Loch Lomond and Glasgow's West End, Scotland

Somehow, Glasgow has gotten a bad name.  From what I read in the travel guides saying it was the industrial, not as interesting alternative to Edinburgh, to other tourists and people in Edinburgh and England saying, don't go there, there's nothing to see and its DANGEROUS, Glasgow is taking an unfair beating.  On the contrary, it was incredibly fun, from walking around shopping at thrift stores and eating at restaurants and coffee shops like this:

The owner is serving tables and making coffee.  Fun guy and amazing coffee.

 Glasgow also has an efficient subway which also happens to be the third oldest underground in the world after London and Budapest.  Thanks to the subway and connecting to the already awesome train system in the UK, we trained out of the city and up North a bit to Loch Lomond.  It is surrounded by hills and as you can see, you can get in the cold ass water if you brave the rocks barefoot. :D

It might be better to enjoy from the shore and let these cuties, who are used to it, do the swimming.  I can always swim when I get home to California.

Or take a boat or ferry. Hey, why not? Oh, because we were too late. Oh yeah.  Well, they sure looked fun!

At least the water-side cafes and food tents were open late enough to eat some greasy Spanish and Greek food, Scottish Style!

On the east side of the loch, there is a park with a huge grassy hill (not knoll!) to lounge and read, picnic, take in the uncommonly sunny weather.

And there's even a castle at the top of the hill, to top it all off.  Unfortunately, it's closed, at least at this writing, so all we could do was admire from outside and take pictures.