Day Trip: Manchester, England

When we arrived in Manchester, we were dropped off near the Visitor Information Center. Alex didn't come to Manchester (therefore breaking our fantastic foursome), so we spent the day with two other exchange students, Gill, from Canada, and Amandine, from France.

Somehow in the point five seconds of being at the Visitor Center (just minding our own business and looking at maps), Harriet got us to follow a Venezuelan man for a free tour of the city (which was sketchy - we learned later that the whole group was from a hostel in the city).

Our "tour guide" took us to China Town, where we saw an arch and then to the Manchester Art Gallery (where we were allowed to roam for about 25 minutes). He kept stopping us to take group pictures of us, so I wonder where on the Internet those will show up.

We decided to ditch the tour when we got to the Town Hall/Albert Square, because it was a massive waste of time (we could have seen all of the same sights in half the amount of time) and he didn't describe anything or provide any useful information.

After that, we walked around and had lunch at the food court (Maddie and I wanted to do a pub lunch, but everyone thought the prices were too high). I'd prefer to not have McDonald's while I'm in another country (and fully capable of finding a better meal) ever again.

We walked around and found some cool shops in the Northern Quarter, and then made our way to Piccadilly Gardens, where the ferris wheel is.

Harriet and Gill headed to Primark, so Maddie and I treated ourselves to some crepes because we were good and didn't spend money on items of clothing we didn't need. I got a Supreme (strawberries, nutella and creme). We then stumbled upon a cute market next to the Manchester Wheel that we should have eaten lunch at (oh well).

When we got back that night, we went out to club that was having a "Mexican" themed party, so that was fun. After that, we went to a house party. I don't know who goes to a house party at four in the morning, but we did. So strange.

Tonight (24 February), the Australians made me try milo, which is similar, yet the complete opposite, to hot chocolate. They were very particular about how I had to drink it - put the milo (which looked like crushed up chocolate cereal) at the bottom of the cup, add milk, add more milo, drink until the bottom, stir milo into paste and eat. Apparently it is very popular drink in Australia. I think I now have a reason to go visit Australia (not because of the milo, but because friends!)

After our milo party, Maddie, Harriet, Alex, Short Harry, two German girls and I went to a Harry Potter themed pub quiz at the Belle Vue. Our team name was "The Seven Potters" - we didn't win, and we were marked wrong for some questions we knew were right, so Harriet and Alex started arguing with the charity group holding the quiz...it was quite comical.