Glasgow – Page 6 – Curious Bystander

The Week Ahead – Hey, COP26 is in Glasgow

Still recovering from a recent hospitalisation, but will still try to put some things here.

I will continue to look at things around Glasgow; show some old trips (haven’t travelled too much the last few weeks); and look at some TV I’ve seen, etc.

But to say again, the COP26 conference is here in Glasgow for the next few weeks. I don’t do politics, government, etc on this blog, but will put some photos and try to critique – some of the design. For example:

They’ve definitely chose a green / blue look for their banners. Makes sense, as presumably it shows their care for the blue sky / oceans and green for the plants on this planet.

And if that is not your bag; there are also various protests one can take part in; particularly in the university area:

_{Various Posters inviting / highlighting Protests}

Hey, take your pick! Will write more about this over the next few weeks.

More Glasgow street life; rain and floods –

I do a lot of walking about Glasgow; one of the perks of being self-employed and having the time, and often forcing myself to get outside from behind my desk.

Floods this week in Byres Road, Glasgow, Scotland!

I love it, no problem at all, but the weather has started to change. It’s not only colder but very wet. Look at these statistics for the rainfall we have in Glasgow, Scotland! It’s a large quantity and but an even longer duration of the stuff we receive here, and owing that we are on the west side of Scotland, it’s more considerable than on the eastern part of Scotland.

Just this past week, we have been inundated with rain for several days, which resulted (along with the leaves blocking the street drains) in many areas that were under water. It is now past but still amazes me that this occurs.

The Thornwood Bar, Glasgow – Worth a Shout

I remember this place, The Thornwood, from a LONG time ago; a story involving a friend, who having been desperate for a pint, was “accidentally” shoved (and presumably lost much of his beer!) by a local inside here, who apparently didn’t take to any “outsiders” drinking in his local.

Lovely late Lunch – A vegan Falafel Burger

My, times have changed, as much has in this area of Thornwood, located on the extreme west of Glasgow’s West End.

This area over the past few years has now become an area filled with more and more cafes, pizza places, bicycle shops, etc – for the ever expanding West End, and for the continuing development southerly, on the River Clyde.

I tried the vegan burger, made from Falafel – brilliant; does what it says on the tin, along with a breakfast tea.

5/5

The Week Ahead (I was hospitalised last week) / More Glasgow Street Art –

It seems that with the last 18 months now, there is more and more political expression, or at least more time to express yourself!

I caught this on Great Western Road in the West End of Glasgow, and thought that for many, it sums up what some are thinking (Ed; Naturally we never do politics here!).

Street Art in Glasgow

And if that doesn’t get you off, we now have ice cream for dogs! At good ole Tinderbox in Byres Road.

Do they actually sell this?

More life, travels and various this week, whilst I recover from surgery.

Week Ahead – UK’s use of Cafe’s & another new Cafe in Glasgow’s West End

Just when you thought it was not possible for more cafe’s to open in Glasgow, they do!

Please go to this link, where the brilliant Statista gives some very pertinent information about the incessant increase in the use of cafe’s in the UK.

As you can tell, with the exception of 2020 (for some reason!), the people who used cafe’s for both drinking and eating increased almost yearly from 2015 to 2019.

Saying that, a new place has opened up here, to satisfy this demand. Bauhaus, took over a place, Siempre, that years ago was a bike repair / cafe’ combination – it was very useful for myself.

Now, they not only have a substantial back beer garden, but also a very practical and stunning brunch menu (from 10 – 14).

Various shots inside Bauhaus, Partick, West End, Glasgow

Please try the 2x buns (black) for £8.50; stunning.

Café Swiss – another café in Glasgow, and one to be avoided . . .

Sorry, but does there or will there, ever be an end to the café madness that has swept around the UK and Scotland the last few years?

If it does end, may Café Swiss be the first casualty.

Excuse me, but to charge £16 for a tea, one piece of Spelt toast with Avocado (or Avo or smashed Avo – I forget?) and a miniature size mini-cheesecake is simply out of order. I did leave a quid tip, as the service was excellent – fast, friendly, and no rush; though at times, I was the only poor soul here.

Which is not surprising with these prices.

Not recommended, though I did sit outside a few weeks ago in the Sun; though at the time, I didn’t really fathom why it was just so easy to find a spare seat, now I know.

The Week Ahead- More from both Germany and Ludlow, various shots from Glasgow, etc

As the title says, I still have some memories from the recent travel to Deutschland and will publish them, along with more from my trip a few weeks ago to Ludlow, in the beautiful county of Shropshire.

In addition, there are a good deal many new places here in Glasgow, that I’ve visited and will do several reviews even!

But first, just look at this old map of the travel system in Glasgow:

An old map of Glasgow’s Transport System (year unknown)

And compare to the modern plan; it’s changed. Equally, the blue circle above is the Glasgow Subway, and can be compared to the modern subway, shown below:

To my knowledge, the Glasgow rail network is the largest all-electric one in the UK or outside of London, I can’t really remember the exact fact, and the Glasgow Subway (one line clockwise, the other counter clockwise), is one of the oldest in the world.

When I first arrived here to attend yooni, there was something called a “sub crawl”, where one would get off each station, and have a pint (or whatever)! I do recall trying it, but was completely unsuccessful . . . I wonder why.

Glasgow – More Street Art / Posters – Have an Interactive Wander . . .

Interesting poster:

You always wonder why some of this type of thing, has not been done before and in even greater quantities.

This “democratisation” of tourist “things”, such as museums, exhibitions, public parks, etc, can only be a good thing, and at the same time actually will spread the areas where tourists (and locals!) can go to encounter the tourist experience.

I approve wholeheartedly.

Glasgow shot of the week – Gardner Street – Steep!

It actually doesn’t look that steep here, but I assure you, you should try to jog it! Like these guys do:

Glasgow Warriors Rugby Club training

It is known in the Glasgow area as not only steep, but also where a mad Scotsman tried snowboarding a few years ago (I believe it was 2017?), when we had the so called “Beast from the East” late snowstorm; though I think the video is of another one who tried this, the past year.

Either way, it’s impressive!

Gardens in Glasgow – Westbourne Gardens, West End

This is a beautiful, functional place in the West End of Glasgow, and is yet again, a wonderful example of Victorian planning when they built just so much of Glasgow in the late 19th century.

Various shots of Westbourne Gardens, Glasgow

Westbourne Gardens happens to be situated in a conservation area (The Glasgow West Conservation Area) and subsequently has high house prices, but also with strict rules / laws that apply. To state:

Conservation areas were first introduced by the Civic Amenities Act 1967. The Planning (Listen Buildings and Conservation Area) (Scotland) Act 1997 provides the current legislative framework for the designation of conservation areas. A conservation area is defined in the Act as “an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”.

All planning authorities are required by this Act to determine which parts of their area merits conservation area status. Glasgow currently has 22 (I believe it has increased to 25?) conservation areas varying in character from the city centre and Victorian residential suburbs to a rural village and former country estate.