Min Yu and Yvonne have 3 kids: Emma (4 years old), Euan (2 years old) and Evie (3 months old). As you can imagine, it was pretty hectic staying with them! It was awesome to see them though, and I had a great visit. They really showed us a good time, and spoiled us so much that it will be hard to go back to hostels on trips! (haha, just kidding). Thanks!
Right now I only have my pictures posted, I will put up Vance's later (see some on his blog in the meantime)
Min Yu with Euan, me, Yvonne, Evie and Emma (who wasn't into picture taking that day, lol)
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After a stop-over in Amsterday, Vance and I arrived late Wednesday night in Glasgow. So far the trip was going smoothly, and we commended ourselves on our awesome two-person travel efficiency. Min Yu picked us up at the airport, and took us to their house, which was not too far away. They live in an apartment that is older than Canada! Haha, it is cool, it's taller than it is wide, with 3 stories, very old school European. That night was pretty chill, we just hung out and talked with my cousins, and made some plans for the visit.
Thrusday morning we woke up early to take the bus to Edinburgh. Emma was already up having breakfast, so we had a nice discussion about Cheerios before Vance and I left for the day.
The bus ride was beautiful, but I slept most of the way and missed a lot of the awesome Scottish countryside. We arrived and headed straight for Edinburgh Castle. I should take a minute now to say that I have been to Scotland before. I came on a big England/Scotland/Ireland trip with my family when I was 13, and we travelled a bunch around the countryside and saw lots of castles and chuches. Lots. So by the time we got to Edinburgh (near the end of the trip) my brother and I were like "no more castles!". So although I have been to Edinburgh before, I had never been in the castle.
We went to the castle on this trip though! It was well worth it too (young Jacqui didn't know what she was missing out on...), lots of cool displays and you got to explore the whole castle and grounds to see them. We managed to arrive at the cannons right in time for the daily firing, so that was cool (though startling).
By then it was around lunch, and we had already had every type of weather imaginable. I blame the high winds...the rains and clouds just rolls in and out.
For lunch we went to a pub (of course) and had burgars (mmmmm...) and beer (mmmm....). We decided to check out the whisky museum next, which included taking a tour where they let you sample some scotch whisky. I don't think I have yet aquired the taste for straight whisky, but it was still alright. It was interesting seeing how it was made too, though, the highlight was probably the ride at the end, haha.
In Edinburgh we also went on a mission of finding Vance's family tartan. After some unsucessful searching, we were advised to seach for the clan tartan instead, since the family tartans are not commonly sold in stores. We were able to find the tartan for the clan Vance's family belongs to, yay.
By then it was time for Vance to take the bus to Inverness (he was going to check out Loch Ness the next day), and I went back to my cousin's place in Glasgow. Once again I slept most of the way...I guess I am too trained to taking advantage of guarenteed sleep oppurtunities, haha.
Thursday night was pretty chill, we ate a nice supper at the house, hooray for home cooked meals! I discovered that when there are small childeren involved, eating supper is an evening activity in itself. You quickly rush to get everyone their proper meals, and then attempt to get them to eat the whole meal, and then try to finish your own food before everybody is running around too much that the room becomes a mad house. Haha, it was really fun actually, it's neat having kids around sometimes (thought I think the novelty would wear off after awhile). Don't worry! I'm not planning on having any anytime soon!
Emma's pro picture taking skills (once I learned to duck into the photo)
On Friday Yvonne, Emma, Evie and I had a girls day of shopping. We went to the local mall and browsed around the stores, and all bought a few things. I got some shirts from Mango, a cool store that I seem to only afford to shop at when I'm with my cousin, haha, she's a bad influence.
Emma doing some shopping
We went for lunch, where Min Yu met up with us, since he only had a half day of work. Before he came, I was holding Evie while Yvonne bought the food. She was hungry, and crying so much that somebody nearby offered an extra bottle, haha. I don't think I have the baby-soothing touch, this seemed to happen a lot over the weekend, lol.
