Manchester is a large, sprawling and interesting city. There are still many architectural reminders of its 
glorious, prosperous past. Victorian-era architecture abounds, and mu
ch of it is well maintained and restored. They reflect the time when Manchester was, like Britain, a global power-house. Industry, trade and commerce was everywhere, and the buildings housed offices, banks, warehouses, shipping houses, mills, and consulates. Today, they house tandoori palaces, pubs, and chain stores. And, alongside the Victorian splendour, are examples of the change: steel and concrete monoliths of the 1960's and 70's, which stand as almost soul-less socialistic blocks of unhappiness. Something went wrong, it seems, and the change is abrupt and jarring. It is almost as though Britain tried to deny what it once was, and tried to erase the past an
d focus on the new, brutal truth of the modern world. Somewhere after that, however, the city found a way to adapt. Many of the newer buildings have tried to make peace and resemble their Victorian grandparents: the effect is more tranquil an
d pleasing.
glorious, prosperous past. Victorian-era architecture abounds, and mu
ch of it is well maintained and restored. They reflect the time when Manchester was, like Britain, a global power-house. Industry, trade and commerce was everywhere, and the buildings housed offices, banks, warehouses, shipping houses, mills, and consulates. Today, they house tandoori palaces, pubs, and chain stores. And, alongside the Victorian splendour, are examples of the change: steel and concrete monoliths of the 1960's and 70's, which stand as almost soul-less socialistic blocks of unhappiness. Something went wrong, it seems, and the change is abrupt and jarring. It is almost as though Britain tried to deny what it once was, and tried to erase the past an
d focus on the new, brutal truth of the modern world. Somewhere after that, however, the city found a way to adapt. Many of the newer buildings have tried to make peace and resemble their Victorian grandparents: the effect is more tranquil an
d pleasing.Hopefully, sleep will come tonight, for tomorrow, we pick up our car and drive to Liverpool. My first British driving in almost eight years. We think we have everything arranged, but you just never know .......
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