Melody Jacob

I have been enjoying exploring Glasgow, and one thing I always enjoy is the bus routes and being able to make quick decisions about the next stop or the journey toward my destination. I never used to trust myself with reading maps, but thanks to God and GPS, I have improved significantly in navigating with maps since arriving in the UK.

Upon arriving at Buchanan Bus Station, I noticed a bus bound for Glasgow Central Station. The driver asked if I had a train ticket. I replied no, and he let me in. He was such a kind person to me. I arrived at the train station, purchased a round-trip ticket for £6.50, and received directions to platform 16.

Upon reaching the platform, I remembered I had been there before and didn’t like it. The smell was bad, and there was the sound of rushing water. From the look of things, it’s an old railway station. Nevertheless, I got on the right train when it arrived, and wow, I had a wonderful time riding it.

I was pleased when the train left the Glasgow Central underground station. By the way, I haven't mentioned how lovely I looked and how much of a stir I caused. If you’re in doubt, you can view my outfit here.

The internet wasn’t working underground, so I just stared at the empty train seats and kept writing.

My destination was Chatelherault Country Park, but I needed to first stop at the Chatelherault train station and then walk 12 minutes, which I did using Google Live View directions. As I wrote at 9:54 AM, I was thinking about breakfast because I hadn't eaten. I ultimately purchased a slice of red velvet cake for 3.50 pounds and a cup of tea for £3 at a pricey establishment in the park, which was not amusing.

I stumbled upon a bicycle competition, something I always wanted to see in person. There were different teams competing, including juniors and kids. The highlight of my day was the sunny weather as I strolled around the area, following the trails that led me to a water area filled with beautiful stones. I love stones and trees, and it was one of the most beautiful natural places in Scotland I have visited. I followed the trail and went to see the old Avon Bridge, which was also lovely. Walking back to the competition area involved climbing up hilly roads, but I felt satisfied seeing it as part of my exercise. I also enjoyed my time in the green area, which was a well-trimmed grass field, perfect for picnics and sunny dates.

Yesterday, I visited the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, which I planned as part of my weekend mini-tour. The day before, I cleaned my house, got new bed sheets, and bought scented candles from Tesco, which I'll share with you all later on the blog.

While I wanted to enjoy every bit of this experience, I also wanted to savor the view. So, while I was on the bus (I got a day ticket to move around), I set my phone aside, letting the music play as I looked around at the city. It was a sunny day, and I cherished every minute of the journey.

When I reached my bus stop, I got off in front of a charity shop, checked it out, and then walked down to the Riverside Museum. I had to use my map to navigate to the location and received help from a lovely woman too.

My flight was very early, and with the added stress of potentially missing it, I did not sleep well. I've learned that while early flights may be cheaper, I need to give myself a break from booking them. Despite that, the journey was smooth—both the flight and the bus ride to Dublin. Overall, it was a great trip, and I'm grateful for the safe travels.

I haven't slept well all week, and I was hoping to sleep when I get to the hotel before my friend arrives.

My airport experience went smoothly, and I have Easyjet to thank for the seamless flight. However, I attribute the overall safe journey to God, giving Him all the glory.

Upon arriving on the reservation my friend made, there was a booking issue that required me to wait for my friend to arrive and resolve it. She managed to resolve it even before she arrived, and we went back to the hotel to rest and refresh. Later that night, we wanted to explore Dublin and see what the city had to offer. I was excited for the fun we had visiting Cafe En Seine, a suggestion from a friend who lives in Dublin and joined us there. After a good night out, he drove us back to our hotel to ensure we got in safely. However, the night manager, Gabriella, stopped us to ask for our room number, which we provided. Despite explaining that the person with us wasn't staying in the hotel, she became even more angry and insisted that he leave the property. She also demanded that both of us pay for staying in the room we had already booked.

We told her that we had already paid and everything was settled; we had checked in earlier. However, she continued to insist that we needed to pay. This confusion arose because she wasn't listening to us. Eventually, we managed to show her the reservation, which she refused to look at, but then she said it was booked for only one guest, even though we had already checked in.

