We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming…

…to bring you a flashback to one year ago today in Scotland! I realized that I never really shared many of the pics from our wedding in Glasgow or the pre-wedding-week activities, so I thought we’d take a quick departure from Mexico across the pond over to Scotland!

First, the precursors: John’s Bachelor Party in Washington DC, where the boys all donned the famous “See You Jimmy” Scottish hats.

 

 

 

And Julie’s Bachelorette Party in Boston where we dined like queens and drank with all the tacky bachelorette accoutrements a girl could ask for.

 

 

But the official festivities began on May 18 with a welcome dinner at The Firebird gastropub in Glasgow’s West End. We had a fantastic welcome dinner of pizza, pasta, salad and hearty Scottish beers. I had the opportunity to wear the girl-kilt that John’s grandmother passed on to me, made of the family’s Farquharson tartan! Very exciting.

Monday morning we were up bright and early (most of us at the bargain-priced Sandyford Hotel) for a tour of the University of Glasgow, kindly arranged by our lovely friend Emily. GU is where I studied abroad my sophomore year of college, after which I was hard pressed to return to life in possibly-less-exciting Ames, Iowa. The university itself dates back to 1451, and the campus is a stunning mix of green spaces and gothic architecture.

We were lucky enough to score tours of both the University Tower/Main Building and the Charles Rennie Mackintosh House, one of my personal favorites. The Tower offers great views of the whole West End of Glasgow– if you are able to survive the 236 steps of the winding stone staircase to get to the top! Check out some of the city views from the Tower below & other shots of the university. (You will note the amazingly clear skies we were blessed with the entire week–not a drop of rain until the day AFTER our wedding. Needless to say, do not count on this if you take a trip to Scotland!!)

The remainder of our Monday afternoon in Glasgow was at our guests discretion. Some did the open-top bus tour, some visited the Glasgow Cathedral, some experienced the Glasgow Underground system (better known as “Clockwork Orange” for its bright hue & its circular layout).

After a brief rest, many of us ventured off to Ashton Lane, a fantastic wee strip of bars & restaurants just west of the University. We started off at favorite Irish pub Jinty McGinty’s, and then moved on to Bar Brel for tasty Belgian beer offerings.

Although there was initial talk of moving onto a club due the early closing time of pubs in Scotland, John & I wisely managed to steer interest away from more drinking and instead towards the best drunk food you may ever find. We slowly herded cats towards a vending truck known as “The Maggie” parked at a nearby busy intersection (Byres Road & Great Western Road).

The Maggie is famous for its Scoobie Snacks, a creation that consists of 6 items: a hambuger pattie, a sausage pattie, bacon, a fried egg, cheese, and a potato scone, all stuffed into a bap (aka bun). Needless to say, this is the epitome of the “Seemed like a good idea at the time” food genre.  But regardless, all diners were pleased and clearly agreed with us that this is a “must do” on any visit to Glasgow.

Tune back in tomorrow for further reenactments of John & Julie’s Wedding Trip to Scotland, one year ago this very week!