The weather holds.
Still no heat. We understand that with the older buildings they often share boilers. We are told that the boiler is less than two years old. Apparently, the boiler is current, the pipes may have been new at the coronation of Victoria.
We discover that ownership of the Scottish hospitality industry is foreign and seems to be dominated by individuals from India. Decision making, therefore, lacks immediacy.
It is Saturday.
I wake early. I am now somewhat oriented. I turn left, past King's Theater to Sauchiehall Street. It is seven blocks of renovation. I walk to the train station. My goal is to become familiar with the train station. We leave early tomorrow morning for Glasgow. I want to print our tickets.
I have checked my phone and I have a message that I am about to end my International Phone & Data Usage Plan. From the early planning of the trip, our International Plan has been in turmoil.
I do reflect that from our first trip in 2014, smart phone usage has improved greatly. In 2014, Verizon did not offer any service. You were talking about "unlocking", replacement of simm card or purchasing an international phone.
I knew that I was closing in on my 100 MB monthly limit. But, the text message is confusing and the alternative offered does not make sense.
I return to Starbucks on Buchanan Street. Order coffee. Log on to their WiFi and call Verizon. I found that calling directly to International Customer Service is the most effective. Now, it is 9AM in Glasgow and late evening somewhere in USA. Hard to believe, I spend the next hour and ten minutes on the phone via WiFi. I do not loss the connection. It is Verizon's International 800 number. But, still remarkable.
Most importantly, we resolve the problem. Verizon renews my monthly International Plan and gives me a credit to offset. Very generous and very helpful.
It is only 10AM and there is walking to do. I walk to the end of Buchanan St. I turn left and walk up the street. I am sightseeing. Others are beginning a Saturday morning. I do get a feel for the architecture of Glasgow - at least, this area. It is Victorian and reflects the glory period of Glasgow.
I turn back towards the hotel. I do have a goal - I need shaving cream. When you want a drug store ...
Argyle Street is filling with shoppers. Centre Glasgow is very much alive and well.
I find a drugstore - a Superdrug. We are scheduled to fly to London Tuesday so I am looking for travel size.
My opinion of Glasgow continues to improve. It is a very vibrant city. It is friendly, but not outgoing.
It has been a long walk already. I cross back over St Vincent towards Bath. I zigzag looking for nothing special just enjoying. I find great little parks. I am also looking for a place to eat lunch later with Betty.
Almost back to the hotel, I pass the King's Theater where Sheik the Musical is playing. It is a Saturday Morning performance. Kids and parents everywhere.
It is lunch time. Still no heat. And, the weekend crew at front desk is no longer apologetic. We notice that there are a lot of Russians in the hospitality business.
Betty and I walk briefly looking on both sides of Sauchiehall Street for a place to have lunch. We decide on J. D.Wetherspoon. This is important since it is here that I invent the greatest condiment. It is a mixture of HP Sauce and Tartar Sauce. Great with chips. Hell goes with anything.
The remainder of the afternoon is a leisurely walk to Buchanan Street. It is Saturday and we shop. We want to buy - but, we live in the Southwest with summer temperatures over 100 so wool sweaters, hats and scarfs will sit in the closet.
We do a little shopping for dinner. We leave early Sunday morning. We are excited to get back on the road. The more adventurous part of our journey is upcoming.
Tomorrow is Oban.
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