To keep on surprising my dear readers, I am writing down some further notes from the recent days.
Christmas Markets first: thanks for your sympathy, but I can report that I dared to eat some sausage at another stall and this one was indeed better. Not very good though, but acceptable. Bravely, I continued to have mulled wine and apple strudel, both good. However, the latter was served with custard instead of vanilla ice cream which forces me to mark down its test results
Remarkably, a bigger part of the Christmas Markets is in German hands - people say, about half of it. Unfortunately, it is still controlled by the British and their strict curfew, meaning no alcohol outside the fences around Albert Square and they close at nine sharp.
Further, I can tell that the PhD comics guy is funny even in reality, this was some kind of Christmas lecture yesterday. A bit of a disappointment was that there was a moral to his talk, but not the moral itself: procrastination is different from laziness and it is OK.
I wonder if I witnessed the creation of a new comic and I can exclusively announce that he wrote down the words "thesis envy" and the sentence "The grass is always greener on the other side of defense." By the way, they did have free food, i.e. wine and mince pies.
In other news, the result of the congestion charge referendum is quite clear: 80% voted no. As I already told, it is not unusual to me as a left-ish Bavarian to be with a vast minority.
That means, I have to take the bus to the airport for some more years, because they don't know what will happen to the tram line there that was part of the plan. I am making this way later today in the usual way and wish everybody something like a Merry Christmas in case I will not be able to keep up the current speed of blogging.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Saturday, 6 December 2008
St. Nicholas Day
Now that it is St. Nicholas Day, Christmas is not far, even if you try to be objective. Thus, I dared to visit the Christmas Markets in Manchester today. Brought up with that in Germany, I was curious as to what expect from this copy that even comes in several parts: the German, the European and the World Christmas Markets.
Well, what should I say? Christmas Markets with everything that belongs there, I just did not find the Glühwein tent where they play awful Apres-Ski music. Otherwise, roasted almonds taste the same, chocolate coated fruits, too - sold at the "Bavarian Sweets" stall, where I was immediately asked if I was from Germany. Maybe I was targeting the typical things too eagerly and that tipped me and my experience off.
The big flop, however, was the "Bratwurst". I could have guessed it, the Britons are famous for not knowing how to do neither sausages nor rolls. Therefore, enjoyment of the fat and meatless former in a dry and fluffy latter was rather limited. Don't know if I will try again where they explicitly advertise "German Bratwurst".
However, I do have to return - my dear Christmas Market veterans have certainly noticed: I forgot the Glühwein. Not forgotten, rather not eager enough to queue, because if there is alcohol, hordes of Britons are not far. At least, they sell "Nürnberger Christkindles Glühwein", the famous one from Aldi. They also sell mugs - I have to add one of those to my collection.
As the pictures show you: decoration is there, too. As well as an ice rink and a ramp with artificial snow that you can glide down in a tyre. After all, everything is just the way I don't miss from Germany. Glühwein, Glögg rather, can just as well be sourced from IKEA.
Well, what should I say? Christmas Markets with everything that belongs there, I just did not find the Glühwein tent where they play awful Apres-Ski music. Otherwise, roasted almonds taste the same, chocolate coated fruits, too - sold at the "Bavarian Sweets" stall, where I was immediately asked if I was from Germany. Maybe I was targeting the typical things too eagerly and that tipped me and my experience off.
The big flop, however, was the "Bratwurst". I could have guessed it, the Britons are famous for not knowing how to do neither sausages nor rolls. Therefore, enjoyment of the fat and meatless former in a dry and fluffy latter was rather limited. Don't know if I will try again where they explicitly advertise "German Bratwurst".However, I do have to return - my dear Christmas Market veterans have certainly noticed: I forgot the Glühwein. Not forgotten, rather not eager enough to queue, because if there is alcohol, hordes of Britons are not far. At least, they sell "Nürnberger Christkindles Glühwein", the famous one from Aldi. They also sell mugs - I have to add one of those to my collection.
As the pictures show you: decoration is there, too. As well as an ice rink and a ramp with artificial snow that you can glide down in a tyre. After all, everything is just the way I don't miss from Germany. Glühwein, Glögg rather, can just as well be sourced from IKEA.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
C elections
EU ist great! Although the Britons sometimes fight against this institution, I have now made use of my right to vote for the first time here.
As you don't have to register your residence in England and they have successfully refused the introduction of national ID cards, there are several parallel institutions. Thus, we got a letter sometime ago, asking us who is living in the house and their nationalities. Since then, I was in the electoral register that curiously has two versions here: an original and an edited one. The former is used in elections and as you can verify people's address with it, my credit rating has increased with a certain probability. The edited register is sold off to marketers, luckily you can elect to be removed with a tick in the right column.
