That didn't quite pan out.
What did end up happening is this - I went to another university in the UK. More on that later.
It can come as no surprise that I love Scotland. I love their kilts (and maybe rumors about what may or may not be underneath). I enjoy listening to bagpipers, assuming they have some actual talent. I'm in love with the scenery and can even stomach the ornery weather. While I am not a fan of haggis, I love Scotch enough to make up for it. I even imagine that I fit in rather well for it. To drive that point home I am sipping on a wee dram as I type.
_On to this year_
This year I decided to attend a job fair hosted by Strathclyde. Productivity, schmoozing with potential employers, and a weekend away is an excellent recipe for a good time (and not feeling bad about taking a weekend off the week before a paper is due).
The job fair went nicely. On to the fun stuff.
DAY TRIP. Destination: Glengoyne Distillery.
I needed a plan. I order to visit Glengoyne, being outside the city and without a car, my options were unappealing. Until I found this amazing day tour with Rabbie's. I realize, to the American tongue, what that says. I also understand that many people may be picturing Old Yeller. Poor pup. Rest assured that the name refers to Robert Burns who was a beloved Scottish poet and the name is pronounced more like "Robbie's".
I chose a tour that stopped at Stirling Castle (Braveheart, anyone?), Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and at Glengoyne Distillery. My tour guide was named Nicola and she was amazing. Absolutely perfect, If I were rich (or rather, were I not so poor) I would have tipped her more than the tour cost. There were some hiccups that were handled gracefully and quickly. The information she spouted as we drove along the Scottish hills was FUN. I wanted more. So much so that I ended up buying 3 books while browsing a Waterstone's about topics she touched upon. Clearly I am not feeling tortured enough with school reading.
Before we get too far, let's chat about castles. The UK and Europe are so much cooler than the USA for one very large reason - CASTLES! When purchasing my ticket into Stirling I discovered a tourist pass that's all about castles. Next time, Scotland. I did the whole Stirling tour and even said a little ditty to Mary, Queen of Scots about how I wish she had just stayed in Scotland. I thought about Braveheart and how amazing (and horribly gory) the history of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce truly was.
Moving on to a quick stop at Castle Doune. At first it seemed like any smaller castle just hanging out in auld Scotland. Then, Nicola mentioned that about 90% of Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed there. Well, color me the brightest person of the day. If only I had taken a stuffed cow with me to toss from the battlements.
Stirling Castle
Dramatic Doune - in addition to serving as the main filming location for Monty Python, Doune was used after the '45 Jacobite Rising to house Rebel prisoners before their fates were decided.
"I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" ahhhh, the French.
Loch Lomond and the hike about the Trossachs was cool - but I've been there, done that, and whiskey is calling...
Unfortunately I have forgotten the name of this little gem, but, back when whiskey was illegally made this loch was vital. When the English came a-calling men would sink the barrels into the loch so they could not be found and taxed. Damn those Redcoats.
On the shore of Loch Lomond
Glengoyne is a one of a kind distillery in Scotland (just as Auchentoshan is that I toured last year). While Auchentoshan is unique because it is the only Scotch that is tripled distilled like its Irish counterparts, Glengoyne rests upon the Highland Line and is both a lowland and a highland Scotch.
How is that possible? Well, its labeled as a Highland whiskey but it barely makes the cut. The buildings where the whiskey is made - where the barley is mashed, tonned, and yeasted (my own fanciful words) is in the Highlands. Across the road where the warehouse sits full of barrels for maturing? Well, that's in the Lowlands. Glengoyne translates to "Glen of the wild geese" in the Gaelic.
As always tours of distilleries or breweries are great fun. The sights, the smells, the tastings! It wouldn't have been a success without the bottle of 10-year that I brought home with me. Now, Scotch drinkers may scoff that I only got a 10 year. Understandable. The 18 year was bolder and rounder bodied - appealing in color, taste, and smell. The 10 year, though, was (apparently) the Queen Mother's favorite Scotch and she always had it on hand for guests. I have read that she was an avid cocktail enthusiast so it seems quite right to take this page from her book.
Water for Glengoyne is from Glengoyne Burn and continues down to Loch Lomond.
IT'S BIGGER ON THE INSIDE - Glasgow Edition.
If you aren't a Doctor Who fan, my apologies for the odd statement. If you are, you need to visit Glasgow. Police boxes, back in the day, were used as a direct phone line for people to alert authorities of evil doing, as a place for officers to take breaks, do paper work, or even to keep hold of those pesky wrong doers.
In Glasgow the boxes were red. Now, thanks to the beloved Doctor and his penchant for landing the TARDIS all around the world, a campaign began (by someone at some point) to save the remaining police boxes in tribute to history and the popular series. Most boxes are now blue, like the TARDIS while a few remain the original red. NB - police boxes were red in Glasgow, not necessarily elsewhere.
There is a 4th in Glasgow that I am aware of - right in the center of Buchanan Street (main shopping area).
If you could open the doors and find the TARDIS herself, when would you go?
CHEEKY GLASWEGIANS
Regardless of the impression you may have gotten I spent most of my time walking around Glasgow, seeing the sites and popping into museums - not imbibing whiskey. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and certainly has plenty of character.
Officially founded in the 6th century by the missionary Saint Mungo, the site of Glasgow was inhabited back to prehistoric times and most notably (for your resident classicist) by the Romans in Caledonia (their name for Scotland). Glasgow was an industrial and trade center with the river Clyde allowing easy ship access. It is said that the Clyde shaped Glasgow, and Glasgow shaped the Clyde.
[Notice that Saint Mungo, founder of Glasgow was a doctor and built a hospital. Harry Potter and St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, anyone?]
Today the city is a mix of education, industrial, medieval, and modern business. All over the city I found these amazing murals, all with different subjects (and more Dr Who).
EXTERMINATE! Beware the Daleks!
Lovely wildlife.
Supporting the great work of the Dr., wind energy, and...historic figures.
The museums and historic sites in Glasgow, and all of the UK, are often free, well kept, and of excellent quality - I'd compare them to the Smithsonian Institution any day. It should be noted that I am more than capable of allowing a whole day to pass me by whilst winding my way through the corridors of a good museum.
The People's Palace and Winter Gardens - there is a large greenhouse at the back of the building. All about daily life in Glasgow - prison life and executions, what the World Wars were like, records, etc. Real, living history.
Glasgow Cathedral with a statue of David Livingstone - a doctor, missionary, and explorer. I don't know anything about him, really, but it sounds like he emulated the cites founder, St. Mungo, and that seems a good reason to put him there.
Glasgow has the most stunning Necropolis. Seriously.
Kelvingrove Art Museum. Not only was this rainbow a catch, but the exhibition inside on medieval swords, armor, and shields was even like Christmas come early.
Right. So, why are Glaswegians so cheeky?
Well, here's the Duke of Wellington with a cone hat.
He even has his own Trip Advisor reviews: Cone Hat
Also, if you've ever heard a real Glaswegian speak...well, cheeky indeed. English dry humor's got nothing on them!
