5 Days in Scotland

I was lucky enough to live in Glasgow, a dynamic and creative hub, for two years. In this article I will focus on the five days my parents came to visit. Glasgow was our base camp during this trip. Since they arrived in the afternoon, we spent the first day in Glasgow. They stayed at the Easyjet hotel in the city center, Hill Street to be precise, a very convenient location considering I used to live on the same street at the time and it's just a 10 minute walk from Buchanan Bus Station. Easyjet is one of the cheapest options, their rooms vary in prices, based on their features, e.g. some don't have windows and are pretty small, but if you plan on being out all day, it doesn't really matter. Breakfast, access to the TV and WiFi in your room are not included, if you want to take advantage of these extras you have to pay a fee.

GLASGOW

After a quick stop at the hotel, we went for a walk on the riverside, towards Glasgow Green, the oldest park in the city. Unfortunately we got caught in the rain, aka got drenched, which is something you want to be prepared for when visiting Scotland. I wanted to give my parents a general feel of the city, which is why I opted for a long walk despite the poor weather. On our way back to the city centre, we quickly visited the Gallery of Modern Art, as the closing time was approaching (5 PM every day, except Thursdays: 8 PM). This art gallery is free to enter, and you'll be able to enjoy both temporary and permanent exhibitions. You can also visit the library downstairs, equipped with a little café. Nearby there is also an excellent spot for food and hot drinks: Sprigg. They specialize in excellent breakfast and lunch bowls, mostly takeaway as the place is really small. They also sell pastries and coffees. Everything is simply delicious. Unfortunately by the time we reached the city center it was already closed.

Therefore for dinner I decided to take them to another one of my favorite spots: Tchai-Ovna, a unique tea room with bohemian vibes and a cozy and friendly atmosphere. The interior design is worth a visit in itself, however once you've tried their special teas and delicious food, it'll be impossible to leave. My personal favorites from their menu are: baba ganoush (served with pita bread and a side salad—they also have amazing dressings), strudel tea which tastes exactly like the famous pastry, and last but not least, their vegan carrot cake, which is without doubt the best carrot cake—vegan and non—I've ever tasted.

The following day we had breakfast at Single End in Garnethill, which I highly recommend as the service is great, the place is very spacious and the food is delicious. We then visited the Kelvringove Museum which comprises of 22 galleries. One of the most famous pieces is the Chirst of Sain John of the Cross by Dalì. We then moved onto the University of Glasgow, which felt like stepping on a Harry Potter film set, the architecture of the uni is simply beautiful. From there we headed to Ashton Lane, which you'll probably be able to recognize from many Instagram photographs, as it seems to be really popular thanks to its strings of fairy lights connecting the different restaurants, bars and even a movie theater. Since we were already in Glasgow's West End, we went to the Botanical Gardens, where you can spend as much time as you like learning about not-so-common plants and admiring their uniqueness. Some of their names are pretty funny and will keep you entertained. We went back to the city center for dinner to a place called Kcal Kitchen, they also have one in Edinburgh with a bar as well. I had a mouthwatering vegan carbonara, it truly was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had.

We started off the next day with an American-style breakfast at The Bucket List, a café right next to the Easyjet hotel. There are plenty of books and manuals available for you to read, while you eat your meal. From there we took the metro to the Riverside Museum, which is dedicated to transport and displays a collection of vehicles. They even recreated a street as it would have been in the late 19th century, you can walk through it and enter the shops. This museum is free, so if you go on a weekend expect to see a lot of children running around like crazy. We then headed to the Science Centre, where there is an admission fee. It is worth it though, there are plenty of attractions, from optical illusions to interactive games explaining the functionality of the human body. There are also extra shows you can attend, such as the planetarium. After a few hours spent at these couple of museums, both informative and entertaining, we headed back to the city centre to have dinner at CCA (Centre for Contemporary Arts), the restaurant/bar is actually called Saramago Cafè.

