5 WAYS TO EXPLORE GLASGOW DURING COMMONWEALTH GAMES

             5 WAYS TO EXPLORE GLASGOW DURING COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2014
                                 Visit: People Make Glasgow , Visit Scotland to know more

                                  I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship - Glasgow

Scotland is voted as the third best countries to visit in 2014 by Lonely Planet.Lucky I am to be in such a beautiful place,not once but twice this year.Glasgow in Scotland is a city of green.Not,many know that the name Glasgow was derived from "Dear Green Place" because it was more green in acres than any other city in the country.Watch my self-created Travel Video to know more:


From the great Architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh who was a legend in the world of art inspired by nature,structure and Japanese architecture to the vintage festivals like Merchant City Festival to the now modern day cinema facilitating Hollywood to Bollywood movies,here are top 5 vacation ideas on what to do when in Glasgow during Commonwealth Games 2014:

1)The Impeccable City,Architecture And Art 

                                                                  The Highly Creative Glasgow

 Glasgow has managed to keep its past and blended perfectly to the 21st century is the most unique and an unusual factor when visiting Glasgow.Glasgow in 18th century was the European capital of Tobacco.In the mid 90's century Glasgow was hugely wealthy and prosperous industrial city but in the beginning of the 20th century,the Industries started to decline until in 1940 Glasgow was perceived as pretty and dangerous as the city had almost lost its industrial character.The last 3-4 decades however,has seen amazing regeneration of the city.Lot of small to mid level galleries with artisan spaces,small business and workshop setups opened up often by graduates of the Glasgow School of Art.And hence a Glasgow Miracle Tour termed by Swiss curator Hans-Ulrich Obrist is an interesting way to take the first tour of the city understanding Architecture and the cultural quarters and Artwork the city has to offer.

                                                       Artwork on Pavements:The highly creative Glasgow

When it comes to Architecture And Art,Glasgow is inextricably linked to Charles Rennie Mackintosh.Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the Glasgow born architect, designer and artist, is celebrated around the world as one of the most creative figures of the early 20th century.They say "When Mackintosh was a boy he was a very sickly child so Doctors advised him to take care of himself and live away from the city and then he spend his time with nature and this shows in his early architectural work.From the birds to the blooms to the rose buds,the architecture reflects the modern thinking of Mackintosh with fine structural lines,play of colors and natural lights highlighted magnificently in his creations.The Mackintosh House replicates home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Mackintosh from 1906 to 1914.The best places for Architectural wonder of Mackintosh are Glasgow School of Art,House for an Art Lover,The Mackintosh House,The Lighthouse and Willow Tea Rooms.

Mackintosh's Wonder of Art

2)The Food & The Usquebaugh(Whiskey)

                                                                                The yummiest of Food

Water,Malted Barley And Yeast creates the liquid gold,Scotland is world famous for.Located 8 miles from Sterling and just 45 minutes from Edinburgh And Glasgow,Deanston Distillery Sits by the River Teith at the entrance to the dramatic Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.Having been Cotton Mill for 180 years,Deanston was transformed into a distillery in 1960's and has been distilling whisky using traditional methods ever since.If in Glasgow city,do not forget to visit Inverarity 121,where Andy and Peat introduces you to ettiquetes of whiskey.The trick is to add a teaspoon of water (that enhances the flavour of whiskey),smell,swallow and hold it in for 2-3 seconds and then smoothly let it in with the flavor tasting the best ever.The color of whiskey to them is easier to determine the cask being used while preparing the whiskey and we were given 4 glasses numbered 1-4 containing 40% alcohol(Single malt whiskey).

From the Whiskey Chutney :)

To how it is made

                                                 To India celebrating Kilts at Mr.Singh's India Glasgow

Mr.Singh recalls his dad's earlier days in Scotland.He says,when my dad came to Scotland from India in 1956 we were in Aberdeen.He used to travel once a month from Aberdeen to Glasgow to get spices.The Glasgow city is passionate about Indian Food and Mister Singh's India bring the spices,flavour and fragrances of India with a unique Scottish Twist.For some of Europe's best food,try Brian Maule at Chardon d'Or;For delicious,healthy and fast food try Martha's Fast Natural Food.Also,do not forget to try Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery,Argyle Sreet which is one of Glasgow's best loved and most enduring restaurants. Babbity Bowster at Merchant city located in an old Tobacco Merchant House is another wonderful lunch stop.Inspired by childhood holidays ,Arisaig at Merchant Square is a stylish Scottish Bar And Restaurant.Willow Tea Rooms in Sauchiehall Street, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh is a beautiful place to try varieties of tea and the cakes.

3)The Galleries,The Museums And The Collections

                                       Riverside - The European Museum of the Year

Voted European Museum of the year 2013,Riverside Museum is housed on an iconic building with
trams,trains,locomotives and cars.From buses of 1957 still running on the roads to travelling to the
Pullock Park taking a horse ride in the middle of the city,the city has the best to offer in terms of
transport.

Kelvingrove is Scotland's most popular visitor attractions displaying an astonoshing 8000 objects,including history,arms,armour,art,including a full size Spitfire fighter plane suspended from a
roof! Imagine.In the heart of Pollok Country Park,The Burrell Collection houses a unique collection of work by Major artists of Medieval Art,Chinese,Islamic Art,Ancient Civilizations in a beautiful woodland
setting.

4)Boutique Hotels in Glasgow

And my small cosy room with changing lights at Citizen M

Imagine a room which changes color with the mood on click of a remote.Citizen M is my favorite quirky and youthful hotel in the heart of city center offering 198 boutique rooms with each including a king size bed,ambient light,mood pad room,free wifi.Do not forget to check the refreshing bath gels,for the travelers written AM(A traveler who wakes you) and PM(And the one who parties...).Blythswood Square is another great option in Glasgow,the building dates from 1823 and is a sumptuous five star hotel and Spa.The Spa is awesome,we tried it for an hour early in the morning and yes! It was wonderful indeed.

5)Festivals,Nightlife,Shopping and Glasgow on Film

                                             When celebration is a part of life - Merchant City Festival

Glasgow is vintage,Glasgow is celebrations.The one we attended was Merchant City Festival,a spectacular array of entertainment in Glasgow's cultural quarter for the 12th year of festival.Action packed 5 days with Entertainment,music,dance,theater,design,comedy,food,drink,flee markets and more.The Merchant City Festival will also be an integral part of the city's offering during its hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Glasgow is the largest retail center in the UK outside of London's West End.Do not forget to shop at Style Mile or Sauchiehall Street.What I got back,will be told in next blogpost :)

Part of Vintage at the Merchant City Festival,The Soul Casino recreates the sounds and style of the classic 70's and I still have great fond memories of how much I enjoyed.Some of the popular pubs in Glasgow are listed here.

Glasgow Film Office was established in 1997 based on the very successful New York Film Office,and within a span of 15 years, has contributed 200 million pounds to city economy directly.They can replicate many american cities unlike many cities in the uk. They can cover Philadelphia,San Francisco and parts of London(which is very difficult to film in there,but easy to here) and hence in the last two years,they had good run of films particularly the International Film coming to the city.Recently parts of upcoming Hindi movie "Kick" was shot in Glasgow featuring Salman Khan.

Well,well it has been a long post,isn't it?Tomorrow we cover Adventure,explore some islands,take a sea plane flight and cruise in Loch Lomond. Sounds like fun :),so next we have what to do around Glasgow,stay tuned folks.Love you