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A Glaswegian tale

From Wild in Scotland in Glasgow, United Kingdom on Oct 20 '05

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Glasgow as I saw it...
Glasgow as I saw it...
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Howzitgaun?

My first stop of my tour of Scotland was Glasgow. I arrived there at 11pm on a Megabus from Manchester. They drop us out opposite the St. Georges Square. As you probably know, 11pm is pub closing time! So you can expect to see a lot of strange fellows! So I've walked to my friend's place and as I was traveling for a couple hours I felt sleepy and went to bed...Dreaming of a cold pint.

"Meeting some local folks"
The main mean of transportation for the "pub drunk"!!!
The main mean of transportation for the "pub drunk"!!!
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Er'u a Bhoys or a Gers???

You sometimes dream feels like reality, so here I was in the middle of a unknown pub drinking with Sickboy, Renton, Spud and Begbie don't even ask about Tommy (he just die!!!) we are having a nice time until Begbie beating the crap out of some american tourist. I wake up with a very big piss! That beer was so nice and it felt so good...So there I was, lying on a old couch in my friend's living room. After my friend's flatmate made some brew we went on a tour of the Glaswegian attractions! We passed by the University, the Kelvington Art Gallery and Museum, the People's Palace, the St.Mungo's Cathedral.

A nice view of the St.Mungo's Cathedral
A nice view of the St.Mungo's Cathedral
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After all the sightseeing, we were left wandering the busy street to find a pub that we would not risk of been mugged, killed or on the other side of any naughty stuff! We finally found one on a side street of Buchanan street. I was finally able to drink a nice and foamy bitter! Just has a finish chugging my second bitter, a 50-ish guy with red hair came holding on to is pint of lager like it was gold came towards us. He was the "pub drunk", and was proud of it! A pub drunk is a regular that whatever the time or the day is drunk... He probably came because he was impress by my drinking skills! But in fact, he was there to ask the most important question to him : Er'u a Bhoys or a Gers? I turn my head to my friend who was so scared that had to go for the loo! The first thing that went to my mind was : "What the f%$k is that man talking about!!!" Seeing my lack of answer to that simple question the drunk just ask me the same question. Here I was in a Glasgow pub facing the more important decision of my life was I a Bhoys or a Gers?

Who said life was easy???

My friend was still nowhere to be seen and the drunk was getting a bit frustrated with my lack of answer...As so all the regulars of the pub attracted by the question shouted by the drunk! Was I dreaming?

I hope for a minute that a fight could start so that with all the confusion I could just go, leave that pub...

As I was face with a difficult one, I look straight in the eyes of the drunk and said: I'm definitely a Boy! The drunk just had the biggest smile I had ever seen on any men! He gave me a firm tap on the back and said: GUD BHOY! Ay!  He then turn to the landlord and said: "He's a Bhoy, Sean, give that Bhoy a pint of bitter and give me a lager, mate!" As by magic, my friend came back and ask me why I didn't wait for is round! We did stay for his round and couple more of mine! The drunk was still next to me and he was announcing to everyone that I was a Bhoys!

I must explain for the non-football (soccer) folks that the Bhoys are the catholic's team and that the Gers are the protestant's team. And I was in a Bhoys or Celtic pub! You can't normally get in the other team's pub without facing the real "boys" that are not so friendly with you!!!

As I was sitting in the bus going to Edinburgh I reflect on those days of boozing, that my trip to Scotland was going to be as expected and more!


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