Scotland, Days 22 to 24, Edinburgh, Loch Ness

20th to 22nd Dec

On the evening of the 19th we arrived into Edinburgh via train from Durham.  I spent the next couple of days here, including a day trip to Loch Ness on the 22nd of December.
Edinburgh is an amazing city, with the old town and new town on different sides.  The old town has buildings which are more than 300 years old!  You could say the entire town is an antique.
Loch ness was a trip that I wish I was better.  There were just way too many people on board the bus. Urquhart castle was the highlight of the trip, being on loch ness itself wasn't that great.  The weather was frankly quite awful that day.  But I did however spot Nessie!
Scotland would be my final stop in the UK after which I would fly to Berlin in Germany.

England, Days 18 to 21, Harrogate, York, Durham

16th to 19th Dec

I caught the train from Manchester to Leeds and then to Harrogate, my next port of call where I visited a friend.  I arrived in the evening.  Spent 3 days there with a day trip to York.  On the 18th I caught the train from Harrogate to Durham and then on the 19th we caught the train to Edinburgh in the evening.  In Durham I stayed with a friend's grandma, that was an interesting night.  Durham would be my last stop before Scotland.

England, Days 13 to 17, Manchester, Blackburn Rovers, National Football museum

11th Dec to 15th Dec

From the 11th Dec onwards I was in Manchester.  I caught the train from Liverpool.  The highlights were the Museum of Manchester, Chinatown, and the National Football museum.
On the 14th I did a day trip to Blackburn where I saw Blackburn play against Nottingham Forest to a dour 0-0 draw.  The highlight of that game was Alan Shearer being the guest of honour.  Back in 1994 when I saw them play I never would've thought I would actually visit Ewood Park one day to see them play live.

Museum of Manchester.

Museum of Manchester.

Museum of Manchester.

Alan Turing Memorial, Manchester.

Chinatown, Manchester.

Santa Claus in Manchester.

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester.

Manchester.

Manchester.

Blackburn Cathedral.

Blackburn station.

Blackburn.

Blackburn Rovers FC.

Blackburn Rovers FC.

Blackburn Rovers FC.

Blackburn Rovers FC.

Alan Shearer (centred), Blackburn Rovers FC.

Rhodes and gang.  Blackburn Rovers FC.

Blackburn Rovers FC.

Blackburn Rovers FC.

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester.

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester.

National Football museum, Manchester.

Soccer wars jerseys!  National Football museum, Manchester.

How football used to be played. National Football museum, Manchester.

The famous German. National Football museum, Manchester.

Anyone remember this mascot from a World Cup? National Football museum, Manchester.

Manchester Cathedral.