Forwards and occasionally sidewards – everyday musings of life

I’ve learned over the years not to be deceived by hospitality brand names. In my experience, ‘Quality Hotel’ translates directly to “Tired, damp, and in desperate need of a full refurbishment.” Meanwhile, ‘Best Western’ frequently implies that the hotel’s plumbing and electrics were originally installed by a rogue cowboy. Naturally, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when checking into Motel 1 in Glasgow.


The word ‘motel’ immediately conjures up grim visions of bleak motorway service stations and flickering neon lights. As for being ‘Number 1’, I found myself wondering whether that meant it was the flagship pioneer of a growing chain, or if it genuinely claimed to be the single best motel in Glasgow. I was rapidly regretting not doing proper homework beforehand.


In the end, I would describe the room as resolutely ‘functional’. However, I’ve also learned that in simple hotel chains, everything usually just works. There are no fancy frills or well-stocked mini-bars, but warm water actually emerges from the shower when requested—and the tap doesn’t drip incessantly all night long. Small victories.


Given the city-centre location directly opposite a late-night karaoke bar, I wisely opted for a room on the seventh floor, praying the tuneful delights of Glasgow’s midnight revellers wouldn’t quite reach that altitude.

Once settled, I noticed an intriguing quote painted across the wall—not something I typically expect to encounter in a functional budget hotel. It was from St Augustine of Hippo:

“The world is a book, and those who don’t travel only read page one.”

Intrigued, a quick search revealed that this early theologian and philosopher lived from 354–430 CE in modern-day Algeria. It made me ponder just how much travelling one could actually accomplish in the 4th century to arrive at such a grandly insightful conclusion.

One thing is certain: he clearly never had to travel to Scotland via British railways. Had he done so, his famous quote would almost certainly have read:

“The world is a book, and those who don’t travel by train can stay at home and actually finish reading it.”