Two oops in one day..

So, figured out how to get a bus ticket today, but then had to print it out...  Luckily Rakesh was in the lab (see previous posts) and got it printed out for me, but not in time for the last bus!  Bahh..  Sooo.. I ended up walking around Glasgow, but of course forgot my camera and iPod, so no video evidence.  I guess I'll just need 1000s of words to paint you a picture of what I experienced today.

First off, there are TONS of pizza places in Glasgow.  It's amazing how many restaurants are bar/grille/pizzeria...  Also, apparently nobody eats at 4pm.  I'm VERY surprised at that (drips sarcasm).  I also can't seem to find things that I start off to find.  After figuring out that I took a wrong turn on my way to the "Butterfly and Pig", I ended up ducking in at an Italian place, "O'Sole Mio" eating probably the most delicious bruschetta I've ever had.  This was followed with an equally delicious mushroom cream sauce bowtie pasta.  I also got a cafe latte to cap it off for only 14£.  I am still quite full!

Before my 4:30pm dinner, however, I ran across two separate bagpipe players.  One had a rhythm section to back him up in a rather marching band style bagpiping adventure.  The other was merely playing by himself on a side street.  Also ran into a marionette and his puppeteer and a human "statue" that was incredibly still and realistic.

One thing to also note is that there are two MAJOR shopping streets that I've somehow meandered onto. The first, I have bought groceries and looked in windows, is Sauchiehall St.  It is very easy to get to from campus.  Looking back at my maps in the Fodor's guide, it looks like it was Buchanan St., which appears to border the Merchant City and City Center?  Tons of places to shop, including familiar places like Nike, Urban Outfitters, Timberland, etc, as well as the unfamiliar (at least to me) places like American Apparel, USC, and other places I don't remember.  Apparently, the largest collection of jewelry stores* in the UK is also off Buchanan street in the Argyle Arcade.  *Sorry friends, I did not go inside.  I also poked my head in a spirits store ("Good Spirits") and found >50 malts available, including many I remember Dr. Alan Christian discussing with me.  I didn't buy any, but it was very interesting to speak with the owner about his collection.

Well, I think I'll go back out and see what else is going on in this city.  Tomorrow, I will be sure to remember my camera and take lots of photos for you to view!