Europe Week 1: A change of pace, or, Glasgow hates dubstep

When I started to plan this vacation, I knew it would be anything but boring, for some reason interesting things just seem to happen all the time with me. To start this trip off, Haley and I left a day before my flight from Halifax to have a final 24ish hour goodbye, rented a hotel went out for sushi, you know, quality time stuff. Everything was wonderful until about 7 hours before my flight. The realization that I was on the move was dawning on us, and the hours were melting through our hands. After wandering around Halifax aimlessly for quite some time, we decided to start heading towards the airport even tho I still had many hours to wait, to look for a nice quiet romantic spot to sit. Eventually, after a few false leads we camme across a beautiful lake with a dock looking over the lake and the sunset. Couldn't be more perfect we thought, other then the fact that the highwaywas directly on the lake, but what evs, our spirits were lifted and Haley was doing a funny little dance when suddenly there was an earsplitting SMASH followed by the shreaking squeal of gravel on metal. we both turned towards the highway wideeyed to see a huge transport truck slide into view fully on its side. My first thought was "we'l theres goes the flight, its emergency time." I ran towards the scene, thinking in my head that old mantra we all learned in first aid "no fire wire gass or glass" another driver had pulled over and was already at the truck.

"is the driver o.k?" I called to him.\

"yeah he seems to be fine" was the reply. Thank heavens for seatbelts.

It then dawned on me that the truck had tipped over directly on the off ramp leading onto the highway. almost blocking both the exit we needed to use to get back on and the highway itself. If we didn't get on the road immediatly, we we're going to get caught up in police barriers and trafic jams resulting in my missing my flight. Luckily we got around the mess no problem.

I know I know, this has nothing to do with Europe exactly, its just a pretty cool story, especialy cause no one was hurt.

After our goodbyes at the airport. (how does that old man ludeke song go?) I was wisked through security with not a second glance, and only a slight amount of stressing on my part due to the 2 candy dino sours I had forgotten in my back pocket, and before I knew it I was on the plan. The freezing cold plane I should add. Come on aircanada, run up the heat a bit will you?

fast forward to the next daay and there I was, finally landing in Glasgow UK. I was sweaty, disoriented, and felt the undeniable tickle at the back of my throught that implied the on set of a serious head cold.

I hopped on the city buss after checking in with those you check in with once you arrive at your destination and with the generous help of both the driver, and everyone on the buss, found my way to the guest house I had booked a small room in. (Such nice people these Glasgowinians, glasgowites?)

I then bunkered down for three days attempting to get rid of the horrid cold I had found myself in. Once I had gotten over the worste of that, and caught up on about a years worth of sleep and relaxing I contacted a pal of mine Sophie whom had come to Canada the previous winter and told me to get in touch when I arrived. She insited I go and check out a band called "Three Blind Wolves" at this wonderfull little venue called King Tuts. The show was packed, but not exactly my scene, so I left after a piint which was sitting kinda funny on top of the cheep chillie I had had for lunch. I gotta say, food and booze is remarkabley well priced if you look around.

Reflections of Glasgow at Night:
Imagine Toronto, aged 1000 years and given a serious does of hallucinogins and you come close to Glasgow at night.

Everything has an edge, the sound of breaking glass is a constant, and there are hulking security guards at every door, including those that specialize in convienince. Every corner I turned, mysterious esher like alleys and stairwells beconed me to explore there ancient depth, yet for the first time in memory, I declined their invitation, sencing doom and general bad times within their secret hearts. I've decided I love this city as one would love a pet snake.

The next day I went over to Sophies house which is the top 2 floors of a beautiful old house with stained glass windows and a giant attic with a crawl space filled with treasures. I found a giant tent in it and set it up in the wee hours of the morning.

which brings us to yesterday. I got asked to work the dorr at this great venue called the Classic Grand right downtown glasgow which used to be a old porn theater of all things. That was a blast, Im really into callingmoney quid. After work, we party. Went to this club called "the sub club" which specializes in house trance techno disco. It was interesting to say the least. Then back to the flat for an afterparty, then 3 hours sleep, and off to the prestwick airport for the next stage of my journy, Paris to get my car. I am now sitting at the ryan air airport awaiting my flight and trying to hold myself together.

Next week: Learning to drive standard in Paris.