A break in Edinburgh, one of my favorite place in Scotland

Living in Glasgow since September, I have had the luck to go at different times in Edinburgh. Classified in the UNESCO world heritage, Edinburgh is an inescapable city in Europe. I encourage you to come a weekend here. To facilitate you the life, I have concocted a program for a weekend of three days.

Day 1:

Calton Hill

To begin pop over to Calton Hill, like this you will have an idea of the city centre and that will help you to find your way. Leave in the direction of Princes Street and go to the cemetery on the left, Calton cemetery, in Scotland cemeteries are worth the detour. Once arrived in Princes Street go to the Scott Monument, maybe you will see a bagpiper, take a tourist picture. Then cross Princes Street Garden which leads at the foot of the castle (visit it or not) and find a place where you can eat. After a great lunch, leave in the direction of the National museum. Don’t forget the terrace! Finish the day by walking around in Old Town. For evening take a glass (or several J) in a traditional pub.

Day 2:

Cramond

For the second day, I propose a hike day. According to your preferences either Pentlands (all day) or Cramond (half-day) or Water of Leith (two hours). If the weather is good, go to do some visits: for example, Craigmilar Castle or stores. For evening, begin with an Irish Pub which proposes every evening “live music” concerts, then go to discover the night life of Edinburgh. I advise to you to go at the Cabaret Voltaire.

Day 3:

Arthur's Seat

Smoothly awakening, find a pub which proposes a “Scottish” breakfast, it is rather English but is worth the detour. If you don’t know where go, test Wheterspoon, a cheap and pretty good chain of pubs in the United Kingdom. Then, in order to eliminate the breakfast and the excesses of the night before, I suggest you to climb Arthur’s Seat (one hour). Think to take a look at the palace of the Queen and the Scottish parliament. Finish with a last tour of the city centre and especially Princes Street shops. Clean out Topman, Urban Outfitters, River Island or All Saints.

Princes Street

Isle of Arran, an Erasmus trip in a little heaven

Hey guys,

Today I am going to speak about one of my last trips. Two weeks ago I went with some friends at the Isle of Arran, located a few kilometres away from Glasgow, in order to discover this island.

For peoples who don’t know this little isle, Arran is located in the gulf of the Clyde, in the region of Glasgow. This one is often nicknamed little Scotland. Indeed, on this “little” rock you can discover a hallucinating wealth of landscapes. It’s a mass of the different landscapes that we can find through Scotland.

On this isle, the main activity remains the hike because the island has several paths allowing to discover different landscapes. However, the main tourist attraction remains the Goat Fell. The Goat Fell is a mountain looming at 874m, whom numerous individuals enjoy every year to climb. During my trip, I have had the luck to climb this mountain and I can tell you that up there the panorama is breathtakingly. Several hours of climb are necessary before to arrive at the summit.

If you are a little bit lucky, some seals approach the coasts from time of time. ;)

How go to the Isle of Arran?

To go there, the simplest way is to take a train from Glasgow Cental to Ardrossan. Over there, take the ferry of the company Caledonian Isle towards Brodick. Arrive in Brodick, you just need to go to the tourist office in order to have some tips and after to discover the island with paths.

A small advice: if you wish to save money, take a return trip ticket Glasgow Central – Brodick, this one will be valid for the train and the ferry. This advice will allow you to save at least 5£. J

I put some pictures below so as to make you want to go on this awesome isle.

Enjoy the pictures!! J

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Glasgow: My city of adoption

Hey guys!

After a period without any articles, I finally post my first “guide”. For this first one, I decided to present the city where I live now since September: Glasgow. It is with pleasure that I am going to make you discover inescapable places of my city of adoption.

First city in Scotland, Glasgow is a multifaceted city. Advocating its young and trendy side, Glasgow attracts all the Scottish youth wishing to have fun. I am going to present the main attractions in the city, my favorite district as well as my favorite bars, clubs or restaurants.

