The weather holds.
Krispy Kreme from Tesco Express. Coffee at Starbucks. Life is good. Good Morning Edinburgh.
Looking back, I will remember the bookstores and coffee shops of Edinburgh. And, that I started to achieve a degree of comfortably with the British monetary system, I no longer hand a twenty Pound note to the clerk and wait for the change or hold my hand out to let the clerk pick out. I can actually pay with the change in my pocket.
It is about a forty-five minute train ride to Glasgow with local stops on the way.
We check out and request a cab from the front desk. I learn a valuable lesson. When staying at a hotel, have the desk order the cab. It is easy, quick and honest.
The driver takes us quickly to Waverly Station. I explain to Betty my lost ticket problem from yesterday. She is gracious and does not laugh.
I exhibit my new found expertise with the ticket kiosk and we both now have tickets.
The Economist is selling subscription at Waverly Station. We are early with about an hour wait. Betty engages one the young people in conversation and we leave Edinburgh with a subscription.
I mention to explain our approach to souvenirs We tend to buy books, artistic personal cards, notebooks, calendar diaries and small pieces of clothing. There are exceptions to the rule. Subscription to the Economist fits right in.
Our train is cancelled. I think that it had more to do with "consolidation". A train to Glasgow leaves Waverly about every thirty minutes.
We move to another platform. I go through my anxiety routine. Betty is reassuring and calming.
The train is more of a commuter than a rail. This are first trip on Scots Rail. We know our stop (we are less than confident).
I have had a number of discussions on "traveling" and, particularly, in our age group. All "traveling" is to be encouraged. Betty and I are not risk takers. But, we are adventurous. We have an advantage. We have time. We usually spend five days or more in a city. We can miss a train. We can loosely schedule. The only requirement is that the next hotel reservation.
This is a local. The trip reminds me that we are tourists. There is a real world outside the train window. We pass through suburbs. Commuter train stations. We see the parking lots and business parks. After about thirty minutes, we are underground.
We know the train station. Well, we hope it is the right station. We hope that the hotel is a reasonable distance. The stop is more of a subway stop than a train station. Can this be it. Are there two stops? Is there a upper stop and a lower stop. We have picked the wrong train?
Glasgow Central Station does have two levels. Apparently, trains from Edinburgh occupy that lower level.
The station is in major exterior and interior renovation. Following construction signs, we exit onto a side street.
Glasgow hills are not gentle. It is a lesson quickly learnt. The cab stand is only 100 yards away. It is a steep climb while pulling luggage and pack bags. Betty's foot is healing but walking is tough.
There is a line of cabs waiting for fares. We are a fare. But, the cab drivers apparently are not allowed to move.
Finally, a cab pulls out and the friendly cab driver helps load the luggage. He explains that this is the waiting area, The actual cab area is in front of the station. It is right turn not left and a flat fifty yards walk. It is around the corner. We did not see.
We are downtown. We drive by a lot of interesting stores and restaurants.
The hotel is on the edge of central Glasgow. Our experience in Europe conforms to Best Western reputation which is very good. Scotland is not Europe.
The hotel is a small boutique hotel. At check-in the manager is accommodating and accepts several of our out of date 5 and 10 pound sterling. He does fail to mention that we have no heat - it is Friday. The boiler is (a few years old) broken and repairmen are there.
We learn that with the older buildings which have been rehabbed many times that they often share boilers and utilities. The water is also turned off, but hopefully will be turned on in a couple of hours.
There is no elevator and, of course, they have put us on the third floor despite Betty's request due to injuried foot.
The room itself is pleasant. Although apparently being a Best Western Club Member is commonly ignored by Scottish Brand Holders. We find out later that Best Western is not well liked by their hotel management.
We are pleasant about the inconvenience since we are given the impression that it is short term. "It will be fixed shortly." Water did return the first night. But, no adjustment in the bill made or even offered.
By the time we have unpacked and settle in, it is late afternoon.
I go for a walk. My goal is to familiarize myself and to find snacks - I need a diet coke badly. Chips would be a good thing also.
At first, I am not overly impressed by the area. We are on the border of the commercial/business area. Glasgow is in a Renaissance. A few blocks down, a street for seven blocks is completing torn up. The large building across the street appears vacant. It may have been a school - it still might be. It is a great looking building but there is a look of vacancy about it. There is a theater with Shrek the Musical three blocks down.
Turning left out the hotel door, I walk straight for five short blocks. I find an outdoor laundromat in a gas station. I gratefully find a Tesco Express. I buy my coke and potato crisps (a bag of potato chips in US).
It is a pleasant evening room service, television and snacks.
Tomorrow, the hills of Glasgow.
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