Observing life in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK, Europe and Worldwide; be they movies, tv, travels, food or eccentricities. . .
Following on from a few days ago, when I started to showcase some of the private parks / gardens in Glasgow; my personal favourite is this diamond (below) in the West End (Ed; Again?!).
This is also located directly in front of some of the finest examples of red tenement housing on Earth. Please visit and walk by if you are ever here Glasgow – it’s only a 10 minute walk from Hillhead underground station.
CB
This is the start of something that I have always found intriguing in certain parts of Glasgow, where from the Victorian era, there exists a great deal of private parks / gardens; if that is a correct terminology.
I’ll look into why this is so, but in a delightful area, that also happens to adjoin a cricket pitch and tennis courts at the nearby Hillhead Sports Club, there is this wee gem, that is small enough to manage (at least to me?), but large enough to seem grand.
Enjoy.
CB
Interesting to note, that the trees and other “shrubbery” have seemed to increase in size the last few years? Or is it me? Or . . . is it that we more or less had a drought the last few months, and when the rains finally came the roots had increased, and the subsequent growth is maxed out? Don’t know, but it looked quite green and lush.
Afterwards, walked back to Byres Road, and after a quick left, right, finally decided to go to Naked Soup, that I had seen the last few weeks, with tables on the pavement later in the evening.
Thought this was strange, so after ordering a pint (they had one draft beer, the delightful Loch Fyne lager, and had a cooler full of other world beers in a bottle), was told that they’ve been renovated / changed a few months ago, and now serve the soup only until 3.30pm, with the remaining opening time to 9 or 10 for serving drinks, etc.
Hallelujah! We need more of these type of café’s / bistros / places to get a pint but are not a pub herein Glasgow. Long may it be so!
CB
This week, will try to put some photos of previous travels, as I am all “travelled out” and due to Corona, may not travel (and have not travelled) for a while.
In addition, will finally start several “series” about life in Glasgow; by looking at many of the small “green areas” we have here in the city, and a look at more of the wonderful church architecture that we have here as well.
But first, it’s hot! And it seems to be almost a desert forming here as a recent trip to play golf north of Glasgow shows.
CB
Have you ever walked by something in the street, and thought it was strange, until you investigated it?
It happened to me earlier today, whilst having an early Sunday morning walk, lo and behold, there were loaves of bread on a bench (attached to the frontage) in front of Kaf cafe’.
I decided on the cheddar, chipotle & rosemary, delish!
CB
I’ve noticed that the yooni is redesigning the layout / use of its University Avenue, and have started to change several things there. One is the installation of poles to provide some distance between the pavements and street, in front of the GUU (Glasgow University Union). No doubt a welcome change.
The other, along the road, are new pavements to the southern side of the avenue, yet are minus (so far) the old bike lanes? Not sure what to make of this, though will hope that there is some compromise for the bikes owners of the West End.
The other shots, are of Hillhead Library, which I simply do not know what the council were thinking of, when they replaced older buildings here in 1975 to construct this piece of brutalism.
Notice in many of the photos, there are different shades of gray! C’mon Glasgow, you can do better.
CB
This weeks photo(s) come from our beloved Glasgow University and their huge building project (this one specifically is the James McCune Smith Learning Hub) that started some time ago, and will go on for some years yet.
These concern themselves with the new buildings / renovations in University Avenue and whilst not my taste, do seem to have given it a fresh look; although at times these type of things, do tend to date quite fast.
Various shots in University Avenue, Glasgow
CB
This little place, complete at times with plants and outdoor seating, is one of these types of places that now are flooding the West End due to the incessant demand for them (map view)
What’s interesting is that this café and many others, are now moving further and further west, Tulipane happens to be in Thornwood, nearby the great Bibis (a Mexican place) amongst others, as more flats are being built nearby, by the Clyde river.
Their food is always great with friendly service, and the partner had a bowl of soup / German bread, that could feed an army.
Recommended.
CB
Have I spoke about this place before? Not sure, but during the lockdown, there has been a noticeable change here; gone are the fish n chips (!), gone is the nouveau Scottish cuisine, and in comes a semi-form of deconstruction, that to be blunt, is not my scene.
I had the ham hocks to start, and the cod for a main, and both were fine, as in “fine”, but honestly I would’ve loved to have had the old school fish n chips, with a batter that you could eat on its own, and a portion that was large enough to take home and graze from for the next week.
Will this be the future for Glasgow restaurants? Are the smaller portions more profitable? So many questions.
CB
I am once again on a working holiday, but will give you some snaps from a recent walk in the Cateran Way, in Perthshire in Scotland, in addition to some other reviews, music, etc.
But to start, last weekend it was a typical lockdown day, stuck in Glasgow, why not a cycle ride to the Merchant City in Glasgow, for a “secret” restaurant to eat at.https://www.brutticompadres.com/ – which is down a lane in the Merchant City, in Glasgow; between Miller and Virginia Streets (in Virginia Court) – is an oasis from traffic and pedestrians.
The nachos, albondigas and more nachos!
It was a Sunday, and surprisingly, they were open and very welcoming; with a Spanish tinged menu.
It hit the spot, and with the vibe of having your own outside court to sit in, where we even had space to park our three bikes, it was a relief and something that we’ll be repeating in the future.
CB
Curious Bystander 