Birmingham, England

First, Sorry for the delay. The internet cable connection that I had stretched from Time-Warner Hawaii snapped. 

Now back to Birmingham --

Charlene on a bridge crossing the canal at Brindley Place.  Adjacent to the tree on the left is the Birmingham International Convention Center. Behind me (picture taker) is Barclaycard (Barclay’s Bank) Arena. Brindley Place is one the “happening places” of Birmingham.

In front of Barclaycard Arena is this sign post and the junction of three canals, called Old Turn Junction. The Birmingham and Fazely canal goes under the bridge to the left, the Worcester &  Birmingham canal is to the right, and I am standing along the Birmingham Canal Navigations – Main Line. At one time all the separate names would mean ownership by a separate canal company and toll charging entity.

Our mooring along the BCN-Mail Line, we are the second boat on the right. Old Turn Junction is about a block farther on.

Across the canal from our mooring is the Fiddle and Bone pub. Here is a night time shot of the canal, with the Fiddle and Bone on the left.

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Birmingham has a wonderful museum and art gallery. Many art exhibits, including this “eye catcher”. 

The perspective changes as you move. Here is the image from the side. The statues at the ends of the halls are on the front of the projections.

This time we spent most of our time at the museum looking at the exhibit about the Staffordshire Hoard. It is a hoard of gold and silver metalwork, 3,500+ items yet found.  The detail on some items is stunning considering they were created in the 7th to early 8th centuries. It was discovered in 2009 near the village of Hammerwich in Staffordshire. At the time the hoard was hidden this area was in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.

This item from the hoard is 0.83 x 0.83 x 0.53(h) in.   [21.1 x 21.1 x 13.4(h) mm]; gold, decorated with cloisonné garnets and blue glass.

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We also explored the Bull Ring markets. The most recent feature is a shopping center dating to 2003. However, the right to hold a market in this location, near St. Martin’s church, was granted in 1154. We checked out the open market and the rag market; there is a long history of various markets near St. Martin's.

In the image above St. Martin's church is surrounded by the new shopping area in the top and right side of the image, while the stalls and other older markets are to the lower left.

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We attended a performance of The Lady In The Van at the Crescent Theater, a five minute walk from our mooring. It is the real story of the relationship created when the play’s author allowed a homeless woman to park her van in his front garden – for what turned out to be 15 years. The play was also made into a movie. 

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The morning we left Birmingham we first attended the meeting of the Rotary Club of Birmingham Breakfast and exchanged banners. Great group of people, they had just finished a major fund raiser the week before – a drive in movie.