Okay, why does every beverage in the UK have to be lukewarm? Like a Fanta out of a refrigerator. Or an Oasis(which on it's label, says "SERVE SERIOUSLY CHILLED").
Or in a pub, when you want a Smirnoff Ice and it's not that icy, if you know what I mean.

Do you all enjoy beverages at room tempature? Ever try a Guinness at room tempature? Worse than haggis(actually, haggis wasn't that bad. Tasted like Hamburger Helper, if you ask me).

Just so you know, Scotland was my favorite out of all the places I went. Edinburgh just might be the coolest city in the world. (You may ask about Glasgow, but I can't say much about it, since we merely drove through it). Inverness was pretty nice as well. Reminded me of home. AND your Deep Pan Pizza Company has the best pan pizzas in the world. I went there twice.

I also saw a road sign for your hometown as well. Helensburgh, correct? Gosh, I could go on forever about how great your country is...

I wouldn't have said that the 'chilled beverage' situation in Scotland was that bad......but maybe that's just cos I'm used to it. You're right though - there is nothing worse than warm beer! Urgh!
You thought haggis was ok? I hate the stuff myself, but what's Hamburger Helper? Did you buy tonnes of Irn Bru like Bootsy did?
Edinburgh is ok but, trust me, Glasgow is better :D And where abouts did you see the sign for Helensburgh? I wanna know exactly how close you came to my (not so) glorious home town!

"Gosh, I could go on forever about how great your country is..."

Then please do. Don't let me stop you ;)
I'm really jazzed that the people who come here from other countries leave with such a good impression of this place. When were you over here? Was the weather good? We've been having a helluva lot of torrential rain these past couple of weeks so I hope you didn't get caught up in it.
Oh, and did the midges attack you?! :lol:

So are you back Cokies? Or are are you posting from over there?

Originally posted by Cokies
Okay, why does every beverage in the UK have to be lukewarm? Like a Fanta out of a refrigerator. Or an Oasis(which on it's label, says "SERVE SERIOUSLY CHILLED").
Or in a pub, when you want a Smirnoff Ice and it's not that icy, if you know what I mean.

I had to laugh at your post Cokies because I felt the same way you did regarding cold beverages. I was going to warn you about that, but I forgot! And if you're in a restaurant and ask for ice, either they can't give it to you because they don't have it, or you'll get like 1 cube! (and I'm always suspicious of that one cube, having visions that it was just laying next to some raw fish or something, lol!) But I was amazed how even the drinks out of the freezer in convenience stores were barely cold! But I would say the situation of cold beverages was actually the best in Scotland. I actually could enjoy a cold Irn Bru or Tizer straight out of the fridge at the kwik-i-mart.

Originally posted by Cokies
Do you all enjoy beverages at room tempature? Ever try a Guinness at room tempature? Worse than haggis(actually, haggis wasn't that bad. Tasted like Hamburger Helper, if you ask me).

Mmmmm....there's nothing better than a room-temperature Guiness! I rather like it, actually. Mossopp, Hamburger Helper is a product over in the States that has various spices and pastas and things in a box, and all you have to do is add the hamburger, and then it's like a whole meal in just a few minutes. Here's some informative HH websites: http://www.bettycrocker.com/prodandpromo/products/prod_hh.asp (official site) http://deluded.hypermart.net/sur3.html (a tongue-in-cheek look at exactly how helpful hamburger helper is....check out the cool hand logo...)

Originally posted by Cokies
Just so you know, Scotland was my favorite out of all the places I went. Edinburgh just might be the coolest city in the world. (You may ask about Glasgow, but I can't say much about it, since we merely drove through it). Inverness was pretty nice as well. Reminded me of home. AND your Deep Pan Pizza Company has the best pan pizzas in the world. I went there twice.

I also saw a road sign for your hometown as well. Helensburgh, correct? Gosh, I could go on forever about how great your country is...

Isn't Scotland the greatest? I'm so looking forward to going back someday! Cokies, me and you gotta trade stories! (That reminds me, I've gotta go resurrect the "Bootsy Over the Pond Thread" and finish that up someday!) I didn't eat at Deep Pan Pizza but I just loved Bella Pasta (ate there 3 times I think!)

And I saw a street sign for Helensurgh too! Mossopp, I don't remember exactly where, but it was in Glasgow, on the M8? roadway, or something like that.....

Originally posted by Mossopp
I wouldn't have said that the 'chilled beverage' situation in Scotland was that bad......but maybe that's just cos I'm used to it. You're right though - there is nothing worse than warm beer! Urgh!
You thought haggis was ok? I hate the stuff myself, but what's Hamburger Helper? Did you buy tonnes of Irn Bru like Bootsy did?
Edinburgh is ok but, trust me, Glasgow is better :D And where abouts did you see the sign for Helensburgh? I wanna know exactly how close you came to my (not so) glorious home town!

"Gosh, I could go on forever about how great your country is..."

Then please do. Don't let me stop you ;)
I'm really jazzed that the people who come here from other countries leave with such a good impression of this place. When were you over here? Was the weather good? We've been having a helluva lot of torrential rain these past couple of weeks so I hope you didn't get caught up in it.
Oh, and did the midges attack you?! :lol:

Thanks Boots for answering the Hamburger Helper question. I'm afraid I didn't get a chance to buy tons of Irn Bru. :)

I was literally in Scotland no more than a week and a half ago. (We spent the last five days or so in England)The sign I saw was about five to ten minutes North of Glasgow. It said "Helensburgh 5 miles" and it was pointing down a country road to the left. Familiar?

Regarding Glasgow, we did drive through the bad part, (I'm afraid I can't remember what the area was actually called, even though I remember our tour director telling us. I think it started with a "G"), there was trash everywhere and run down buildings.
Of course, I'm taking your word for it Mossopp, and maybe next time, I'll give Glasgow more of my time. If I could then, I would have!