Our last full day in Glasgow started off with a freshly baked doughnuts from Tantrum Doughnuts, they offer so many different, unique flavors. My favorites are raspberry jam-cheesecake and double blueberry-white chocolate, which has more of a cakey consistency. They have two stores in Glasgow, in the West End and in the city centre, which is the one we went to. We decided to visit the Lighthouse since it's situated nearby. The Lighthouse is a centre for design and architecture free to enter. You get a beautiful view of the city from the terrace at the top. From there we headed to the East End to see the Necropolis, a Victoria cemetery. If you manage to go there to catch the sunset, be ready to take amazing photographs on the summit of the hill. We then visited St. Mungo's Cathedral, which is the oldest building in Glasgow and, speaking of, the oldest house in Glasgow, Provand's Lordship, built in 1471. Then I made my parents walk to the other side of town, because there was no way I'd let them leave without having an afternoon tea in the Hidden Lane Tearoom. The Hidden Lane itself deserves a visit, it hosts 100 studios of designers, creatives and artists. The place is visually striking, as the buildings are all different, bright colors. As far as the tearoom, the place is fairly big but it often gets crowded quickly as it is a popular spot among locals and tourists alike. Definitely try their chai lattes.

A couple of honorable mentions, we also had dinner at The Flying Duck, a vegan pub in the city centre and Stack & Still, a pancake restaurant which is quickly expanding and has now three branches in the city.

EDINBURGH

The following day we took the bus to Edinburgh, which takes about an hour and 20 minutes. Papii was our breakfast spot. If it's warm enough to be outside, take advantage of the cute bench they have at the front. Their menu offers a variety of sweet and savoury options, such as the strawberry waffles my mom ordered and the eggs benedict I had. They also have a selection of freshly baked pastries, such as the cinnamon roll my dad had.

After this energizing and scrumptious meal, we headed uphill, towards the castle. Be prepared to wait a little, as the queue is inevitably going to be long. The most memorable parts for me were the great hall, the prisons of war and the Scottish National War Memorial. There are many more rooms you can explore, such as the Crown Room. Keep in mind that from the top of the castle you will also get an amazing views of the city and its surroundings, which you can already get an idea of even prior entering the castle.

The FRINGE festival was also happening during the days my parents and I visited, which is a very exciting time for Edinburgh, but it also means the city is really crowded and it takes ages and a lot of zig-zagging to move around. Unfortunately I didn't attend any of the shows, mainly because my parents' English is very limited, therefore they wouldn't have been able to enjoy the performance. We did see a talented acrobat doing a show in the street, next to the National Museum of Scotland, which showcases a variety of pieces, from finds of the age of dinosaurs and galleries dedicated to the natural world to those specific for technology and fashion. We then visited the Scottish National Gallery, which displays many masterpieces by artists such as Botticelli, Van Gogh and Gauguin, just to mention a few.

ST. ANDREWS

The following day we took a bus from Glasgow to St. Andrews. The small, coastal town immediately made a positive impression on us. We went to a cute café for breakfast, called 'The Cottage Kitchen.' We weren't brave enough to sit outside, and throughout the day the weather became progressively worse. I highly recommend this café for a slice of homemade cake and a warm cup of coffee. We then went to visit the ruins of the Cathedral and of the Castle. You can save a little bit by buying a combined ticket. The view of the ruins with the ocean in the background is breathtaking. You also get access to the top of St. Rule's Tower which puts everything into perspective. We then went to the beach because my dad wanted to recreate the opening scene of Chariots of Fire, which was filmed there. I also highly recommend checking out the university buildings as they are very picturesque. As I said the only downside was the awful weather. Despite the cold, we were brave enough to try 'Jannettas Gelateria;' if you go there, definitely order Scottish tablet, as it's a very traditional and delicious flavor.

STIRLING

The following day we took the train to Stirling. I had been there once before and I found it to be a dreamy, fairytale-like town, especially the bridge on the river. We went to a place close to the station for breakfast, called 'Toast.' If you're not vegan, order the salmon and cream cheese bagel, it was one of the tastiest bagels and savoury brekkies that I've ever had. We then walked up to the Castle which, in my opinion, was better-kept and more beautiful than the one in Edinburgh. The highlights were the Great Hall, the Royal Chapel (a reenactment of the kitchen the way it used to be), and the Regimental Museum. From there we walked to the Smith Art Gallery, where historical artefacts and paintings, as well as contemporary pieces, are exhibited. The art gallery also offers a café and many community groups use it as a space to meet up.