Birmingham, You Weird Little Gem (and My Damp Socks)
okay, so. birmingham. i didn’t plan to be in birmingham. honestly, i was supposed to be in bristol, chasing some street art vibes, but a cancelled train and a very persuasive hostel owner later, here i am. and you know what? i’m… surprisingly charmed. like, a slightly soggy, perpetually surprised charm.
i just checked and it's drizzling sideways, a proper grey hug from the sky. the kind that soaks through your supposedly waterproof jacket in approximately three minutes. feels like about seven degrees, which is… brisk. i’m pretty sure my socks are actively breeding mold at this point.
but the vibe here is something else. it’s not flashy, it’s not trying too hard. it’s just… birmingham. i spent most of yesterday wandering around the *Jewellery Quarter, which is absolutely bonkers. tiny workshops crammed with glitter and pliers and the smell of metal. i almost bought a ring shaped like a miniature badger. almost.
“Apparently, if you go to the Custard Factory on a Saturday, you can find vintage clothes for next to nothing. But be warned, it’s chaos. Like, elbow-to-elbow, bargain-hunting madness.”
that’s what a guy with a truly impressive handlebar mustache told me at the pub last night. he was nursing a pint and looked like he knew things. i’m definitely checking it out tomorrow. i’m always on the hunt for a good oversized corduroy jacket.
food-wise, i’ve been mostly living on chips and curry sauce, which, let’s be honest, is a perfectly acceptable travel strategy. i did stumble across this amazing little Indian place called Shababs - seriously, look it up on Yelp. https://www.yelp.com/biz/shababs-birmingham - the best biryani i’ve had in ages. someone told me that the queues are insane on weekends, so go early.
and the people! everyone’s been so friendly. i asked a woman for directions to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (which, by the way, is surprisingly good - check it out! https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag) and she ended up giving me a mini-tour. she was a retired librarian and knew everything about the Pre-Raphaelites. it was lovely.
“Don’t even think about parking in the city centre. It’s a nightmare. Take the train or a bus. Trust me.”
that was a very stern warning from a bus driver. i’m taking it to heart.
if you get bored, wolverhampton and coventry are just a short train ride away. i’m thinking of popping over to coventry tomorrow to check out the cathedral ruins. i’m a sucker for a bit of history. you can find some interesting tours on TripAdvisor. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g209323-Activities-Coventry_West_Midlands_England.html
my gear list for this trip (so far):
a very damp backpack
a questionable pair of socks
a notebook full of half-formed thoughts
a camera (obviously)
a reusable coffee cup (essential)
a slightly battered copy of ‘Middlemarch’ (because why not?)
pro-tip: invest in a good umbrella. seriously.
and one last thing: i heard that the Mailbox* is a good place for a fancy coffee. https://www.mailboxbirmingham.com/ i’m going to investigate. my caffeine levels are dwindling.
okay, i’m off to find a laundromat and maybe some more chips. birmingham, you’ve been… unexpectedly delightful.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/the-nightlife-scene-in-tegucigalpa-best-bars-and-safe-zones-according-to-a-pro-dancer
- https://votoris.com/post/chasing-light-and-babi-guling-in-ubud
- https://votoris.com/post/nagoya-drifts-a-disillusioned-consultants-chaotic-wander
- https://votoris.com/post/goas-heatwave-and-my-questionable-life-choices
- https://votoris.com/post/vilnius-frozen-lens-and-chaotic-streets