Friendly city shines in the sun

It’s the Games that announced itself on the world stage amid an explosion of colour as bright as Team Scotland’s controversial tartan get-up.

So it is little wonder the host city has undergone its own transformation aided by an uncharacteristic heatwave.

Gone is Glasgow or Raintown as it’s known as a dreary metropolis. In its place has stepped forward a carnival city basked in sunshine and heaving with pavement culture where even the legendary taxi drivers are moaning less. And it’s a change that is not going unnoticed.

“It’s been remarkable,” says secondary school teacher Martin McCormack. “There’s a great atmosphere. I just hope it doesn’t disappear with the athletes next week.”

The 40-year-old spoke to The Sunday Post in Glasgow Green which is home to a week-long Games party before heading off to watch the hockey at the purpose-built stadium nearby. He’s joined by his brother’s family who have travelled from Nepal. They leave for home today and will miss Martin’s star Commonwealth turn as a closing ceremony cast member on August 3.

After giant Tunnocks Tea Cakes, gay kisses and baton mishaps at the opening ceremony, what does next week’s spectacular have to offer?

“I couldn’t even tell you if I wanted to we don’t start rehearsals until next week.”

His sister-in-law Reena Wills, a mother-of-two from Nepal, was last in the city eight years ago. She says Glasgow’s makeover brought into sharp focus yesterday as the largest flotilla ever seen on the River Clyde sailed into the city has been immense.

She said: “You wouldn’t believe it’s the same city. Last time I was here it was cold, grey and a bit miserable. But it’s not just the weather the atmosphere is warmer too.”

Mairi Lawson has seen the dramatic transformation first-hand, working in the nearby Templeton Business Centre, which used to home Glasgow’s iconic Templeton carpet factory.

The amateur hockey player is in town with team-mates from her hometown club Eskdale Hockey Club to watch the world’s elite.

She said: “Visitors don’t know what’s happened here. The east end has changed beyond comprehension.”

Buchanan Street is less than a mile away from Glasgow Green but could be mistaken for Barcelona’s main thoroughfare, Las Ramblas.

It has been taken over by a caf culture of people-watching and al fresco glasses of wine on sun-drenched city boulevards.

“It is like being on holiday,” says Stewart McDonald, a 34-year-old police officer from Hamilton. “There is just a great vibe you don’t usually get. My fiance Jill Walker and I wanted to come and experience it first-hand. It doesn’t happen every day.

“It certainly helps that the sun is out usually when there’s something big planned the dark clouds descend!”

Like the 15,000 volunteers, dubbed Clydesiders, Margaret Morrison a guide based in George Square wanted to be part of this unique moment in Glasgow’s long history.

She said: “It’s certainly buzzing. In all my years working in the city it’s never been so alive or friendly.

“Gallus Glaswegians are more than willing to help visitors. It’s just sometimes they are a bit misplaced that’s why we are needed!”

The city’s hospitality is something that has blown away Aussie Ian Gibbs. The 57-year-old from Perth travelled across the world to see nephew Ryan Bailie come fifth in the Triathlon at Strathclyde Park on Thursday.

But prior to that he faced a logistical nightmare picking up tickets for the opening ceremony before a kind local stepped in.

He said: “We ended up traipsing around the city getting passed from pillar to post. We waited in the queue at Celtic Park for an hour before a woman told us we had to go somewhere else.”

He said he was “starting to panic” when a couple in the queue behind them offered to chauffeur them to the right place to collect the tickets.

“They said they’d drive us to get the tickets before taking us to our B&B in Lanark and then back into Glasgow for the ceremony!

“It was completely out of their way. We were blown away. We didn’t even get their surnames to thank them so I guess I can do that now thanks Brian and Pauline!”

By night too the city has been transformed.

Gordon Street has been throbbing to the sound of buskers, party music and excited chatter coming from the massive outdoor dining area that has taken it over.

In Royal Exchange Square flirty young things dolled up to the nines have been fuelling a cosmopolitan party atmosphere rare to these parts.

While the London Olympics may already have laid claim to the title “Friendly Games” two years ago, something similar surely awaits Glasgow.

And while the usual dark clouds descended yesterday, one thing was for sure it’s going to take more than a bit of rain to dampen the spirits in this carnival city over the next week.