Glasgow - days 1 & 2

Day 1 

We arrived in Glasgow, tired, nervous, exhilarated, ready for an adventure of a lifetime. As we strode into the designated meeting point in the hotel, we glanced surreptitiously at our fellow travelers. Were they the fearless explorers that myself, 71-year-old grandmother Anita, 50-year-old Aunt Jennifer and 15-year-old granddaughter, Mary Grace were? This was MG’s (Mary Grace) special trip that had been put off for 2 years due to the virus that shall go unnamed.  When MG was asked at age 13, where she would most like to take a trip with grandma, I expected her to say, Disney World, Universal Studios, the nearest shopping mall. Imagine my surprise when she responded Scotland!  My astonished response, why Scotland?  Of course, my great grandfather was a Scottish immigrant, rumored to be of royal lineage (aren’t they all) a topic openly discussed at family gatherings. I assumed MG was seeking her Scottish roots. Her response, “I want to see the Loch Ness monster, Grandma!” Who was I to crush a child’s dream? Two years and one pandemic later, we had finally arrived at the starting point of the great adventure.  As we waited scoping out our fellow travelers, in strode our intrepid leader. Seamus was a sardonic Scotsman with a twinkle in his eyes. As he launched into a welcome, it was clear he was straight out of central casting for the Outlanders! He was tall and rugged appearing, uniquely molded by a lifetime in the Outer Hebrides. He was the real deal! Once introductions were made, we were escorted to the dining room for our first attempt at immersion into Scottish culture, haggis! Seamus entertained with the origins of haggis throwing down the gauntlet, you must eat haggis for the true Rick Steves cultural experience. After a wonderful meal with tentative bites of haggis all around, we fell into bed dreaming of Nessie.