Glasgow is situated in west central Scotland on the River Clyde. The area has been inhabited since pre-historic times; it was most likely first populated because it was a good location for salmon fishing. The name Glasgow comes from the Cumbric words "glas cau" which mean green hollow. It became known as Glasgu around 1116. The city began to grow when it was made a bishopric by King David I of Scotland and further expansion took place after the founding of the University of Glasgow in 1451.

The most current population estimates for Glasgow are 58,690 in the city itself; including the surrounding areas and towns such as Cumbernauld, the population of Glasgow stands at 2.3 million which is 41% of Scotland's population. Temperatures in Glasgow are reasonably temperate; winters in Glasgow are usually damp and cold with an average temperature of 1C (33F) and the average temperature in summer is about 20C (68F).

Glasgow is Scotland's financial center and its largest retail centre. The city is served by two international airports; Glasgow and Prestwick.

Glasgow has many sites and attractions to offer the resident and the tourist. Some of the most popular tourist sites are Glasgow Cathedral (also known as St. Mungo's Cathedral), Glasgow Science Centre, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Princes Square. Glasgow is also the home to several universities and schools. Some of those include the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonia University, and the University of the West of Scotland. Glasgow also has a vibrant theatre presence. The Royal Academy of Music and Drama is located in Glasgow also; famous graduates of the school include David Tennant, Patrick Doyle, Alan Cumming and Robert Carlyle.

Glasgow has lots of museums and art galleries that attract tourists. The Burrell Collection in Pollok County Park highlights the collection of Sir William Burrell and his wife; over 9,000 works of art that were donated to the city of Glasgow in 1944. The Museum of Transport is also another popular Glasgow tourist attractions and attracts half a million visitors a year. It was founded in 1964 and features vehicles from bicycles to tram cars. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on Argyll Street. The gallery has been open since 1901 and received approximately one million visitors a year; admission is free.

I have a many ties to Glasgow. My grandmother lived there while I was a child and I remember almost weekly visits from our home in Cumbernauld to see her. My grandfather worked in the Clyde Shipyards before I was born. And, the year before I moved to Canada with my family my sister, mother and I lived with my grandmother in her huge Hill St. tenament apartment. She lived near the University of Glasgow and took in student lodgers. I also still have a lot of family in the city and sadly have only visited once since I moved to Canada. Visiting Glasgow again is definitely in my long-term plans. I hope you will consider doing the same.