Glasgow Smile

You either love or hate Glasgow - and there are certainly more haters than lovers, fuck knows why. Tourists might feel a bit intimidated by this rough yet real version of The Great Scottish Experience they seek during hopefully perfect holidays. There are many junkies, yes. Some areas are to be avoided, of course. Post-pub food looks grotesque, from fried pizza to fried black pudding... and a lot of other deep fried things. But hey, why would you want a city like Glasgow to be perfect? If you want prim and proper, go back to wherever you come from. Glasgow is much bigger than I expected but the subway (the third-oldest underground metro system in the world!) is simple and efficient. I love the fact that this is not the most tourist-infested place in Scotland so you can actually interact with locals; the slogan "People Make Glasgow." lives up to the reputation - Glaswegians are friendly, helpful, down-to-earth and great fun. I loved Glasgow so much that I really want to come back when the weather's more... welcoming. Atmospheric nightlife in Ashton Lane, thrift shops in the West End, cheeky squirrels in Kelvingrove Park, the coolest street art, unforgettable dining at the Hanoi Bike Shop (if you like Vietnamese food, dinner at this little restaurant would be a life-changing, tastebud-teaser experience), nocturnal fox spotting after one too many wee drams, a distinctive underground vibe present in the youth culture, me and Dani getting lost on our way to the creepy Necropolis in the twilight (beautiful, eerie Victorian cemetery with a view over the city - but please don't go there at dusk, in the rain, like we did)... I could mention many other things that could convince you on how cool this industrial, cosmopolitan city is, but you should go there and see it/feel it for yourself. Glasgow, like Dublin, is all about what people make of it.