Climbing

Photos: JLM

Photos: Daniel C. 

Woke up relatively early this morning, made a breakfast of champions, and headed down to the street corner to meet cousin. Hopped in the car with Jenna, and we just drove straight out of town for a Sunday adventure. Ended up at some place called Loch Lomond. Climbed along the Sròn Aonaich ridge until we reached the summit of some munro called Ben Lomond. Sunday in the hills, with sheep, with dogs, with sunshine, with fresh air - rolling hills and the endless Northern skies. Going back soon.

- Daniel C.

A few things for tonight

Photo: Daniel C.


Photo: JLM

A muse comes knocking...

Photos: Jenna L. Meth

Photos: Daniel C. 

Walked around Glasgow for about six hours today. About three hours last night. Saw a few things. 10 miles on a Saturday. Got a little sunburn as well. In Scotland you say? Yes, scorching. Walking, snapping, walking. Goodnight.

- Daniel C.

Musica

Photo: Daniel C. Bach

Hey music fans. A playlist for the day: the new album of my favourite singer drops on Monday June 1. You can listen to the entire album on his Myspace page now. Magic. Glasgow bhoy. Paolo Nutini.

This is fantastic stuff - music to dance to, music to make love to, and music to run to, music for those endless nights, and music for the rising sun; the beach, the streets, the rainy days, the setting sun. Smile.(If that does not work, become a fan of Paolo on Facebook, and you can then use the link for sure).

- Daniel C.

Champions of Europe.

Photo: Getty Images (yes, Leo Messi kissing his magic boot.) 

La Blaugrana are on top again! Would love to see that party in Barcelona tonight. Hope everyone caught the highlights. Magic from Roma! This result answers my questions on who is the best team in the world, and who is the best player: Barca, and Messi at a mere 21-years-old.

-D

Articles

Hi,

Stuff I found yesterday, but forgot to share. Enjoy today, hooray!

1- Socialism you say? Spain? No..

2- Yes! Bring back my Polaroid film.

Television reporter, err, sort of

A flashback to my first week on the job. My broadcast prof 'Murr' will love this one when September rolls around. Working on my broadcast voice, although I think I was meant to write, and not appear on camera. Radio I can do, with a sometimes gravelly voice. Note the "noddies" in the video, where I look to be listening intently. Was trying hard not to laugh. What a great story, and a great interview. D

Sharing

Photos: Daniel C.
 

Alright, a few things before I head to bed.

For starters: Back from a run in the puddles tonight. I likely could have gone on for many miles really, but figured I would keep things in check at a healthy 31,680 feet tonight: One mile for each beer I had with my cousin John as we attempted to move past the sad fact that Celtic had lost the Scottish Premier League. Hell had frozen over for me, so we drowned some sort of sorrow.

Right, I’m back to the original story just now. Running was great, and I was finally able to clear my head after a very long day. Listening to some on- street and in-pub improve sessions by les transatlantiques, err, Beirut tonight, and again, wide-eyed after that jog, I felt I should share a few thoughts that came to my head from friendly correspondence tonight. Love that instant messaging.

Thoughts on a dreary Monday

Photo: Glasgow Central Station Rail Bridge Daniel C. Bach/ The Glasgow Herald 

Hiya,

For everyone out there - a few things I came across on a slow bank holiday:

A- Nicely done for this Québécois filmmaker
B- I know what pub I'll be in on Wednesday night. Do you? Messi vs. Ronaldo. Barcelona ( ¡ándale! ) vs Manchester United. Who is the best player? Which is the best team on the planet? Game of the year? Definately, it's the Champions League kids, so get that Heineken on ice!
C- I'm throwing my name in the hat for this wee room. Sweden for August? Dreaming...
D- I've spent my day staring at a screen. Going out to seek an unfiltered view of the world. Screens.
E- No junk in Japan. Wabi Sabi.

Sunday walk, Sunday thoughts

Hello,

Today the sky is grey, and the city is freezing. Celtic lost their football crown for the first time in years, and the city is cold. From darkness, however, today we find light. A Sunday walk. A few great reads as well. Check it out.

- Daniel C.

Photos: Daniel C. Bach 

i - Smile for me on a Sunday.

ii - No more hookah in Istanbul? No, no!

iii - A friend at work is from Riga. He marvels and muses about the wonders and downfalls of Latvia often.

iv - Dream destination of the day. Santiago. I hear the Malbecs are nice.

Readings and thoughts for a weekend

1 - Rook: It’s what’s for supper. Punny piece I wrote the other day.

2- My CouchSurfers keep talking about Buda and Pest. So, here goes, dream travel destination of the day: Budapest. I dream on, someday I’ll climb the steps, get lost on city streets. Travel here, history here.

3- Tough times for tourism in Europe?

4 - People keep asking me about Morocco. I`m dying to go back, but think I`ll hit Tunisia first. Or Yemen. I`m going to Yemen.

- Daniel C.

The Subway Festival.