Lately, a letter arrived and I can vote on the "Transport Innovation Fund Proposals".
In a nutshell, they want to introduce a congestion charge like in London, which is cheaper on the one hand, but the world's biggest on the other hand. It is about 200 sq. km (80 sq. miles for friends of imperial measurements), inside there is another small zone that comes at an extra price. Figuring out what medium-sized city known to my dear readers that corresponds to is left as an exercise.
If somebody intends to drive to see me (I will live in the inner ring), I can calm you down. The charge applies inbound only between 7am and 9.30am (Don't you dare to arrive at that time!) and outbound only between 4pm and 6.30pm (You don't want to leave that soon, do you?). Then, you only pay if you actually cross a ring, there are numerous exceptions and it will be in force 2013 the earliest and only if more than 80% of the innovations are in place.
The innovations sound reasonable, compared to these slightly suspicious charging rules. More buses, better buses, single ticketing (Yes, this counts as an innovation here!) and extension of the sparse tram network that will have more than three endpoints then. Extreme-GMPTE-ing would still not be particularly exciting.
Anyways, I'll cast my vote and send it, perhaps it works. After all, my last vote in an election made the ruling party in Bavaria lose their absolute majority. I had to keep voting for ten years though, but if I'm lucky, my opinion will be heard faster in here.
As you don't have to register your residence in England and they have successfully refused the introduction of national ID cards, there are several parallel institutions. Thus, we got a letter sometime ago, asking us who is living in the house and their nationalities. Since then, I was in the electoral register that curiously has two versions here: an original and an edited one. The former is used in elections and as you can verify people's address with it, my credit rating has increased with a certain probability. The edited register is sold off to marketers, luckily you can elect to be removed with a tick in the right column.
Lately, a letter arrived and I can vote on the "Transport Innovation Fund Proposals".
In a nutshell, they want to introduce a congestion charge like in London, which is cheaper on the one hand, but the world's biggest on the other hand. It is about 200 sq. km (80 sq. miles for friends of imperial measurements), inside there is another small zone that comes at an extra price. Figuring out what medium-sized city known to my dear readers that corresponds to is left as an exercise.
If somebody intends to drive to see me (I will live in the inner ring), I can calm you down. The charge applies inbound only between 7am and 9.30am (Don't you dare to arrive at that time!) and outbound only between 4pm and 6.30pm (You don't want to leave that soon, do you?). Then, you only pay if you actually cross a ring, there are numerous exceptions and it will be in force 2013 the earliest and only if more than 80% of the innovations are in place.
The innovations sound reasonable, compared to these slightly suspicious charging rules. More buses, better buses, single ticketing (Yes, this counts as an innovation here!) and extension of the sparse tram network that will have more than three endpoints then. Extreme-GMPTE-ing would still not be particularly exciting.
Anyways, I'll cast my vote and send it, perhaps it works. After all, my last vote in an election made the ruling party in Bavaria lose their absolute majority. I had to keep voting for ten years though, but if I'm lucky, my opinion will be heard faster in here.
Friday, 19 September 2008
Two months, again
Two months have passed again, though I did promise to write more frequently. I apologise and refrain from giving a similar promise for now. Of course, this is not meant to say that I would not write again, or that there was nothing to write. Neither am I lacking encouragements from my dear readers. Au contraire, I will keep on writing and hope that I will be worth reading.
Again, for now I limit myself to posting some pictures, as usual, they do not stay uncommented. I have some more pictures from abroad as I visited another country of the United Kingdom, namely Wales. Also, I have added more pins to my Map.
Let me begin with Llandudno, Wales. A pretty seaside resort, including the obligatory pier as this is still Britain. Special to mention about Llandudno is not only its name, but also the hill right next to the sea that gives you nice views on the bay and that you can descend from in Britains longest cable way.
Then I went to York that does not have skyscrapers, but a minister that is the biggest in some category – I think it was something to do with a church of a particular faith north of the Alps. Also, there is a wall, around town, however, and without graffiti.
Manchester Pride Parade was another event, not on Christopher Street Day, but in the middle of "summer" (in fact, it did not rain that day). Nice to see, a bit like a German carnival parade, but without candy and in pink.
Continuing with some pictures from Buxton, a small town at the edge of the Peak District. Notable here is the nicely renovated Opera House - something you wouldn't expect in such a spa town and even less in that baroque style - art historians may stone me now for I certainly got the epoch wrong, but it is nicely ornamented inside with angels and freskos.