Despite our protests and attempts to clarify the situation, she remained adamant and accused us of lying. She even threatened to ask us to leave the hotel. We were surprised and frustrated by her refusal to let us sleep in the room we had paid for. My friend became angry and told her to stop making unnecessary statements. That's when she threatened to call the police on us, accusing us of trying to sneak a guy into our hotel room, escalating the situation further.

My friends became furious with her and asserted that she had no right to threaten us with the police. We had all our documents in order, and she was simply being rude and unreasonable. Despite our objections, she gave us two options: either pay an extra fee and breakfast or wait for the police to arrive. We chose to wait for the police.

In an attempt to resolve the issue, my friend suggested that if she didn't want to allow me inside the hotel, she would stay alone while I went to her friend's house to sleep, and in the morning we would sort out the issue. She refused and said both I and my friend could not go into the room we paid for. She also refused us from taking our things from the room.

We were taken aback when, despite having paid for our hotel room, we were denied access to it, even at 3 in the morning. The night manager called the hotel guards to prevent us from entering. One of the guards expressed disappointment in her behavior and advised us to remain calm, highlighting her unpleasant demeanor. Her disrespectful treatment of the guards, as if they were her subordinates, left a poor impression. When another guest was entering, she abruptly demanded their room number and then instructed them to come to the front desk to speak with her.

This woman appeared intoxicated with power. She went to the extent of suggesting that we had hearing problems and required hearing aids, which caught us off guard. I couldn't discern if her behavior stemmed from racial animosity or if she was simply a troubled individual in a position of authority.

My friend's friend thought that offering an apology might smooth things over. Yet, the moment he apologized, she became even more hostile. My friend also tried to ease the tension by apologizing, attempting to understand if Gabriella, the night manager, was having a rough day or if there was a misunderstanding. However, she remained firm, asserting her sole authority. Growing frustrated, my friend's friend raised his voice, labeling her as unreasonable. Meanwhile, my friend, Ebube, was getting angry. We had a confirmed booking, and it was clear that Gabriella was being wicked.

She even asked the security guard to deactivate our room cards. She demanded that we pay for breakfast, which we declined, leading to her insisting that we leave the hotel altogether.

 
In the end, we had no choice but to go to my friend's friend's house to spend the night. We did not want this to affect our little big trip, so we decided to relax, listen to music, and try to forget the ordeal. Despite not sleeping in the room we paid for, we managed to find joy.

The following day, we phoned ahead before heading to the hotel. We were invited to meet with the day manager, who calmly discussed the incident with us and apologized. Thankfully, everything was resolved, and we were able to enjoy the rest of our stay without any further issues.

As for my encounter with Gabriella, words can't fully capture the experience. However, one thing that stood out to me was how we handled the situation. Later that day, while chilling in the room with my friend, I played some music and reflected on how much we've grown. In the past, we might have refused to budge until our rights were acknowledged, but now we're more inclined to let things slide. There are always going to be unhappy people like Gabriella out there, but we didn't let her steal our joy. I genuinely hope she finds peace.

Special thanks to the morning manager and the front desk staff, who eventually resolved the issue and apologized for the inconvenience.

While sitting in the lobby the next day with my friend's brother, a lady approached us, introducing herself as another manager at the hotel. She expressed her desire to understand what happened. However, after explaining the situation, she insisted on speaking with the person who made the booking, stating she couldn't discuss matters with me since the booking wasn't in my name. This didn't sit well with me. Initially, she came off as defensive, which discouraged my friend's brother from engaging in conversation, as he felt it wouldn't lead anywhere. Later, my friend Ebube spoke to her. 

Do not wait for your friends to start having fun.
To me, summer is a fleeting season, a precious window of time where happiness shouldn't solely rely on others. Embrace the joy of solitude by venturing out on your own - indulge in a personal picnic amidst nature's embrace, savor the tranquility of night walks, and immerse yourself in the simple pleasures of life. While a company can certainly enhance these moments, finding contentment within yourself is the ultimate reward.

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