Just did the usual in a city and started wandering, lots of beautiful old buildings and suddenly I'm on the Black Sabbath bridge over a canal. There was a camera across the road you could connect to to take a selfie( which I duly did) sitting on the Black Sabbath bench.
Done and then walked down the steps to the canal.
Birmingham has more canals than Venice you keep reading everywhere and they all started to be restored during the 1960's. Now part of the larger UK network you can travel anywhere upon them. I just walked along the canals and witnessed many barges going through the locks. Amazing engineering and little effort required, just brilliant. One thing I noticed with 3 vessels that were going through the locks was the men steered and the wives moved the gates. I asked all 3 , as I assisted them why, and they all said they did not like driving. I shall leave that one alone.
Walked for quite some time along the canal before finally leaving and headed back to the centre of the city. Some of the sections were a home to druggies, so didn't want to hang around too long, I think I may have walked well past the tourist area. It was also raining off and on, so as it was now after midday a coffee and cake was required. As it was Sunday a number of the coffee shops I saw yesterday were closed so headed back to New Street. Just as I got there it decided to bucket down so I stuck my head in the Ecco shop to get the brolly out. Two young girls looked at the old man strangely and asked if they could help. I said yes, where's the best place for coffee. They immediately relaxed, slight laugh and said round the corner 200degrees. They were correct and after coffee and a slice of carrot cake, back to the hotel and wait for Jane to return ( after 30 minute shut eye of course).
With Jane back we ventured out again and walked to the Gas Street Basin area and then wandered around the canal area again before heading to the Jewellery Quarter. Here we popped in to the Queen's Arms for a pint and crisps before leisurely heading back to the hotel.
A little rest was due before heading out for dinner. Booked a Balti restaurant, Menzils which had some good reviews and only a nine minute walk away. Classic indian restaurant and ordered chicken Balti with condiments and a beer. Gotta be careful when just asking for a beer as a lot come as 600ml bottles, not our usual stubbies. Was a lovely meal except for the noisy idiot behind us that spoke at the top of his voice into his phone. Peaky Blinders immediately came to mind and the owner of the restaurant obviously knew him and was apologetic but did nothing about it, disappointing.
Back to the room after a long day (15km walked) and a well deserved sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment