People Make Glasgow Blog | #Published

People Make Glasgow (the Glasgow Marketing Bureau) posted an article I wrote on their website!

Check it out:


http://peoplemakeglasgow.com/blog/guest-blogger/from-brochure-to-home

Final Post | #HomeForTheHolidays

Merry Christmas!

I know this post is late in coming. I'm back home in Florida. It's bittersweet. It is amazing home with family and friends (wearing shorts and going barefoot), but I miss my new family in Scotland.

INTERSTELLAR AT THE IMAX

From left to right: Glasgow IMAX Theatre, Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow Tower

M8 Motorway at Kinning Park Station

During my last few weeks in Glasgow, Interstellar (starring McConnaughey and Hathaway) came to theatres. I debated between Glasgow Cineworld, the world's tallest movie theatre, and the Glasgow IMAX, Scotland's biggest screen. 

I went for the IMAX. I didn't regret it. After class, I jumped on the subway at Buchanan Street for Cessnock Station. I was hungry, so I dropped by Tartan Fish And Chips. I ordered a fried pizza and chips. Yeah, fried pizza...it was great.

The movie was fantastic, it instantly became one of my favourites, and the humongous screen (80 feet by 60 feet) made it that much better. After taking some photos of the M8 near Kinning Park Station, I headed home to get ready for choir practice. It was a great day.

TOURING THE LOCHS

One of the highlights of my trip was touring the southwestern lochs with my mentor. We left early on a Wednesday morning, traveling an old, two-lane military road called the A83 (the only road to where we were going). 

Leaving Glasgow

Our first stop was in a beautiful glen. We had a snack and a coffee, and I took a lot of pictures.

Glen along the A83

We continued along A83 through these mountains and munros (UK term for mountains over 3,000 feet) for another hour, passing through small towns. We also drove along the coasts Loch Lomond and Loch Long. 

The Oyster Bar

We dropped in The Oyster Bar along Loch Fyne for a snack. I had a plate of fresh oysters on-the-half-shell. Delicious. Not earthy like the ones from Florida, these were instead sharp and herb-like. We drove all the way to a town called Lochgilphead before we turned back for home. The scenery is breathtaking along the way. It's what I imagined Scotland looked like before I came.

mountain along Loch Lomond

town of Arrochar along Loch Long

tip of Loch Fyne

ST. ANDREWS

My economics lecturer, John, invited me to join him and his wife in Fife for a day before I left. Fife is a Scottish council area (kind of like a county), and it includes the famous golfing and university city of St. Andrews - about an hour train ride from Glasgow. On a beautiful Saturday, I climbed aboard a train at Queen Street station and met John in his hometown

After lunch and conversation, the three of us traveled to St. Andrews. It was a beautiful town, full of history. I saw three different beaches, the place where Price William and Kate met for coffee (they both went to St. Andrews University), the Royal and Ancient (the world home of golf), and much more. 

Afterwards, we headed to Perth for dinner, a nearby town. Before I knew it, it was time to go home. A big thank you to John and family, you were wonderful hosts!

St. Andrews

St. Andrews

BONUS: ICELAND

Iceland's moon-like landscape (lava flows)

So the icing on the cake was taking an IcelandAir back home, from Glasgow to Sanford (Orlando), because I was able to book a one-night stopover in Keflavik, Iceland, just outside the capital of Reykjavik. What an amazing way to end this trip. 

I got to spend the night in the A10 Deluxe B&B, then take a day-trip to The Blue Lagoon. It's one of Nat Geo's 25 Wonders of the World (and one of only two that's man-made). The super-heated, salty water gets an algae that turns it bright blue, and it picks up silica and other minerals as it gets pumped up through the ground. In the end, you get something that looks like this. And I got to swim around in it (and try the saunas, steam baths and heated waterfalls) for four hours.

SAYING GOODBYE

Crown Street in New Gorbals

My mentor asked me, while we were on our trip around the Lochs, "What will you miss the most?" I thought for a moment, but the answer came quickly. I told him "the people." I'm getting emotional just writing this. To all the great friends that I met in my three months - you guys mean the world to me. Because of the kindness, curiosity, and just pure friendliness you all showed me, I felt like I was home. Thank God for you!

View from City of Glasgow College, Townhead Building's Bistro

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

Thank you to Steven, my college mentor, for making this a trip to remember.

Thank you to Principle Little of City of Glasgow College for your time, effort and support.

Thank you to the staff at City of Glasgow College, for making this American feel at home.

Thank you to the staff at Jacksonville University, including Dean Don Capener and my mother, for working tirelessly for eight months to send me on this great adventure.

And to everyone else who helped me along the way, thank you!

Until next time,

God bless you!

Zacchari Gale

signing off

#jutocogc

More Cool Stories | #tripupdate #London #Edinburgh

Good afternoon, my fantastic blog readers! I hope all is well with each one of you.

I would again like to share with you all the triumphs and stories of my trip. Praise God, this trip has continued to be a fantastic experience!

LONDON

Buckingham Palace

Last weekend, I met up with two of my aviation buddies from Jacksonville University (who are studying abroad in Germany) in London. It took nine hours on the bus to get there - good thing I brought some snacks.

When I arrived, the three of us spent four hours in The Steam Engine, a little pub behind our hotel, just catching up. It was mind-blowing that we were 4,000 miles from home, meeting up in a city we've only seen in movies.

