Letter from UK

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Letter from UK (23-1): Much the Same?

Here I am, in the UK again after many years! As before, visiting family in Chester. This is the best time to visit the UK. The weather is a lot less sweltering than in NYC. Some rain and as usual unpredictability, but also a fair dose of sunshine. Just lovely. For short chronicles of my previous trips, see here.

Chester is a small to medium sized city, quite affluent and has weathered the pandemic well. It really hasn't change much but for sure a few charity shops and a second-hand electronic shop (with just a little hifi) had closed. It is for sure fewer and fewer charity shops have any LPs of worth.

I love shopping in the supermarkets here, very good offering of a huge variety of food. Hummus, Taramasalata, curries, whatever. More fun than in the US.

 

Today we took a trip to nearby Wrexham (just inside Wales). I'm very glad to report that it seems to have undergone a facelift. No longer a feeling of being dilapidated. Unfortunately, the small CD and LP store in a historic narrow alley that I wrote about before has disappeared, surely a victim of the pandemic. Prices are considerably cheaper than in Chester. I had a nice lunch with a pint of a local ale.

Also took a short trip to Manchester, which seems growing and vibrant! Near the Children's Hospital, an entire street of Middle Eastern and Indian Food. I had a nice Shawarma.

Still a few Audio Magazines on the rack

My only findings in 1 store

Nice Sourdough, hummus and a surprisingly excellent sauvignon blanc

Compared with previous iteration, even more in the garden

Manchester Children's Hospital. Unusual design that is a functional failure imho.

Chester, Canal Side