Manchester

After Dublin, we took a ferry across the Irish sea to the port of Hollyhead, from there, a 2 hour train ride to Manchester where I met up with a Englishman I’d befriend the year before working back in Canada. I’d enjoyed the trip up that point and although I’d finished all of my University exams, it would take close to a month from finishing to get the results. Checking daily after arriving, finally my second day there I got my final university grades, I’d officially graduated, which was convenient as I was ~4000 km away from any sort of summer school 😉 .

That night we went out to celebrate in kind; Started off at a bar called ‘Baa Bar’ followed by a night of clubing out at another place called ‘5th Ave’; I’m just as happy sitting with a pint in good company, but none the less, it was the perfect way to cap off University, half a world away with two of my best friends.

London

After 3 days in Manchester, we took another 2 hour train ride down to London. It was a great city, reminded me very much of Toronto (except there’s no Battleship in the center of Toronto). The first night we got there I took off on my own and checked out the city, it was a habit I quickly picked up in my later cities; land in a city, get a map (maybe), pick a direction and get lost. I loved it; I found so much that wasn’t mentioned in books or travel articles. Seeing the ‘sites’ is a must-do when your traveling, but going on your own off the beaten path is definitely something you must do as well, or your trips is just like everyone elses.