Birmingham, which is located in central England, more precisely in the Midlands, is a multi-ethnic and constantly evolving city.
Just think that almost half of the population is not of English origin and that in a hundred years it has gone from being called the city of a thousand trades, to being the largest English industrial center. Today it is changing again and is orienting itself towards tourism and the tertiary sector.
But let's start from the beginning.
I arrived at the station very early in the morning for work reasons and, between a yawn and a coffee, I managed to head towards Birmingham Cathedral which is located in a beautiful, completely renovated neighborhood.
The cathedral built in 1715 is one of the few examples of English Baroque architecture in England and is also the oldest building in Birmingham still used for its original function.
The windows are the jewel in the crown of the cathedral, the polychromy of the stained glass windows is disarming when seen from the inside and gives the large central nave a very suggestive atmosphere.
I had some time before my business meeting so I kept walking north in search of the famous promenade along the canals but I got to the church of St. Paul completely surrounded by lawns full of lavender and wooden benches where you can take a rest.
I therefore arrived in the Jewelry District of Birmingham where the highest turnover in the production and sale of jewelry in Europe is found.
With the crisis of recent years this wonderful industrial-style neighborhood is converting very quickly and many factories are now co-working and creative business offices.
I took the walk along the canals on a side street of Ludgate Hill Street which took me to the heart of the network of all the English canals.
Through a series of locks, anyone with a river boat can move freely from one city to another in England or even get to London…quite impressive.
I walked for a good hour and arrived at one of the areas where you can most notice the renewal of the city after the decline of industry in the 90s.
Here lay dozens of abandoned factories but with a long recovery work it now hosts arenas, shops, offices, restaurants and even the Birmingham aquarium.
I chose not to stop too long in the city centre as it felt a bit like being in a shopping centre and I opted for a quick lunch in one of the pubs overlooking the canal with tables and benches outside.
They had some staples of English food: jacket potatoes, fish and chips, meat pies and hamburgers.
All washed down with a jug of Pimms, the typical English aperitif diluted with ginger ale or lemonade.
Birmingham has a tourist port where dozens of colorful barges and river boats regularly stop.
I even met a couple who live permanently on one of these boats…to earn some money they sell handmade objects or take tourists for a walk.
For heating they use a wood stove mounted on the bow, furthermore the boat is equipped with gas stoves, a bathroom, a double bed and even a bookcase.
From the port you can also see the famous The cube - a design building that has radically changed the skyline of the city.
Designed by a famous architect, it hosts luxury boutiques, shops, fancy restaurants and apartments.
I would move to Birmingham if it wasn’t for the weather…even worse than London’s for what I have heard!
