I was born in NEW Glasgow - it didn't help

The trip from Cardiff to Glasgow took close to 6 hours. I didn't find it horribly unpleasant - I've been a train baby all my life. (If you can cope with an overnight to Montréal, the UK should be a breeze.) R found it very tiring - I believe a 3 hour train trip is his limit.

After being disappointed with Cardiff, I had high hopes for Glasgow. While my hopes weren't crushed, they took a beating. I believe our mistake was where we were staying - we were in a hotel on the edge of the Queen's Park neighborhood and it was quite run-down. This, the hotel and especially our first night there soured us on Glasgow. (After I've gotten all the details out of the way, I promise a "What went wrong" post.) So, we "went" to Edinburgh instead. (As we'd prepaid our hotel in Glasgow, we were stuck. So, we traveled to Edinburgh instead.)

Edinburgh is much more to our taste - possibly because my mother's people a few generations back are from there. Plenty to do - Edinburgh needs a week. Of course, we went to Edinburgh Castle and walked the Royal Mile, we visited the old Calton burial ground and found David Humes grave. (OK, confession time: I had and, frankly, continue to have no idea who the heck he was. But R was impressed.)

We also spent an afternoon on Calton Hill. It has a fantastic view of he city but, more importantly, a very eclectic collection of monuments and other structures. The most impressive is on known as "Edinburgh's Folly". In 1822, the city set out to create the National Monument in honor of citizens who'd died in the Napoleonic War. It was to be a full scale replica of the Parthenon. But, they ran out of money when only one side was complete. There's also a story that Glasgow offered to kick in some $$$ but Edinburgh was too proud.

I have to say, if I were a lot younger I'd move to Edinburgh in a heartbeat. For me, it seems like the place to be young, foolish and ready to take on the world. I feel I really connected with the essence of the city. But, as I'm old and tired, I'm staying in Canada.

Next time, back toward London on our way home.