Jo’s Monday walk : City of Birmingham (24 hours in Brum)

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Britain’s second largest city, Birmingham, stormed my senses from the moment I first saw it.  Approaching by coach from the north, I gazed in horror at the piles of rubble and the cranes, skulking behind billboards.  In these testing times, it felt not a little like the scene of a recent disaster. But I needn’t have worried.  Apparently Birmingham is constantly reinventing itself, and I very much liked where my footsteps led me.

Frugality being one of my traits, I was staying a little off the beaten track.  As I raised my camera to take a shot of some Lemonade Fizzballs in a shop window, I was unaware that I was colliding with the city’s industrial past.  The Back to Backs on Hurst St. are all that is left of the cheap housing, swiftly erected to cope with the boom times of the Industrial Revolution.  Every imaginable type of industry thrived in Birmingham at that time.  James Watt, Matthew Boulton and William Murdoch, the luminaries in my lead photo, were pioneers and members of the Lunar Society- a melting-pot of scientific and industrial ideas.  I hesitate to admit that ‘rag rugs’ are part of my childhood memories.

Directly opposite, ‘The Old Fox Theatre Bar’ gave me a warm welcome, as it waited for customers from The Hippodrome Theatre.  The area adjoins Chinatown.  Noodle bars galore and a feast of eating opportunities.  The following morning was not quite so welcoming, and I returned to the city in a fine drizzle. Still, I had a smile on my face, for I was going to be Meeting Gilly.  The couple of hours till her arrival time were not to be wasted, and I set off in a clockwise direction.  The landmark buildings The Mailbox and The Cube were on my agenda.

Cheerful lanterns lit the path beneath the subway, then I dripped my way up The Mailbox steps.  What a revelation!

The Mailbox is a combination of art gallery and shopping complex, within the structure of Brum’s old postal sorting office.  I was in need of a little warmth and comfort, and the tulip-shaped chairs of the Bellini & Espresso Bar were pure invitation.

Just as I was settling in to a mouthful of luxury, the alarm bells began to ring and a stern voice announced that an investigation was taking place. Evacuation might soon be called for!  Fortunately, nothing further occurred, but just for a moment…

All too soon I was back on the streets, if anything, even damper than before.  Well, if I was going to be wet, I might as well head for the canals. Boats always boost my mood.  As I turned the corner to The Cube,  I glimpsed water.  Closely followed by soggy boats and dripping padlocks!

You might recollect that this pub in Gas Street Basin is where, later, I ate with Gilly.  The vegetarian menu looked promising, if a little damp!  As I looked back at The Cube, I thought I saw just a hint of sunlight.  Was I fooling myself?

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Back under the subway, I headed along Navigation St. in the direction of New Street Station.  This building had been beckoning to me for a closer look ever since my arrival in Birmingham.  A futuristic train shape, from a distance it intrigued.  Close quarters revealed a multitude of reflections.

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And THEN my eyes lit up.  Trams!  A source of much childish delight for me.  I studied their comings and goings for a few minutes, but it was almost time to go and meet my accomplice for the day.  The skies had brightened at last as I headed towards the coach station.  Just as I was consulting my map, looking for an elusive Mill Lane, a burst of sunny rain hit me.  Up went the brolly again, and I hopped onto the steps of a small, friendly-looking police station.  Seconds later, my phone rang.  ‘Where are you?’ a smiling voice asked.

Now I don’t know quite why, but a little voice inside my head was singing ‘if you want to know the way, ask a policeman!’  Well, why not?  In I went, and the police were every bit as friendly as their station looked.  They insisted on going online to find Mill Lane for me. By the time they had done so, my ray of sunshine had arrived.  Grinning from ear to ear.

Meeting Gilly tells the story of our day.  Linking arms we set off, first in search of refreshment, and then in the general direction of Birmingham Library.  A peep inside St. Martin in the Bullring was just enough to reveal the ravishing stained glass windows by local artist, Edward Burne-Jones. (Sorry- no photos allowed).  Bypassing The Bullring, reincarnated in style, and on into New Street, where we both delighted to find old style shopping arcades with beautiful ceilings.

So much to love about Brum!  By now I was starting to take the cranes and the billboards for granted.  I could forgive much in a city with a library like this one.  I wish I’d had time for the Secret Garden on the 7th floor and more than just a glimpse at the Shakespeare Memorial Room.

