Departure-Arrival-Navigating Heathrow International Airport-Arrival Glasgow
Scotland is probably one of my favorite places on earth to travel. The people, the food, the scenery, the history and the fact that my linage is Scottish makes a third trip to Scotland a way to wrap-up the final days of summer. Over a year ago we attended a performance, at the Escondido Performing Arts Center, of the Scottish performing group Highland Way, led by Brian Caldwell. I picked up a flyer on a trip they were offering to Scotland, touring to some of the places I wanted to see again and some places I would be seeing for the first time. The tour company was Isle Inn Tours, who handles tours to Ireland and Britain. Registering for the tour and the beginning of payments for two was quick and easy.
For this tour I would be traveling with my son Brian. I would recommend Isle Inn Tours if you were specifically traveling to locations in Britain and Ireland as I found them accommodating and responsive to questions, I had. One was the newest requirement for anyone arriving in Britain is know required to get a UK Visa Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) that is now required before entering the country. This online application and fee are easy to apply for and pay a small fee. The application is quickly approved and is electronically attached to your passport, verified when you go through security checks at Heathrow Airport, our first stop. The other major item to check is to make sure your passport is updated and will not expire any time during the trip.
Airfare for the trip was offered by Isle Inn Tours, or you could arrange your own airfare, the only requirement being you must arrive on Sunday, August 17th, to meet the tour group. Several of the tour members arrived several days earlier to adjust to the eight-hour time difference between San Diego and Glasgow, our starting point. We chose to go with the Isle Inn Tours airfare offer. About halfway through the payment process for the airfare I contacted a representative from Crystal Travel, the company handling the airfare sign-ups for the tour, and looked into upgrading to Business Class. I figured that I would like to make my last trip to Scotland, possibly, a special and relaxing way to begin the tour. The plane flight to Heathrow (London) was scheduled for 10 hours 45 minutes, a quick layover then a plane flight to Glasgow to begin the tour. Throw in a 45-minute cab ride to the hotel and the beginning of the trip was a long day. Why not make the beginning adventure a relaxing one. I also decided to not let Brian know we would be flying Business Class so he would be surprised when we boarded the flight in San Diego. The agent for Crystal Travel was extremely helpful every step of the way.
Our trip began on August 16th in the afternoon, with Brian’s girlfriend, Golnessa, driving us to Terminal 2 in San Diego. The check-in and luggage process for British Airways was quick and easy as well as the security TSA PreCheck departure checks. I always get pulled aside and electronically wanded because of my metal knee at security. After this we grabbed a relaxing lunch at Phil’s BBQ and off to Gate 51 for our on-time flight to Heathrow.
Brian was pleasantly surprised to find out that we were flying in the Business Class section with each passenger accommodated in their own cubical with seats that could extend to a reclining bed-like position as well as several storage areas for your “goodies”, a large screen TV, headphones, pillow and blanket, and a “Goody Bag” with socks, a mask, and toothbrush. As we were seated a flight attendant served orange juice and champagne and passed out a Club World menu to select our choices of drinks, dinner selections and breakfast selections. The original plan was to get some sleep, which I did for a little while, but I think Brian spent the flight watching a number of movies. I did watch “Working Man” with Jason Statham and “The Amateur” with Rami Malek. I started out with a Cranberry Blush Cocktail, I think Brian went with a beer. The menu featured a great food selection, compared to what I have received in the past on other airlines. For this flight I chose a Beetroot and Goat’s Cheese Salad, Aubergine Parmigiana Cappellacci and a Coffee Brownie Mascarpone Tart. Brian went with a Pastrami Cured Prok Fillet for the main meal. A tasty way to begin our trip.
Settling in for a relaxing flight, the captain announced that flying time would be quicker than originally listed, this time a 9-hour 49-minute flight to Heathrow. This extra time would allow more time in the crowded and extremely busy Heathrow airport. The flight over was smooth and very comfortable. I highly recommend flying this way at least once in your life if you get an opportunity. Arriving in Heathrow our next adventure was navigating the complex Heathrow system. We landed in Terminal 5, mainly for international flights. Terminal 5 has three sections, connected by a series of escalators and a tram system taking you to A, B or C sections. We landed at A and had to make our way to C, the domestic flights section. Luckily, we ran into an airport employee who went with us and directed us to the right escalators and right Tram section to get on. Off the Tram, we quickly made our way through a vast array of vendors and shops selling everything you can imagine. Another problem at Heathrow is your flight’s Gate is not listed until 45 minutes before boarding time begins. You are constantly looking at the electronic boards to see if you are in the right area where your flight might be boarding. Heathrow is truly an international airport with every language imaginable being heard as passengers walked by. We were a bit rushed and had made good time on the flight but still had to wait a while for our flight to Glasgow and Gate announcement as the flight was about 30 minutes late arriving from Glasgow. We also had to wait for a crew change once the plane landed at Heathrow. Finding we were at the correct Gate location, we finally boarded the British Airways flight to Glasgow, landing in Glasgow around 5:00 PM Scottish time.
Getting our luggage, we found a typical black English cab and were off for a fast-paced drive on the Scottish freeways to the downtown section of Glasgow and our four-star hotel, Voco Grand Central Hotel, arriving just before 6:00 PM. The large Voco Grand Central was originally the British Railway Hotel, opening in 1883. The hotel went through a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2021. Amazingly, this is the same hotel we stayed in years ago after arriving on train from Edinburgh. The Glasgow Central Station is a massive railway hub that was moved several times before settling in its final location. It was originally opened by the Caledonian Railway in 1879. The boarding area for the trains is surrounded by numerous coffee shops and eateries, including a Krispy Kreme Donut shop. Checking in at the hotel, we went to our large room on the second floor. There are 233 rooms in the hotel and long hallways are a unique feature, reminding us of the hotel hallway scene from the spooky movie “The Shining”.
Our goal was to make it to the Tempus Restaurant, in the Voco Grand Central, for a meet and greeting dinner with the people that would be our traveling group for the next nine days, prior to our departure home on August 27th. Mission accomplished, we made the dinner, met our new group of friends, received our Highway Way whiskey sipping glasses (always keep these with you) and toasted for a new set of adventures awaiting us in Scotland, “Slainte Mhath” (Slanj-a-va) Good Health. Then off for a good night’s sleep and to get our bodies on Scottish time.
In the next part the tour begins as we visit the Falkirk Wheel, Helix Park and the Kelpies and see the incredible Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
