Scotland Holiday - Day 2

If it's shiny, happy people you want, I suggest you listen to REM's 1991 album 'Out of Time'. You won't find them on the Saturday evening streets of Glasgow where you are more likely to encounter the star of the next Channel 4 documentary on being not very healthy. I know a large number of very nice Scottish people at work but they were not represented by the crowds cluttering shop and restaurant fronts in Scotland's premier city (sorry, Edinburgh)where 'last gasp' is a way of life as much as it is a way of death and smoking does not seem to have been reduced by being forced outside. This was an evening of harsh accents, murdered vowels, public tattoes and mutton dressed as mutton. It was not attractive but I imagine that London at the same time is no more attractive - I am seldom there to judge.

For much of the day rain affected our activities and I can only say I was disappointed as we are on holiday. We went to see Greg's aunts and I used my compact camera to capture moments which might not arise again. The compacts of today are remarkable and I used mine again in the evening to capture buses on my dinner trip when I would not carry anything larger.

For the picture I include here, I used my bridge camera. We drove past this inspiring, wonderful statue and turned around just to photograph it.


With Greg resting I used my 'Roundabout' ticket to move around a little but lacked motivation largely because of the persistent precipitation. I was impressed with Partick station which has very smart buildings. In a complete contradiction of normal memories, the Subway seemed larger than I recall. It is very well used and care has been taken to make the stations light and safe. The ticket is good value but I was taken aback to have to obtain a supplementary ticket (free) in order to access the Subway. Queen Street is, frankly, dull compared to the 70s and 80s when locomotives were common at that station. Rain made speed necessary for the short walk to Central. Buchanan Street and the station precinct were heaving with people and I lost the last of my motivation especially having taken photographs last night.

We went out in the evening hoping to try Taco Mazama which I had seen advertised on the Subway but it was unattractive in real life and we turned instead to Bombay Blues for Indian buffet. I have reviewed it in a previous blog but can not remember what I said. Tonight, however, in spite of a slightly odd selection oddly labelled, it was very tasty and good value too. I watched with interest mid-meal as a local harridan exhorted her inebriated husband to "move". They were, apparently, ready to leave, perhaps for their monthly sex. I was inwardly surprised when he made it down the steps but doubted that he would make it 'up'. I returned my attention to the Times and looked forward to tomorrow's journey to Edinburgh.