Dear Everyone ~
Missing a flight is rarely a good thing, but in this instance,
we really did maneuver a zoo animal into a silk purse.
We hadn’t allowed enough time to get to the Manchester Airport
in morning rush hour traffic … but, in our defense, the traffic “sitch”was
made worse due to the “Animals in road — SLOW” signs.
We didn’t actually see any animals, but it turns out
that these signs alert motorists to the possibility of animals that
have wandered off the premises of the Chester Zoo.
Well, the next flight home was the following morning,
and we would be flying stand-by. No use crying over clotted cream, right?
We booked ourselves into a hotel right at the airport,
deposited all our luggage, and taxied into Manchester.
Prior to any trip, I google around to see what museums, galleries,
and bookshops I might find to visit wherever.
I had thought perhaps we’d stay in Manchester for a day
or two on this trip, but after arriving at the farm in York,
I didn’t want to give up any of our time there.
But now, we could go to the John Rylands Library
and the Manchester Art Gallery!
To the library forthwith!
All the images I had seen online look as though the
John Rylands Library is situated in a park or on an expanse of land
somewhere out in the open. But when I looked on maps and saw it was relatively
“in the city,” I was intensely curious. As our uber driver pulled up to the building,
he actually had to point it out to us. A modern building now “encases”
the original library, and from the entrance, you cannot see the majestic facade
I was anticipating ... Once inside, we made our way to the original portion
via what felt like a labyrinth.
I was so eager to see this enchanting place.
Most of the books were under glass, or in extraordinary hand-carved
wood desks, cabinets, or other display pieces, likewise behind glass,
so photographing them was a challenge. There was much overhead lighting,
making for numerous reflections. However, as we made our way
around the grand nooks with desks for people to sit at, we saw a very large book,
resting open-faced on a book cradle, (which gently allows the book to lay open
without harm to the spine). O, swoon, it was a special edition of
R. Bowdler Sharpe’s “Birds of Paradise,” with a foreword
by David Attenborough, my favourite ”interpreter” of the natural world.
The edition was reproduced from a copy of the first edition at
The John Rylands Library, University of Manchester.
The detailed colophon includes credits for the digital photography,
the reproduced graphics, the book printer, the paper (Modigliani!),
and, my favourite, the binding: “by Felz Fine Books, Bad Langensalza,
Germany, is in Nigerian goatskin leather and
canvas sides blocked with a design by Neil Gower.”
Zak and I savoured the entire book page by page,
taking pictures of nearly every page. The lighting was still a challenge,
so I shot at an angle to minimize any glare, and I am fairly chuffed with the result.
I was profoundly grateful for this unexpected interlude,
sitting at one of these grand desks, turning through pages of an enormous,
breathtaking volume! I would happily have sat there all afternoon…
but it had been a very long time since breakfast.
And what about a stop off at the library’s gift shop
for a look around at all things postcard and paper related?
So, we pried ourselves out of our noble nook.
I knew that the Manchester Art Gallery was close,
because I’d seen it on the map. But lunch was by then our top priority.
We had a place in mind, from a book we’d purchased in York of indie cafes ...
We ventured out into the rain (it’s always raining in Manchester),
and resolved to walk to the cafe. Minutes later, before we even got to the cafe,
we came upon the Gallery!
Oh my goodness, I was feeling extremely good about this,
but it was 3 o’clock and we were truly famished.
One delicious hour later, we were fortified with
homemade soup, warm bread, and delightful cappuccino.
Our phones were charged, and so were we!
We walked back to the Gallery with time to spare.
And there was no admission fee — which was the case at
several museums we visited.
How civilised!
Up the wide, very old concrete steps we went,
past glorious architectural columns, through large doors,
and up beguiling staircases. The smell of a museum,
like the smell of a library, just fills me up.
And this one felt as if I had stepped back in time.
Plus they had great postcards!
I seriously did not have an ounce of space remaining
in my suitcase or carry-on—but that did not stop me
from purchasing more postcards.
After our jam-packed day, we ensconced ourselves
in our airport-hotel room and ordered room service:
delicious thick “chips” and hummus. Then we watched an episode
of Miss Marple, a perfect ending to our “bonus day.”
The next morning, we got on our flight with no drama.
Everyone we encountered was so friendly and helpful,
and it truly couldn’t have been a grander finale to a wonderful trip.
Happy Go Lucky,
Bari