Manchester
It would be hard to imagine a bigger change than from the peace and slow- moving life of the canals to the bustling city of Manchester with its incredible number of newly- finished, part-completed and just started building sites - Commercial blocks, shopping malls and appartment blocks ranging in height from just a few storeys if in an older, renovated building such as a church or library, to the second tallest building in Britain with 65 floors, 27 of them being the Hilton and the rest appartments!
I have to admit that for the first few hours I was seriously thinking of immediately heading to the Lake District, but as I sit in a pub garden in one of the city's quiet alleys chatting to two lovely Georgian ladies, I am pleased I stayed.
My hotel is fabulously located in one of the few remaining medieval parts of the city. The hotel is certainly old, rather run down, but superbly located. My room is fine, though in need of some TLC, and to my amazement, there is an iron in it, on the wall. I am certainly the last person to appreciate this, but it did make me laugh! My view through the broken window pane is of the Cathedral, is definitely much more appreciated than an ironing board!
I did enjoy having an ensuite, though it is not much bigger than the shower room on the Narrowboat. The double bed was fantastic, though. It was so good to sprawl out across it after being in an exceptionally narrow bed, comfortable emough but tiny, for a week.
The weather has been incredible, for a city renowned for its rainfall. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this beautiful cathedral, just outside the hotel - doesn't it look fabulous with the clear blue skies anove its tower?
Its interior has been magnificently restored, and the organ is incredible, with 500 pipes. I was lucky enough to hear them briefly.
My hotel is on the left of the picture below, and this busy courtyard was packed yesterday, as people enjoyed the Monday Bank Holiday in the sun.
The lawns outside the national football Museum were strewn with half naked bodies, some very lobster- coloured, and kids played in the fountains! What a pleasant scene.
Today, I took a hop on and off bus to better see this massive city, which has now more or less joined to two other towns, Salford and Stretton. In the last decade, building has really boomed and the skyline is now full of cranes and scaffolding. Goodness knows where all the people are coming from to fill these expensive new appartments!?
Apparently, Maggie Thatcher agreed to spending money on the development of the area known as the Quais. It is an incredible place, housing several theatres and cinema complexes, absolutely enormous media complexes , museums, shopping malls, restaurants and residential zones.
I actually really enjoyed my couple of hours there, visiting the Lowry Theatre and Art Gallery. Not being heavily into art, and not knowing anything about L.S. Lowry, I was fortunately encouraged to watch a twenty- minute documentary about him and his paintings, and immediately became keen to see more of the gallery. There is even a film coming out this weekend about him, so it will mean much more now. I really loved his art.
Its interior has been magnificently restored, and the organ is incredible, with 500 pipes. I was lucky enough to hear them briefly.
My hotel is on the left of the picture below, and this busy courtyard was packed yesterday, as people enjoyed the Monday Bank Holiday in the sun.
The lawns outside the national football Museum were strewn with half naked bodies, some very lobster- coloured, and kids played in the fountains! What a pleasant scene.
Today, I took a hop on and off bus to better see this massive city, which has now more or less joined to two other towns, Salford and Stretton. In the last decade, building has really boomed and the skyline is now full of cranes and scaffolding. Goodness knows where all the people are coming from to fill these expensive new appartments!?
Apparently, Maggie Thatcher agreed to spending money on the development of the area known as the Quais. It is an incredible place, housing several theatres and cinema complexes, absolutely enormous media complexes , museums, shopping malls, restaurants and residential zones.
I actually really enjoyed my couple of hours there, visiting the Lowry Theatre and Art Gallery. Not being heavily into art, and not knowing anything about L.S. Lowry, I was fortunately encouraged to watch a twenty- minute documentary about him and his paintings, and immediately became keen to see more of the gallery. There is even a film coming out this weekend about him, so it will mean much more now. I really loved his art.
I did not feel I could come to Manchester without a visit to The Old Trafford. Mark and David were such keen Man U fans, so I went for them. How I wished they had been there too. It was a phenomenal tour, with a very enthusiastic guide, and the stafium, second largest in Britain was truly awesome. I cannot start to imagine the noise of over 65,000 voices at matches!
After a visit to the changing rooms, with all the t- shirts of these superstars hanging up there ready for them, it was time to run down the tunnel behind the kids to this absolutely fabulous view of the immaculate pitch!
I was thrilled I had taken the tour. It was the real highlight of the day.
Then we headed back into the centre, once again with this weird mixture of old and the new!
This Beetham tower is the second tallest in Britain.. Apparently, the architect lives on the entire top floor, with a central garden! At least it shows faith in the building!
So, now I am back in the square outside the hotel. There is a buzz of chatter around me! I guess I will head to the same place as last night, with a very good NZ wine and great curries. Hopefully, there will not be three girls talking about their colleagues all evening, with the word 'like' being used seemingly every other word!
What I do hope is that a brilliant young guy, Jimi, will be busking again. What an amazing voice he has!
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