I guess what I’m saying is that 24 hours in Brum is not enough!  I still need to know more about Brindley Place and the sensory clock. And we never did manage to fit in St. Philip’s Cathedral with it’s Burne-Jones stained glass masterpieces.  Nor even try Fumo’s restaurant, recommended by my good friend Richard (A Bit of Culture) and the Rough Guide.

Get yourself a city map and take a walking tour.  You won’t regret it!  And now, for goodness sake, where’s the coffee?

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Thank you so much everybody, for putting up with me and my rambles.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Birmingham with Gilly.  If you have a walk you’d like to share, you can join me anytime.  The details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page, or just click on the logo. And now the best bit- some wonderful shares!

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First past the post again this week!  Drake’s lovely ‘home’ island :

Same style, but different

I missed one last week so humble apologies to Liesbet in Massachusetts :

(Super)Natural Wonders around us

Becky made me smile with some wonderful memories of Lisbon (and a bit of humph-ing!)

It’s a Monday so it must be time for a walk

And from the Azores… be still my beating heart!  Thanks, Susan :

Walking and Walking and Walking in Ponta Delgada, Portugal

Prepare for a lot of knowledge about the Hurons!  Jackie’s on the case :

Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons

Something a little different from BiTi this week :

Let’s hike the Stanford Dish Loop Trail

And Geoff is ambling along a river bank, being smug.  With Dog, of course!

Summer strolls#walking#suffolk

Violet Sky has found the nicest garden to match that nice town.  Have a wander!

A nice garden in a nice town

Cathy’s latest is huge!  Check out the Orangery :

Philadelphia’s Longwood Gardens

Jaspa’s building up a sweat in among some beautiful Mayan ruins :

Climbing an Ancient Mayan Pyramid at Coba, Mexico

And cooling down by the water in a lovely Cornish village.  Different, huh?

Boscastle Harbour, Cornwall, 12 years after the Floods 

One of the loveliest walks it has ever been my privilege to feature.  Meg, you’re a love!

Vignettes from a morning walk, 5

What a corker from Corey!  Jude, you’ll love this one :

Westchester’s Hidden Gem : Untermyer Park and Gardens

Carol in Cairns!  Has a good sound to it, don’t you think?

Riding The Waves

And an encore from Badfish!  Only now he’s playing at Knight’s Templar in a sublime setting :

Another Side of Malta : Day One

Sorry if I’ve walked you to exhaustion this week.  I promise to be kinder next Monday.  Have a great week and take good care of yourselves.

P.S I just popped over to Monday Escapes and it reminded me to say ‘White Rabbit’!

 

 

159 comments

  3. This is such a lovely tour of Birmingham Jo told from your perspective – so interesting! I have been through Birmingham New Street numerous times but apart from being picked up there once by my sister in law, who lives in Cheltenham, don’t think I’ve been there before. My dad was born there too (in Edgbaston near the cricket ground) so must go there one day. Looks like you had a fun day out despite the rain. Hope you had a lovely weekend and have a great week! 🙂

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    1. So many things we find in common, Rosemay 🙂 I’d never been there before but James has been doing part-time study at Aston University and is there again this week for exams. He’s always wanted to visit Edgbaston. Who knows? 🙂 Thanks, darlin’. Love to you and yours.

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      1. Another link. The OH worked in Aston when I met him. Can’t say that is a very nice area though, or it wasn’t. All I recall is a very confusing roundabout – or at least I was very confused!

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  6. Jo, you are such a trooper! I would have been so discouraged by the rain, but you just cheerily go along and enjoy every minute! It’s wonderful to see some of Birmingham; despite the industrial overtones, it still has some real treasures. The futuristic New Street Station is fascinating and, of course, canal walks are always fun. My dear friend Jayne is from Birmingham, but she now is working as a dental hygienist in Jersey. She used to be my neighbor here in Oakton. I really do need to get to your part of the world again. 🙂

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    1. So much world, Cathy! (Iceland soon! 🙂 🙂 ) I was in such a happy mood at seeing Gilly and a whole new place to explore. What’s a little rain? 🙂 I had very little expectation of Birmingham but it delivered big time! The Library was stunning! Me and Gilly were all set to move in. 🙂 Hugs, sweetheart!

