Rival Cities

View of Edinburgh Castle, Old and New Towns from Calton Hill

Glaswegians’ opinion of Edinburgh mirrors how Portlanders feel about Seattle: a smug feeling of superiority hiding a slight inferiority complex. Just imagine Portland and Seattle only an hour apart. Edinburgh has its iconic castle, the Scottish Parliament, the royal jewels of Scotland, a bevy of national museums, and one of the Queen’s official residences. It’s grander, cleaner, and has more of a feeling of gravitas. But Glasgow residents will tell you it lacks the soul, joie de vivre, and friendliness of their city. As we’ve heard more than once: “In Glasgow, people will ask you if you’d like to have a cuppa tea. In Edinburgh, they say, ’you’ve had your tea already, haven’t you?'”