An Ionian seaside town, Avola is a mix of old and new. The town focuses heavily on the sea, with its history as a tuna fishing port. Today, the remains of the Vecchia Tonnara at the wharf are a stone backdrop to the sandy beaches. Avola dates back to a pre-Greek people called the Sicani.…
Located about 11 kilometres north of Catania, it is the perfect little commune to visit during the ottobrata – the local festivity that occurs every October here in Sicily, celebrating the fruits of the land: frutti di terra. The first encounter went wrong already 🙂 Approaching the booth with fruit, I have noticed quince – one…
If something is worth visiting in life, it is the Aeolian islands. Becasue it makes you think about winter in the south. It makes you think about simplicity of life. And it makes you realise how not to treat the tourists: just some bags of potatoes that need to be shipped from one island to…
I haven’t had a chance to spent a bit more time discovering this city. But just a glimpse and it made me think to re-visit and make it’s due. When the time will come, I promise to update with more photos. But for now, enjoy the story 🙂 Several civilizations settled in Milazzo and left…
I didn’t expect much from this harbour city, to be honest. I knew they have a great beer – Messina cristali di sale: a great Sicilian beer brewed since 1923 and one of the most loved Italian beers. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy.…
Senlis is a city in the northern French department of Oise, Hautes de France. Cute, medieval and charming. It offered us great peek into history: The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived in Senlis, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly forest. Senlis is situated on the river Nonette. Senlis was known in early Roman imperial times as Augustomagus. During the 3rd century, a seven-meter…
The Château de Chantilly is one of the finest jewels in the crown of France’s cultural heritage. It is the work of a man with an extraordinary destiny: Henri d’Orléans, Duke of Aumale, son of the last King of France, Louis-Philippe. This historic French château located in the town of Chantilly, Oise, about 50 kilometres north of Paris. The site…
The Scala dei Turchi is a rocky cliff on the coast of Realmonte, near Porto Empedocle. It has become a tourist attraction, partly due to its mention series of detective stories about Commissario Montalbano. The cliffs lie between two sandy beaches and are a limestone rock formation in the shape of a staircase, hence the name. The latter part…
Picture this episode: we parked on a roundabout. Some local approached us (my brother and me) – we thought because we should have not park in a roundabout, but then again they all did, so… in fact the guy just wanted to ask if we have cigarettes. Ok Sicily, episode n. At the roundabout is…
Enna or as the Sicilians would say Castrugiuvanni; is a city located roughly at the center of Sicily, towering above the surrounding countryside. It has earned the nicknames belvedere (panoramic viewpoint) and ombelico (“navel”) of Sicily. At 931m above sea level, Enna is the highest Italian provincial capital. To arrive there is not a piece of cake. Passing the two viaducts Morello and…
From its dramatic natural surroundings to its historic churches, Sicily has something to offer every traveler. The island of Sicily is a unique part of Italy. Its craggy mountains, wild vegetation, and omnipresent sea have fired the imagination of poets, wayfarers, and visitors alike. Though it is one of 20 Italian regions, its history under…
Aci Castello and the other Acis around are destinations not to be missed in Sicily, especially for lovers of Greek myths and literature. It is here that the poets Virgil and Ovid gave birth to the myth of Galatea and Aci and their love story. In the second half of 1100 the town was destroyed…
They call you love in Manchester. The taxi driver, the lady at the cashmashine, your friend that recently moved to Manchester, the guy who wants randomly pay your drink at […]
They call you love in Manchester. The taxi driver, the lady at the cashmashine, your friend that recently moved to Manchester, the guy who wants randomly pay your drink at the bar etc…
The vibe is so good.
I arrived a bit before midnight to the airport at needed to take the taxi to my hotel.
I was happily surprised that Little Black Cab is waiting for me in front of the building. 🙂
And there is so many room in this car.
My hotel was a bit far away from the city – in Stockport. So I was taking a Doubledecker and explored a bit the suburbeans of Manchester. It is part of Greater Manchester and where the River Goyt and Tame merge to create the River Mersey.
When I arrived to the city, my first stop was the Picadilly Gardens – there she was, the Queen Victoria sitting in her glory of imperialism. So I got my first hint – the city was developed under her reign.
