There are not only iron-fisted leaders like former Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson, but also comedians like billy connolly. The city is as hard as steel on the outside, but gentle on the inside.
This is Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, even surpassing the capital Edinburgh. In the heyday of industry, there were world-class shipyards on both sides of the Clyde River, but with the decline of heavy industry, the city has been trying to rebuild itself for the past 30 years.
Scott taylor, CEO of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said that Glasgow has now become a typical representative of "how to adjust the urban economic structure".
Except for more than three today. In addition to 20,000 people engaged in tourism, Glasgow is also a low-carbon technology center. SSE, the largest renewable power generation company in the UK, has set up the European Green Energy Headquarters here, and Iberdrola/ScottishPower has also set up a global base here to develop offshore wind power facilities. Life science and engineering technology also occupy a good proportion in Glasgow's economy. The former brings together companies such as Life Technologies Corp, BioOutsource and SB Drug Discovery, while the latter attracts companies such as BAE Systems and Thales Optronics.
Taylor said that Glasgow has become a popular choice for European conference organizers. In the past 65,438+00 years, 3,323 international and domestic conferences were held, which generated 6,543,850.2 billion pounds of income for the local economy. The Scottish Convention and Exhibition Center is an important local convention and exhibition venue, with Clyde Theatre in the shape of armadillo and five exhibition halls. In addition, the newly-built Center for Modern Science, Technology and Innovation of Strasbourg University is also an important local venue.
In the "20 14 Cost of Living Survey" published by Mercer Consulting, Glasgow has become one of the cities with the lowest cost of sightseeing in the world. Locals are also proud to be praised as "the friendliest city in the world" by Condé Nast Traveler magazine and Rough Guide.
Cultural knowledge
In a city that advocates calling a spade a spade, people welcome an open mind. Steven Mail, a digital and social media investor in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, often goes to Glasgow because he travels all over the world. Meyer said: "In Glasgow, the key is not the occasion, but the ability to interact with people and establish contacts. It can be drinking, lunch or dinner. The key is that you have the ability to blend in with others. Scottish cold humor is also part of interpersonal communication. Humor and eating are the two main ways to build interpersonal relationships. "
At the meeting, be prepared to let everyone express their ideas. "There is not much emphasis on hierarchy here, and few people are pretentious." Meyer said, "In some places, I may wear an expensive watch to attend the meeting, but it is not necessary in Glasgow. People don't try to impress others, they just try to communicate with each other and find plans or ways to do business together. "
airport
As the main long-distance airport in Scotland, Glasgow International Airport is located 8 miles (65,438+03 kilometers) west of the city, and has opened about 65,438+065,438+00 flights to destinations all over the world, including Canada, the United States and the Middle East. A direct flight to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada has just been launched, and direct flights to Munich and Prague will be launched after June this year.
From the main terminal, you can see taxis and airport buses, which operate 24 hours a day. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the city center by taxi from Glasgow Airport, and the fare is about 23 pounds (35 dollars). Airport buses are cheaper. Service 500 airport bus minimum interval 10 minutes, and it takes about 25 minutes to reach the city center. The fare is 6 pounds. 50 pounds (10 dollars).
Glasgow Prestwick, the second airport in the city, is located about 32 miles (565,438+0 km) southwest of the city, mainly handling European routes. Most flights of Ryanair, a low-cost airline, take off and land here. The airport also has its own railway station. There are up to three trains to Glasgow Central Station every hour, which takes 50 minutes and costs 7 pounds. 8 pounds (12 dollars).
It takes 3 hours and 20 minutes and 4 hours and 30 minutes from Glasgow Central Station to Manchester and London respectively.
Currency problem
The paper money issued by the Bank of Scotland is equivalent to the paper money issued by the Bank of England, and it is the legal tender of the whole UK. However, due to the difference in format, it is sometimes rejected when used or exchanged outside Scotland. The best way is to change the notes issued by the Bank of Scotland into those issued by the Bank of England before you leave.
hotel
A few steps from Glasgow Central Railway Station, there is a five-star hotel named Radisson Blu. The hotel is well ventilated and modern in design, providing concierge service, parking service, quick laundry, high-speed Internet access and other services, as well as swimming pool, sauna and other facilities. The whole floor on the second floor is dedicated to meetings and activities, providing audio-visual equipment and a private bar. Downstairs, the tall atrium has a bar area, which can be used as a temporary living room.
Si Tong Pier is a 2-minute walk from the Scottish Convention and Exhibition Center, where the Hilton Garden Hotel has recently been renovated. The room rate of this four-star hotel starts from 68 pounds (104 US dollars) per night, free Wi-Fi is provided, and the room is equipped with an Apple computer. The hotel also has a fitness center with river view.
Dinner recommendation
To taste Scottish fish and seafood with French red wine, it is recommended to try Roganeau. It is close to the first-class Museum of Modern Art, and there are some fashion boutiques on Buchanan Street nearby. The interior decoration of this restaurant featuring oyster bar is quite artistic, which makes people feel the elegance of the luxury cruise ship built by Clyde in the 1930s. While enjoying delicious food here, you can also hear all kinds of gossip from local media, legal circles, business circles and entertainment circles.
You can also find more people to chat with in Babbitty Bowster, and if you are lucky, you can even listen to traditional music played by an open fire. This music bar is located in an old18th century house in the commercial city. It arranges music performances twice a week, but sometimes there are some spontaneous performances. It costs 22 pounds to enjoy a delicious three-course meal in the restaurant on the first floor. 50 pounds (35 dollars), including Scottish food such as lamb tripe.
playtime
Visit Glasgow's shipbuilding heritage and recommend going to the riverside museum on the Clyde River. This museum designed by Zaha Hadid has a serrated roof, where you can enjoy a wonderful overview of the transportation facilities in the 20th century, from trams, trolleybuses and motorcycles to classic cars, buses and motorcycles. There is a high-masted ship moored outside the museum, which is the last "Made in Clyde" sailing boat still floating on the water.
If you want to immerse yourself in the Art Nouveau movement initiated by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, I recommend you to go to Magintosh Museum of Hunter Art Museum. Makintosh H is an architect, designer and artist born in Glasgow. The museum completely restored the original appearance of his residence from 1906 to 19 14. Willow Tea Room is the most popular stop in "Magintosh Tour".
Goodwill reminder
When you go out, if someone calls you "pal"-whether you are a man or a woman-or someone asks you a series of questions, don't feel offended. Glasgow people like chatting very much and never know what shyness means.