It’s our 20 year anniversary this year. I asked David if we should do something. Big, small, near, far, with or without kids, it all seemed well worth discussing. We’ve talked about so many places over the years—Hawaii, Costa Rica, Pacific northwest (only David has visited), British Columbia, Maine, Prague, the list goes on.
When we met our first Glaswegians at a party, David and Lynne, we fell in love immediately. We got their contact information and stressed over when was too soon to follow up and call them (turns out they were doing the same). Over the next 15 years and in no particular order, they fed us fantastic curry, attended our wedding in Chicago, we met their parents, they met ours, we watched them become parents themselves, all while learning some traditions as they regaled us for years about their homeland. After moving to The Woodlands we met yet another couple from Scotland and immediately fell in love again. Actually, they nearly had no choice because our boys decided they were going to be friends with or without us. For the last five years the stories have continued, and so has the curry.
I’m not sure who brought up Scotland—me or David—but it had always been and still is the type of “hope to go with friends one day” adventure. We figured if the kids were going to be involved, this would be a great introduction to Europe—long flight and sticking to the UK where accents and terminology are seemingly the only bits of challenge. Sadly, the going with friends part didn’t pan out but we were armed with a wealth of insider knowledge.
In Glasgow we ditched the hotel scene for a more immersive experience, committed to staying in a tiny flat near the University of Glasgow for four days. Good for multiple toilets, a kitchen for breakfast, a table for take-away, a couch for lounging and most importantly, a washing machine. Just off a taxi from the train, we met the flat manager who gave us a quick rundown, the keys, and suggested a few food spots. We dropped our bags, regrouped and headed down to Kelvingrove for a walk through the park before dinner. Next, we stopped at a coffee shop for a quick shot and popped into Tesco Express for breakfast items, water and beer supplies.
We had plans to grab dinner at a local Indian restaurant (have we mentioned curry?) but during our walk we noticed a ton of food couriers and decided take-away would be a better option so the kids could lounge. That’s it. Curry and a park on an absolutely picturesque day. We could have had that on repeat for days and been fulfilled.
