Up North.. Birthday celebrations and farewells

The long bittersweet weekend I spent up North has come to an end, and although we say are farewells, our memories shared are sweet.
My birthday celebrations took us to Manchester, a metropolis brimming with favourable delights of culture, arts and history. The Northern hub is stimulating to the eye and promises a photogenic walk around its streets. Comparable to London with its mix of urban hipster and historic surroundings, Manchester is not so overcrowded and has a friendly northern vibe.

The approaching hum and rattle of the tram followed us around as we rambled the city, discovering endless shops, galleries and street food markets. The Manchester Art Gallery held the Cotton Couture exhibition, which featured a short film explaining the history of cotton manufacture in Manchester. On display were rows of elegant 1950’s gowns made by British and French designers in unconventional cotton fabrics. The gallery also hosts an exquisite permanent collection, featuring some of my favourite artists- Turner, Alma-Tadema and John William Godward.

Upon trailing back to the hotel after a long day touristing, we were captured by the stunning grandeur of Manchester Central Library in St Peters Square. We nestled ourselves into a cosy corner of the neoclassic rotunda, quiescently absorbed into the library’s publications.

North Wales, Part IV. Searching for Snowdon

Our mission was to climb Mount Snowdon; to increase our pulse, to tire our muscles and then revel in the satisfaction of conquering the highest peak in Wales. But our first mission was finding mighty mountain.
An area of narrow, tall hedged winding roads is a hazardous feature for the urban tourist. Accustomed to concrete forests, the abundance of greenery becomes indistinguishable, as do the unpronounceable signposts to the English monolinguist.
The mountainous backdrop soon began to arise from the exhausting labyrinth and compass us towards its direction.
Like sitting front row in the cinema, the mountainous scenery was on full screen, we were at Snowdon’s base. And as it turned out, so was everyone else…
With the car parks full, we decided to do the driving tour of Snowdon. Hilly roads provided an exhilarating roller coaster ride, with stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
So I guess this is a lazy guide to Snowdon, but it gives me all the more reason to return!

<img src=”https://

North Wales, Part II. Tourists in Caernarfon

Historic town Caernarfon boasts a grandiose status with its medieval castle overlooking the river Sieont. Whilst it’s town reveals a quaintness, intrinsically built around the relic walls and with it’s intimate streets that lead you to the harbour.

An array of pastel washed townhouses and brightly hued shops mellow the stern grey walls of the fortress.
It’s photo snapping tourists (including myself) and friendly cafe culture, leave no hint of the austere and intimidating medieval town that once stood.

After a curious cycle around the area, the lure of the colourful gelato shop enticed us in. And so we stood, in the shadows of Caernarfon Castle happily licking away our gelato’s!