sap

Pray tell, what on earth does "thinking like an American" mean? Are American brains somehow hardwired differently?

sashh

<<Pray tell, what on earth does "thinking like an American" mean? Are American brains somehow hardwired differently?>>

They sometimes appear that way to those of us in Europe, whe it comes to things like

Healthcare

Tipping

OK I'm going to stand back now and wait for the fight

stevelyon

Not meaning to divert from a potential fight, and with the improved situation my following comment may no longer be relevant. Stranded in Manchester could well be a blessing. I live in (well near) Manchester and am still finding areas I never knew existed! For instance, who has heard of these areas of outstanding beauty: Blubberhouses or Howstean Gorge? Only an hour away from where I live and in the same area as Fountains Abbey, Ripon, Pateley Bridge. Indeed, there is much more to England than London and York and the Cotswolds.

Hooameye

"Are American brains somehow hardwired differently?"

In my experience of living on both sides of the Atlantic, they definitely are.

Lifeman

There's a lot more nearer to Manchester than Blubberhouses or Howstean. They are near to Harrogate, which is hardly Manchester.

Manchester has much to offer in it's own right:

A stunning Town hall
A mediaeval cathedral
Roman remains at Castlefield
Fantastic buildings both old and new
Great shopping
Excellent restaurants and hotels
A compact and very walkable city centre
Theatre

...and this only scratches the surface of a great city which was the hub of the industrial revolution and the first to do many things, like computers, radiation research etc etc.

Don't just jump on a train and go elsewhere, you'll be missing out big style.

Hastobe_Katt

Lifeman and Stevelyon - I completely agree with you. We live on the edge of the Peak District and less than an hour from Manchester. There is so much to see in this part of the world and so many tourists miss out because they have only heard of London, Bath and the Cotswolds etc.

(Did you know that the Peak District is the second most visited national park in the world - which is surprising given the number of tourists who never seem to venture north of Watford Gap!)

minkie

Thank you so much for the information - this is why I come back to this site again and again. I will print this out - let's hope the flight leaves today - it has been trying at best!

sap

It is enlightening, albeit disheartening, to learn that such prejudices apparently run rather thick. It certainly goes a long way toward explaining ready-made, formulaic assumptions. Could it be that there are simply those who have not lost the art of independent thinking?

Josser

...In my experience of living on both sides of the Atlantic, they definitely are....

You can't generalise, but there are some things that leave many Europeans bemused. The obsession with guns, huge ugly cars and the death penalty, for example.
Then there's the fact that many who oppose a decent health system are the ones who most need it, turkeys voting for Christmas.

stevelyon

My goodness, Lifeman, do you work for the Manchester Tourist Board - you've sold Manchester to me and I live there. I was making a point like Hastobe_Katt that there is more to England than Cotswolds, York, Lakes, and London.

Lifeman

No Steve, I was born there, lived there and still go to eat, go to the theatre, shop etc. I just love what is one of the best cities in the world. As Hastobe_Katt said, tourists miss out on an enormous amount with a Londoncentric attitude.

MissPrism

If you have a car, you can visit all those places people have suggested.
If you don't, then it's easy just to take a train to London.
You could even do both if you have time ;-)

Lifeman

Even though Minkie has now probably got his flight, for anyone interested in guided walks around Manchester, here's a link to the Blue Badge guide tours.

As a Manc, I only discovered these a few years ago, have taken quite a few and have been fascinated with the info and history that comes out.

http://issuu.com/manchestermagazine/...zine&mode=embe

stevelyon

Thanks Lifeman, I usually try and pick one of these Guides up from the Tourist Board - I hadn't realised they did one online - you've saved me the trip.

markrosy

My god she is 55 minutes from the Lakes and we are sending her to the Peak District. God help us, she'll end up eating those huge sickly tarts and running into lots of tykes saying "hello doggy" - why do people from Yorkshire say "hello doggy" all the time even when you haven't got a dog!

Get on the M6 in hire car and head north.

Failing that please go eat at El Rincon and provide a Spanish critique - we go on Saturday evening.

Hastobe_Katt

Pfff markrosy - there's nothing wrong with a Bakewell tart - and the Peak District is fab - with or without a dog!

Lifeman

Think I had a date once with one of those! El Rincon is very good and serves probably the most authentic Spanish food I have tasted outside of Spain.

The Peak District is mostly in Derbyshire, so you won't have to look out for canine greetings or tarts, as Bakewell certainly is in Derbyshire.

Steve..the guides have been online for several years now and are produced at a rate of three a year. They update for the next one very near the expiry of the old one though.

MissPrism

You will run out of Bakewell if you refer to a Bakewell tart.
It's a Bakewell pudding.

missreadfan

I was "stuck" in Manchester for a day and found the art museum was wonderful. The city hall is like nothing I have seen. I asked at the Tourist Information for some tours or info on the author Elizabeth Gaskell and he did not know who she was. That was disappointing, still there was plenty to do for a day or two.

Hastobe_Katt

MissPrism - My bad - this is the corrupting influence of Mr Kipling ads..they slur my words!

The Bakewell Pudding was made by accident in 1820 when the landlady, of the White Horse Inn, (now called the Rutland Arms) left instructions for her cook to make a jam tart. The cook, instead of stirring the eggs and almond paste mixture into the pastry, spread it on top of the jam. When cooked the jam rose through the paste. The result was successful enough for it to become a popular dish at the inn.

Actually, very easy to make if anyone wants the recipe!