by Fiona Ngarachu

Created on: November 06, 2009

Insiders guide to Glasgow

Glasgow city is the second largest city in Scotland after the capital Edinburgh. It started out as an industrial town but has grown to become a financial as well industrial hub. It has the envious position of combining the big city life with a rural atmosphere as the countryside is literally minutes away from the city. For a student or a traveller on a budget Glasgow is the city to be. From reasonable accommodation to low cost shopping and inexpensive nights out what more could a person ask for?

Shopping.

The household mega store IKEA is just 40 minutes by bus from the city center for those interested in getting a few things for home. Within the city center the main shopping district is clustered around the central George square. From there you could take a stroll down Sauciehall to H&M or go back trough Argyle Street to Marks and Spencer, Clarks and Debenhams. And for those who are really looking to beat the credit crunch you can't go wrong with Primark which is also on Argyle Street. There is something for every taste, budget and size. Being a size 16, I was quite pleased to find a speciality store that caters for ladies with curves!

There are major supermarket chains located in the city center as well as in the suburbs that offer a range of food and household goods at competitive prices. What takes the cake though is the little corner shops that offer you a little flavour from home. Imagine my surprise when I found a can of original "Tusker" Kenyan beer in a little corner shop. Take the time to walk around and you will end up feeling right at home.

Food and drink.

After a hard day of shopping there are countless places to grab a bite. If you are stuck for choice the perfect place to stroll around is merchant city in the very heart of Glasgow. It is called merchant city because of all the bars, restaurants and shops located within 10 minutes of each other. And to narrow the choice even further is my favourite spot called merchant square. This indoor quadrangle has a variety of bars and restaurants. My favourite is this little Italian restaurant with actual Italian waiters! Talk about authentic! The language barrier may be a problem when you are ordering your meal, but you are most definitely guaranteed a genuine Italian meal with all the flavour, trimmings and ambience to boot. Merchant Square is an ideal place to eat out in the winter. Its cobbled floor and high ceiling give the illusion of an idyllic summer cafe. The central

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