Beautiful Birmingham - a photonovela

justpix · 9 Oct 2018

Hi, 4 years ago I was in Manchester over a weekend. I liked it very much there. This time, I wanted to do something a little different. So I went to Birmingham, a fascinating city with a rich industrial history.

It reminds me of the towns in The German Ruhrgebiet, where the foundations of the Wirtschaftwunder were laid - with coal and steel.

Like Birmingham, these towns had to manage the transition from heavy industries and manufacturing to services ... ---

Waiting for the plane:

Takeoff in Fankfurt:

A quiet flight with good visibility:

Near Birmingham:

In Birmingham, view from my hotel room:

Looking down, I realized I made a planning error: I forgot the sunshine at home ... ----

justpix · 14 Oct 2018

Hi, a walk along the Birmingham Main Canal:

Damian Brown · 15 Oct 2018

Thanks for visiting Birmingham! We do have nice bright days too but you never know which you get

I hope you got to go up to the Library Of Birmingham, great panoramic views for free

Albeit there is a lot of renovation going on down below as you would have saw.

justpix · 15 Oct 2018

db247 said:
Thanks for visiting Birmingham! We do have nice bright days too but you never know which you get

I hope you got to go up to the Library Of Birmingham, great panoramic views for free Albeit there is a lot of renovation going on down below as you would have saw.

Hi, the weather was quite good, actually. Friday was cloudy, Saturday one half drizzle, the rest of the day cloudy, and Sunday was sunny. So, I was happy.

The view from the library I shall show in the next part ... ---

justpix · 16 Oct 2018

Hi, a walk into Birmingham City:

Using an iron bridge from the 1820s ... :

... along modern buidlings, and lots of building activities, to the library (2nd building left): ...

... which was closed: ...

... to spend the time till opening, I went to Victoria Square: ...

... with building activities, even affecting QUEEN VICTORIA:

justpix · 17 Oct 2018

Hi, the view from the Library in Birmingham - at last:

drounding · 17 Oct 2018

Birmingham canal is a great place to photograph. I was recently early for an event at the ICC and took some photos on my phone whilst waiting.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskGpCcSD

justpix · 19 Oct 2018

drounding said:
Birmingham canal is a great place to photograph. I was recently early for an event at the ICC and took some photos on my phone whilst waiting.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskGpCcSD

Hi, thank you for your link! It is always interesting to see what other visitors find interesting

... ---

Next on the agenda, a visit to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery:

Going up to reach higher levels of aesthetic experiences

:

The Entry Hall:

Sleeping Preraffaelite beauties:

From the Staffordshire Hoard:

Birmingham History:

I hope, my personal, touristy cultural interests are not too boring ...

justpix · 25 Oct 2018

Hi, my "nightlife" in Birmingham ...

Nightcap at the TAP & SPILE (The Old Peculiar, I liked the beer and its name):

Walk along the Canal to MAILBOX:

A hotel-room with a view:

justpix · 30 Oct 2018

Hi, Birmingham Cathedral:

justpix · 2 Nov 2018

Hi, Great Western Arcade:

justpix · 7 Nov 2018

Hi, St Martin in the Bull Ring:

justpix · 8 Nov 2018

Hi, a walk along the canals:

justpix · 18 Nov 2018

Hi, St. Paul's Church:

justpix · 9 Dec 2018

Hi, some interesting architecture (at least for me ):

Lensflare · 21 Dec 2018

Blimey. Thank you for the city tour, I only live about 35 miles from Brum city centre but I didn't know any of that existed. I need to get down to the canal area and have a looksee - some decent bars to experience by the look of it. Anyone care to give me some local tips, like where I can park the bike safely! One of the things that has put me off going into 'town' is the horror stories of motorbike theft. Can you fish in the canals along there? Ever see anyone fishing?

justpix · 21 Dec 2018

Lensflare said:
Blimey. Thank you for the city tour, I only live about 35 miles from Brum city centre but I didn't know any of that existed. I need to get down to the canal area and have a looksee - some decent bars to experience by the look of it. Anyone care to give me some local tips, like where I can park the bike safely! One of the things that has put me off going into 'town' is the horror stories of motorbike theft. Can you fish in the canals along there? Ever see anyone fishing?

