Loch Lomond, Glasgow
We left Ft. William fairly early. Along route A82, we passed Loch Leven and plenty of beautiful mountain views. We stopped at the Glencoe Viewpoint to admire the view. Turned out that Marcin hikes this area (and others) often. He told me that the area behind the mountains we were admiring was even lovelier and that there were many hiking paths leading to many summits in the area.
We next stopped at Loch Tulla Viewpoint. The most interesting thing there was the stone cairn which was dedicated to the climbers who had perished in the area.
We went to the Green Welly Stop so that people could use the washrooms and buy food for our Loch Lomond cruise. In the fields near by were plenty of sheep.
We then drove to Inveruglas to board our boat and go for a leisurely cruise on Loch Lomond. The lake and its surroundings were so very peaceful. I got a kick out of the cave we stopped near. Someone had made sure we (and the hikers along the trails near it) would find it. "CAVE" written in white paint on a rock beside the entrance made sure you couldn't miss it.
The Inversnaid Hotel is a Victorian hotel next to Arklet Falls. I think staying there would be fabulous. Beside being right next to the falls, you are directly on the lake and there are many footpaths along the shore and up the hills to explore.
Our cruise came to an end at Tarbet. We had a short while to soak in the atmosphere of this pretty place complete with a good looking hotel. After, we were on our way to Glasgow.
We were met near Castle Street by a very knowledgeable local guide. He showed us the oldest building in Glasgow, the Provand's Lordship which had been built in 1471 and now houses a museum. He explained the significance of St. Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and Art. It houses a display of every known religion in the world. Prince Charles laid the cornerstone for the museum.
Before entering the Glasgow Cathedral, he told us the story of St. Mungo and how the miracles associated with him have become the symbols used in the Glasgow coat of arms... the robin, the tree (branches), the bell, and the fish with a golden ring in its mouth. It's a long but interesting story you might look up on the internet. Our guide told the story in a very interesting way.
Once inside the cathedral, we could admire the vaulted ceilings and the many decorative details. The present day cathedral is built upon the foundations of the original cathedral and you can find the original altar in a storey below the present day one. You are not in a basement however since the cathedral is built on a hill. A claim to fame for the cathedral is that several nooks or rooms in the old part of the cathedral were used in the filming of "Outlander", a popular TV series.
We left the cathedral and re-boarded the bus to have a quick motor tour of the city. A mural on a wall of St. Mungo, an 1888 terracotta fountain created by Doulton with Queen Victoria on the top, Templeton on the Green, the Peoples' Palace, Clyde Arc Bridge, a modern set of auditoriums, the Museum of Transport, George Square, the University of Glasgow and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum were all interesting enough to go back to. Ahhhh... the problem with whirlwind tours!
After being dropped off at our hotel (the Glasgow Hilton), Roberta and I went down some stairs (they said "39" but I counted 42!) to St. Vincent Street. We made our way to Renfield Street where, at Sarti, we met Adrienne for dinner. My seafood pasta was absolutely delicious. After our enjoyable meal, we walked back to the hotel and called it a night.
