Since Iceland's volcano decided to take a break from canceling flights, my parents' flight was still on! I was so excited for them to arrive so I could show them my Scottish life skills. Their flight was supposed to arrive around eleven, and they told me that they would call me when they got to their hotel room. Since they were staying a few blocks away from my dorm, I would just walk down and meet up with them. Around one they still hadn't given me a call, so I called the hotel and asked if the Hauswalds had arrived. The lady informed me that they had, so I was confused as to why they hadn't called me. I decided to walk down to the hotel and see if they were in their room, so I had the reception call their room for me. After a few rings, a man's voice that wasn't my dad's said, "Yello." I was really confused, so I responded, "Uh, dad? It's Pat, I'm downstairs, can you come meet me down here?" The voice said he would, so I sat in a chair and tried to figure out who I just called. My imagination first developed a scenario in which a Russian hit man was hired to murder my parents, pose as them in the hotel, and then attempt to kill me upon my arrival. Naturally, I would vanquish the assailant with a flurry of James Bond-esque moves, save the day, and get the girl, and then I snapped back to reality. After a few minutes of waiting none other than my dad's brother Steve walks out of the elevator with a huge grin on his face. I was completely baffled as to why I was hugging my uncle in Scotland, but all became clear. While we walked up to my parents' room he told me that he talked about coming with my parents a few months ago
when they planned the trip. After picking my jaw up off the floor, we knocked on my parents' door and were greeted by two zombie-like creatures named Brian and Judy. Evidently the jet lag sapped them of their energy, and they collapsed as soon as they got to the hotel. After we relaxed for a while I took the three of them to a pub called the Counting House. It was one of the first pubs I went to in Glasgow, and it used to be a bank so it's a really cool old building with a huge bar and lots of seating. We got some classic pub food, pints, and headed up to my flat after we finished. I introduced the family to Scott, Adrian, Mikey, and Jing, and we looked up things to do for the rest of the week.
After spending a few hours in the flat, we left to walk around Glasgow Cathedral and through the Necropolis, which is a huge graveyard. After a bit more walking we got a cab to a different pub for supper. I realized that I had to act as a translator for my family when the waitress came up to our table, asked for our drinks, and was met with three blank stares. Slowly the three turned their confused faces to me, and I laughed and told them what she wanted. I guess the accent really is difficult to understand... We spent the night playing cards and relaxing at the hotel.
For the second day, I took the advice of one of my professors and took the gang on a train and ferry ride to the tiny Isle of Cumbrae. I walked down to the hotel, ate breakfast, and then we walked down to
Central Station to catch a train to the small town Largs. They really enjoyed the train ride, which is understandable because it took us along the coast and the train system in Europe is beautifully efficient. Before too long we were in Largs waiting for the ferry to take us the short journey across the water to Cumbrae. The island is only twelve miles around, so it's easy to walk around, and it's truly Scottish.
There is only one tiny town on the entire island, but it still has the basics: pubs and a golf course. We wandered about the island to check out the sights, and we stopped at a pub on the pier to eat. Eventually we headed back to Largs to catch another train back to Glasgow. After we hopped on the next train to Glasgow, a young girl drunkenly stumbled into our train car. Instantly the entire car reeked of alcohol, and she did not look well. We all thought she was going to start crying and asking us for help, but the instant she noticed us her mood changed to belligerent anger. She glared at us and started yelling
some very nasty things before heading through to terrorize the next car. The conductor came to the car to coax her out onto the platform (by law they can't touch her, only police can), but she passed out before he could get her off the train.
Since she couldn't be moved, the train had to be canceled. On the bright side, we got to watch two huge policemen drag her off the train and down the platform as our other train drove away. Oh, Scotland, how I'll miss thee :) For the night we walked down to the Merchant City to find a restaurant, and we ended up eating at a delicious Italian restaurant called the Italian Kitchen. After we ate we had another relaxing night at the hotel.
For day three I decided to give the travelers the Glasgow walking tour. We started off in the morning by walking through the city center to the subway station so we could catch a short ride out to the West End. We walked around to the botanical gardens and by some other sights before reaching the University of Glasgow and its Harry Potter-esque towers. After stopping for a pint at the Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane, we walked back to the hotel to get ready for our night out to the theater! Also at my professor's suggestion, we got tickets to see the Scottish National Theatre's production of Peter Pan, which was originally written by
a Scottish author and set in Edinburgh, not in London like Disney had it. We went to my friends and my favorite Italian restaurant, Piazza Italia, for their pre-theatre menu. Sharing wine, starters, and delicious main courses, we had a great time chatting and soaking up the restaurant's atmosphere. It was fun to watch their reactions to the food. I remember exactly how I reacted to my first time eating at Piazza Italia, and those three reacted the exact same way. It was precious.
