Rain Town.

George Square – Glasgow.

A prestigious travel magazine recently named Glasgow as one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world.

I can see why the city has garnered this accolade. It has magnificent Victorian and Edwardian architecture, arranged on the only city grid system in Britain. The place possesses a vigour and brio that can make it seem like a miniature Chicago. Of all the major British cities, I think it is the only one that feels in no way provincial to London.

In terms of its wealth of art galleries and museums (most free of charge), it stands comparison with any city in Europe. In terms of popular culture it has a thriving music scene, much of it emanating from the Glasgow School of Art, an institution of international significance.

As a caveat to all the praise that I am heaping on the place, I think it’s only fair to point out a couple of downsides. The travel journalist responsible for Glasgow’s high rating presumably visited on a sunny day, and is unaware that the city’s high rainfall has earned it the soubriquet ‘rain town’. They have also clearly not taken a stroll along Sauchiehall Street at 2 am, when the clubs disgorge neds in their thousands to engage in their hobbies of copious vomiting and head butting. It ain’t a pretty sight.

I’m off to spend a few days there tomorrow. Perhaps I’ll take one of those open top bus tours. I can sit and shiver on the top deck as the rain drips down my collar, and inhale the exhaust fumes polluting the urban air.

Then again, I could just sit in the pub and work up an appetite for one of the marvellous kebabs for which the town is famous.

I will be back next Friday to inform you all about my adventures.

Toodlepip.