Manchester and new pics

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Originally uploaded by MSGacy.

Just got into Manchester about an hour and a half ago. From what I've seen so far, it looks like a really great city. Saw a lot of really cool architecture. Finally put up some pics, lots more to come.

More time to blog

Found another computer and was able to plan out the next week or so. I've really just been winging it during my time in Glasgow and kinda got screwed with the scheduling of my trip over to Brussels. I've decided to check out Manchester before my flight to Brussels.

Glasgow has been fun--the club nights I've found have been a bit better than they were in Edinburgh (here, 'indie night' doesn't mean 3 year-old emo songs). I'm tempted to stay here another week to see a bunch of cool shows, but don't really have the money to keep spending. Plus, I want to give myself about a week to look for a job in Edinburgh, so I don't really have all that much time left for traveling. We have actually had a couple beautiful days here, though the last two have kinda sucked. The galleries haven't been all that great, though I did see two works at the modern art museum that were really cool.

The whole vibe for my stay here has definitely been different than it was in London or Edinburgh. I've met a couple really cool people here, but far fewer than in the other hostels. The hostel is filled with teens from all over that are here for some conference.

There is no accessible USB port on the computer here either, so the pics are still going to have to wait.

Short Update

I only have 5 minutes left on a shitty computer, so this is going to be rather short. Lots more pics will be up soon. Went to see Battles yesterday (they were great). The show was sold out, but I figured I'd go to the venue and try anyway. I offered to buy some guy's ticket for £25, but he had an extra and wouldn't take more than face value (£10), which was pretty cool of him. I love the Scottish. Having a real shit day today, but otherwise things have been really cool. Flying to Brussels on Sunday, then off to Prague on Tuesday. Not sure where I'm going before then. This will probably be my last day in Glasgow. Times up . . .

Glasgow

Went on a tour of the Highlands today and toured the Edradour distillery, the smallest one in Scotland. They only have 3 employees who actually make the Scotch. Had a 21 year Edradour in some exotic wood finish and a Sprinkbank 1970 (the latter was very good). Just got into Glasgow about 3 hours ago. I was up all night doing laundry last night and had to get up really early for the tour, so think I'm just staying in tonight. I did go have a beer (yes, I have been drinking a lot of that over here) and met some very drunk, but very friendly locals. Not quite as interesting as the two guys I met the first night in Edinburgh (one ended up trying to pick me up after showing me around town for a bit) but an interesting night nevertheless. Time is up, will write more tomorrow.

Pics from last night

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Originally uploaded by msgacy2.

Here are some of the pics from last night. Think I'm going to some architecture and design exhibit today and definitely the literary tour tonight. Just booked a hostel for 2 days in Glasgow.

BTW

The climate here really fucks with my hair (Megan). The damned 'fro don't work so well here.

Random Night

So, the Canadians I was supposed to go on the literary pub crawl with tonight bailed on me, leaving me to play in a pool tournament tonight. Met a couple more cool Canadians who talked me into going on the pub crawl (again). Did that for a few hours and then went out in search of Whistle Winkies, which was supposed to have a cool indie night tonight. I knew the main street it was on, but not where exactly it was on that street. Was walking down S Bridge as it started to rain more and more. Finally gave up and started to head back to the hostel (already soaked by now) when I heard someone call out 'Mattie.' I look over, and it's Jordan, the Canadian I randomly met two nights ago. He's with some Eastern European chick who shields me from the pouring rain with her umbrella. No one knows where the club is. It finally stops raining, I head off in search of the club or my hostel again, and the club ends up being 10 feet from where I've spent the last 20 minutes standing. There is a cool indie band playing and the crowd ranges from drunk suits to standard indie kids. Had a good time and finally make it back to the hostel without being completely soaked (though I am pretty damned wet). Hopefully I will actually make it to the literary tour tomorrow night.

Chillin with Ronald MacDonald

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Originally uploaded by msgacy2.

More Scotch!

Just had another big Scotch night: Oban 32 year, which was rather disappointing, and Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1964 ($2200 a bottle), which was very, very good. Not sure if I would rank it above the Bruichladdich 1970 I had in London, but it's definitely in the top 3. It had notes of what I would call the characteristic Glenlivet flavor, but also something else, entirely unique on top. Missed the literary tour tonight, but made plans with new people to go tomorrow, so we'll see how that pans out. Aside from the Scotch, the day has pretty much been a waste, just did laundry (walked for an hour and a half to a place that ended up just doing dry cleaning, then went back to the hostel.) Getting ready to go back out now. Going to try to check out another indie night that will hopefully be more indie than the shit last night . . .

