Photos: Daniel C.
Okay, just in from a decent run in the driving rain. I think it's raining in Calgary, so to everyone out there in the rain, including all the readers in Glasgow and Edinburgh - enjoy it. It's just rain.
I ran past One Devonshire Gardens tonight as I always do, and felt a little uneasy watching the waiters open wine and the chefs at work in the kitchen. I miss that life a bit.
But. It's time to catch up on the current life... Yes folks, still alive after a weekend I will never forget for the rest of my days. Friday saw me leave work about two hours late, and incredibly stressed, but a long walk home in the sunshine was helpful in clearing my head.
The weeks have been starting off very slow, and finishing at break-neck pace, making things a little bit stressful. After a seriously lengthy run on Friday, and a beer or two at my flat to wind down from a crazy week, my week only got crazier. Wow.
Saturday was taken at a snail's pace, as I relaxed in silence to calm myself ahead of hosting another CouchSurfer over the weekend. Gülnar - an incredibly inspiring new friend from Istanbul- who was the first CouchSurfer to make it all the way to my door without my help or instruction. This girl is quite the traveler, although most of her stories involve missing a plane or train at some point during her journeys.
Whereas everyone I've hosted has been stopping in Glasgow, not expecting there to be anything to see here, on the way to or from Edinburgh, Gülnar was full of adventurous optimism, and had a whole list of things to see. Too bad she said she was tired of busy cities and looking at architecture. Not much else to do in Glasgow other than check out art, catch some music, and enjoy a few drinks in the pub.
Side note: I lied. The two Italian CouchSurfers staying at my flat tonight met me at my front door. It makes it much easier when you can walk home from work and have your new friends sitting on your front steps with packs and maps. I hope my next CS'r, a Calgarian and fellow MRC journalism student, can make it to my door as well. Don't ask, my couch is booked until the end of July unless I get evicted. Also, I feel bad for my Italian CS'rs out in the driving and freezing rain trying to discover Glasgow tonight. The whisky should warm them up.
Back to the past weekend. After a stressful week, I was actually looking forward to a weekend alone, but I guess I get that everyday, so a weekend of wandering and train rides was okay as well. Whisky, cows, parks, endless skies, and a few drunk friends. The story of the weekend. It is, however, really hard to explain to people that;
A - I can't suggest good cafes, restaurants, clubs or live music venues - or even take you to any of them - because I hardly have enough money to eat, and have not been out drinking or dancing in the past 11 weeks. It may come down to me dropping a course of two in the fall to pay the bills, working the days and nights as an amateur food and wine transer agent. I will have endless amounts of fun though - it just won't involves restaurants and long trips. I provide a couch, philisophical banter, travel stories, a fridge full of food and some sort of hospitality. Period.
B - I am incredibly boring, and do the same thing everyday. I run, take photographs, drink a lot of coffee, never rush to pack things into a day, and spend most of my alcohol-free nights walking or sleeping. I know all my CouchSurfers read this, and despite that fact, I can honestly say I've been blessed with amazing, humble and inspiring guests.
People keep saying thank-you. Forget that, pay it forward. I've been the guy at the door with a heavy suitcase and weary head. Laugh, teach, share, learn.
Aside from being a boring host in a quiet neighbourhood, I'm a barrel of laughs. Or monkeys. Mostly I'm just full of....
Adventure 1 - Went for a walk in Kelvingrove park after checking out the Hunterian Museum, spending a few hours in the sun taking pictures of dogs and bridges. Walking past a tiny pub, hidden from view beside the river and under a grubby bridge, I mentioned being curious about this tiny place I run through every night while jogging. Seriously, I run through the terrace because the tables happen to rest on the park path. Big, make that, massive mistake.
Grabbing a pint inside the tiny pub which sits in an arch of the industrial-era bridge, Gülnar, bless her heart, suggested we sit at the free spaces at the end of a picnic table beside two 'friendly' looking Glasweigans. Yeah, here we go.
David, a Glasgow-born entrepreneur living in Newcastle, was up for the weekend to visit his best-mate in their hometown - the over-medicated and sun-stroked Richard. I think Richard, who is probably a brilliant guy while sober, was way past drunk when we sat down across the table, and I imagine was having a little too much fun ahead of heading home to his wife for dinner. Must be nice when your drunk husband comes home in a taxi covered in beer and vomit, and has to be put into bed at 7:00pm.
Nice. Anyways, long story short, David was inspired by the idea of CouchSurfing, and was adamant I crash on his couch If I am ever in Newcastle. Richard, however, in top Glasgow from, spilled three separate pints of beer all over the four of us, threw-up all over the terrace in front of children and dog-walkers, fell down against a fence and then again into the waitress, and - get this - threw all of our empty glasses - about 6 pint glasses and two martini glasses - over the railing into the river.
Yeah, we were abruptly asked to leave, although there came a point well before the mayhem I decided I wanted nothing to do with this gentleman. Two ladies behind me sharing a drink are surely scarred for life, and were understandably upset at the movie-like scene which played out in front of them on an otherwise glorious Saturday afternoon. I have a few years of restaurant experience, and can calm almost any situation I believe. I can no say now folks - I've really seen it all from drunks. Everything.
At least Richard left the waitress a £20 tip on the last round. Nightmare.