Hello,

On a rainy Saturday in Glasgow, it seemed the best thing to do was descend into the underground, and ride the subway around for a few hours; changing here, alighting there, rockin’ out, snapping frames - hanging out and riding the loop with my CouchSurfer Jolene. Good day out. The Subway Festival.

Photos: Daniel C. Bach

Articles and things of the day..

Photo: Daniel C. Bach 

Photo Essay. A friend of a friend, not a photographer. Makes me miss Morocco. Wanderlust guides my thought today. Photo adventure tomorrow. Stay tuned. The festival season is upon us.

- Daniel C.

Change of status

Couch Surfing self-portrait: D. Bach

Due to an exorbitant amount of CouchSurfing requests this week, I have sadly had to change my couch availability status from 'Yes' to 'Maybe'. I hate saying no to anyone, but I would only ever want to be the best host possible -in the fashion of the brilliant CS hosts I have stayed with in the past - and could not offer top accomadation and hosting to more than 1 surfer per night.

People I really wanted to meet from Finland, Sweden, Uruguay, America, England, Australia, Italy, Canada and France now have to find somewhere else to say. Blast! On the schedule, however, before the end of the month, I have surfers coming from Quebec, Ohio and Brazil. Cool. My surfer and I are going to ride the subway in town here for most of the day on Saturday. Seriously. You'll find out why soon. Photos and adventure.

My first surfer Sarah was pretty cool. She came up from Dumfries, and only crashed one night, but had a thousand cool travel stories about mountain adventure in Peru, and family history in Israel. More surfers soon.

- Daniel C.

Articles of the day

For anyone paying attention, these are a few things I found, and well, enjoyed. A- Oh! ye'll take the high road andI'll take the low road,And I'll be in Scotland afore ye! A top travel guide says Scotland is still cool, and really starting to show it. This little book has helped me find my way on city streets and dusty lanes the world over. A Lonely Planet. B- Blatchford at her best. Verdict: Mulroney a knowing criminal. Well said. C- From the back corner of the newsroom comes a fresh wee story for yours truly. I was the only reporter in Scotland who covered this. Jinky. D- Robert Zimmerman poem for sale. 1957.

Ships and Cranes..

Photo: Daniel C. Bach 

Yesterday I got asked to do some research on the industrial history of the West End of Glasgow. Very different for me to be asked to work with professional reporters who have been writing for 30-40 years. Cool the next day when you share a byline on page three of one of major dailies in the country. My neighborhood is full of active and deralict factories and mills. Shipbuilding is the most prominent of the graveyards, but also the only surving industry around. My 'uncle' Frankie used to be the head of warship construction at with a firm that has a yard about 5 minutes from my flat on the River Clyde. To get in the mood for a little research, I thought I would get a little closer to the ships and cranes. Off to the library, err, newsroom.

- Daniel C.

Articles of the day

Archive photo: Daniel C. Bach

A- The latest report on coffee has some good news for us java junkies. Drink up.

B- Two of my colleagues took to the streets outside our news-cave to ask Glasgow their thoughts on a potential MacKintosh statue for the city's main square.

C- Forget Hamilton, bring back the Winnipeg Jets! Free Crackberries for all new season-ticket holders! Great full-circle story about desert hockey. This court battle is now almost as prominent in Canadian news as the other headline-holder today, Mr. Connie Black.

Travel destination of the day: Istanbul

Photo: Daniel C. Bach 

Found a great article today on Istanbul, probably my favourite place on the planet. This article is well written, although many side-street gems and little secrets were missed by this journo. I've got many tips and sights written down somewhere if you ask nicely. Buy a ticket, take the ride - you'll love it, trust me.

Turkish Airlines is planning to offer direct flights to Istanbul from Toronto this summer!Air Canada has no direct flights from Canada, but Star Alliance partner Lufthansa offers connecting flights to Istanbul via Munich or Frankfurt. Great beer and newspaper selection at the gate in Munich, fantastic duty-free shopping in Frankfurt, not to mention more beer.

- Daniel C.

Sunday walks

Photo: Daniel C. Bach 

Café culture. Something I saw yesterday on an endless walkabout. I have dedicated every Sunday from here forward to drinking coffee, reading as many news stories and art reviews as possible, and taking pictures. Hundreds of pictures.

- Daniel C.

Scotland with style: Glasgow

Photo: Daniel C. Bach

Travel destination of the day: Glasgow. It's gritty, it's dirty, it's dark, it's class, it's culture - It's where the art and music of the UK lives and breathes. London is amazing, but expensive and dirty. A city I love, but after a while you're just lost in the crowd of people not even from there. I live for the urban life, and Glasgow has it all. Everything's just right. Scotland's heart, Scotland with style. Glasgow has the best of everything outside of London - and then some. A photographer's paradise, a historian's library, the artist's muse. Eat, drink, walk, explore. Well said: ART + Glasgow.

- Daniel C.

