You want to go where, when???

[JessicaTam]

We stayed at Glasgow Ibis Styles. I knew I liked this place when I spotted the free Crunchies on the counter when we checked in. The beds were comfy even though the room was a little cramped. Breakfast was good - but no hot food apart from porridge.

Laundry was the first order of business, so we found the nearest laundromat. It was actually an outdoor affair in the driveway of a BP filling station. Not even a seat - so we set our washing going and headed to a coffee shop for a bit. That done it was off to the Smokin’ Fox for lunch. This was a pretty good gastro pub and quite busy - so the locals must think so too.



Smashed avo perhaps?

Next day we headed out to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It was a free museum which included an organ recital as well!



@beatgreene had a friend whose cousin lived near Glasgow, so he agreed to come in to town for a drink. A drink? Aye right Jimmy!* Pints and large (250ml) glasses of wine later and we found an Indian restaurant that was well regarded. Trouble was we had to wait half an hour for a table - so back to another pub for another drink. At first I was a little worried as Jim was setting a cracking pace, but after a while we clawed back and then seemed to get the upper hand.

*Note this particular double positive means just the opposite in Scotland.

 

[Beano]

Lunchtime concerts are worth listening to. Acoustics are fabulous and organ playing is sublime. "Yeah, right" typical KIWI saying. Also appeared on party political billboards during an election. I'm sure i've heard it in Australia.
Glasgow is famous for curry houses, Taj Mahal as was, Ashoka etc.

Is the Spitfire still there?

And the Dali Christ on the cross?
Brew Dog accross from the gallery is worth a visit.

 

[JessicaTam]

Lunchtime concerts are worth listening to. Acoustics are fabulous and organ playing is sublime. "Yeah, right" typical KIWI saying. Also appeared on party political billboards during an election. I'm sure i've heard it in Australia.
Glasgow is famous for curry houses, Taj Mahal as was, Ashoka etc.

Is the Spitfire still there?

And the Dali Christ on the cross?
Brew Dog accross from the gallery is worth a visit.

We didn't get to the Brew Dog; the Spitfire and Dali Christ were there.

 

[Flashback]

We didn't get to the Brew Dog; the Spitfire and Dali Christ were there.

Not really a fan of Brew Dog. The beers are OK'ish but the food is pretty pedestrian and overpriced for what it is.

 

[Anna]

Are you keeping us in suspense about Edinburgh or have I blinked and missed it?

 

[JessicaTam]

Are you keeping us in suspense about Edinburgh or have I blinked and missed it?

Oops. Sorry I have been a bit distracted at work.

I’ll get right onto it ma’am!

 

[JessicaTam]

We were up early for a quick Uber ride to Queen Station. The station is undergoing fairly major renovations so we settled in to a cafe nearby as we had a while before the train. I ducked down the street and grabbed some lunch for later on, as the trolley that comes past our seats does not have an inspiring choice, although prices aren’t that bad.

Some pics from the train.

There's snow in them thar hills.


After coming from drought stricken SE Australia, it was quite the shock to see water just lying around!


The train from Fort William to Mallaig is regarded as one of the great train journeys. Do you recognise the bridge? Answer below ...

Spoiler

It is the bridge the train to Hogwarts travels over in the Harry Potter movies

 

[dxwell]

s regarded as one of the great train journeys

And how do you rate it? Considering doing it in July.

 

[VPS]

I did the trip from Fort William to Mallaig in 1982 and rated it as one of the highlights of my trip. In 2017 I drove instead of train and it was still as beautiful. I had intended to stop at the viaduct and watch the train but the traffic was unbelievable and by the time I parked about a km or more away I would have missed the train. I drove off in a huff and at some stage decided to pull over and just take some photos of the scenery and next minute look what appeared. I was a very happy little vegemite then. Got to Mallaig and was able to take lots more photos.

Sorry for the sidetrack @JessicaTam

 

[JessicaTam]

And how do you rate it? Considering doing it in July.

It was great. The day was a little overcast hence only one half-decent photo. Just before we reached the viaduct the conductor came on the PA and told everyone to look out the left hand side. She actually made quite a big deal of it, and I suspect many of the pax were there just for that.

The train was nearly empty between Glasgow and Fort William, but we picked up quite a few for the trip to Mallaig. Our train was not a steam train, but a regular diesel that went all the way through.

 

[JessicaTam]

We got to Mallaig and headed to the ferry terminal to get our tickets for later that afternoon. Because from this point on we had nothing booked until Edinburgh two weeks later. Being winter in the north of Scotland we didn't want to lock ourselves into anything that the weather could soon unlock.

We were told at the ferry terminal that the 3pm ferry had not been confirmed yet as the morning ferry had not run due to the wind. "Come back at 2pm and we should know by then". We headed the short walk back to the local cafe and had some chips and a drink while we waited. At 2pm we were given the good news that the ferry was running. Phew.

The view across the harbour

 

[Anna]

Oh no! Stopped again! The suspense is killing me

 

[Steady]

Every time I see the title of this thread come up in "what's new" (You want to go where,....) I think of this clip

 

[JessicaTam]

Oh no! Stopped again! The suspense is killing me

One day at a time - sort of!

But don’t worry, I went through my EDI pics yesterday and there are plenty.

 

[dxwell]

Thanks very much @VPS and @JessicaTam. Now just need to decide whether to drive (we will have a car) or take the train (I looove train travel).

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks very much @VPS and @JessicaTam. Now just need to decide whether to drive (we will have a car) or take the train (I looove train travel).

Train, train, train!

 

[VPS]

If possible take the train one way and drive back but if I had a choice then it would be the train