After we were finished we grabbed a cab over to King's Theatre, got our seats, and the show started. It was an amazing production, we all really loved it! After it was over we cabbed our way back to the Merchant City and went out for dessert. We had some delicious coffee and desserts at another Italian restaurant, which was a great way to end the night.
when they planned the trip. After picking my jaw up off the floor, we knocked on my parents' door and were greeted by two zombie-like creatures named Brian and Judy. Evidently the jet lag sapped them of their energy, and they collapsed as soon as they got to the hotel. After we relaxed for a while I took the three of them to a pub called the Counting House. It was one of the first pubs I went to in Glasgow, and it used to be a bank so it's a really cool old building with a huge bar and lots of seating. We got some classic pub food, pints, and headed up to my flat after we finished. I introduced the family to Scott, Adrian, Mikey, and Jing, and we looked up things to do for the rest of the week. 
After spending a few hours in the flat, we left to walk around Glasgow Cathedral and through the Necropolis, which is a huge graveyard. After a bit more walking we got a cab to a different pub for supper. I realized that I had to act as a translator for my family when the waitress came up to our table, asked for our drinks, and was met with three blank stares. Slowly the three turned their confused faces to me, and I laughed and told them what she wanted. I guess the accent really is difficult to understand... We spent the night playing cards and relaxing at the hotel.
For the second day, I took the advice of one of my professors and took the gang on a train and ferry ride to the tiny Isle of Cumbrae. I walked down to the hotel, ate breakfast, and then we walked down to 
Central Station to catch a train to the small town Largs. They really enjoyed the train ride, which is understandable because it took us along the coast and the train system in Europe is beautifully efficient. Before too long we were in Largs waiting for the ferry to take us the short journey across the water to Cumbrae. The island is only twelve miles around, so it's easy to walk around, and it's truly Scottish.
There is only one tiny town on the entire island, but it still has the basics: pubs and a golf course. We wandered about the island to check out the sights, and we stopped at a pub on the pier to eat. Eventually we headed back to Largs to catch another train back to Glasgow. After we hopped on the next train to Glasgow, a young girl drunkenly stumbled into our train car. Instantly the entire car reeked of alcohol, and she did not look well. We all thought she was going to start crying and asking us for help, but the instant she noticed us her mood changed to belligerent anger. She glared at us and started yelling 
some very nasty things before heading through to terrorize the next car. The conductor came to the car to coax her out onto the platform (by law they can't touch her, only police can), but she passed out before he could get her off the train. 
Since she couldn't be moved, the train had to be canceled. On the bright side, we got to watch two huge policemen drag her off the train and down the platform as our other train drove away. Oh, Scotland, how I'll miss thee :) For the night we walked down to the Merchant City to find a restaurant, and we ended up eating at a delicious Italian restaurant called the Italian Kitchen. After we ate we had another relaxing night at the hotel.
For day three I decided to give the travelers the Glasgow walking tour. We started off in the morning by walking through the city center to the subway station so we could catch a short ride out to the West End. We walked around to the botanical gardens and by some other sights before reaching the University of Glasgow and its Harry Potter-esque towers. After stopping for a pint at the Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane, we walked back to the hotel to get ready for our night out to the theater! Also at my professor's suggestion, we got tickets to see the Scottish National Theatre's production of Peter Pan, which was originally written by 
a Scottish author and set in Edinburgh, not in London like Disney had it. We went to my friends and my favorite Italian restaurant, Piazza Italia, for their pre-theatre menu. Sharing wine, starters, and delicious main courses, we had a great time chatting and soaking up the restaurant's atmosphere. It was fun to watch their reactions to the food. I remember exactly how I reacted to my first time eating at Piazza Italia, and those three reacted the exact same way. It was precious. 
After we were finished we grabbed a cab over to King's Theatre, got our seats, and the show started. It was an amazing production, we all really loved it! After it was over we cabbed our way back to the Merchant City and went out for dessert. We had some delicious coffee and desserts at another Italian restaurant, which was a great way to end the night.
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