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      1. Yes, only 13 days till Iceland, Jo! I’m so excited. 🙂 I’m glad you had a great time with Gilly in Birmingham. It really looked like a fabulous time, despite the rain. 🙂 Hugs to you too, Jo! xxx

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  7. Thanks for the Birmingham tour, Jo. I really enjoyed it. Your photos set the mood and, for once, I didn’t mind the rain. Everything looked great. My favorite was the train shaped building with all its reflections. That was a very unique sight. The bull reminded me of Wall Street. 🙂 It sounds like you have to go back; so much to do and see! Thank you for the link as well. Have a wonderful week.

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    1. If it wasn’t for 4/5 hours on a bus and a numb bum I could be very tempted, Liesbet 🙂 Funnily enough, my son is there this week for exams at Uni, but I’d never been there before meeting Gilly. Crazy world! 🙂 Happy to have you along 🙂 🙂

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    1. I kid you not! It was sunny rain! 🙂 🙂 Anyway- got to have a bit of personality, Paula 🙂 🙂
      Because it’s you, and you’ve been kind enough to spend so much time with me this morning, I’ll tell you a story about the refreshments. The place I was staying didn’t include breakfast and I was out on the streets very early. I had that very delicious coffee at the Bellini bar but wasn’t really hungry then. At my Canalside Bar they advertised breakfasts. The rain was bouncing so I went inside. No breakfasts! 😦 But he sweetly offered me an umbrella! On I went, to New Street station. There’s a new shopping mall wrapped around it (isn’t there everywhere??) and I stuck my nose in out of curiosity (and to keep dry 🙂 ). Carlucci’s were advertising coffee and a pastry for £2. Gobsmacked! I went in and a very nice young Irish man served me. Apparently the £2 was for takeaway deals. To eat the same inside was £4.20. You know how mean I am so I said I’ll just have coffee. ‘No’ he said. ‘I’ll only charge you £2. Sit yourself down’. 🙂 I was mildly embarrassed and offered to pay full price, but he insisted. I’d been chatting to him about meeting Gilly, and he really was very sweet. What could I do? But I left a good tip 🙂 🙂 The pastry (with custard in) was divine but I was too busy eating so you’ll have to take my word for it. It was 9.30 and I was starved 🙂 🙂

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  11. That sweet shop is only a couple of minutes from my office – I hope you stocked up on cola cubes? Birmingham is somewhere I normally blog about when I’ve not been anywhere for a while – I’ve been meaning to write a blog about the station, so that will be my next project!

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    1. I half thought you might fancy a drink after work, Richard, but my coach was late arriving and it might not have suited. I really liked The Old Fox. I think you should blow Birmingham’s trumpet a bit more. It’s a cracking place (apart from the demolition 🙂 )

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  12. Your witty-written story and absolutely amazing pictures gave me a feeling of sweet Britain. It’s like I’ve watched a typical British film! Lovely!

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  15. On my last visit to Birmingham, I was not impressed, But your pictures and words has changed my opinion. Oh by the way it was over twenty years ago..I really must try and get out a bit more.. thanks for the share Jo, enjoyed it…

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  17. Pingback: Packwood Gardens – ladyleemanila

  18. I’m on the next plane! What a wonderful looking city. So many diverse delights, which you weave together beautifully. That first photo is a particular beauty, but look up, look down, look around and you’ve got a killer shot. I also loved the ceiling art, the cactuses and the bull with that adolescent look!. I wish I had your energy – my tripartite day is harder to maintain in Warsaw than in Gdańsk! Have a wonderful week, and a hug a day from me.

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    1. Paula liked the bull too 🙂 🙂 Thanks, darlin’. If you’re hopping planes it needs to be further south so Gilly can get there too. London? 🙂 I love your hugs.

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      3. As well as three lots of visitors, I’ve got to change my ticket. Accommodation is a bit in doubt. They seem to building another storey on top of the apartment block and we’ve getting soot and small bits of plaster through the kitchen vent, apart from the noise and the fear of shonky builders.

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      5. We booked till early September because we were booking a long way in advance and couldn’t book for longer at the time. Weird rule. So this change will extend Poland till early March.

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