I always enjoy my visits to Glasgow; but it is a city of contrasts – sometimes not always seen on a quick visit. The signs (literally) are there if you know what to look for: ‘No football colours’ is a common one, even in city centre bars; this is about football, but also an indication of deeper divisions…
Much of the city centre is built with sandstone – which gives it a very distinct feel, the architecture too is quite unique – even new buildings.
Central Glasgow is laid out in a grid pattern – unusual for the UK – and some of the streets resemble areas of North American cities; Glasgow has just ‘doubled’ for San Francisco in forthcoming movie with Brad Pitt.
Interlaced with the streets are alleyways – usually called lanes – not always the most charming of places but atmospheric…
Allegiances are most visible in the east of the city. This is by the Barra Market, green on display, and along with local colours: flags of other nations.
Glasgow has the lowest life expectancy in the UK – see here – but even these numbers disguise the truth, because they are averages… Parts of this city have considerably worse figures and a casual walk around shows you why; heading east from the city centre you will see several bars (they don’t qualify as ‘pubs’ in my mind) with pissed people smoking outside (since the 2006 smoking ban) at 10.30 AM…
It is hoped that the 2014 Commonwealth Games will improve the east end of Glasgow – lets hope it does.