I am not sure if it enamoured me because it was the first place of our travels, or if it is because, compared to my home "city" of Hobart Tasmania, simply a real city with real citizens going about their real city life. Maybe it appealed to my senses purely on its own merit. Whatever the cause, I was pleasantly surprised with the City of Manchester. We did hit Manchester in the middle of England's schools' mid-term break, so activity was high. The main city hang-out, Picadilly Gardens, and the main pedestrian street-mall, Market Street, was full of life, with little sign of the financial crisis. A walk in the more exclusive retail streets, however, did tell a different story. The tram system was efficient, safe and inexpensive. On one journey to see Hamish at Old
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