The weather was decent. I recall it raining like crazy, but it was only when we were on the bus or it was at night. Most of the time, when we were out in the big cites or strolling around town, it was nice. It wasn't scorching hot like when we made our way to Bath and Stonehenge. (Stonehenge must be the most overrated piece of history ever...)

I'm afraid midges did not attack me. Even though I think I could have taken one on if I had to. :)

Oh, and Scottish people must be the nicest and coolest people in the world as well. Even though you can't understand what they're saying half the time! Honestly, they're great and I love em'. Like the lady at one hotel who kindly did some laundry for me at no expense!
Another great aspect of Scotland, and the UK in general is that 90% of the guys are attractive. Even if they're not, at least they know how to dress! (I must digress, that the accent makes a guy ten times more attractive than if he were merely American.) :)
You may disagree Mossopp,and I know you will, (for more than a few reasons), but if you lived with the American male population all your life, you'd understand.

Oh, and your public toilets work much better than those in Ireland and Wales, let me say...:D

Oh, and Bootsy, let's trade stories here! Or at your "Pond" topic. This is great, discussing travels, the good and the little bad. :)

I don't just want to go back to Scotland, I want to move there!

Originally posted by Cokies

Regarding Glasgow, we did drive through the bad part, (I'm afraid I can't remember what the area was actually called, even though I remember our tour director telling us. I think it started with a "G"), there was trash everywhere and run down buildings.


Unfortunately there are quite a few bad parts in Glasgow (as there are in every major city), but beginning with 'G'.......was it Govan perhaps?

Originally posted by Cokies

I'm afraid midges did not attack me. Even though I think I could have taken one on if I had to. :)

What's with you Americans? The midgie's don't seem to wanna bite you guys. What's your secret? :lol:

Originally posted by Cokies

Another great aspect of Scotland, and the UK in general is that 90% of the guys are attractive. Even if they're not, at least they know how to dress!

Geez - I dunno how on earth you got that impression!! Scots guys are 60% slob and 40% idiot. Trust me.

Originally posted by Cokies

Oh, and your public toilets work much better than those in Ireland and Wales, let me say...:D

Yeah, on the whole I'd have to agree with you there. But don't ever venture into the public toilets in Helensburgh - they are a rather disgusting exception to the rule!

Yeah, I reckon we should get the "Impressions of Scotland" theme going again. I'm really, really pleased that both of you had such a great time here and I wanna hear more of your thoughts.

Originally posted by Cokies
Regarding Glasgow, we did drive through the bad part, (I'm afraid I can't remember what the area was actually called, even though I remember our tour director telling us. I think it started with a "G"), there was trash everywhere and run down buildings.
Of course, I'm taking your word for it Mossopp, and maybe next time, I'll give Glasgow more of my time. If I could then, I would have!

It's too bad you didn't have more time for Glasgow. Of course I barely spent any time there either, just about a day and a half. But we managed to eat at the Willow Tea Rooms, which were nice, see the "armadillo", and some other interesting stuff. (I liked the one legged horse...I don't remember where exactly it was, but it was a sculpture of some cartoon character.

Originally posted by Cokies
(Stonehenge must be the most overrated piece of history ever...)

Interesting yo hear you say that Cokies. Now I don't have to feel too bad for not going there. I hear that you couldn't really get close to the stones, so I think that would kind of suck. I would want to touch them. We saw some standing stones in Scotland, and there we could actually touch them and climb on them and everything, not just gape at them from a distance.

Originally posted by Cokies
(I must digress, that the accent makes a guy ten times more attractive than if he were merely American.) :)

:rotflmao: :D

Originally posted by Cokies
Oh, and your public toilets work much better than those in Ireland and Wales, let me say...:D

Oh, and Bootsy, let's trade stories here! Or at your "Pond" topic. This is great, discussing travels, the good and the little bad. :)

I don't just want to go back to Scotland, I want to move there!

The toilets worked alot better than they did in London too! In London I ran into lots of what we called "mega-flush" toilets, where the force of the flush was so strong it spewed up toilet water at you if you were standing within like 5 feet of the toilet! ugh!

I don't care where we trade stories. Although I do need to bring up my old post and finish my stories, I still haven't written about Edinburgh or anything.

And I kind of want to move there too! Alot of people in America say they are moving to Canada whenever they get frustrated with life here, but I stand out by saying I'd move to Scotland! Or maybe the Netherlands.

:lol:
60% slob and 40% idiot? You should come here where the ratio is much, much worse.
I swear, the toilets, even toilets in the hotels we stayed in, wouldn't flush until somebody else went or ten minutes later.
And I'd always have to wipe off water from the toilet seat because of the previous flush. Heck, it could of been something else!

Bootsy, the mega-flush thing happened to me on the flight back. Water sprayed up all over the place. Very gross.

Those standing stones you were mentioning were sort of like the ones we saw near Swindon, England. At dusk, one night, while the guys played soccer in the field, the rest of us sat on them or on the hill watching the magnificent sunset. It was beautiful. (Sorry, Mossopp. England tangent there...;) )

Gosh, all I want to do is go back. Explore more, look around a bit more. Spend a bit time in good ole' Glasgow...
Someday, I'll go back.

Where those stones you mentioned in Swindon Stone Henge?
I only live about an hour's drive from there.

Originally posted by JethroSimpson
Where those stones you mentioned in Swindon Stone Henge?
I only live about an hour's drive from there.

It could of been. It was probably twenty or so minutes outside of Swindon, where we stayed. Sort of in the middle of nowhere. There was a pub and restuarant across the road from there as well, although I can't recall the name. Sound familiar?