Glasgow:  Shopping capital of Scotland

One of my favorite stops was Thorntons confectionery. It was hard to pass by without sampling local favorites including butter tablets, clotted cream fudge, chocolate-covered gingers or a "Vanilla Velvet" ice cream bar.

Many of the clothing and shoe shops had sales or two-for-one specials, to draw in shoppers already laden down with shopping bags.

Past the distraction of all that shopping, there is the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at the top of Buchanan Street. My initial destination, the McLellan Galleries, proved to be an interesting mini-exhibit of treasures that will return as part of the "Art Treasures of Kelvingrove" when the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum reopens next June after renovations.

Art enthusiasts may enjoy a visit to Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art, the Glasgow School of Art, the Burrell Collection or the Museum of Transport.

And an American connection is part of the history of Merchant City, considered one of the coolest places to shop in Glasgow. Funky boutiques, bars and restaurants are housed in buildings that used to be home to the tobacco lords who made their money importing tobacco from Virginia in the 18th century.

If you go:

BUCHANAN GALLERIES: Just one of the many shopping malls in the city center of Glasgow, Scotland. By underground, take the Buchanan Street Station exit. If arriving by train, Central Station is a five-minute walk away.

McLELLAN GALLERIES: 270 Sauchiehall St. Showing the "Art Treasures of Kelvingrove" exhibition until November 2005. Free admission.

CITY SIGHTSEEING GLASGOW: http://www.scotguide.com. Tours depart from south side of George Square. Passengers may hop on or off at any designated stop around the city.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.seeglasgow.com or http://www.visitgla.com.

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