Hi, thank you for your friendly interest. - I found many nice pubs and restaurants in Birmingham. Where and when I walked around, I always felt safe and secure, given normal big-city prudence, i.e. not walking unlit back alleys late at night. And I saw many bikes parked in the city.

A walk along a canal ...:

Shows a fisherman in the crop:

(Of course, there is a big difference between fishing and catching

(Sadly, this has been my experience.) ... But I saw many fish swim and even leap in the canals, cannot say what kind, however. --- )

justpix · 25 Dec 2018

Hi, another walk along the canals of Birmingham/UK:

F1.2 · 27 Dec 2018

Most enjoyable , Thanks for posting the photos

justpix · 27 Dec 2018

F1.2 said:
Most enjoyable , Thanks for posting the photos

Thank you for your friendly interest.

So, let's walk on (towards ST. Paul's Church I have already shown):

justpix · 31 Dec 2018

Hi, walking back to the city centre:

On the right: a synthesis of old and new:

You can see, I like Victorian red brick buildings ... ---

justpix · 4 Feb 2019

Hi, a last walk along a canal (towards Wolverhampton):

tbc ...

justpix · 4 Feb 2019

cont:

ianmarsh · 4 Feb 2019

Very nice set. The centre of Birmingham is certainly getting much better and it is good to see the canals looking cleaner than when I was growing up in the Midlands. Lovely old industrial architecture and the Museum and Art Gallery looks very attractive too.

Where is next for your photo diaries of the UK? Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield perhaps??

justpix · 4 Feb 2019

ianmarsh said:
Very nice set. The centre of Birmingham is certainly getting much better and it is good to see the canals looking cleaner than when I was growing up in the Midlands. Lovely old industrial architecture and the Museum and Art Gallery looks very attractive too.

Where is next for your photo diaries of the UK? Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield perhaps??

Thank you for your friendly interest and appreciation!

My pictures reflect my personal interests and my background as a retired professional... ---

I am a little restricted when traveling, to weekends. My wife is at home then, and can look after our dog. The cities I go to in England must have an airport.

I have been to Manchester 4 years ago, and would like to go there again, with better equipment, but this would be a rerun, more or less,...

So, Glasgow could be another destination. But I have not made a booking, up to now.

We shall see ---

DudleyBug · 18 Feb 2019

Next time your in Brum, I would recommend visiting Digbeth and the custard factory. Lots of street art round those areas, but some nice photos you have taken @justpix

justpix · 18 Feb 2019

DudleyBug said:
Next time your in Brum, I would recommend visiting Digbeth and the custard factory. Lots of street art round those areas, but some nice photos you have taken @justpix

Hi, thank you for your friendly interest and your suggestions where to go.

Actually, I wanted to wrap it up. Maybe over a glass of sparkling wine:

At Harvey Nichols:

I enjoyed my stay in Brum very much. But I think it is better to wait a little before going there again. There is lots of building activity in the city, and I want
to give it some time to change. Of course, there is always the danger of doing a rerun, on the other hand, there are worse things in life than repeating
pleasant experiences. ---

So, see you. --- And the next time I go there, I let you know, and we will have a drink (or two) :beer:

... ---

DudleyBug · 19 Feb 2019

I prefer a drink in the bar in #21 first picture

justpix · 20 Feb 2019

DudleyBug said:
I prefer a drink in the bar in #21 first picture

Fine with me! See you there - then ... ---

Bebop · 21 Feb 2019

Thanks for sharing your pictures @justpix. I grew up in Birmingham and it's interesting to see how it has changed. I have some very poor quality slides from a sponsored walk along the canal in the 70s - didn't look remotely like that then! Temple Row and the Arcade looks just the same. Lovely to see, thank you