Unfortunately for me, Glasgow was a waste. I woke up on the 29th sick. Something was wrong with my stomach, and I was exhausted. I could barely keep myself awake. I plodded through our walking tour, but it was rough going. One fun discovery: Glasgow has TARDIS police boxes scattered around the city. Very exciting for me.
Rather than focusing on my woe, there are delightful memories from the walking tour. I came across a plaque to John Maclean, the Scottish socialist, which felt like a meaningful discovery. Then there was Joe, who suddenly disappeared—only to reappear from a jewelry shop with a silver bracelet in hand. The shopkeeper turned out to be a bit of a goth, which made it all the funnier. We couldn’t stop laughing at the sight of pious Joe doing business with a 21st-century witch.
Even with these funny moments, I was increasingly feeling bad. I went home for a nap before our fanciest meal of the trip. I didn’t even want to go to the Michelin-starred Cail Bruich that evening, but it was paid for, so I went. I felt like I was shoveling it in without tasting it, let alone enjoying it. I had no appetite for the next few days. It looked delicious, and I am sure I would have liked it, but I felt and looked awful.
On Friday, while Sam got out and enjoyed the city, I stayed in bed. I dragged myself to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where there happened to be a live music performance. Unfortunately, I basically fell asleep during it—it was 1 p.m., and I’d already slept most of the day. I was a wreck.
Even though I was sick, I could tell that Glasgow has great street art. I want to revisit someday, because I think I would have loved it if I’d felt better.
Getting sick reminded me of a similar experience on my return from Iceland, and it made me reflect on getting older and the way I approach vacations. I can’t treat every day like it’s a holiday. I love food—I love making it, eating it, and sharing it—but on a two-week trip, I can’t expect to splurge every day. Some special meals are perfect, but it’s also okay to have toast and fruit, or to skip lunch now and then. I learned a lesson: build in quiet time, sleep in occasionally, and keep an eye on how much you’re drinking. Exhaustion will catch up with you otherwise.
Despite all this, I’m glad Sam got to enjoy Glasgow, and I’m determined to come back one day and give it the energy it deserves.
Next: Scotland – Conclusion