Finally, the highlight up to now: Lake District. By far the most beautiful region in England, somehow like a small Switzerland, meaning mountains and lakes. A lot of green and very romantic, which has attracted some writers. I drove a car for the first time here which was less nerve-racking at the end than I had expected. As we all know, they drive on the wrong side of the road in England – luckily, everybody does it, thus this is the least problem. What makes it interesting are the narrow roads that are partly crowded even Thursdays and the solid stone walls right at the edge of the road that they build instead of fences. Still, I and the car survived unbruised and I brought many pretty pictures and the goal to return there.
This, however, will be a topic for one of the next times. As I said, I do not promise to, but perhaps I will manage to blog a bit timelier.
As a small postscriptum, I can announce that I have a well-rehearsed guided tour of Manchester now, thanks to my visitors that patiently helped me test it. Further testers for future refinements are always welcome.
Again, for now I limit myself to posting some pictures, as usual, they do not stay uncommented. I have some more pictures from abroad as I visited another country of the United Kingdom, namely Wales. Also, I have added more pins to my Map.
Let me begin with Llandudno, Wales. A pretty seaside resort, including the obligatory pier as this is still Britain. Special to mention about Llandudno is not only its name, but also the hill right next to the sea that gives you nice views on the bay and that you can descend from in Britains longest cable way.
 |
| Llandudno |
Then I went to York that does not have skyscrapers, but a minister that is the biggest in some category – I think it was something to do with a church of a particular faith north of the Alps. Also, there is a wall, around town, however, and without graffiti.
 |
| York |
Manchester Pride Parade was another event, not on Christopher Street Day, but in the middle of "summer" (in fact, it did not rain that day). Nice to see, a bit like a German carnival parade, but without candy and in pink.
 |
| Machester Pride Parade |
Continuing with some pictures from Buxton, a small town at the edge of the Peak District. Notable here is the nicely renovated Opera House - something you wouldn't expect in such a spa town and even less in that baroque style - art historians may stone me now for I certainly got the epoch wrong, but it is nicely ornamented inside with angels and freskos.
 |
| Buxton |
Finally, the highlight up to now: Lake District. By far the most beautiful region in England, somehow like a small Switzerland, meaning mountains and lakes. A lot of green and very romantic, which has attracted some writers. I drove a car for the first time here which was less nerve-racking at the end than I had expected. As we all know, they drive on the wrong side of the road in England – luckily, everybody does it, thus this is the least problem. What makes it interesting are the narrow roads that are partly crowded even Thursdays and the solid stone walls right at the edge of the road that they build instead of fences. Still, I and the car survived unbruised and I brought many pretty pictures and the goal to return there.
 |
| Lake District |
This, however, will be a topic for one of the next times. As I said, I do not promise to, but perhaps I will manage to blog a bit timelier.
As a small postscriptum, I can announce that I have a well-rehearsed guided tour of Manchester now, thanks to my visitors that patiently helped me test it. Further testers for future refinements are always welcome.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Long time, no blog
I have really not given any notice for a long time, once again I was either to lazy or to busy to write something. Therefore, I am just dumping many pictures and some text, apologise to my dear patient readers and promise to blog more and timelier in the future.
The most important first: I have moved, to a cute house with a garden and three other Computer Science PhDs. All your holiday postcards go to 3 Hadfield Close, Manchester M14 5LY, United Kingdom from now on, please. Alternatively you can use the university address to the right. Guests are always welcome to distract me and I have even more space for you now.
Otherwise, everything is as usual. I have travelled a bit around England and have visited Liverpool among other things. This is most interesting this year because they are the European Capital of Culture, that is they have done right what Karlsruhe did wrong in their application.
The first time Liverpool was an afternoon with the common sights that you have to have seen there, of course, I took pictures. They include both cathedrals (finished ~1900 and ~1970), Albert Dock and the Cavern Quarter where the Beatles had their first gig.
The second time a couple of weeks later I walked the Queensway Tunnel under the Mersey together with some other 10,000 people. It was closed to motor traffic for that occasion and we went back on a vintage bus and the ferry. Then the same tour as on my first time as the people I went with had not yet seen it.
Then I went to Blackpool, a - actually the most famous - seaside resort north of Liverpool. It has seen better days, it's all a bit dodgy and tacky, but one has to have seen it once.
For something completely different I went to Amsterdam, which is quite nice and has the better weather. On the way back I went to Liverpool for a third time, but only saw the airport this time.
Then there were little things like the Two Cities Boat Race between the universities of Salford and Manchester (the latter won 6-1).
