This is a photograph that was taken at the Musée Rodin in Paris.
Currently listening to the The Perfect Ten Podcast with Phill & Phil.
Stay safe, stay healthy and keep on smiling.
Steve
Photo of the Week
Birmingham
Birmingham is the second city of the United Kingdom. It does not have the lure of London for visitors. Nor is it a up and coming city such as Manchester or Leeds. The two football (soccer) teams are rubbish. The people talk in a depressed sounding accent. Saying all that Birmingham is my home city and I am proud of it and I would like to welcome more people to it.
There are several reasons to come and visit Birmingham. My reasons to visit are:
- The Canals
- Jewellery Quarter
- Bournville
- The Balti Triangle
- Heavy Metal
The Canals
The one fact that anybody from Birmingham will give you is that it has more miles of canal than Venice. Originally built in the 18th century, canals were used to distribute goods from one area of the country to another. It predates the railways. In Birmingham there are over 100 miles of canal that can be used. Now the canals are mainly used for leisure activities such as boating holidays. The towpaths are used by walkers, joggers and cyclists.
Jewellery Quarter
This area of Birmingham is so-called as the major manufacturer of jewellery in the UK. The industry has now declined in size however, there are still some workshop operating in the area. Places to see are the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. There is also the ‘Findings Trail and the Chain Bracelet Trail’ to follow. If you are feeling flushed with spare cash you can go to one of the workshops and order a piece of custom made jewellery.
Bournville
Bournville is considered to be a company village. It was established by the Cadbury family for the workers at the nearby chocolate factory. This was the antidote to the slum conditions that was typical of the late 19th century. The village itself contains houses with large gardens, recreation areas and parks. There is no public house as the Cadbury family were devout quakers.
While in Bournville check out the Cadbury World. This is a attraction dedicated to the story of chocolate and Cadbury.
Balti Triangle
If you are feeling hungary then head to the ‘Balti Triangle’ and try a balti curry. The triangle covers the Sparkbrook, Sparkhill and Balsall Heath areas of Birmingham. The balti is a curry that is served in a wok like dish known as the balti bowl. It is best eaten with a large naan bread. Balti restaurants as also known as ‘Balti Houses’. Being mainly run by muslims they do not sell alcohol. However, you are allowed to bring your own beer or wine to consume with your meal.
Heavy Metal
If the city of Birmingham cannot offer you anything else it is the home of the music genre known as Heavy Metal. In particular Black Sabbath who originated from the Aston district of the city. The music perfectly describes that area in the late 60’s and early 70’s. It was run down consisted factories bellowing smoke from it chimneys and bomb sites from the Second World War. It was the total opposite to swinging London and the hippy vibe of San Francisco.
In future posts I will be explaining these areas in more detail.
Currently reading The Lost Estate by Henri-Alain Fournier
Currently listening to Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Until the next time, stay safe, stay healthy and keep on smiling.
Steve
Why Travel?
That is the question I have been asking myself. Where has the passion for wanderlust come from? Why now in my life?
We all plod along in our lives. Some of us are driven, some of us want the quiet life and some of us want to get as much life experiences as we can. As I almost reach my 47th birthday there is a feeling that I feel somewhat unfulfilled. Scientifically, the term is known as midlife crisis. I could have gone down the route of having a relationship with a woman who is young enough to be my daughter or brought a motor cycle that was too powerful for me.
However, I feel that travel allows me to indulge in something that I find important. This is education. I do hold a degree however, I am a fully paid up student of the University of Life. Travel allows me to experience different peoples and cultures. I want to take something away from every place I visit and apply it to my life. Finally, travel allows me to be the person that I want to be in life. This is why I choose travel.
Still reading Waverley by Sir Walter Scott
Currently listening to 16 Military Wives by The Decemberists
Until my next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep on smiling.
Steve
The Travel Bucket List
Like almost everybody who wishes to travel the time comes to decide where you want to go and what you want to do. Over the past few weeks I have been giving this some thought. So here goes, this is the bucket list of places and sites I want to see. They are in no particular order and there are many more that I have forgotten to list.
EUROPE
Island hopping in Greece
Lap the history in Rome
Walk across St. Mark’s Square in Venice
Explore the culture and tapas in Madrid
Soak in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Try and find the Loch Ness Monster
Enjoy of pint of the black stuff in Dublin
Walk across the Giants Causeway
View Mount Etna in Sicily.
Reflect in the Vatican
Suffer a hangover at the Oktoberfest.
Stand across two continents in Istanbul
Cross Abbey Road in my bare feet
Photograph the Leaning Tower of Pisa
March across Red Square
Survey the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg
Ponder man’s capacity for cruelty at Auschwitz
Enjoy Vienna without suffering from food poisoning.
Cycle down the Champs Elysees
OCEANIA
See the sun rise over Uluru
New Zealand (all of it)
Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge
ASIA
Taj Mahal, India
Soak in the Dead Sea
Experience Tel Aviv
Marvel at Petra
Enjoy Vietnam
Visit the Great Wall of China
Experience Hong Kong
Wander around Angkor Wat
Marvel at the temple in Mynamar
Taste the street food in Bangkok
Drink a Singapore Sling in Singapore
SOUTH AMERICA
Machu Picchu, Peru
Visit the Galapagos Islands
Attend a soccer game in Buenos Aires
Attempt to dance a tango (I do have two left feet.)
Take the cable car up Corcovado and view the statue of Christ the Redeemer
Enjoy Angel Falls.
NORTH AMERICA
Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown
Soak up the rays on Miami Beach
Ride the cable car in San Francisco
Act like a big kid in a Disney Resort
The nightlife in New Orleans
Photograph the Grand Canyon
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge
See a baseball game at either Fenway Park or Wrigley Field (Proper baseball parks)
Soak up the music in Memphis
CENTRAL AMERICA
Mayan Temples in Mexico
Relax on a Caribbean Island
Explore the rain forests in Costa Rica
Stroll the streets of Havana
AFRICA
Pyramids in Egypt
Cruise down the River Nile
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Table Mountain in Cape Town
View the Victoria Falls
After all that I think I better start saving, planning and dreaming.
I am a avid reader and listener to music. In each of my posts I will mention what I am currently and listening.
At this moment I am reading Waverley by Sir Walter Scott
I am currently listening to Little Broken Hearts by Norah Jones (brilliant album)
Until the next time, stay safe, stay healthy and keep on smiling.
Steve
SteveWhittythoughts1965 