NICENSLEEZY

I really love Glasgow. It's a town with spunk, spite and humor. The history and general attitude remind me of what I like about Philly. Today was our last day in "Glesga" and we were blessed again to miss the rain. It's been a refreshingly crisp climate between 60 and 70 degrees.  Nice to wear jeans and not have allergies to deal with.

We had a great flat with antlers: 

Antlers were one of the main reasons we picked this one on airbnb.com.

Today barb and I visited The People's Palace-  museum of Glasgow history and rich culture. 

(click to make any photos larger to view)

The visitors and citizens enjoy this indoor garden attached, year long. 

The terra cotta fountain is the only one of its kind. 

(Detail) 

The Duke of Wellington had his daily crown supplied by an anonymous citizen, as is the tradition.  

We also went to an opening at the Glasgow Print Studio and saw this ancient press on tour of the print shop. 

Lastly, to complete our Glasgow stay with a visit to this art student bar :

These lovely ladies were fun to chat with out front. The blonde was excited by my sophisticated Philadelphia accent since she'd been in Philly for 4 months last year.

I want a bar named NICENSLEEZY in Philly.

Next stop....Dana Hargrove's wedding weekend at Glen Clova!  

WOOO HOOO!!!

Glasgow bus touring.

Today we bought two day passes for the double-decker historic bus tours that loop through most of the city.

An unfair wind blown snapshot of Barb & Eileen. 

We got to see tons of the rich architecture. 

There was a lot of money in this town, and it shows. 

Twins, no doubt. 

Thec Science Museum. 

Funky contemporary buildings are popping everywhere. 

The "Squinty Bridge" 

"The Armadillo" the Scottish exhibition conference center. 

 They're building a new music venue. It's parking lot building nick-named "the Cheese building" (below)

"Stay still, there's a fly on your head- ill get it". 

My thrifty lunch  : 4£. Sausage roll and steak bake from Gregg's (hot savory pastry bits of heaven) and some healthy fruit from at Marks & Spencer's to make my mom feel better. 

Gratuitous Kilt Photo. 

The Necropolis is an ancient grand graveyard on top of a hill overlooking the city. 

While eileen was visiting family, Barb and I decided on a curry restaurant just down the street from where we are staying called:

Barb inadvertently took a double portrait from outside this very "wee" restaurant.

(From left) peas, potatoes and mint - saag paneer broccoli - prawn achari with lime and chili (so damn good) - ginger lamb and mushrooms. 

Glasgow!!!

We took a relaxing 4hr train ride to a rainy Glasgow this afternoon. 

(View of english countryside from train)

Our street name is fun to say, especially efficient when one has an excess of flem to expel. 

Our flat is in an old tenement building and its rather spacious.  I celebrated our arrival with a complimentary Tunnock's , milk chocolate mallow. I recall my favorite Glaswegian, Dawn Gavin, always gushing about them. 

 

Verdict=damn good. (Tunnock's is actually dawns home town)

This statue in George square is of Queen Victoria before the inevitable tragedy of  riding off the pedestal. (She mostly recovered).  

We walked around a bit to get a bit of our bearings. The architecture in Glasgow is impressive and in some instances more magnificent than what I've seen in London - and that's saying s lot.   My heart was warmed to find such a pretty building housing an American culinary treasure; TGI fridays. (Above). 

Dinner was excellent, at Cafe Gandolfi, which sadly wasn't owned by a wizard but you'd have thought so by the food. 

Eileen & Barb are just weird. Also in this photo, 3 house made pâté (eggplant aka obergine, smoked mackerel & goat cheese/pumpkin) and my Cullen  Skink which was the most incredible creamy soup with smoked haddock, a Scottish traditional dish. I loved it. 

Barb ordered "haggis, neeps & tatties" neeps are turnips and tatties are mashed potatoes - so get your mind out of the gutter. I tried the haggis and it was really good; much better than my first try of it, years ago. They're very rich though, and something I'd prefer on a cold winter night. 

Here's Eileen's "white pudding" made of oatmeal, onions, fat and seasoning - with baked apple. It was good but if Eileen ever gives you a taste as she rambles on about of white pudding, trust me and say its amazing. You'll thank me. ;)

Farewell Shoreditch.

The neighborhood we stayed in is one that I'd be happy to live in. It's similar to where I currently live, actually. It's full of young artist types, bicycle shops, coffee shops and a ton of great curries. 

The Banksy effect is clear with all the street art that was way above the average graffiti. 

Panoramic view of our favourite hedgehog mural. 

(RIP Whitney) 

There's even a cafe dedicated to Wes Anderson : 

Now we head to Glasgow by train...

Portraits, Maple Leafs & saatchi

Today was the last full day in London for all three of us. We saw lots of great art, ate rather well (of course) and even (briefly) celebrated Canada day!  Woo hooo!

We started out the day at the National Portrait Gallery to see this years portrait award exhibit. I was especially thrilled to have the chance to see my friend's portrait of her nephew that was included in the show. This is a major honor, as she (Jennifer Renshaw) is one of five Americans in this international competition. 

I wasn't allowed to photograph in the exhibit so I have the photo of the post card they sold of her painting. (Above)

After thoroughly enjoying the portrait exhibit, we headed out to nearby Trafalger Square where they were celebrating Canada Day!

We were brief and mostly just cutting through but there were Mounties, flags, maple syrup, a hockey rink and a stage with a bunch of big Canadian bands on the bill. However we had an itinerary that came first so onward to other equally important things - LUNCH!

(No photo available. Please imagine something elegant, healthy and slightly overpriced enough so we could eavesdrop a nearby table gossiping about the Venice Biennale). 

The Saatchi Gallery was another good art find for us. We all enjoyed the current show : paper.  Various works made of or with paper. 

A beautiful bust... 

A paper cut piece made from a shopping bag.  It's extra credit in the art world when you can have an environmental message.  

I loved this room full of cute portraits of dictators when they were innocent boys. 

Then while Eileen finished up with the exhibit, Barb and I headed across town to stop in at Neal's Yard Dairy, where they sell some of the best cheeses of the world. 

Barb and I sampled our weight in cheese ;)  My goal was to buy a nice feast of the best cheeses to bring to the wedding pot-luck on Friday.

Neal's Yard has a shower running at all times to keep the humidity levels up and the cheese happy. 

 Barb, bless her heart, chose to treat Eileen and I to a night time cheese plate for later after our early light dinner which was really great Indian. 

Montgomery's cheddar, Colston Bassett Stilton, Sleightlets (soft, stinky ), St James (goat), spicy chili chocolate , meercat. 

Yeah, I'm more than a lil jealous of Barb's flea market buy of a stunning statue of a dignified meercat.