Around the Streets of Manchester

Despite the fact that these next two weeks will be more chilled, it's safe to say that many of us in my year find it tiring already. I'm back to life, back to reality. Bye to those summer days when you can choose what time to wake up and sleep, for now, and hello waking up to the sound of my alarm that gets more irritating each day. I know that Summer 2016 will be coming to an end real soon and we'll be transitioning into Autumn, then Winter where it's dark when you wake up and dark when you return back to the house.

It was pretty sunny for a few days earlier in the week and sunny weather reminds me of when I went around the streets of Manchester for a few days with friends. Sun shining, shades on, we took a Londoner around Town. 

Day One

We first went around Afflecks, a bazaar-like maze filled with independent stalls and boutiques. A place for quirky finds, from vintage to kawaii, from a cereal shop to a record shop. It's a place filled with all sorts of things. There isn't really an easy way to describe it properly. Mancunians just call it 'different' - and that's a good thing, as you are able to find some good pieces in there. Be prepared to spend a while if you like to spend time going through each section, as there are a lot to look at. The Northern Quarters feature vintage shops and cool places to hang out with friends. Here's a post on Ziferblat. And here's the official website of Afflecks.

Feeling a little hungry, we found a burger place called Handmade Burger Co. Once our stomachs were filled, we then headed to HOME. We chilled on some beanie bags, with people busy chatting away around us enjoying drinks and office workers who had just finished their 9-to-5 day, playing table tennis against their colleagues. They pretty much hogged the ping pong table and so we couldn't really have a go.

Day Two

Like London, Manchester also has a place called China Town. Although much more smaller, it does have little grocery shops filled with delicious Asian snacks. In this little 'block' you can find anime figurines, desserts, bubble tea, karaoke, freshly baked breads, etc. 

We then headed to the Manchester Art Gallery, which was also to be my first time checking the place out. There were three fashion exhibitions: Freedom & Fashion, Vogue 100th and a modern Japanese one. The first exhibition was rather interesting and the room featured eye-catching pieces. The second exhibition, which was the Vogue 100 years anniversary, was really nice. The photos taken throughout the years were attention-seeking and artistic. Unfortunately, photography wasn't allowed inside. It was cool to see key photographs printed large and the accompanying information on the pieces were a good read. One section showed all the front covers from way back to the illustrated covers in 1916.

Next, we headed to quickly see the Town Hall and I explained how each Christmas season, Manchester has one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. I love going to the markets, where you can smell the fresh waffles, the cooking hot dogs and sweet chocolates all temptingly displayed at stalls. There's generally good vibes from everyone enjoying themselves. If you're ever visiting Manchester during Nov/Dec time, definitely try to check it out. For this year, it's on during: Thursday 10th November 2016 - Tuesday 20th December 2016. More information can be found here.

Afterwards, we walked around and headed where the wind took us, which we then ended up in Spinningfields/Deansgate area. This is a place of restaurants and nice places to have a chat with friends, some food and a few drinks. There is also the John Rylands Library, a "late-Victorian neo-Gothic building", that I brought my friend to.

It was then the end of the day and we walked down the main road on Deansgate. Here you can find restaurants and bars. After a good few minutes deciding where we wanted to go, we chose The Living Room. Their cocktails are really nice and their starters were lush! We chose the spicy fish cakes, the garlic butter prawns (which I couldn't get enough of) and the chicken satay. I really liked the atmosphere in this place despite the fact we were there quite 'early' compared to when people normally come. The music mixes were really on point and I kept recognising some of the tracks.

Day Three

I knew it would be raining on this day and so I already planned that we headed to the Trafford Centre. When in Manchester, you take a bus and head to this decorated shopping centre. It is a pretty place, more so when it's dark and the lights shine outside and even more so during Christmas time when they decorate the pillars and ceilings. The Trafford Centre is a mall which features a number of shops like Topshop, Selfridges, Michael Kors, Office, Zara, etc. There's also a food area full of restaurants that cover cuisine from around the world and a large food court. We also went to the arcade on the ground floor which I hadn't been to in such a long time. Ah, the good ol' dodgems and dance mat!

