Exploration Glasgow

It’s another fine week to be host and hostessing some friends from California. Unfortunately, the weather is cooperating no better than it did in February when Van was here, but if one waited for the weather to clear to go anywhere in Scotland, one would simply never go.

We set off for the airport to meet our guests, little knowing that the Beloved Pride of Half of Glasgow would be at the airport. Though we arrived precisely when N&K’s plane set down, we all waited — in our respective places — for a full hour and a half for them to deplane. Why? The Rangers, of course. THE football (soccer, for those playing along in the States) team of the city, coming from playing… somewhere or going to play… somewhere else. Or something. (You see how closely we follow the game here.) Throngs of quiet, well-behaved fans nonetheless pressed close to the barriers, making cheeky comments, staring worshipfully, and in return getting the well posed photograph, waves, smiles, and the occasional autograph.

For an HOUR and a HALF.

N&K were well ready to explore the city when they arrived. Though a little sleep-fuzzed from coming straight from work onto the airplane (and then not sleeping during the flight), they were nonetheless game to walk around. We found their hotel, walked around and found a likely looking Moroccan restaurant we wanted to come back to for dinner, and then walked to our flat so we could sit down and catch up.

N&K are old friends. T. met N. when she was a college freshman and he was a senior who had just returned from a year abroad to Japan where he had met K., who would later come to the States to attend school – and meet N. again. N&K were our hosts in 2000 when we visited Holland where they were living, and as soon as they heard we were going to Scotland actually looked at their calendars and said, “So, how’s April for a visit?” Some of the best travelers we know, N&K have been practically everywhere… except for Scotland! We’re delighted to be able to share this opportunity with them.

One of the best things about N&K is that they are adventurous eaters. We went back to Mzouda, the Moroccan restaurant we’d discovered, and had an amazing meal. Everyone tasted each other’s dishes, and N. and T. determined that they had the best dessert of everyone — Moroccan spiced oranges. Liberally dusted with cinnamon and sugar and doused with orange blossom water, it was like eating flowers with just a hint of citrus. It was the perfect end to a perfect meal, and it even failed to sleet on the way back to the flat…!

– D & T

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