Our first day started off on a plane, which landed in London and followed with a bus ride to Birmingham. Luckily, the sleeping situation was much better on the bus than on the plane so we all got to catch up on some sleep.
Once we arrived in Birmingham and freshened up, we went to lunch. I got spicy chicken quesadillas, but also got to try mushy peas and fish and chips! Although mushy peas may sound unappetizing, I was impressed and would have them again. They were like the mashed potatoes version of peas. Following our lunch, we began our walking tour of Birmingham, led by Dr. Marks. I loved the canals that ran through the city. The photo below shows one of the canals and I like how this area did not feel super crowded and was more cute and peaceful!
Additionally, we spent around 20 minutes inside the art museum. There were several beautiful paintings, an Ozzy Osbourne themed room, and information on Birmingham’s history as a city. I learned that, historically, tanning played a big role in the city’s industry. However, it was one of the dirtiest jobs as urine was often used to soften animal skins. The skins were then also cleaned in the River Rea, which contaminated the drinking water. I found this ironic, because now Birmingham is praised for having very clean and drinkable tap water.
As we continued our tour, I began making more observations and noticed the diverse style of architecture across the city. There are older buildings, but also very modern buildings, and this mix of styles will often be found right next to each other. The library’s exterior (attached below), for example, was unlike any library I have seen before. If time allows, I would be interested to check out the inside. The statue in front of the library is called “A Real Birmingham Family” and shows two sisters, both of them with their sons. I thought it was neat that these two sisters were chosen to have the statue done on them out of hundreds of nominations! It is nice to see that the people in Birmingham are supportive and want to empower women who may not have a husband right there by their side, but are still strong women and mothers.
Food wise, I noticed so many different cuisines! As someone who loves trying new food, I am looking forward to learning more about other cultures by trying out cuisines I have never had much of, or maybe at all, before. One night this upcoming week, we are going to a restaurant with Jamaican food, which will be a great chance for me to try something new. There was also a gelato place that looked delicious that I made sure to take note of, because who doesn’t love a good sweet treat after long days of walking?
We finished up our walking tour by viewing this beautiful church, which has been there long before all the buildings surrounding it have been. Having older buildings like this really adds to the city’s charm and gives it a great mix of being up-to-date, while still carrying historical significance. Overall, after finishing up our first day in Birmingham, I am even more excited than before to continue learning and exploring this area!
