After Some Enchanted Evening - To the City of Canals
Posted: Thursday, 28 December 2006 |
Typing up this, I can see out of the window - and yes, the midges are there again. What is happening to our seasons??
Anyway, trying to catch up with the gaps in my blog. After we had a few days before going away. Look at all the fuss about Heathrow and Gatwick being fog-bound recently. Sumburgh was affected for weeks. And we couldn't get on a bus or a train.
To avoid this we decided that we would fly down to Birmingham a couple of days before.
Quite a culture shock going from the serenity of Shetland to the UK's second city!!! I was astounded by the multiculturalism of the city - as well as the throngs. Especially in the street market - and of course, it didn't take me long to find a stall selling second-hand CDs. Meanwhile, Consort seemed to get a lifetime's supply of handbags for about 15p.
Being big kids we went to Cadbury World - and yes we got free chocolate, and no, it didn't last long! You could smell the chocolate in the air as we approached Bournville.
We also visited the National Sea Life Centre which was great. Very well designed to take as much advantage of the space. I was utterly fascinated by a glass tunnel through one huge tank where you could watch turtles and (small) sharks swimming beside above you and underneath you.
Prior to arriving in Birmingham, neither Consort nor I had been aware of the extent of the canal system in the city. More canals than there are Venice apparently. Great for a wee stroll through the city centre - away from the traffic and plenty of wee cafes.
One gut I spoke to on a barge had come all the way up from Gloucestershire on his barge.
For us the Bull Ring Shopping Centre was daunting. Absolutely massive - and, of course, we bumped in to a fellow Shetlander amongst the many 1000's that were there.
Consort was in "shop-till-you-drop" mode. I was content with a quick look in a bookshop then chill-out on a bench overlooking St Martin's Church.
Being in the curry capital of the western world meant that we just had to go for an Indian. But which one? Luckily, Consort had been speaking to a medical student and she recommended one in the Harborne area of the city. We would neve have found it on our own. Down a dark alley and up some steps. But inside the food was marvellous and the service was first class. Would definitely go there again.
But a plane had to be caught in the morning.....
Anyway, trying to catch up with the gaps in my blog. After we had a few days before going away. Look at all the fuss about Heathrow and Gatwick being fog-bound recently. Sumburgh was affected for weeks. And we couldn't get on a bus or a train.
To avoid this we decided that we would fly down to Birmingham a couple of days before.
Quite a culture shock going from the serenity of Shetland to the UK's second city!!! I was astounded by the multiculturalism of the city - as well as the throngs. Especially in the street market - and of course, it didn't take me long to find a stall selling second-hand CDs. Meanwhile, Consort seemed to get a lifetime's supply of handbags for about 15p.
Being big kids we went to Cadbury World - and yes we got free chocolate, and no, it didn't last long! You could smell the chocolate in the air as we approached Bournville.
We also visited the National Sea Life Centre which was great. Very well designed to take as much advantage of the space. I was utterly fascinated by a glass tunnel through one huge tank where you could watch turtles and (small) sharks swimming beside above you and underneath you.
Prior to arriving in Birmingham, neither Consort nor I had been aware of the extent of the canal system in the city. More canals than there are Venice apparently. Great for a wee stroll through the city centre - away from the traffic and plenty of wee cafes.
One gut I spoke to on a barge had come all the way up from Gloucestershire on his barge.
For us the Bull Ring Shopping Centre was daunting. Absolutely massive - and, of course, we bumped in to a fellow Shetlander amongst the many 1000's that were there.
Consort was in "shop-till-you-drop" mode. I was content with a quick look in a bookshop then chill-out on a bench overlooking St Martin's Church.
Being in the curry capital of the western world meant that we just had to go for an Indian. But which one? Luckily, Consort had been speaking to a medical student and she recommended one in the Harborne area of the city. We would neve have found it on our own. Down a dark alley and up some steps. But inside the food was marvellous and the service was first class. Would definitely go there again.
But a plane had to be caught in the morning.....
Comments
Wonder if this barge floats Ruthodanort's boat?
Muness from Unst
Nei, takk, Muness.
Ruthodanort from Unst
She has her own Viking longship.
Soljey from Shetland Mainland
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