Note to email subscribers: Yes you've already read (or deleted) this post about Manchester. When I went to write reminders for my Portsmouth trip, the crappy Blogger app reverted my Manchester post to a 'key points' summary draft I wrote while I was travelling! Unfortunately for you, this blog is also for me so I'm re-posting the content, kindly recovered from one of you lovely people. Just delete this email, sorry. Will uninstall that useless app so this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. 15.12.2013.
-----
Every pore on my body gasped. Within a minute sweat was running down my nose and soaking my shirt. The road before me was getting brighter and brighter, overexposed like some instagram happy snap. I covered my eyes to try and block out the light of my own personal hell.
I was on the 8am bus to Manchester, for my big weekend away. I'd had two hours sleep after three bottles of red the night before, courtesy of an abysmal British Pub quiz performance by my flatmate, her friend and myself. I'd cancelled my birthday plans to get my act together for my trip, but come 9pm I was over it and wanted to celebrate! My birthday! It was a rough trip up.
Fortunately that woosiness passed, and a short time later the coach rolled in to Manchester.
Straight away, Manchester won me over. The first person to see me step off the coach exclaimed how dapper I looked in my winter coat. He told me again on my way back three days later, but I still didn't buy what he was selling.
I wandered along, passed the awesome trams and into a central square. I thought I should partake in the street food, being on a holiday of sorts, so I got a 'British Beef Burger'. Only after purchasing did I realise that "British Beef" is UK slang for 'rubbery garbage'. Hunger sated, I foolishly walked the block to Chinatown and ate a three course meal for £5.
I was on the 8am bus to Manchester, for my big weekend away. I'd had two hours sleep after three bottles of red the night before, courtesy of an abysmal British Pub quiz performance by my flatmate, her friend and myself. I'd cancelled my birthday plans to get my act together for my trip, but come 9pm I was over it and wanted to celebrate! My birthday! It was a rough trip up.
Fortunately that woosiness passed, and a short time later the coach rolled in to Manchester.
Straight away, Manchester won me over. The first person to see me step off the coach exclaimed how dapper I looked in my winter coat. He told me again on my way back three days later, but I still didn't buy what he was selling.
I wandered along, passed the awesome trams and into a central square. I thought I should partake in the street food, being on a holiday of sorts, so I got a 'British Beef Burger'. Only after purchasing did I realise that "British Beef" is UK slang for 'rubbery garbage'. Hunger sated, I foolishly walked the block to Chinatown and ate a three course meal for £5.
 |
| My Chinese Arch nemesis. |
I just wanted to get £3 dumplings, not a full meal, but it was so good! No harm done, I let a notch off the belt and waddled out of Chinatown, not the worse for the experience!
Wandered to St Peters square, outside the town hall of Manchester - was so lovely there. They've got fairy lights hooked up to the autumn trees, amazing buskers and there was a wedding there too - what a location!
Wandered to St Peters square, outside the town hall of Manchester - was so lovely there. They've got fairy lights hooked up to the autumn trees, amazing buskers and there was a wedding there too - what a location!
 |
| St Peter's square, and a tree. There was a dude re-doing the drains with a stonesaw, I cunningly cut him out see. |
Manchester reminded me a bit of Wellington, in that you can pretty much walk everywhere. I took this to heart and just wandered around, chancing upon theJohn Rylands Library. This is part of the Unviersity of Manchester, built in 1890.
 |
| Awkward. |
 |
| I took this just so I could say, 'it was impressive'. This is what happens when I'm alone. |
This library is beautiful, an amazing old building. It's a working library of the University of Manchester too, so upstairs there were a few people doing stuff, and a seminar going on.
Next was the People's history museum - Manchester was at the heart of the industrial revolution, and the Peterloo Massacre took place here, which was the kick starter for real democratic representation here. Reading about the struggle to get the vote from out of the hands of the bourgeoisie, it was striking how many parallels there are in terms of wealth disparity to the present day. There was one demonstration bulletin in a 200 year old newspaper in particular, whose rhetoric was identical to most of the '99%' material. Here's hoping we don't need a massacre to get change when that comes to a head again!
It was then time to go meet my hosts, so I boarded a tram to Heaton Park and met the lovely Jane, Lee, Ben and Keith the cat. Such a lovely bunch of folks, I had an absolute blast with them and they made me feel right at home.
 |
| Keith. |
They were heading to the local that evening for Shangrila, a monthly variety show of sorts, so I came along and it was great. Some great young bands and some great comedy, including Pico the sponge:
 |
| Watch that link above, he was great! |
The morning saw me pop in to Heaton Park to enjoy some nature. This is a great big old estate, quite nice to look at! Heaps of cute dogs chasing cute squirrels to keep one occupied, and all the leaves changing - nice to relax. Patted a pug too! Top stuff.
The afternoon saw me head out to Docklands, a newly refurbished area of Manchester. It has no soul whatsoever, but is all quite tidy. Went to the Imperial War Museum North, a strikingly modern building. They've taken a personal, modern approach to being a museum. It might be a bit average as a stand-alone museum, but as a new perspective on things you already know I really liked it. They have projectors everywhere, and every 30 min or so they play a 5-10 min show, which takes over the entire main floor and projects throughout the building. It makes it much more communal than standard museum fare, and was really cool.
 |
| IMW North in the background there |
Across the canal I went to the Lowry as well, a modern art and entertainment centre. It's tidy enough, but even with this cute market out the front, the whole end of town was just dead. Silent earth.
 |
| Got a bit of this in there too |
A bit broken from the evening before, I spent the evening watching X-factor. Was actually hilarious, with Lee's alternative commentary livening it up plenty!
Sunday, my hosts were going to a statue unveiling over in neighbouring Timperley - Frank Sidebottom. I went along for something a bit different, and it was really cool - a local hero, a wonderful English carnival atmosphere flooded the town, was neat to be a part of!
Sunday, my hosts were going to a statue unveiling over in neighbouring Timperley - Frank Sidebottom. I went along for something a bit different, and it was really cool - a local hero, a wonderful English carnival atmosphere flooded the town, was neat to be a part of!
 |
| Some dudes with Mr Sidebottom |
In the afternoon I farewelled my hosts and went to MOSI - The Museum of Science and Industry. Some aspects were similar to the Science Museum in London - but their steam engine area was pretty amazing, a pretty good wee place to go on a rainy day. Unfortunately I was one day too early for the Antarctic Explorer exhibition - bugger!
 |
| Working industrial looms, they run demonstrations |
 |
| Happy modified Lancaster! |
A quick walk down Market Street and to see the Manchester Cathedral, then it was back on the coach to London.
Loved my time in Manchester, a great city and well worth a visit! My megabus cost me £18 return to London, for a 4.5hour non-stop journey. Daily tram passes are about £5.60 and get you everywhere no worries. Next time I'd be a bit more organised for the evenings, I was so lucky to be able to see some live music with my hosts, but there's a lot of music going on in Manchester to make the most of!
Loved my time in Manchester, a great city and well worth a visit! My megabus cost me £18 return to London, for a 4.5hour non-stop journey. Daily tram passes are about £5.60 and get you everywhere no worries. Next time I'd be a bit more organised for the evenings, I was so lucky to be able to see some live music with my hosts, but there's a lot of music going on in Manchester to make the most of!
 |
| The Hilton Hotel, from MOSI - reminded me a lot of the citadel from Half-life 2, amirite nerds?! |
 |
| Market Street |
 |
| The Central Library - unfortunately being refurbished, but I bet it's amazing, what a cool building! |