A Little Disappointment

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Originally uploaded by msgacy2.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Went to a couple modern art museums, ate, and then started off on the hostel's pub crawl again. Didn't seem as cool as the prior night's, so I ended up heading to some bar located just below a hostel where I met up with an Australian, Canadian, and then a brother and sister from NC (I swear, I really am trying to meet people from other nations). We went to a couple of the places that had looked really promising, Cabaret Voltaire and Subway, the former was pretty cool, but packed and I don't think I have ever been subjected to more pungent BO, and the latter was playing emo and had a bunch of little kids jumping around. The actual bar was cool, though. Perhaps other nights there will be more my style. It's pretty overcast today. Have to do laundry, then perhaps go do a whisky tasting, and then I'm meeting up with the group from last night for a literary pub crawl.

Edinburgh

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Originally uploaded by msgacy2.

The view near my hostel.

Finally!

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Originally uploaded by msgacy2.

Ok, I was finally able to post some pics. More coming soon. About to head out for food and then to hit up a museum of two.

First Day in Scotland

Got into Edinburgh about 6:00 today. Within an hour, I had a couple locals showing me where to buy a decent bottle of scotch and taking me out to a couple pubs. People seem very friendly here. I had booked a room until Wednesday, but after walking around, I'm going to stay until Monday. I mean hell, they have a literary pub crawl, how can I resist the combination of my two favorite things? I found this awesome whisky bar with probably close to 50+ different bottles and a bartender who is staying at my hostel. Have yet to meet anyone staying here at the hostel, but the place itself seems pretty cool. Pubs actually stay open late here, unlike London, and it kinda looks like there is a decent music scene. Haven't really decided if I'm going out tonight. Still working on uploading those pics. By the way, I noticed that a lot of pubs around here are hiring . . .

Computer Problems

The few working computers at this hostel suck, so I haven't ben able to access blogger or myspace for the past few days. Went to the Tate Modern (on Wednesday?), which was awesome. Spent about 20 minutes looking at my favorite sculpture, Boccioni's "Unique Forms of Continuity in Space" (forgive the probably botching of the spelling and possibly the title) and saw some awesome Braques and Picassos. They also had a recreation of Duchamp's "Bride Stripped Bare by her Bachelors, Even" (and recreations of the Fountain and a couple others) and a "book" Duchamp did with miniature versions of several of his works including Nude Descending a Staircase. Saw a couple cool Francis Bacons too. That was definitely my favorite museum experience so far, though i did really like the Surrealism Things exhibit at the V & A (went to that on Tuesday). After that, went to Albernach, this really cool Scottish restaurant, and had a glass of 35 year-old Tamnavulin, and a 1970 Bruichladich, the later being my new favorite scotch. Of course, I don't think I'll being having either again anytime soon.

Thursday night we tried to get into some club, but were turned away because of our "trainers" so we ended up just going to Cheers next door (definitely not my favorite experience of the trip so far). Yesterday i went to Portabello market (lots of vintage clothing) and then Oxford street and then Oxford Street with Eugene (Eugen), until my knee started to really hurt, forcing me to head back to the hostel. Later, had some dinner at a Pub with Curtis (from Pittsburgh) and then we, Eugene, and this woman from Jersey went to Soho. That is definitely my area of town. Went to some cool (but very crowded) Spanish bar, where there was some "blind" guy who was one of the items on a pub crawl scavenger hunt. Think I might have to try something like that next time I get the opportunity. Later, we went to the Roxy, an "Indie Pop" dance club. They played some good music, and I did dance, but it was still a dance club. I'm really hoping that pubs stay open later in Scotland, which I think is going to be my next stop. I need to try to book a hostel after I finish this post (we'll see how well that goes for my procrastinating ass). Later, I will try to go to an internet cafe with decent computers so I can finally upload my pics.

It's Cold Here

It's 4:00 and I just got back to the hostel. For a major city, bars (excuse me, pubs) sure do close early here. Went out with a bunch of Italian kids tonight looking for a pub that was open past 12:00--that didn't work. We were only able to find a couple dance clubs and ended up just wandering around the city for a few hours. Still trying to get to a computer that will let me post pictures. Have to wake up early in the morning so I'm going to crash.

I'm Here

Thanks to everyone who came out Friday night, I had a lot of fun. Of course, I was paying for that on the flight to New York--the turbulence didn't mix with my hangover all that well. I'm still pretty jet-lagged and just trying to get adjusted. Spent most of yesterday just exploring the area around the hostel. Think I'm going to take a nap and venture around the city some more.

Prankster's with Erika

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Originally uploaded by MSGacy.

Here's another test post, let's see if this works out any better . . .