Out and About in Glasgow

Today was a day for getting things done, errands and other tasks that had either been put off due to other pressing matters or simply because I didn't have any money for awhile because of a mix up between my bank in Oklahoma and my bank here.

The tasks that were going to be accomplished today were:
-Buy a Bike
-Walk through Princess Square Mall
-Visit Borders
-Go to Avalanche Records (now LoveMusic) in downtown Glasgow
-Buy a large soup pot

Before starting off Ashley and I stopped by our cheesemonger friend to by some bread and cheese for sandwiches and such.  When asking what our plans for the day were I excitedly remarked that I was going to buy a bike.  He laughed and told me that I had not experienced the winter here and would be in for a cold experience.  I will not falter.

We started on our walk to Commonwheel, which is an organization that refurbishes bikes and sells them second hand. They do very nice work and the organization was started as a location where mentally handicapped people could work, because the owner found working on his bike was therapeutic to him and thought it might be therapeutic to others.  As far as used bikes are, these tend to be a little more expensive, but they do sell very good quality machines that work and last. I find that the price is worth it for their cause, and I won't feel shammed because I am not purchasing a fixie which seems to be what most shops are selling these days.

We arrived and the short story is I go back on friday when the boss is in.  They will sell me a bike though- probably a light weight hub gear.

After our bike misadventure, both the lady and I traveled by clockwork orange to downtown.* Our first task was to visit the Princess Square Mall, which is a very upscale mall which stands on top of an old courtyard from 1841. They have put a glass dome ceiling on it now and the architecture is rather fun.  Honestly though, a tad bit disappointing.

Our next stop was the Borders in Glasgow.  It is located right around the corner from the mall and is located in the old Royal Bank building from 1827. This is what made me interested.  There are lots of great little book shops around, maybe the best being Voltaire and Rousseau bookshop with its piles of books and complete lack of order.   Anyway, as most have heard about the economic trouble facing Borders, this one was no exception and has closed.

After this disappointment we traveled on to find some tea and maybe some food.  As we walked past the Willow Tea Rooms wishing that we had thought ahead and made a reservation, we came across the Buchanan Tea Rooms strangely written in the same font.  Once on the inside, we found ourselves on the receiving end of an elderly women's stare that would not waver. She was also the only person in the room.  Once the waitress came out and seated us, we found that we had come across the Glasgow version of Golden Corral, no buffets but vinyl table cloths and some seventies stained glass.  Our decision to order the Traditional Afternoon Tea was an enlightening one. I had ordered a Roastbeef and Mustard sandwich, one of two options that didn't have cheddar or mayonnaise, Ashley got the other, the Ham and Tomato.  We soon found that the sandwiches were just that: Ham and Tomato, or in my case, Roastbeef and mustard and mayonnaise.  This was not our culinary highlight, in fact this maybe the only low point of the adventure.  Our tea was consumed and shortbread biscuits pocketed and we struggled on to our next task.

At this point we parted ways, Ashley went to find a comforter and I gladly went in search of Avalanche Records.  After a brief detour where I walked completely around the Royal Concert Hall and a connecting Mall, I subsequently found myself where I was to begin with.  I turned and found my shop around a corner and very short distance away.  There was only a rather small selection of vinyl, but this store had a great collection of CDs including a huge selection of punk.  Sifting through the racks with the intent to not purchase anything that I already had at home, I found myself with two CDs: Bombay Bicycle Club's "Flaws", a very nice country folk influenced record with some help from Joanna Newsom, and a Local Artist's album that I found in the "Local: Noise/Avante Garde/Ambient section".  I picked up Susan Matthews' album "In Search of the Shadow Walker".  It turned out to be a selection of minimal orchestral compostions which lean towards the avante but are definitely tonal and very beautiful.  Success.

Oh and I did buy a pot which I made Chicken Ratatouille stew in and then subsequently ate.  Ashley also found a comforter.

To the outside reader, today might have appeared to be a modest disappointment, but truly its hard for it to be bad when you get to wander all over an interesting city with the girl you love.

Well cheers to you all.

Ryan


*This is glaswegian for their subway, I have only heard one person call it this, our cab driver, but I like it. The subway trains are orange and they go in a circle.


Also I am going to add some links to some of these places over to the side.