So please take a look at the pictures, accept my apologies and my promise to write more in this place in the future.
The most important first: I have moved, to a cute house with a garden and three other Computer Science PhDs. All your holiday postcards go to 3 Hadfield Close, Manchester M14 5LY, United Kingdom from now on, please. Alternatively you can use the university address to the right. Guests are always welcome to distract me and I have even more space for you now.
Otherwise, everything is as usual. I have travelled a bit around England and have visited Liverpool among other things. This is most interesting this year because they are the European Capital of Culture, that is they have done right what Karlsruhe did wrong in their application.The first time Liverpool was an afternoon with the common sights that you have to have seen there, of course, I took pictures. They include both cathedrals (finished ~1900 and ~1970), Albert Dock and the Cavern Quarter where the Beatles had their first gig.The second time a couple of weeks later I walked the Queensway Tunnel under the Mersey together with some other 10,000 people. It was closed to motor traffic for that occasion and we went back on a vintage bus and the ferry. Then the same tour as on my first time as the people I went with had not yet seen it.Then I went to Blackpool, a - actually the most famous - seaside resort north of Liverpool. It has seen better days, it's all a bit dodgy and tacky, but one has to have seen it once.
For something completely different I went to Amsterdam, which is quite nice and has the better weather. On the way back I went to Liverpool for a third time, but only saw the airport this time.Then there were little things like the Two Cities Boat Race between the universities of Salford and Manchester (the latter won 6-1).So please take a look at the pictures, accept my apologies and my promise to write more in this place in the future.
Friday, 18 April 2008
Travelling Abroad
Last weekend I managed to visit a neighbouring foreign country. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland to be precise. On a first glance there are no big differences: they still drive on the wrong side, bank notes look almost similar (but it says Bank of Scotland on them) and the weather is not better either.
First contact with locals happened on the high street when we were looking into the travel guide to find a place for lunch. No minute later a woman offered her help with a clearly Scottish accent that was, however, still comprehensible. Her pick was the underground food court of a shopping mall where they only had sandwiches and fast food. Thus the next insight: the Scottish don't care much about food, either.
Talking about Scottish food would not be complete without Haggis. Its description (from another local) sounds little delicous: take a sheep, give the meat away, mix the rest with oatmeal, onions and spices, stuff it into the sheep's stomach and cook it. As sides you get "neeps and tatties", i.e. turnips and mashed potatoes. On the plate it looks much more delicous than that and tastes like sausages which is quite agreeable. By the way, more than agreeable is Scottish whisky (note the missing e, that would be Irish whiskey then).
Apart from eating and drinking, Edinburgh ist a really nice city. The main sight is the castle on a hill in the middle which, for some reason, had free entry (£8-£11 normally) that very weekend with the unavoidable long queues in the usual British discipline. The rest of Old Town is rather compact, hilly and with bridges over lower streets. There is a New Town (new as in 200 years) which is laid out a bit more regularly and "American". Overall, really pretty and looking around it is no miracle that Joanne K. Rowling lives here and invented Harry Potter and Hogwarts.
Another recommendation for evening entertainment in Edinburgh: a Ghost Tour. They come in different varieties of seriousness, i.e. with scaring and walks through dungeons below the city. Our tour was more a leisurely walkabout with a competent guide who knew a lot of appropriate stories and told them well.
Thus: do go there and even the journey from Manchester to Edinburgh leads through beautiful landscapes that are certainly worth a visit by themselves. Anyways, my pictures, finally.
First contact with locals happened on the high street when we were looking into the travel guide to find a place for lunch. No minute later a woman offered her help with a clearly Scottish accent that was, however, still comprehensible. Her pick was the underground food court of a shopping mall where they only had sandwiches and fast food. Thus the next insight: the Scottish don't care much about food, either.
Talking about Scottish food would not be complete without Haggis. Its description (from another local) sounds little delicous: take a sheep, give the meat away, mix the rest with oatmeal, onions and spices, stuff it into the sheep's stomach and cook it. As sides you get "neeps and tatties", i.e. turnips and mashed potatoes. On the plate it looks much more delicous than that and tastes like sausages which is quite agreeable. By the way, more than agreeable is Scottish whisky (note the missing e, that would be Irish whiskey then).
Apart from eating and drinking, Edinburgh ist a really nice city. The main sight is the castle on a hill in the middle which, for some reason, had free entry (£8-£11 normally) that very weekend with the unavoidable long queues in the usual British discipline. The rest of Old Town is rather compact, hilly and with bridges over lower streets. There is a New Town (new as in 200 years) which is laid out a bit more regularly and "American". Overall, really pretty and looking around it is no miracle that Joanne K. Rowling lives here and invented Harry Potter and Hogwarts.
