Scottish summer: on the Glasgow tourist trail.

My friend Manon returns to France very soon, and before we all end up scattered around Germany she wanted to experience Glasgow like a proper tourist! When you're studying and living here, it can be surprisingly easy to let some of the city's attractions pass by unnoticed or unintentionally ignored, and the tour bus we decided to take even had some surprises in store for me! We set off on our bus tour a couple of weeks ago and though the sun hadn't heated up the city quite as much as it has this week, we were still lucky enough to find it shining happily all day long. I even got a little bit burnt!


My favourite parts of the tour were the two I'd never experienced before: the Necropolis and the People's Palace. Despite it looming over part of my daily bus route, I'd just never found the time or motivation to visit the Necropolis. I was surprised by the size of it - I didn't realise there was quite so much round the back! - and the views over the city were stunning. The People's Palace has never been on my beaten track, being in a part of the city I rarely have reason to visit, but I knew I'd enjoy a social history museum, and I certainly wasn't let down. Glasgow's social history is so important to the city's identity and the museum did justice to all of it, both the wonderful and the terrible parts. The exhibit on the Red Road Flats, currently being demolished, was especially poignant. We had fun trying to learn to dance old time Barrowlands style by following footprints on the floor; definitely not a success. We'd never have got a winch at the dancin' with these moves.


If you're in Glasgow and have never been to either the Necropolis or the People's Palace, go! Both are free (ahhh, lack of museum admission fees - another reason why I love my city) and definitely worth a visit. Plus, you can finish the day with a visit to West Beer and grab a pint of their gorgeous made-on-site German-style beer. Only a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre, so what are you waiting for? I really don't know why it took me so long to visit.

Scottish summer: Edinburgh adventures!

Although this is going to be a year abroad blog, I think the best way to get myself into the habit of blogging will be to document my summer! I've been doing my best to make it about more than just working and waiting for a letter to arrive telling me more about my placement. So far I'd say I've been doing ok, though I have spent a bit more money than I really should have considering my holiday is soon... oops.

At lunch the other day Colin pointed out that I've been back and forward to Edinburgh quite a lot in the past week and a bit, and I suppose he's right. First I went to see my friend Ross Anne on her birthday, which coincided with the Champions League final - and the result was definitely a great birthday present for such a huge Bayern Munich fan! Having put a little bit of money on Dortmund to win (not too much, don't worry) I was a little disappointed but watching Ross Anne and her German friend sing Bayern songs and being so happy cheered me up. Then it was back to the flat for cake, more drinking and a surprise reappearance by said friend at some silly time of the morning - thank you, 'Ernest', for indulging our love of German and giving us more of an excuse not to go to bed!


 Headed to Snax to pick up some breakfast delights, as we're so lazy and it's the best place in Edinburgh to grab a fry-up, then it was down to the station for me. Only halfway back to Glasgow I realised I'd managed to leave my purse in Edinburgh! So Tuesday saw me heading back - thank you, train pass - to collect it and enjoy a frappuccino before Ross Anne's gym session.

Last night I ended up on the Glasgow - Edinburgh train once again to see Camera Obscura with the lovely Elsa, who I hadn't seen in an inexcusably long time. I have to admit I was a little disappointed with the gig itself, there seemed to be an energy missing that was definitely there when we saw them at the Barrowlands on their last tour. I suspect it had a lot to do with them playing so many new songs the audience hadn't had time to listen to yet, as their newest album was only released a couple of days ago, and there was definitely a better vibe when more familiar opening bars were played. Still not a bad gig by any means and we followed it up with a trip to Cabaret Voltaire, where I had a little too much fun waving my arms into the white mist from the smoke machine. I wasn't drunk, honest. There's something to be said for some dancey house type music. It's not something I'd ever listen to at home but on a night out it can make everything feel almost transcendental, like I'm dancing on another planet entirely. Or maybe it's just the alcohol; the last time I danced to this stuff involved free tequila shots. I will need to investigate further by trying out some of Glasgow's house hotspots sometime soon. If you see me, a free shot would go down a treat!

I'm going to update again soon with some of the stuff I've been up to closer to home, including a trip on the Glasgow city tour bus! I'm determined to make this a summer to remember.