Motion picture debut

Producer Kevin McIntyre and me as 'Jack Harrison' Got a phone call this morning, and was asked to play a small role in the latest feature film by Glasgow filmmaker Kevin McIntyre entitled 'Recycle'. We shot in S. Glasgow in the afternoon, with about 10 actors and 10 crew. The energy on location was amazing, considering all the actors were volunteers. This is art. This is passion and positive energy. Went over pretty well I think, I played, get this, a news reporter, haha. See my earlier post and profile story under "filmmaker", and you can read all about this young man.

Kevin McIntyre

Photos: Daniel C. Bach and Sean Boyle

MacKintosh, the Lighthouse, and a little history..

Photos: Daniel C. Bach 

Hi,

Was walking around the city center today, and stopped to take a few photographs. Stumbled past the Lighthouse while strolling the cobbles. The Lighthouse - renamed in 1999 - was originally built to house the Glasgow Herald newspaper. While I would love for the newspaper and my desk to still be in this building, our new fancy building is okay too. The Lighthouse is now Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City. Completed in 1895, the structure was designed by architectural firm Honeyman & Keppie, where Charles Rennie MacKintosh was an apprentice.

Check it out.

- Daniel C.

 

10 things I love about Scotland

#8: Trainspotting. And Scottish Indie cinema for that matter. An all-time classic is this '90s gem. This scene - and the hilarious Ewan McGregor rant - is all I could think about yesterday when one of my colleagues was assigned a story where he was asked to hit the cobbles and ask everyday people a very dangerous question. A newspaper report this week in a British paper said that Scottish people are the grumpiest and most miserable people in all of Europe - although Scotland is not in Europe, well that's another blog altogether. He is an Englishman, and was actually fearing being "done in" by one of the working class Scots he put his questions about the grumpy and rain-soaked Scots. I'll put a link to his story, which was an absolute "belter" (fantastic), with hilarious quotes which all came out on the streets in the pouring rain. Classic. Anyways, Trainspotting. #8

Green Day

While hiding out from the rain the past little while, I've been listening to nothing more than the new Green Day record. I've bought bet each and every album they have put out on the day of its release since 1994. To help celebrate 15 years, a little video that was dubbed one of the greatest rock performances of all time. Albeit way behind the legendary sets of Hendrix, the Who, Pink Floyd or the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, the infanous Woodstock '94 MUDFIGHT is still classic. I remember seeing this on Much Music the week it was released. Happy Saturday.

Scandal and Politics, BFF!

A few weeks back, the Daily Telegraph (one of three publications printed on broadsheet newsprint, along with the Financial Times and yep, the Glasgow Herald) paid more than £150,000 for details of MPs' personal expense claims over the past four years which it has published in excess every day since.

The details of the report are thrown about in every medium, every little tabloid or major newspaper, and have taken over probably 75% of what is covered in the news section of publications each day. I'm tired of hearing about it, but the phrase 'Mps expenses' has now replaced 'global financial crisis' which soothes me for now.

Art

Photo: Daniel C. Bach

May Long

Happy May long weekend to the Canadians. Sing and dance Scottish style. Enjoy

10 Things I love about Scotland

Wellington Statue, Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, September 2007

David Hume, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, July 2006

Kelvingrove Park, West End, Glasgow, May 2009

Stock photos: Daniel C. Bach

#9 - Traffic cones on the heads of statues about town. Started in the 80s by university students, this is the best way to entertain yourself in the middle of the night after a few drinks. Makes me laugh every time. Only in Scotland.

Daniel C.

Style spotter

Sitting at my desk yesterday, working on hard news stories full of policy and statistics. I was asked if I would like to go out and find some trendy Glasweigans on the street. Colin and I hit the cobbles, and found these kids out enjoying the sun. Work can be fun. I haven't laughed this hard in weeks. Style, Evening Times style.

Buy a camera.

Photo: Daniel C. Bach A suggestion - buy a camera and take it everywhere you go. You really never know what you will see, and perhaps there will be a chance to even snap a self portrait. Ciao! Daniel C.

Still walking...

Photo: Daniel C. Bach Bridges you say. Glasgow has bridges everywhere; some old, some newer, brutalist, industrial, railway, footpath, overpass. Lots of bridges. Although most are pretty grubby, and not much to look at, the city has done a great job at working with what it has - 16th century buildings sometimes help as well. The city has done a great job at making boring every day things look a little more interesting by adding light and color. Sidenote: see earlier post, 'Night Walker' for a better example. Okay, didn't want to rant, just wanted to share a photograph, but I must say, Calgary has struck out in this same category. There are an immense amount of heritage buildings I am informes as well, as I attend ALL of the Calgary City Council heritage strategy meetings while in town. Cowtown city council has put millions of dollars into creating new whizzy footbridges and gutting Memorial drive - which looked better with the 100 year old trees I'll have you know - and has still failed at making the boring look interesting. Well, my work has - take a walk past Teatro at night - but that's because it's a building full of creative people. Anyways. Photo. Light. Have a nice day. Daniel C.

10 things I love about Scotland

#10 - Pipes and Drums. The beat goes on.

Photo: Daniel C. Bach

Editorial of the day.

Still my favorite. Well said.

Press Photo of the day

Best photo I saw while scanning the news today.