Side note: Fantastic CouchSurfing experience this weekend. Gülnar suggested we make dinner on Sunday, which was a huge disaster in the kitchen anyways, but a great night of sharing some stories and travel adventures before she took off to her current home in Stuttgart. She was almost in tears as I recalled vivid memories of her Turkish hometown. Sometimes folks, I do remember all the small details just right.
On another note, with all the people I've come across in the past years of travel, I think I must have numbers and contacts for friends and friends of friends, to crash on couches, get a ride from the airport or to go out for drinks, in at least 100 countries by now. Lebanon? Yep. Iceland? Indeed. Turkey? Which coast? India? Which city? Need a reference? I got your back. Or at least I can find someone for you through CS friends and old journal scribblings.
Adventure 2 of the weekend- Which brings up another subject...
You guessed it - The #6 thing I love about Scotland - Single Malt Whisky. Yes, the Scottish water of life. 'Scotch' to some, Whisky to the Scots and Brits. Whisky not whiskey, like in Ireland or America. I enjoy a wee dram now and then, including yesterday, when Gulnar and I headed for the hills of Clydebank to check out the Auchentashan Distillery.
There are only 3 Lowlands (south of Scotland) distilleries remaining, and Auchentashan is the only producer among 97 distilleries in Scotland that 'triple distills' its whisky.After being bought out by a Japanese company a few years back, the wee factory below the Old Kilpatrick hills (one of the best spots to go for a jog in the world) of sheep and cobbled fences, has a beautiful panorama view above the Clyde, and a convenient location close to friends and family. Funny story. A gentleman from Sweden was talking about the Auch 12-year-old he was about to purchase with his wife. I interrupted, and told him the story of a limited edition Auch Whisky, which was specially-made as a 'house' dram for the Queen Elizabeth II cruise ship (Built.in.Glasgow).
Light, crisp, floral, citrusy. The ship in being refurbished as a hotel in Dubai, and the back stock of the bar has been on sale exclusively at the distillery for two years now. Gentle, elegant - nice for a summer day. I should have picked up the commision on that one, because the bottle was twice the price. Sold.
Kent - there are still a handful of QE2 bottles left for sale. Amazing! http://www.auchentoshan.co.uk/index.php
We followed that trip to the western suburbs up with a lengthy journey to Pollok Park of the southern 'burbs. Cows, flowers, open sky, and photography tips from an overly friendly wee Glaswegian man. "Check out this Fuji 8 mpx beauty I got for less than £100. It takes crackin' shots! Brilliant!" Haha.
On a rainy day, as was suggested, thanks J, I suggest drinking a Pinot Noir as your summer red. Actually, drink it all the time... The only Pinot Noir I've tasted or experienced in about 3 months was an $8 gem from the supermarket. From memory, however, I can suggest a few. I would guide anyone towards lighter Pinot Noirs for summer, where Oregon or France have a million options. Or maybe there are a few more I can think of. The list:
Canada - Therapy Vineyard's Pinot Noir from Penticton, British Columbia will blow your mind. This is one of the best New World pinots I've ever had - hands down. I remember Mark selecting this one on our late night re-stock mission on a Thanksgiving not so long ago. The night ended with a certain former colleague decanting a magnum of Two Oceans Sauvingon Blanc into a Brita Filter - don't ask. I remember the Therapy. The price is reasonable, but a little steep - around $30 - if you are buying for a party.
Oregon - Ken Wright Cellars. This was bought for me on my last birthday at Muse. Unreal. A little complex, but the structure and rich fruit make for an interesting tasting. Great after food, or with cheese. Great all the time. Buy it. Love it. Share it. Now accepting bottles of Ken Wright for my 24th birthday if anyone's buying. See you at Muse?
California - Lane Tanner. She is the Queen of California Pinot - it's her speciality, and it continues to show. Buy her wines, and as she suggests - "Wine is life. Share with friends." My two favourite individual wine makers - not surprisingly - are woman. Like Anne Claude Leflaive is my Queen of White Burgundy (Chardonnay), Lane is my girl of California Pinot. Both of these ladies' wines have been cracked at my mom and Kent's dinner table. Bet on it happening again.
Side note: The wine list at Teatro has the last few bottles in Canada of one of Leflaive's 2004 wines - but I can't share all my secrets.
Chile - South American Pinots tend to be a bit spicier and earthier, but EQ - readily available in CowVillage - is a favourite for sure. A balanced offering of fruit. Rype!
Cote d'Or (France people) - My favourite pinots on the planet would probably be the Santenay Premier Cru 'Clos Tavannes' from La Pousse d'Or - 100% Pinot Noir of course. Back when Teatro allowed the staff to purchase wines for dinners and tasting nights (love you Toshi), this smooth berry bomb was always a hit. If you can find the 2004, but every bottle possible. If you can find a 2005, consider yourself luck, and again, buy every bottle possible, and share it with everyone. If I remember right, the 2005 had a bit more fruit, but the 2006 was a good vintage as well, and should be available at Quality places around Calagary anyways. Err, umm, cough - Teatro.
Article Shared: The new wave of NY bar - Keg service and a scrawny doorman. I absoloutely love it. “Since everything else is so chi-chi,” the manager, Keith Okada, said while pushing a plastic cup of beer toward a young woman at the bar last Monday night, “we thought, ‘Why not offer keg service?’ ” Uncontrollable laughter. Haha. This would suit myself and the rest of the J students at MRU.
The other charms of Pamplona: After the bulls.
China and an empire.
Sweet, Tweet revenge.
The ladies of Bletchly Park.
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