After a long tiring flight ride, I was honestly looking forward to what all I was going to be seeing in this new city! I was very excited and none of my feelings about this city has changed after being in the city for one evening. If anything, I am even more eager to explore and know more about Birmingham’s culture and lifestyle! One thing I noticed is that the stores and restaurants in the city are somewhat similar to what we can find in the US but also very different at the same time. For example, some stores/restaurants that caught my attention were Five Guys, Subways, TK Maxx (TK Maxx), Burger King, etc. On the other hand, I saw other stores that aren’t commonly found in the US (or at least in Pennsylvania) like Tim Hortons.
Even though the stores and restaurants may be similar, the way they are arranged around the city and the architecture of the buildings are very different in comparison. There is such a huge mix of both modern buildings with amazing architectural features and old, culture-rich buildings. Seeing both types in one city made me feel like this is something that can’t be found that often in the US. In addition, I really liked how there are little canals in the city and how the city is situated around the canals, making the canals also a cute, nice part of the city. Some of the scenery and views of the canals/water and the buildings were just absolutely amazing.
In addition, I am already looking forward to trying so many new things here, especially food! This is because I’ve tried 2 new food items on this trip already and it has only been one day! I recently tried artichoke for the first time. In addition, today, for lunch at a restaurant called O’Neill’s, I tried “mushy peas”. I really was hesitant to try it because I have always known that I am not a big fan of peas. However, I told myself if I don’t try it now I won’t ever have the chance to try it again. Then, I gave it a shot and I ended up liking it, which was a big shock! If I learnt anything today, it is to always give something a try before saying no, especially food items!
Another thing I really liked about this city is that everything is walkable. This is something that seems unrealistic back home. I really like the fact that everything is so close to each other in the city that one can just take a walk from one place to another, while simultaneously enjoying the astounding views and landmarks. So, overall, regardless of how tired and exhausted I felt after the flight ride, I really did like the tour around the city! However, I am a little concerned about knowing my way around the city for the few days we are here, but hopefully with practice and more of going out, I will be able to master it! I am really looking forward to it!
Overall, if I haven’t expressed enough throughout this blog, I am looking forward to everything coming ahead on this trip and am super excited! I am sure the first day of being in Birmingham has been amazing too! I am very happy to experience all these moments and learn as much as I can!
