Newcastle Upon Tyne: Rain, Bridges, and a Seriously Good Brown Ale
okay, so newcastle. it’s…a lot. i’m a freelance photographer, and honestly, i usually chase the sun, but a friend’s band had a gig here, and i figured, why not? plus, i needed to escape the relentless “influencer” vibes of *london.
first off, the weather. i just glanced outside and it’s…actively trying to become part of you, if you get my drift. not a gentle mist, more like a determined soaking. 10.64 degrees, they say. feels like 9.35. honestly, feels lower. i’m pretty sure my camera bag is developing its own ecosystem.
but it’s a beautiful kind of grey. all those bridges, arching over the tyne. seriously, the bridges are the main event. i spent a whole afternoon just wandering along the quayside, snapping photos. the baltic centre for contemporary art is cool, even if i didn’t understand half of it. (i’m more of a “point and shoot” kinda guy, not a “interpretive dance with shadows” kinda guy). you can find more info about the Baltic here: https://www.balticmill.com/.
now, the people. they’re…direct. in a good way? i was asking for directions to a decent pub (priorities, people) and this woman just pointed and said, “down that way, past the bloke selling dodgy watches.” no preamble, no “excuse me.” just straight to the point. i kinda loved it. if you’re looking for a place to stay, check out some reviews on https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g186391-Newcastle_upon_Tyne_England-Hotels.html.
and the pubs. oh, the pubs. i ended up in this tiny place called “the crown & anchor” (apparently, it’s a local institution). someone told me that the landlord, old man henderson, once threw a darts player out for celebrating too enthusiastically. i also overheard someone muttering about the best place for a sunday roast being “the black bull” in gateshead, but that could have been the brown ale talking. https://www.yelp.co.uk/search?find_desc=Pubs&find_loc=Newcastle%2C%20Tyne%20and%20Wear has some good options too.
my airbnb is in heaton, which is a bit further out, but it’s a nice area. if you get restless, durham and sunderland are just a quick train ride away. the neighbors seem pretty chill, mostly students and young professionals. i haven’t had anyone try to sell me anything yet, which is a win.
pressure’s at 1021, humidity’s 61%. basically, it’s damp. really damp. i’m starting to think i should have packed more waterproof gear. i heard that the best vintage shops are around grainger market*, but i haven’t braved it yet. apparently, it’s a labyrinth of stalls and questionable smells. sounds perfect, actually. you can find more about the market here: https://www.graingermarket.co.uk/.
overall? newcastle’s growing on me. it’s rough around the edges, a bit scruffy, and definitely not afraid of a bit of rain. it’s real. and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
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