I was caught with Saturday vibe, music in the street and youngsters scrolling down the center having their coffee-to-go. I shopped around, had my fast brunch and continue to discover.
The second stop was Town Hall – a Victorian, neo-gothic municipal building from 19th century.
I continued my way to more victorian epoche – The John Ryland’s Library. Now, if you thought Manchester is culturally empty – you are wrong! This a late-Victorian neo-Gothic building on Deansgate was opened to public in 1900 by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands.
Enriqueta Augustina Rylands
This victorian lady, meaning in seek for education got the special collections believed to be among the largest in the United Kingdom from medieval illuminated manuscripts and examples of early European printing, including a Gutenberg Bible, the second largest collection of printing by William Caxton, and the most extensive collection of the editions of the Aldine Press of Venice – aVenetian humanist, scholar, and educators press foundation (probably the first in Europe) that printed Bible and literature wworks in local veneto language rather than in Latin due to mass education of people.
In the times of Reformation, King Henry VIII executed both Protestants and Catholics who challenged his reformation (Anglican Church). This included prominent figures like his Chancellor Thomas More who wrote Utopia, about the political system of an imaginary, ideal island nation.
This public executions were suppose to serve as warning to others but they attracted the crowd from many cities across England.
Example of print machine in The Library
With discovery of printing press the Lutheran’s message helped to spread across Europe and further to new continents.
Clearly it was a war in print as Luther printed many pamphlets and documents.
Below the examples of Martin Luther’s thesis agaist the Indulgence – (in the Roman Catholic Church) a grant by the Pope of remission of the temporal punishment in purgatory for money, widespread during the later Middle Ages.
Following this path, in 19th century Manchester became the world’s first great industrial city. It gained international reputation during the 19th century industrial revolution for making cotton and other textiles.
Many radical and innovative ideas about politics, economics and science have emerged from this complex urabn community. Hence I visited People’s History Museum where the story is told in following way:
Manchester was the world’s first great industrial city. It gained an international reputation during the 19th century for making cotton and other textiles. As the production was spreading, the need for more people working on machines was needed but these were working in very poor conditions, 16 hours per day and child labour was a very known fact.
In 1819 during the peaceful demonstrations requiring the right to vote, 18 people were killed in the Peterloo Massacre.
The Industrial revolution was a period of great change which brought to Great Reform Act and Thories and Wigs and Liberals.The museum describes the roots of todays British political parties and establishment.
The museum is former storage warehouse so I was making photos of rests of old machines, the dam door etc as it is placed at the river Irwell at Salford – former commercial area with many boats taking goods and warehouses.
Canals and later railways provided efficient methods of transporting goods. The invention of steem machine resulted with first railway between Manchester and Liverpool.
Over the past 200 years Manchester have developed into a vibrant community. Individuals such as John Dalton achieved world – wide recognition for their contributions to science and technology. Hence first atom was split in Mnachester, first computer comes from Manchester University etc.
Several important political campaign started in Manchester including the sufragette movement.
Frydryk Chopin (polish/ french composer) enjoyed his time in Manchester too. He visited the city a ear before his death in age of 39. He performed despite his great illness insisting to allow people of England to enjoy his music.
In tribute to Frydryk Chopin
Continuing through Deansgate – a main road through the city centre I went to Manchester Cathedral and Medieval Quarter. My heart wanted to melt as I adore meadieval times and cozy wooden bars.
The Cathedral was currently under renovation, especially the tower.
But this absolutely amazed me 🙂
I needed to buy myself a book 😀 😀
Talking about churches, I ended up in some Hidden Gem and entered the St Ann Church. The Holy Stations are completely 21st century – never seen so far and it is great mystery to discover the content even though is well known.
The last tourist site I visited was the National Football Museum. I entered there for free. Don’t understand how but I was with some children’s group and we all entered and started to admire gained trophies of England.
I finished my day in a pub drinking some local beer from Stockport ofa funky name: Dizzie Blonde. That night the Manchester United and Newcastle were playing football and the rivalry was quite big. The crowd in pub was merry and cheerful. 🙂
The next day I visited Liverpool.