Another recommendation for evening entertainment in Edinburgh: a Ghost Tour. They come in different varieties of seriousness, i.e. with scaring and walks through dungeons below the city. Our tour was more a leisurely walkabout with a competent guide who knew a lot of appropriate stories and told them well.
Thus: do go there and even the journey from Manchester to Edinburgh leads through beautiful landscapes that are certainly worth a visit by themselves. Anyways, my pictures, finally.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
From citizen to tourist
I should have visitors more often (yes, that is an invitation). Then I can show off my secret skills as a tourist guide and get to see new things in Manchester myself as I did this weekend.
Thus, for reference two afternoon walking tours. The first in the city with a visit to Chetham's Library and a sit a Marx' and Engel's favourite place where it smells nicely from those old books on the shelves. Then on to the next library, the John Rylands Library, that was only built in 1900 but is still gothic, looks like a church and is really worth seeing inside. As a contrast a real church, the Manchester Cathedral, and the glass block of Beetham Tower that hosts the Hilton Hotel. From their Bar Cloud 23 on that very level you get nice views of the city and can return the menu they hand you even without ordering anything. To finish, a walk along the canals in Castlefield. And as I forgot to take my camera, my next visitors are lucky enough to get this tour again. I can only offer pictures from a mobile phone, though.
It was Salford Quays for the next afternoon, a former harbour area with now intensive developments. The Imperial War Museum North is there, where they show pictures and stuff from the World Wars as expected, but at least the manage to convey the message that war is not desirable at all. The windy viewing platform on top of the building that was designed by Daniel Liebeskind gives you a view over the harbour area with a lot of construction sites. Seeing the Manchester United stadium still does not make up for this to be a particularly breathtaking view. At least, it is all free as the libraries the other day were, too. They only put up boxes and write the suggested donation on it. Further there is the Lowry, a gallery and a theatre, a shopping mall and many an opportunity to walk along waterfront esplanades which can be quite pleasing if the English weather happens to be. I had my camera with me and can show you pictures.
On Sunday at noon finally a short visit to the Victoria Baths (open 1906-1993) that are currently being renovated and have an open day with guided tours every month. It looks really nice with a lot of ornaments giving it quite some distinctive style. Remarkably, there are three pools: a gents' first class, a gents' second class and a womens' pool. Fresh water was put into the first pool, as soon as you could not see the ground any more, it was filtered and pumped into the next pool. Of course, the dimensions are British: all three are 25 yards long and of different width and depth which is measured in feet. I remembered to bring my camera and took some pictures.
Thus, for reference two afternoon walking tours. The first in the city with a visit to Chetham's Library and a sit a Marx' and Engel's favourite place where it smells nicely from those old books on the shelves. Then on to the next library, the John Rylands Library, that was only built in 1900 but is still gothic, looks like a church and is really worth seeing inside. As a contrast a real church, the Manchester Cathedral, and the glass block of Beetham Tower that hosts the Hilton Hotel. From their Bar Cloud 23 on that very level you get nice views of the city and can return the menu they hand you even without ordering anything. To finish, a walk along the canals in Castlefield. And as I forgot to take my camera, my next visitors are lucky enough to get this tour again. I can only offer pictures from a mobile phone, though.
It was Salford Quays for the next afternoon, a former harbour area with now intensive developments. The Imperial War Museum North is there, where they show pictures and stuff from the World Wars as expected, but at least the manage to convey the message that war is not desirable at all. The windy viewing platform on top of the building that was designed by Daniel Liebeskind gives you a view over the harbour area with a lot of construction sites. Seeing the Manchester United stadium still does not make up for this to be a particularly breathtaking view. At least, it is all free as the libraries the other day were, too. They only put up boxes and write the suggested donation on it. Further there is the Lowry, a gallery and a theatre, a shopping mall and many an opportunity to walk along waterfront esplanades which can be quite pleasing if the English weather happens to be. I had my camera with me and can show you pictures.
On Sunday at noon finally a short visit to the Victoria Baths (open 1906-1993) that are currently being renovated and have an open day with guided tours every month. It looks really nice with a lot of ornaments giving it quite some distinctive style. Remarkably, there are three pools: a gents' first class, a gents' second class and a womens' pool. Fresh water was put into the first pool, as soon as you could not see the ground any more, it was filtered and pumped into the next pool. Of course, the dimensions are British: all three are 25 yards long and of different width and depth which is measured in feet. I remembered to bring my camera and took some pictures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)