have gluten free fries :). We took metro to the train station heading back to Charles de Gaulle airport in preparation for EasyJet flight to Glasgow Scotland.
Line ups through passport security we are routed through the family line. Many many dozens of families donning Mickey Mouse ears and carrying stuffed Disney critters. What a great idea! Maybe next weekend we can put a EuroDisney stop on our agenda. Neither of us have been before. How fun to think of that!
In this moment from plane window, seat 5F I watch the colourful sun set on the dark horizon. All the colours of this day shining a prism of bright purple red orange gold green blue … the thickest is orange strip along the sight line above some clouds that can be seen down below in the dark sky. Then the sky is clear again and I see city lights in clusters and shapes. The lines of roads. Sparkly colours of sky reflecting off waterways.
Somewhere down below is the United Kingdom. For Canadians an evisa is now required and I have mine for this trip. My first night ever in Scotland tonight. Exciting. What will I see or do, how will I feel, what about the food? The swimming in the lochs? A rail trip or purchase something MacDonald. Writing, doodling, walking, … I wonder.
First night in clean Sandyford Lodge. 21 Royal Crescent, Glasgow. Wifi hooked up. Ya!!
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