England Trip - Part 4 MANCHESTER

Continuing with my journey to the motherland (of my ancestors, hehe)...here are some pictures and anecdotes of my visit up to Manchester, England. My boyfriend Pete's parents live up there and we were planning to stay with them for a days so that I could get a chance to see the north of England.

We drove up on a Thursday and the drive up was very pleasant. It took about 4 and a half hours (due to a stop in Derbyshire visiting Pete's best friend John and his gf Selina). They cooked us a nice dinner of Indian food (one of my main staples of food in England actually), and I got my first taste of orange squash (its actually a juice drink, not some new vegetable, and very tasty btw) and then we drove up to meet Pete's parents in Bury (a burrough of Manchester). I was a little nervous as this was the first time I was meeting Pete's parents, but luckily I had nothing to worry about as they were very kind, fun, and hospitable people.

Friday, February 20th we spent the day exploring the countryside outside Bury. I absolutely loved it. I found that I much prefer the north of England than the south due because it has more hills...

Pretty pretty hills.


The Rock of Gibraltar (okay, well, no, but it had been there since the Roman occupation)

Me and "the rock". It was a fine rock. A sturdy rock. A friendly rock. And it liked posing for pictures.

Petey poses with the rock. He's 6 feet tall, so as you can see it towered over him.

Rejoicing from the splendor of my surroundings (and oh yeah, it was BITTERLY cold!)

This was taken right after we stopped the car to get out and take pictures (in the middle of the road mind you, these things are allowed in the country). As I stepped out of the car, I fell unexpectedly into a ditch. Most lovely, haha.

This was a nice footpath in the country near a farm/estate that is open to the public. Public footpaths are all around the countryside, even through private property/land sometimes. I suppose its a treaty that the government made with country folk. I just love stone fences.

I have a fascination with old cemeteries. There is an air of mystery and spooky-ness surrounding them. It also makes me wonder about the people there, who they were, what their lives were like when they lived so long ago.

An old church converted into an antique shop across the street from the old cemetery. There were so many beautiful churches in the countryside, I was in awe.

A cute country pub we saw during our drive called "The Grey Mare".

A country church in Ainsworth built in the 14th century I believe. This was where Pete was christened as a wee babe :) It was so beautiful in person.

I have a thing about doors. I love them! Especially ones rusted with age. I find them very artistic, so much so that I'd like to buy a professional camera just to take pictures of old doors, hehe.

The lovely tower and clock of Ainsworth church. I would've rang the bell but I might have gotten into trouble :)

And here's me and Pete at the church (right before it rained and we had to leave). Don't we make a fine pair :)

We had a lovely time and some lovely memories, and I can't wait to go back again this summer, when all the flowers are blooming (and its warmer!). There is so much more I'd like to explore of England. Hope you enjoyed the pictures everyone!