Its main attractions

In spite of Glasgow is the main city in Scotland, this one is not renowned for its tourism and the diversity of its monuments. Indeed, Glasgow is an old industrial city, whose the vestiges haven’t disappeared. The city doesn’t enjoy a beauty and an attractiveness as its neighbour: Edinburgh. However, Glasgow owns some gems which are worth it during a trip in Scotland.

Buchanan Street

The main trading artery of the city, this one is considered as the second biggest of the United Kingdom after Oxford Street. You can find all the international brands as H&M, Topshop, Forever 21, Diesel or GAP.

Its advantage: The architecture of its buildings

Princes Square

Kelvingrove Museum and Park

One of the main museums in Glasgow and in Scotland. This one is in an awesome Victorian building. Kelvingrove Museum welcomes a big diversity of exhibitions. Moreover, this one is located in the full heart of an amazing park: Kelvingrove Park.

Its advantage: the entrance is free.

Exhibition in Kelvingrove Museum

Glasgow University

Real trip in time, this college is not without reminding us the adventures of the young wizard Harry Potter. Indeed, visit this university it is like a dive into the books of J.K.Rowling.

Its advantage: Its fantastic universe.

Necropolis

Something to see for its history, “extravagance” and its view.

Its advantage: Its amazing view over the city of Glasgow.

My favorite district

Undoubtedly: The West End. District of predilection of students and hipsters, West End is the area where it’s necessary to find its flat or to live during a stay. From my arrival in Glasgow, I very fast discovered this district and I totally fell in love. West End is filled with little trendy coffee shops, restaurants and second-hand clothes shops. We also find Kelvingrove museum, Kelvingrove park and the University of Glasgow.

My favorite addresses in West End:

·         Restaurants:

o   Black Sheep Bistro: 10 Clarendon Street   
o Fanny Trollope’s: 1066 Argyle Street

·         Coffee Shops:

o   Artisan Roast: 15 -17 Gibson Street
o   Papercup: 603 Great Western Road

o   Kember and Jones: 134 Byres Road

·         Second-hand clothes shops:

o   Vintage Guru: 195 Byres Road

o   The Glasgow Vintage Co: 453 Great Western Rd

Favorite Clubs

Being a big amateur of techno, I mainly frequent this kind of clubs. However, Glasgow owns several clubs with different atmosphere, decor and music style. We can find reggae, rock, electro, English pop or “standard” clubs.

I am only going to speak about my favorite addresses for listen techno.

SUB CLUB

Let’s start with Sub Club, real institution in Glasgow. Elected two consecutive years’ best techno club in United Kingdom, this club enjoys an international reputation.

Its advantages: Its line-up and the quality of its sound system.

FLAT 0/1

Flat 0/1 is an atypical but inescapable club of Glasgow. Indeed, this one is located in an old flat transformed into a club. This small intimist club allows you to discover young DJ of the region.

Its advantages: Free entry and atypical place.

PRESSURE – SWG3

They are parties organized every month by various independent labels of techno music. For every amateur of techno, it is a compulsory stage when we are in Glasgow. The Pressure welcome every biggest artist of the techno scene such as Marcel Dettman, Carl Graig, Nina kraviz or Skream. Follow my advice, go to Pressure.

Its advantage: line-up of international DJ

To finish, it is important to specify that all the clubs in Glasgow close at 3:00AM.

GOOD DEALS

When we are student in Glasgow, numerous good deals exist. The main sesame for all its good deals: our student card. Indeed, this one allows us to obtain many discounts in clothe shops, coffee shops, pubs, clubs, bus or museums. We can take as example Urban Outfitters who offers 15% all year to students, MacGills (buses company) who propose a student day ticket for 2,60£ or some coffee shops which propose until 30% on the bill.
As regards clubs, it is important to know that we can join a guest list in order to benefit a free entrance. For this, we have to go on the website of the club or on its Facebook page. It’s also important to indicate that the entrance is often free before 11:30pm.