2012/13 Europe Adventure: 05/23/13

Council Building in Victoria Square

It was a nice leisurely morning with no major plans so we could relax a bit in the room before heading out for the day. It started out overcast and quite windy with spitting rain from time to time but ended up with bright, not too warm, but great sunshine and a few odd sun-showers.

Town Hall

New Library Building opening in 3 weeks. Very interesting design.

Mom in Victoria Square

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Monument with old library behind it

After leaving the hotel and getting a slightly lost we found ourselves with the help of a nice women at the supermarket on track and heading toward the canal.

As we trucked up Hill Street we saw in the distance a Megabus so we stopped to talk to the driver who, with his friendly colleagues told us that if we didn't want to have take the train tomorrow morning, which was included in our sail/rail package, to London and then take a taxi to Victoria station where we would then pick up a bus to go to Southampton we could just buy a Megabus ticket and pick up the Birmingham to Southampton bus at 10:05am tomorrow. Now as you can imagine that sounds like a much more appealing option then all the up and down trains/taxis' and buses and when we found out it was only 17 pounds each we really jumped on the deal. It would have been about 15 pounds for the taxi in London and then 14 pounds for the bus from London to Southampton so for a few dollars more it was well worth avoiding all the excess running around.

Sculpture of Boulton, Murdoch and Watt

Mom at the restaurant

When traveling, as I'm sure you all agree, choose the path of least resistance, stress, aggravation, etc. especially when the cost difference is so minimal.

The Views from the Canal Cruise

Mom listening intently to the guides comentary

Mom and the nice three men who joined the tour right before we pulled away from the dock

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We stopped at the public library to use the free internet and book Megabus online. The library is housed in a 1970's uninspired building but it turns out that in 3 weeks the Birmingham Library will be officially moved and open to the public in it's new modern, colorful and decorative new building around the corner. But for our purposes today the fact that all the old library offers is usage of their internet room and a small study space in the 2nd floor hallway was just fine. We in fact now each have our very own Birmingham Library cards, so exciting.

Mom played on one of their desktops as I booked the bus and did some other computer work and we just enjoyed the warmth in the very comfortable space. We stopped for lunch near the canal at Lloyd's pub which turned out to be fantastic and they have wonderful lunch specials so I was able to enjoy some great Indian food while mom had a panini and fries and what she calls one of the best cups of coffee she's ever had, and we all know she's very picky when it comes to coffee.

The canal boat trip was only a 5 minute walk away so off we went past some beautiful buildings and by the new library to I think the most beautiful part of the city. It used to be, as we were told by the guide, one of the worst areas in the city years ago but now it's all fabulous condominiums in refurbished old factory buildings and lovely bridges, walkways and cultural institutions like the Symphony Hall which is said to have the best acoustics in Europe and possibly the world. Tony Bennett and Liza Minnelli have been heard to say so.

Mom with an interesting split peanut shaped sculpture outside the Convention center

It was a small barge and the driver took us and three men, all Christian preachers, on a half hour tour around the canals which was really lovely especially when the sun came out. The men, two who are missionaries in Nairobi and one from Indiana, were only dressed in short-sleeves so they huddled in the back until the sun came out and they, along with mom who was all bundled up wearing a handmade knitted head cover given to her by our dear Irish friends Ellen and Frank for her birthday, came out to join me in the front of the boat to really enjoy the views.

The gentlemen were so friendly, wall that's to be expected as you can imagine with missionaries and we chatted the whole way around. They are here for a business meeting and the minister from Indiana came just for a day or so to visit with his friends before they all head back to their respective cities.

Centenary Square

We left the cruise and explored the Symphony Hall space and convention center and a nice man at the business center took us into the hall to see the space which is quite impressive and modern, only about 20 years old.

A little walk around the nearby garden and then back to the library to warm up and do a bit more computer work.

Stained glass window
Birmingham Cathedral

After leaving the library we walked about and in and out of some shops but thankfully bought nothing, we just can't carry all this stuff. A nice dinner at the Green Room restaurant chatting with the very sweet staff of mostly gay men. The restaurant's across the street from the theatre district and apparently that's enough to make it the gay district. Our waiter from Costa Rico who moved her 6 years ago had me laughing when I returned from the ladies room and stopped near him to looking in the direction where he was staring. It turns out mom had picked up lots of literature (magazines, brochures, etc.) like she always does wherever she goes and was perusing one of the magazines and the adorable waiter was apparently worried that she might be shocked that it was all about gay pride day which is this coming Saturday. I had to laugh because just as he was telling what had happened and we were both watching her turn the pages she came to this half naked man in a flimsy blue Speedo. The waiter practically gasped. Mom finished the magazine and went on to the next like there wasn't the slightest thing unusual about what she was reading.

Birmingham Cathedral

I think it would have been fun to be here during the parade on Saturday, the waiter is going to get dressed in heels and something snazzy although it's suppose to rain and be cold so I can't imagine all the participants out in their frilly finery but in Britain come rain, or rain, or rain and on the rare occasion shine, the party must go on.

I walked around a bit after dinner while mom went back to the hotel to relax. I had a delicious banana dessert so I really needed to get some exercise and walked to the Mailbox building which I was told by the waiter once was the holding place for the Queen's mail. I don't see how since it's a shopping mall but perhaps the mall is built on the site of the old post office.

Great Western Arcade Shops

On the way to the Mailbox building I stopped at the small but lovely Peace Garden dedicated to the memory of all the British nuclear test veterans who have died since the British tests at Monte Bello, EMU Field, Maralinga, Malden Island, Christmas Island.

Mom holding the bulls hoof

China Town Shopping center near our hotel

Pretty old building with unique chimney pipes (special for this region in the UK)

Glad to be back in the room now, warm and dry, it's just too darn cold here!

Mom at the Green Room Restaurant for dinner

It went from sun to overcast to pouring rain to a hale storm. That all took about 10 minutes and then the sun came back for a few minutes. Crazy, crazy weather here.

Beautiful mosaic near a pedestrian underpass

The remains of St. Thomas' Church that was almost completely destroyed
on December 11, 1940 during the German bombing raids. This remaining portion
was moved several streets to this new location now a central part of the Peace Garden

St. Thoma's with the Peace Garden dove gate in the distance

St. Thomas clock tower

Entrance to the Peace Garden - Within the Peace Garden is a memorial to British service personnel who were killed or injured as a result of nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific Ocean.

St. Thomas' Church remains

Peace Garden

When the world leaders came to Birmingham for the G8 summit in 1998, each planted a tree here. Each premier choose a tree that most represented their respective countries and they are now a living symbol of peace.