Haggis, Rain Jackets, Organs

Well...today we have been here a full week. It feels like three months! We have accomplished a lot...none of which has to do with me finding a job. Yikes!

A few days ago the weather forecasted a "hard rain". In Florida terms that means 2 inches in ten minutes. In Scotland terms that means 3 inches all day long. Seriously rained all day. Sometimes it was a mist; sometimes it was actually rain, but it didn't stop. The problem is you look outside and think, "Oh it's misty! I'll wear a jacket and a hat and be fine." Don't let the mist fool you! You get soaked within minutes.

So Brian and I decided we needed to buy rain coats. We both had windbreakers, but we looked like misplaced mountain climbers not cool, hipster, slicksters like everyone around us (which I'm not advocating conformity but there is something to say for having outfits that don't scream "I'm a poorly dressed American! Over here!").

So we headed to the city center where there are lots of malls and lots of stores.

Soak it in Ladies! That's Buchanan Street as far as you can see. It's one of three pedestrian streets for shoppers. Needless to say Brian and I both found rain coats. I also found a pair of boots and "trainers" as they are known over here.

That night, after shopping and searching for our friend Katie King who has come to visit, we decided for a nice pub dinner.

We went to a pub that is a converted church called Oran Mor. It's lovely and the inside is all dark wood and stained glass windows. Brian, feeling very brave was swept up in the environment decided there was no better place to try some Haggis.

That my friends is a real man. Later when we asked our waitress why there was no stomach around it she said, "There was stomach around it, you didn't eat it did you?". Either the chef took it off or Brian got the full experience.

Since Katie King is over for a little holiday. She thought it would be appropriate to try a whisky. Since the name of the place we were in was "The Whiskey Bar" we thought, "Why not?". Keep in mind I have never had whiskey and find some beer too strong.

On the left Katie savors some whiskey. It tasted like wood. Brian says that's how you can tell if it's good. I don't like things that taste like wood. I rarely like Bar-BQ. Burning, liquid wood doesn't make a lot of sense.

Today we headed over to Kelvingrove Art Museum. It was very cool, and I enjoyed myself . It was cool to learn more about the city of Glasgow and Scotland in general. On the way we took a few photos

That's a statue Brian liked, his school from the River Kelvin (I love looking at it, I feel so proud), and us (we are adorable) heading to the museum which is behind us.

The museum (like I said) was very nice and I enjoyed it a lot. However, my favorite part was not the museum but the organ player who works at the museum. There is a very large organ inside and occasionally a player serenades the entire place. It was amazing to walk around all this art and history while hearing clear, resonant melodies.

That little blue dot in the middle is the player. Amazing!

Cheers and love!

Katie

The First Few Days

Well we are here. After a million goodbyes, some tears, a uhaul trip and a plane ride--We made it to Scotland! OH how amazing the first few days have been. We arrived on Wednesday, checked in to our hotel, and went exploring.

Typically the weather is gray and rainy; however, that first day the sky hinted at the blue behind the clouds and then started to give us actual blue sky. It was the best present we could have received. After our breakfast of baked beans, an egg, two types of bacon, toast and some type of black pudding (who knows?), we headed to the University.

Walking up the stairs, surrounded by the greenest grass in the whole world, and seeing the steeple, it hit me that Brian is going to this university.

We walked around campus and I made Brian take some embarrassing tourist photos.

It just looks like the type of place you go to learn.

I think I should at this point draw your attention to Brian's hat. He has worn this hat for the past three days (nothing unusual) but he has gotten a compliment every day about this hat. At the pub one night, on the street--every one wants to know where he found his blue hat.

Which means we have had more conversations with locals in the past three days than the three weeks we were hear last year. Thank you blue hat.

Once we left the university, we made our way to Kelvin Park.

The Kelvin River runs through Glasgow and the park runs along the river and the backside of the university.

The park has a giant hill (to Floridians) that we hiked to the top of.

Once we did that and walked a little bit more, we needed a nap,

which we took.

Later that night we ate the best Indian food I have ever had.

The next two days have consisted of us moving into our flat, going to Ikea, eating more really good food, and enjoying "City Life," which means I have a lot of blisters on my feet and had to buy a decent pair of walking shoes.

More to come....

Love,

Brian and Katie