But if anyone ever asks me to choose: Manchester is love!
They say the coldest places are often the warmest human-wise. I guess your “love” experience proved it to be right. I suggest you visit Montreal and see if you get to the same treatment. I guarantee you will have an amazing time!
I love the artistic pictures and historical artefact. Nice work here giving me a brief history about things i need to know about manchester. I hope to visit there soon.
Manchester has so much history and the architecture is amazing ! I would love to pay a visit to the history museum and read about all of heir history. Our histories (India and the UK) are very closely linked although they’re seen from a very different perspective.
I’m so glad I came across this post! I visit the uk very often and I stay for long periods of time but I have never been to Manchester! Look at that architecture! Eyegasm!
The buildings of this country are so beautiful. Would love to visit sometime. I have heard that Manchester has some amazing pubs and bars. Is it true? If yes then would love to read about them.
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So good to search out any person with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this web site is something that’s wanted on the internet, someone with a bit of originality. useful job for bringing one thing new to the web!
Thanks for this wonderful article. One other thing is that nearly all digital cameras come equipped with a new zoom lens that enables more or less of a scene for being included by way of ‘zooming’ in and out. These kind of changes in the aim length are usually reflected from the viewfinder and on significant display screen right at the back of this camera.
My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell and gave
it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She
put the shell to her ear and screamed. There
was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I
had to tell someone!
I love all the architecture. I would have a blast walking around here and exploring this city!
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They say the coldest places are often the warmest human-wise. I guess your “love” experience proved it to be right. I suggest you visit Montreal and see if you get to the same treatment. I guarantee you will have an amazing time!
LikeLike
I love the artistic pictures and historical artefact. Nice work here giving me a brief history about things i need to know about manchester. I hope to visit there soon.
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It’s a beautiful place and all the clicks are awesome.. Wish I could also visit there sometime..
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That is an interesting post. I will plan to visit there.
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Beautiful architecture! Love this city!
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It looks like a lovely city! I’d love to visit it!
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wow… great pics. would love to be there 1 day. Thank you for sharing it.
Lots of Love from DIY Family
DIY Craftz – https://diycraftz.com
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Manchester has so much history and the architecture is amazing ! I would love to pay a visit to the history museum and read about all of heir history. Our histories (India and the UK) are very closely linked although they’re seen from a very different perspective.
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Great article love. 😀
Manchester seems to be a great place to add to ones bucketlist.
Thanks for sharing wonderful photos.
More power to your blog.
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Thanks for the guide – I love the medieval stuff best! x
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I didnt have the time to visit Manchester when I was in the UK, but after seeing your pictures I know that i should come back soon!
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I’m so glad I came across this post! I visit the uk very often and I stay for long periods of time but I have never been to Manchester! Look at that architecture! Eyegasm!
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The buildings of this country are so beautiful. Would love to visit sometime. I have heard that Manchester has some amazing pubs and bars. Is it true? If yes then would love to read about them.
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Manchester looks beautiful. Going there some day for sure 🙂
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Beautiful Pictures, I love your writing style, keep travelling girl!
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nice pictures, its vety interesting ….it look wonderful
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Finally great travel Blog keep it up.
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Yes! Manchester = Love! I love that place. Have visited once, hopefully will get another turn soon!
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I have always associated Manchester with the Manchester United football team. Although through your pics I realise this place is a tourists paradise.
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Once a textile powerhouse, this city has grown by leaps and bounds. There is so much more to the city apart from the world famous Manchester United FC
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You are a crazy travel blogger
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Making plan…. Uk am coming
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Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So good to search out any person with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this web site is something that’s wanted on the internet, someone with a bit of originality. useful job for bringing one thing new to the web!
LikeLike
Thanks for this wonderful article. One other thing is that nearly all digital cameras come equipped with a new zoom lens that enables more or less of a scene for being included by way of ‘zooming’ in and out. These kind of changes in the aim length are usually reflected from the viewfinder and on significant display screen right at the back of this camera.
LikeLike
Hi there, I log on to your new stuff regularly. Your story-telling style
is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
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My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
LikeLike
Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell and gave
it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She
put the shell to her ear and screamed. There
was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I
had to tell someone!
LikeLike