Great Britain. Part IIMapJuly 23...30, 2015 In England, semi-trailers have hemispherical roofs. They’re more aerodynamic and thereby more fuel-efficient. ![]() LiverpoolMapA downright awful city. Big, jam- packed, yet totally done for. You get the feeling that Liverpudlians spent the first half of the XX century destroying and neglecting everything they possibly could. ![]() The bit where there’s at least something suggestive of intact historical buildings is five by five streets big. ![]() One of the most beautiful buildings — Grand Central Hall — is in an unbelievably sorry state. ![]() Shrubs grow out of ornaments. ![]() Meanwhile, this resplendent Art Nouveau interior is home to a store selling clothes and accessories for freaks. ![]() In short, it’s a total shambles. ![]() They also have a Chinatown here where everything is in the Chinese style. Even the parking meters. ![]() Regular Liverpudlian parking meters are more modest-looking. ![]() ManchesterMapAn absolutely incredible city where you delight in every detail. ![]() There’s a multitude of utterly picturesque palaces here. ![]() On every corner you see positively postcard-worthy views of yore. ![]() Modern buildings fit in among all this beauty remarkably well. ![]() I got a hotel room that would make for a great movie set. ![]() With astonishing old fittings and museum-worthy window frames. ![]() Thankfully, at least in Manchester the English are in no rush to replace true beauty with soulless insulated window units. ![]() Abandoned building that once housed the fire brigade headquarters. ![]() House number. ![]() Downpipe bracket. Where else can you find something so beautiful on top of such a beautiful ear bracket? ![]() Bench. ![]() Tram. ![]() This city has potential. One of the few British cities I would gladly return to on a regular basis to relish in the atmosphere and the mood of the place. Deep, dark and fable-like. ![]() BirminghamMapIt’s as if there isn’t really a city here. Or rather there’s something, something unintelligible. ![]() How they used to decorate lampposts. ![]() Modern lamppost. ![]() When they paint a monument gold in North Korea, it’s called tyranny. When they paint a monument gold in Britain, it’s subtle British humour. ![]() There are two buildings of interest in the city. The library. ![]() Plus a building clad in addition signs. ![]() And nothing else. GloucesterMapAt first, I thought that this was just your typical one-street European town, kind of like Banská Bystrica. ![]() With a hint of English flavour. ![]() OK, there are also the pretty rubbish bins. ![]() As well as fully sunken kerbstones, so that the road and the pavement are level. ![]() Then I got as far as the docks and fell in love with the old Victorian warehouses. ![]() Way back when they were built to store grain. Today they look so spectacular that it’s not every city that can design something similar, even if it really wanted to. ![]() AmesburyMapHome to Great Britain’s biggest disappointment: Stonehenge. A stone megalithic structure that I had only seen photographs of up until now. All there is to it is a few stones standing not far from the highway. That’s it. ![]() LondonMapThere are new double-decker buses running. It looks as if the bus has wrapped itself up in a glass scarf. ![]() |
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july 2015
Great Britain. Part II
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