Manchester has always had a bad reputation in my mind; I plus Manchester equals bad karma. When someone mentioned Manchester all I thought about were football hooligans and famous New Year’s Eve Photo from 2016.
(Click the link if you don't know what I am referring to: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/03/like-a-beautiful-painting-image-of-new-years-mayhem-in-manchester-goes-viral)
Instead of moving to Amsterdam with me, my best friend Egle moved to Manchester about a year ago so you can imagine that just a mention of this city and my brain was giving me the red warning lights.
As it happens you do face your fears eventually and so did I. Tickets were booked and the suitcase was packed and my-hesitant-self went on the weekend break to this football ruled city.
Before I continue, let me mention some cool facts about Manchester that I found online before my trip (Wikipedia);
- Manchester is a city where vegetarianism was born.
- This is a place where Atom was first split and the University of Manchester can say that they raised 25 Nobel Prize winners.
- The first British free public library was opened in the Manchester in 1652 by Charles Dickens himself; it is opened until today what makes it the oldest public library in England.
It is obvious now that this weekend break was all about Books. I am a book lover and I am trying to visit one famous library a year. Last year I went to the Livralia Lello in Porto, Portugal; which is one of the most beautiful libraries/bookshops in the world also used in Harry Potter movies as Dumbledore’s office, but that is the topic for another blog article. This article is about Manchester and its famous public library.
I arrived in Manchester late Friday night, Egle and her boyfriend picked me up at the airport. We went straight home to her lovely house and had a proper catch-up. As we haven't seen each other for more than a year, you can imagine there was a lot to talk about.
Next Morning, right after breakfast we went to Manchester city centre. The Public Library has several locations through the city (24 to be precise) we visited two most iconic ones.
The Manchester Central library is a huge white building made of stone that looks respectfully at the first glance as it's round shape is inspired by the Rome Pantheon.
Inside is a maze of study rooms and corridors full of books! Paradise! But this library was not quiet and calm with a librarian giving you the evil eye if you sneeze. This library was alive, full of energy and events, always changing and providing up to day knowledge to people in search of information.
The main study room, Wolfson Reading Room, is a round place located just under the dome with a magnificiant clock stand in the centre. There was a classical quartet playing soft pieces by famous composers. The acoustic of the room is perfect and the atmosphere was almost heavenly; it felt magical and peaceful.
As soon as we left the main study room and entered corridors we encountered lots of children lead by librarians in costumes. They were running around and searching for the information and knowledge in some kind of game. As we passed photography exhibition we came across a group of children and parents playing on the tambourines and little drums supervised by a man who was leading the song on the flute and let me tell you, this room was far from being quiet.
It almost seemed that the library had its own personality, it wasn't this boring old and grumpy person it was a playful welcoming and fun friend who is always changing and is full of life and surprises.
After such an overwhelming and warm welcome, we walked across the city to visit the second location: John Rylands Library. This piece of stunning architecture was opened to the public in 1900 and today is a part of the University of Manchester Library. The absolute treasures are being hidden inside such as Guttenberg Bible or personal letters of John Dalton.
Officially the architecture style is Neo-gothic I believe, but for us bookies... it is Hogwarts! Interior is full of arches and staircases that remind of the magical school and the study room itself breaths of power as you enter. The library is quiet and with all the vintage books it almost feels like a museum, until you meet someone who is actually studying and you are reminded that this is still an open free library. What a great reason to study! No surprise that there are 25 Nobel Prize winners from the University of Manchester.
After the overwhelming library trips and journey back to the house we sat down for a little drink and discussed everything possible and impossible, we went for dinner into the local pub which I loved. I miss English pub food so much.
Sunday flight to Amsterdam was planned for seven in the evening which gave us a good time window for book shopping. Egle took me to my favourite bookshop of all times - Waterstones.
I knew I have to buy The Hate U Give as it was selected by my book club for this month but I couldn't resist and I also purchased some new books for my Tolkien appreciation bookshelf.
I behaved and I am proud of myself. I left with the total of three books.
With the suitcase stuffed with books, I was happy to just sit down for classic Sunday English roast and enjoy the sunny weather before my return to the Netherlands.
I am very grateful for this trip; bad karma was erased and a new city was discovered. I had a great time with my best friend and I am hoping that one day she will visit me in Amsterdam and we can do it all over again.
Statue in the Central Library Pretty building in the city centre
Statue in the Central Library Pretty building in the city centre
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