Well, I made it, mom. No worries, as they say over here (for just about everything, actually- thanks, your welcome, here's your espresso). I'm staying in a hotel close to the West side, by Glasgow Univ. There's a great park,
Kelvensgrove, about a 5 minute walk away. You can see the university campus in the background:
You can also see that it's sunny. I think somebody told me it rains over here...
I found all of this shortly after arriving because I couldn't check in right away. So off I went exploring, which Glasgow is great for- walking around- they make it really easy with a lot of pedestrian-only
streets and a compact downtown area.
After checking in, I took a nap and
then....
Headed to
Wilco at
Barrowland across town. Once again, an awesome show. Jeff was...not unhappy. Very strange to see his angst morph into...less angst. He even talked to the crowd. He was happy to be among what he called "his people"- he said "I've been waiting to come back, I missed you guys in Glasgow. You're my people. You're all grumpy, right?" Ah, that sums it up nicely. Though I love Jeff and relate so much to his grumpiness, the real star of the night was Nels Cline:
What a rock star. He is incredible with a guitar.
They played all my favorite songs- Via Chicago, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Red eyed, "When you're back in your old neighborhood...." and the following:
"I have no idea how this happened
All of my m
ouths have been overthrown.
Happenstance has changed my plans
so many times, my heart has been outgrown."
It got quiet at one point and some guy in the crowd yells "We love
Wilco!" and Jeff looks at him and says "well, I'd presume that why you're here...".
heh,
heh.
After the show I
somehow got into a conversation with a group of guys about the Kings of
Convenience and they found out I was from Alaska. One of them was aghast (as only a
scot can be) that I wasn't on
Facebook. "you're from Alaska! If there's anywhere you need social networking, I'd think
that'd be the place!" There were a lot of other words thrown in there but I didn't
really understand them.
Thanks,
Wilco.
So today I went off exploring for Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis. I stopped to have some fish and chips and a pint. No, that's not
Guacamole.
It's "mushy peas". Taste and texture just like you'd imagine.
So the signage is funny over here.
Somehow, this translates to "No littering". Now, I didn't think really hard about it but if somebody could help me out with this one...
And lastly, the Necropolis. So behind the Cathedral, there's this big hill that was used as a cemetery for the Merchant class in the 1800s. It's awesome. There are
mausoleums and huge headstones and it towers over the city. It's amazing to see the headstones at the top of the hill with
high rises and smokestacks in the background.
Tomorrow- art day and Josh
Ritter. Gotta go, it's costing me 2 pounds per 1/2 hour.
Cheers!
