The city of Manchester is located northeast of London and is rather inland. Nevertheless, Manchester has a close connection to the sea. There is a large artificial canal that connects Manchester with the Irish Sea. There are also some interesting libraries and a cathedral, which we would like to visit. We are content with a rather short visit in Manchester because it is still rather cold and wet, and we walk through the city in the rain from time to time between the sights.

Manchester Cathedral

Another highlight as far as cathedrals are concerned is Manchester Cathedral. It is built in Gothic style and has been renovated again and again, so that today it can be used and visited in a well-preserved condition. There are beautiful stained-glass windows and high vaults with impressive ceiling decorations. We enjoy the impressive moments of silence and beautiful impressions of the architecture.

John Rylands Library

The John Rylands Library is our main chosen attraction. It is built in impressive neo-Gothic style and was opened in 1900. It is now part of the University of Manchester and has been suitably enlarged with a modern extension. The old part is freely accessible to the public and so we explore the corridors, reading rooms and the high vaults. Here we feel like part of an old academic community from a hundred years ago.

The mix of visitors also makes our stay a pleasure. There is a full range of Asian tourists, Europeans as well as students and wardens here. There are still reading tables in the various rooms, which are regularly used for student work.

Manchester Central Library

A little newer but nevertheless equally impressive is the Manchester Central Library building. The whole library is a round building. This makes both the appearance from the outside and the rooms inside special. The large reading room on the second floor is accordingly a circular area filled with reading tables and many students. There is probably more active study here than in the John Rylands Library. There are also noticeably fewer tourists in this building. Perhaps this is related. Around the reading room there is a wide circular walkway which also serves as an exhibition space for an art exhibition. Mimi devotes herself to the art and Paddy looks for a suitable restaurant for the necessary refreshment. This is how the division of labor on a trip can look like!