Day three was Night Out night. We got ready, put our make up and geared up the mood for a night of dancing. The first place we went to in Town for cocktails was The Alchemist, then we headed to Ark.

Day Four

With very little sleep and pancakes for breakfast, we all headed home our separate ways. A hug and a goodbye, we waved each other off. 

----

There are just so many places to visit in Manchester. I guess it's good to go with people that are able to show you the quirky finds. You experience the place in a different way compared to being tourists in a city you've never been to and visiting only the main places. It's a diverse, urban-industrial city with a lot of various things to offer. Whatever you're into, I'm sure you'll find something for you there.

- NichEuve

Bruges & Ostend

For one of the days of our trip to Belgium, we spent the day visiting Bruges and Ostend. Both in the Flemish region of Belgium, if I'm not mistaken. You can find my (rather lengthy) post on our Brussels, Belgium trip: here.

Bruges

We woke up bright and early, stuffed ourselves with so much breakfast at the hotel and headed to the Central Station in Brussels. Whilst on an air-conditioned, double-decker train, I viewed the passing sceneries by the window and attempted to read a newspaper completely in French.

How to pose 101.

The shock on her face.

Brugge (in French: Bruges) was a charming place filled with character. The architecture of the buildings unchanged to preserve the historic beauty of the city and the linking canals creates a romantic feel. I’ve read that the place is sometimes described as ‘The Venice of the North’. It also had a central square surrounded by interesting buildings and filled with people relaxing or taking photos. Horse and carriages could be seen dotted around, carrying people experiencing the city centre whilst they listened to their guide. It’s hard to describe why, but I liked the sight of bikes parked and people relaxing outside of cafés. I suppose it makes you feel like you’re taking a break from the fast-paced, urban city life. With cobbled streets and countless chocolate shops, Bruges certainly gave a lovely feel despite being busy with citizens and tourists. Looking into the windows of bakeries and chocolatier shops felt like peeping into, what one could describe, as reading different stories per chapter, yet parallel in one novel. That feel of nostalgia of a time that I wasn’t even born in, was wonderful.

We walked along the roads and occasionally looked inside a few shops and alley ways. Random things ranging from a Torture Museum to boutiques, could be found. A good find was a beer place, colourfully decorated in numerous beer bottles of different types, as well as glasses and crates. I found this place to be pretty cool, as it’s menus  were hanging from the ceiling and you simply had to grab it ahead of you and choose your drink. We chose a ‘mix combo’ which was four different types of beer and an info sheet along with peanuts and cheese accompanied it in a tray. The toilets at this place was pretty funny, as the sink basin and sides were part of one fish tank!

The next main thing on our itinerary was to experience Brugge through its canals. We hopped onto a canal boat and listened to our very enthusiastic guide. The houses we passed by along the way varied from either 16th-18th century in one route to houses from the 15th-16th century in another place. The guide pointed out a house that is the last house that is modernised, as it is no longer allowed to change the buildings or windows in central Brugge. I found out that the small windows at the top of the houses were for messenger pigeons and that windows used to be taxed, so if you couldn’t pay then they would board up your window.

Oostende

After the majority of the day spent in Bruges, we then took the train to Oostende (in French: Ostende), a city by the coast. Boats in the water were docked and stalls occupied the roadside selling delicious seafood. I had ice cream (of course) and my sister had a Belgian waffle - plain (which we found to actually be a nicer way to appreciate the taste of the waffle) - whilst we walked. I tried sea snails for the first time there in Oostende and I surprisingly liked it. We sat by a resto-bar, chatted, and my family and aunt drank beer. I looked up to the sky and a man could be heard playing songs on his guitar. Relaxing there in Oostende, was lovely and chilled.

- NichEuve