The South Side

Starting this week, I aim to walk to/from work most days. This past warm Sunday I explored routes and got a taste of living on the south side of the city.

Kids playing football in the streets, gorgeous tenements, shops full of colourful silks, organic produce, variety of cafes that tend to be a cheaper yet comparable option to the popular west end in my humble opinion, eclectic attire, blank canvases on the ground floors that turn into little shops during the week, quiet places in the parks even on a sunny Sunday. This describes many parts of Glasgow, except with a touch more of an international feel.

My only prior experience with the south side before moving here was unfortunate. I found myself in a cab close to midnight in a downpour that was dumping a record amount of rain in Glasgow, searching for a guest house that I had never been to before. I had an address but the cab driver was having difficulty. I kicked myself for not having a map. 

The cab driver repeatedly expressed that he didn't think "someone like me" should be staying in this particular area (a neighboring area to where I am now). He thought I had the wrong address. Upon finally finding the place, I popped out into the rain with a sense that the cab driver may just drive off with my luggage because he did not want to hang about the area. I looked for any kind of sign designating the guest house but didn't see anything.

Without knowing the area, I thought it best to get back to the city centre. I used all of my travel karma in finding a bed for the night (as it was the day before the day before the World Pipe Band Championships...easily the busiest time of year in Glasgow). As expected, the guest house owner contacted me to say I was no longer welcome the next night and to pay for the night I missed. He had spotted me in the cab and waved from the window. 

I was headed to Shetland but upon returning to Glasgow at the end of my trip, I decided to walk to the guest house to hand deliver the money owed. That is when I realized that the cab driver had no idea where "someone like me" should be staying. That we look at the world differently. In his eyes, I am somebody else. I have no doubt that in his mind, he was helping me. My only regret was that I was not as prepared as I should have been. I would have enjoyed staying at that guest house.

It is about a 3 mile walk from home to work. I'll let you know if I get lazy....maybe:)