Jaunted

Scotland Travel

Music Travel: Glasgow's Officially a Creative City

August 27, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

We're big fans of UNESCO's Creative Cities program which so far has quite rightly crowned Berlin as a City of Design and let Santa Fe don the cap of City of Folk Art. This month a new creative city has stepped up: Glasgow has been official christened a UNESCO City of Music.

Being a City of Music, according to UNESCO, is meant to help Glasgow preserve its music culture as well as make it an extra-attractive tourist destination. Home to great indie bands like Franz Ferdinand and Belle & Sebastian, and with a typical week of music in the city totalling 127 different gigs, you'd be hard pressed not to find something musical to entertain you on a night out in Glasgow.

Related Stories:
· Glasgow's Music Scene Recognised with Rare Honour From UNESCO [The Independent]
· Take Me Out to Glasgow [Jaunted]
· UNESCO coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: turquoise boy]

Animals

Scottish Dolphin Swims Through Glasgow

June 24, 2008 at 1:45 PM | 0 Comments

A dolphin popped up in the polluted waters of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland over the weekend. The unlikely animal sighting has experts worried because the dolphin appears to be badly injured and emaciated. Officials say they don't expect it to survive, but they may be able to help the dolphin if it beaches itself on a sandbar. In the meantime, we clearly have to name him Clyde.

Clyde has been identified as a Risso's dolphin. The species is found all over the world but it's rare for them to be seen outside of deep ocean water. That said, these dolphins do have a bit of a history of seeking out human attention. One named Pelorus Jack became legendary after spending nearly forty years escorting ships through a dangerous stretch of Cook Strait in New Zealand.

If Clyde survives and has a similar craving for animal stardom it would be the biggest windfall for the Scottish tourism industry since Braveheart. Go, Clyde, go!

Related Stories:
· Concern Grows for Injured Dolphin in Glasgow River [Guardian]
· Search Resumes for Clyde Dolphin [BBC]
· Animals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: BBC]

Transportation

Glasgow Gets Seaplane Service

August 16, 2007 at 9:25 AM | 0 Comments

A seaplane that lands in a city center? Sure it sounds odd, but Glasgow is excited to be getting the first city-center seaplane service in Europe. The Scottish city will be serviced by Loch Lomond Seaplanes who will land their 9-seater Cessnas on the River Clyde starting next week.

From Glasgow, the seaplanes will fly into the Scotch-happy Highlands which traditionally take ages to reach. The first destination will be Oban in the Western Isles, but the islands of Mull and Skye are expected to be on board soon. So if you're a transportation freak and want to try something new, book your Scottish seaplane flight soon. A rocks glass will be waiting for you on the other side.

Related Stories:
· Loch Lohmond Set To Launch Seaplane Services [Flight]
· Glasgow Airport To Get Rail Link [Jaunted]
· Loch Lomond Seaplanes [Official Site]

[Photo: N and L]

Airports

Glasgow Airport to Get Rail Link

November 30, 2006 at 10:22 AM | 0 Comments

Glasgow is about to join the list of smaller European cities that put New York (and many other American metropolises) to shame in the airport transportation department. The Scottish Parliament just approved the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill, which covers construction of a direct train link between Glasgow's city center and its international airport.

The airport link, expected to be operational by 2010, will run between Central Station (where a new platform will be built) and Glasgow International Airport. Additional stops should include the Paisley Gilmour Street and Paisley St. James stations. Glasgow International is currently serviced only by public buses.

A similar project is currently under review for Edinburgh.

[Photo: COLIИ]

Related Stories:
· Glasgow rail link gets go-ahead [BBC]

Themed Tours

Take Me Out to Glasgow

July 11, 2005 at 8:54 AM | 0 Comments

IToors is a company getting ready to roll out MP3 audio tours of various major cities. The first one out is an easy-going walk through the music-haunted streets of Glasgow, where Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian, and lots of other indie-pop names got their start. Narrated by DJ Jim Gellatly, the 90-minute walk by and into bars, clubs, and (on one occasion) thrift shops is entertaining and fun, as long as you don't mind the periodic product placements of its sponsor, Tennant's Lager.

Related Stories:
·   Glasgow -- Sounds of a Music Capital [MP3 tour]
·   iToors Glasgow tour map [PDF]
·   iToors Press