Min Yu and Emma (and Evie) at the mall
Evie chillin in her stroller
We picked Vance up from the bus station, and were happy to see that he hadn't been consumed by Loch Ness. That night after dinner Vance and I went to The Arches, a club downtown that was having a music show that night. Our goal for the weekend was to see as much live music as possible, to get away from the regular clubbing, and since Glasgow is supposed to be a great city for live stuff.
After a drink in the lounge section, that may or may not have been a bright pink cocktail, we watched the band Trap_6 play their set. They were pretty sweet, especially for a random find. Typical type of band, kind of emoy and energy-fille. It would have been all the much better if the band members were good looking ;)
Vance loses one man card for this
Trap_6 rocking out at The Arches
On Saturday morning I got up early to go with Yvonne and Evie to Emma's dance class! (Vance opted for sleeping in instead, haha) The class was a weekly thing at the community center...basically a whole bunch of little girls in dance gear running around trying to mimic the teacher, hehe. It was super cute, they did a bit of balletish stuff, and the broke out the tap shoes for the second half. I was totally jelouse...
Yvonne getting Emma ready for dance class
Euan and Emma, shortly before the piece of bread got scattered all over the couch (oops!)
Me with Emma. Yvonne and Evie in the background
Vance shows Euan his mad lego skillz
Emma and me playing
The rest of the day Vance and I checked out various sights around Glasgow, and occasionaly met up with the others for lunch and dinner, etc. It worked out really well, we were able to get some efficient Vance-approved sight-seeing done and the others could take the 3 hour long lunch that's required for a family of kids of that age, haha. We visited the Glasgow Cathedral, the cemetery (eerie, but beautiful), Museum of Religious Art (which gave a cool overview of religions, with some neat displays) and also looked around the university. It was cool being in a university envoironment, it's amazing how easy it is to feel at home once you are around students (especially when they are speaking English!). At the university we saw the Hunterian museums (one art, and one random cool stuff).
Scenic pic of the cemetery
Vance had haggis at lunch, which I tried and was actually not that bad, kind of like ground beef with spices.
That night we went to a bar to see some more music. We showed up early to get a table, but I think we overshot because there were only a few people there (and we found out later they were all the bands that were playing later, haha). We chilled and had some beer, and eventually the music started up. The first band was pretty crazy, they had 2 drum sets going, but it only sounded like one (I haven't decided if this is a good thing or a bad thing).
The second band (Learn to Swim) was probably the coolest, they had a whole array of insturments: guitars, a drum set, a trombone, a xylophone and a cello. Their sound was really cool, it almost reminded me of Modest Mouse.
Learn to Swim and their awesome array of instruments
The last band (This Ain't Vegas) was pretty popular, from what I could tell. They were pretty awesome, definitly a bit more professional than the other bands, kind of screamo rock if I remember correctly (I'm writing this post wayyyy after the trip, for shame is me...).
After the show we headed over to the university bar, and caught the very tail end of a Pink Floyd Cover band that happened to be playing, it was cool. We arrived only seconds before last call...one minute we were buying beer, and the next time we turned around the bar was closed off with metal gates, haha. Luckily they were nice enough to let us chill out and finish.
On Sunday we checked out the Burrell Collection, which is basically a museum with a whole bunch of random stuff that Sir William Burrell collected and donated to the city. Honestly, we saw everything from pottery to tapastries to sculptures and more.
We also went to House for an Art Lover, which is only one of the things in Glasgow that was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. He is a really cool architect, and incorporates a lot of art and interior design into his work. We also saw the Mackintosh House, which is part of the Hunterian's Museum at the univeristy. I really enjoyed his design, it's filled with sharp contrast, but he incorporates soft touches, such as rose designs. It's simple and modern, and really striking to the eye.
Vance in some cool gardens
Inside House for an Art Lover
Outside the House for an Art Lover there was a really cool playground...sort of like fun meets art. We played there for a while with the kids, and then it was time to head to the airport.
Playing in the park outside House for an Art Lover
I was really happy that I got a chance to visit my relatives while I was in Europe, since I don't see them very often. It was fun to play with the kids, and the trip was a good mix of visiting and sight-seeing. I'd love to go back to Scotland for longer sometime, and maybe see more of the rest of the UK and Ireland too.
