Street musicians working the crowd in Glasgow.
Scottish Rail: Oban to Glasgow
Day and Date: Sat, 9/25/04
Depart: Oban Station, 8:18AM
Arrive: Glasgow Queen Station, 11:21AM
Coach C, Seat 16, Window, Non-smoking
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Hotel: Holiday Inn
Express by Holiday Inn Riverside
STOCKWELL STREET, GLASGLOW GB G14LT
Phone # 011 44 1415 485 000
Check in: 9/25/2004
Check out: 9/26/2004
Room: Nonsmoking King Room
Adults: 1
Children: 0
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Flight: GLASGOW GLA to CHICAGO OHARE
Day and Date: Sun, 9/26/04
Flight: AA 53
Depart: GLASGOW GLA, 10:50AM
Arrive: CHICAGO OHARE, 12:45PM
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Flight: CHICAGO OHARE to SAN JOSE CAL.
Day and Date: Sun, 9/26/04
Flight: AA 2497
Depart: CHICAGO OHARE, 7:35PM
Arrive: SAN JOSE CAL., 5:55PM
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Book for the plane:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Number of photos shot: 124
iPod Song for the day: Feeling Good,
Nina Simone
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Oban to Glasgow to Home
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Up impossibly early to return the car, after all the troubles getting it, just abandoning it on an empty side street outside the rental agent in the dark, to take the train back to Glasgow. And I discovered why it'd been so difficult to get tickets for; the entire train was about the capacity of a single car on the commuter train that runs between San Jose and San Francisco, through the main artery of Silicon Valley where no one takes mass transit. I was hoping for a Harry Potter, Hogwart's Express old-fashioned train and got a commuter bus with slightly more posh seats. The center aisle not even big enough for the beverage trolley.
It went through beautiful countryside, but the bus had been more scenic. And the train was filled with families with small children in green headed for the big football match in the city. I was exhausted, I slept. I arrived. I dragged my luggage across town to the hotel, checked in, had lunch, and was wandering the streets torn between a nap and taking the train to Edinburgh when I heard a big glorious noise. It was a loose collection of two drummers and 3 pipers playing a mix of traditional and show tunes. Jesus Christ Superstar arranged for bag pipes and drums. I took many pictures and gave them two handfuls of coins because you can't exchange coins and it was my last day.
They gave me the energy to catch the train to Edinburgh. I had no map with me, but I followed the tour buses to the castle. The best parts of the castle banned photos, but were highly amusing watching Chinese tourists trying to pretend they didn't understand the no camera signs being chased by Scottish curators.
An cheerful cab ride to the airport, the driver a lifetime Glasgow resident named Bobbie. An easy flight, a half filled plane, a breeze through customs because I'd bought nothing but a history of Scotland and a couple postcards, and a happy husband waiting on the far end.
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