South Bank. Representing the Jacksonville University Flight Team.

Shoutout to our Jacksonville University Flight Team for making it to the national competition while we were in London! 

Before we left, we walked along the South Bank, rode the London Eye, visited Westminister, the Horse Palace and Buckingham Palace, watched street performers, and crossed the Thames River at dusk with the city all lit up.

The city lives up to all the hype, in my opinion. The landscape was spectacular, and it was even better spending it with friends. I actually got a little emotional when I hopped in a taxi for Victoria Coach Station, because I was leaving my friends. London was one of the highlights of my entire experience here in the UK.

LARGS

A close friend of mine recommended I travel to Largs, "eh wee toon" (a small town) on the west coast of Scotland, about an hour away from Glasgow. So, two weeks ago, I decided just to hop on a train and "go west, young man."

Largs - City Centre

Chicken and Rice Soup, with Ham and Pineapple Toastie and Salad

Largs was beautiful - surrounded by islands on one side, massive green hills on the other. I stopped in a souvenir shop and the owner told me to drop by The George for lunch. I had a nice, relaxing meal. 

I walked the town and along the beach, until a storm rolled in that had the locals running for cover. I didn't get a chance to cross to the island on the ferry, but I still had a wonderful time. The wind off the water during the storm actually made me unsteady on my feet, it was that strong.

Largs and Cumbrae Ferry

E&Y INSIGHT DAY

Flip the Fin! City of Glasgow College Riverside Campus

Thanks to my wonderful mentor, Steven, I had another unique experience at an Ernst & Young Insight Day. It was an invitation-only event, held at E&Y's Glasgow headquarters downtown. The event brought together fifteen or so local high school and college students for an evening of career training.
The staff also took time to fully introduce us to all the company does and give us a personal invitation to apply for the young-workers programs. If you don't know E&Y, they're one of the "Big 4" accounting firms (one of the top four in the world). I was able to represent both myself and my university at the event; I'm proud to represent Jacksonville University through my travels.

EDINBURGH

Just this past Saturday, the International Department at City of Glasgow College took a bus-full of students on a trip to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The most famous landmark of the city, and our first destination, is the Edinburgh Castle. 

Edinburgh Castle

 

View from Edinburgh Castle

The locals were not very friendly.

The Edinburgh Castle was immense, but not how I imagined it. I envisioned a symmetrical castle out of video games and movies, with immense walls and guard towers. This castle, originally constructed in the eleventh century A.D., followed the curve of the land, and was anything but symmetrical. On three sides, it was defended by sheer cliffs. Only one side had an entrance, and that side was defended by a moat, an outer wall and an inner wall.

Scottish National War Memorial

Inside the castle, along with all the history and architecture, my friend Moses and I also got to see the Scotland Crown Jewels and the breathtaking Scottish National War Memorial. The Memorial is dedicated to the Scots fallen in battle since the Great War (World War I). There are books inside that list every known Scot killed on the battlefield, housed in a memorial you'd have to see to believe. At least 200 artists (stone, painting, sculpture, plaster-work) built the structure. Photography was prohibited in the memorial, but Google has some fair images (see http://bit.ly/1vhRwGg). 

View of Holyrood Park towards Edinburgh.
Photo credit: University of Edinburgh Website.

Moses and I also got to see the Scottish Parliament and its debate chamber and Holyrood Park before we left. Both are amazing to see.

TROON

Oh, and here is a short video I made of my trip to Troon a few weeks ago! I am excited to see Duncan and Linda one more time before I leave.

----

Soon, this trip will be over and I will again be in the U.S. of A. This week will be packed full of last-minute trips, events, meetings. There will be at least one more blog before I finish up, though, so...

Until next time,

God bless!

Zacchari Gale

#jutocogc

Two Weeks of Fun! | #troon #lochlomond

I have had a wonderful two weeks here in Glasgow. Here are some highlights!

HORSEBACK RIDING  |  STEPPS

A family from Poland took me horseback riding in Stepps (a small town north of Glasgow) last week. I rode "Dude", a retired cart horse. He enjoyed walking backwards and snack breaks. It was great, but next time I'm bringing appropriate shoes...

"Dude"

TROON

I had an enjoyable day visiting friends in Troon (about 30 minutes south of Glasgow) for the afternoon and evening. With only 12,000 residents, Troon reminded me of a New England seaside town. It has a beautiful beach, sheltered by nearby islands. On a really clear day, you can actually see Ireland from the shore.

Troon Beach, looking toward Ailsa Craig and Arran

Troon ScotRail Station at night

GLASGOW ATTRACTIONS

You can get a $10 hamburger at this 1960's-style diner.

Provan's Lordship, Sweets Shop

This past week, I went to the 800-year-old Glasgow Cathedral. This was the first time I had been inside. I also visited the Provan's Lordship across the street. It is the oldest house still standing in Glasgow (built in 1471). Its first residents were in charge of the Cathedral. Now, it's all decked out with antique furniture from different time-periods.

Glasgow Cathedral

Provan's Lordship, Dining Room

LOCH LOMOND

A family from church took me to Loch Lomond today. It is the largest body of water in the UK. We took a boat tour of the loch, then drove around the area, and finished the evening with dinner. It was cold, a little rainy, and absolutely stunning. 

Loch Lomond

Loch Long

Loch Lomond

I am so thankful for the good friends I have made here.

Until next time, God bless!

Zacchari

#jutocogc