Beating Like A Drum

While searching last minute plans, I thought about going to Loch Lomond. I did not do enough research on this and took it out of contention as an option, thinking it was too far away.

After meeting my cousins it was decided we were going to Loch Lomond!
Again, I thought this was too far and was very appreciative of the offer. I thought it was a Calgary to Jasper kind of a drive, which is a bit much to do there and back in a day. Turns out, it's more Calgary to Turner Valley kind of a drive. Not bad at all.

What an amazing place.

I had no expectations for this place. I really only knew it from song - and I really only knew the song because of John Barrowman's verison of Loch Lomond (warning - glitteriest kilt EVER), which is how I learned that River of My Heart used the same tune and it blew my ever loving mind.

I'm glad I went into it knowing nothing. It is a beautiful spot and I am eternally grateful we went.

After learning what a hairy coo (pronounced "hoory coo") was, I made it a goal to see them. The original plan was to go to a tourist farm inside Glasgow on my birthday, but I slept in. Whoops.
When we got into the Loch Lomand area, coos abounded!

This Alberta girl was surprised that many of them were pregnant in the fall.

There is a hilarious video that should be here of me walking amongst the coos but alas, when my computer died so too did the videos.

We almost got taken out by a lorry on the narrow roads but Danielle managed to avoid it. Good thing, as I didn't have travel insurance!

We stopped for lunch and had fish and chips. No mushy peas. We had tea with it too, which was a bit odd for me (as tea isn't something you normally have with fish and chips here). Very good!

Later this evening, I meet with another batch of cousins. I don't think any of us thought to get pictures. Again, the resemblance was uncanny! Michael and Elizabeth have both been to Canada - Elizabeth was born here. His children have not though there is a standing invitation.
Meeting family like this is out of this world. Listening to them, hearing their stories, making the connections, all of it was probably the best birthday present I never expected.

Next: leaving.

Lioness Among Lions

And we're back!
As I was updating, my computer decided to up and die. I'm very lazy and it took me this long to recover the photos from my memory card. Here we are.

Actual birthday in Glasgow!!

While wandering around the night before, I'd found a Tim Horton's. I was vaguely aware one existed here - and it makes sense, given how many Canadians come here for school - but I also vaguely recall being told it is closed. Turns out, it was open! And the Scot working behind the counter was friendly and helpful enough to be a Canadian. She gave me excellent directions and was very kind about my confusion.

Glasgow is home to a building designed by Zaha Hadid. I have long admired her work and sought it out. I had a near hit in Hong Kong and I wasn't going to let it slip away. What a perfect adventure on my actual birthday!

Following the directions from Google Maps, I took the train in to the central station. After that, Google Maps abandoned me. This ended up being my good fortune, however, as a wrong turn lead me to another Tims! So my birthday breakfast was a double double and a donut as one does.

This is a Rudolph donut, obviously. A Boston Cream with a red timbit nose. It was gooey and delicious and perfect.

I asked for directions to the necessary next step from a very nice police officer. She called her cohort over just so they could hear my accent (and hear me apologise about 20 times for taking up their important time with my silly directions question).

Glasgow has a unique subway system. It has two lines; one that runs clockwise and one that runs anti-clockwise. It is also orange. This has lead to the nickname "Clockwork Orange". It is very easy to navigate! The trains themselves are very small; narrow and low. I am not a tall human and I almost felt like I had to duck.

I took the subway to the Riverside Museum.

This museum was designed by Zaha Hadid. I finally did it!
The building itself is remarkable. It is roughly Z shaped and clad in zinc. It connects the city to the rivers Clyde and Kelvin. There are no internal supports, and the shape of the interior ceiling is the same as the exterior roof. It is very spacious on the inside! The set up flows very well. It honestly took my breath away when I first set my eyes on it. Zaha Hadid was an amazing architect.

The museum is dedicated to all things transportation. There is a piece of the plane from Lockerbie there, and a running track of ships that historically traversed the Rivers Clyde and Kelvin. There is even a turn of the century Glasgow cityscape to scale. I wish I hadn't slept in so I could have spent more time here. I also wish I took pictures inside.

After my time here, I met my cousins!
Karen, Danielle, Kieran, and Jayden are on the Hood side - mom's mom.
Let me tell you, there is no mistaking Hoods! The resemblance was instant and uncanny.

We went to dinner at a mall. Inside the mall was a giant slide for the kiddos (and for adults too if we were so inclined). There was also a climbing park! This wasn't like a West Edmonton Mall kind of place, it just happened to have these things.

It also had a ski hill.
Inside the mall.
With a chairlift and everything.

Seriously. A ski hill. And an instant resemblance. It wasn't all that cold and it smelled like ozone.

Dinner was excellent. It was great to meet people I'm related to! Karen, Danielle, Kieran and Jayden are awesome. I tried Irn Bru. It tasted.....well, it tasted. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't seek it out.

We made a rough plan to go to Loch Lomond the next day.