Desculpem-me cidadãos de Birmingham, mas se há uma cidade que eu tiraria do meu roteiro é essa. Com exceção da menor catedral da Inglaterra, que até tem uns vitrais bem bonitos, não há mais nada de interessante para se ver (ao menos por onde passei).
Ahhh, não poderia me esquecer de um fato interessante que ocorreu em Birmingham. Num certo momento, não consegui achar a rua que procurava, pedi informação a um senhor, que claro, percebeu que eu era turista e perguntou de onde eu era. Ao falar que era do Brasil, ele me perguntou que cidade e ao saber que era São Paulo, este me disse, em portugues “de gringo” que havia morado em São Paulo por 10 anos e era professor de inglês.
Na verdade fiquei em Birmingham pela proximidade/facilidade para chegar em Stratford-upon-Avon, a cidade do Shakespeare – o lado cultural e para chegar no Cadbury World – um tour tipo a fantástica fábrica de chocolate – o lado da gula!
Se houve decepção em Birmingham, houve exatamente o contrário com Stratford. A cidade tem Shakespeare por todos os lados, mesmo onde não é turístico, como na fachada de um banco. O rio Avon, aquele que passa por Bath, passa por aqui também e ornamenta a cidade.
Outro ponto de destaque é o estilo das casas, um misto entre tijolos e madeira. Esse estilo é encontrado em outras regiões da Inglaterra, mas em Stratford elas imperam.
Já no Cadbury World, o lado chocólatra foi o destaque. A Cadbury é uma grande fábrica de chocolate, localizada em Bourneville – um pequeno vilarejo criado pela empresa para os seus funcionários há algumas décadas.
O passeio é um como ir para a fantástica fábrica de chocolate. Todo tematizado, o tour mostra as diversas etapas da fabricação do chocolate, desde o plantio do cacau até a embalagem das barras e com muita degustação. Falando assim, vocês podem pensar que é um passeio para crianças, mas tenham certeza que eu não era o único adulto… e valeu muito a pena!
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I am sorry Brummies, but if there is one city I would not include in my schedule, this is Birmingham. Apart from the smallest cathedral in England, there is nothing else to be seen (at least where I have visited).
However, one funny thing happened to me. I couldn´t find the street I was going to, then I asked a man to help me. Of course, he noticed I was a tourist and asked me where I was from. I told him I was from Brazil and he asked me from which city. When I told him I was from Sao Paulo he started talking to me in Portuguese (a british accent Portuguese) and told me he had lived there for 10 years and he was an English teacher… funny thing speaking Portuguese with a British in England.
In fact, I stayed in Birmingham due to its proximity to Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cadbury World. If there was a kind of disappointment with Birmingham, it was exactly the opposite with Stratford. The town is involved by Shakespeare, of course, but even in some not touristic points, such as a bank. The river Avon makes the town really pleasant. Here we see the houses with a mix of wood and brick style. Although it can be seen in some other cities, it is so Stratford´s. Talking about Cadbury World, well it is for chocoholic or children or both. Cadbury is Bourneville, a village built by the company for its employees. The tour is a kind of thematic park related to chocolate, of course – from cocoa to packaging and chocolate tasting. Speaking like this, it seems like an event for children. But be sure, I was not the only adult there… and it was worth the visit!
However, one funny thing happened to me. I couldn´t find the street I was going to, then I asked a man to help me. Of course, he noticed I was a tourist and asked me where I was from. I told him I was from Brazil and he asked me from which city. When I told him I was from Sao Paulo he started talking to me in Portuguese (a british accent Portuguese) and told me he had lived there for 10 years and he was an English teacher… funny thing speaking Portuguese with a British in England.
In fact, I stayed in Birmingham due to its proximity to Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cadbury World. If there was a kind of disappointment with Birmingham, it was exactly the opposite with Stratford. The town is involved by Shakespeare, of course, but even in some not touristic points, such as a bank. The river Avon makes the town really pleasant. Here we see the houses with a mix of wood and brick style. Although it can be seen in some other cities, it is so Stratford´s. Talking about Cadbury World, well it is for chocoholic or children or both. Cadbury is Bourneville, a village built by the company for its employees. The tour is a kind of thematic park related to chocolate, of course – from cocoa to packaging and chocolate tasting. Speaking like this, it seems like an event for children. But be sure, I was not the only adult there… and it was worth the visit!
O jardim de uma das “Casas de Shakespeare”
The garden of one of “Shakespeare´s Houses tour”
Shakespeare está em todos os lugares…até na fachada do banco
Shakespeare is everywhere… even on a Bank building
e claro…o próprio Shakespeare
Shakespeare himself… of course
as construções de Stratford e ao fundo a igreja Holy Trinity onde Shakespeare está sepultado
the typical Stratford houses and at the end of the street, the Holy Trinity church where Shakespeare is buried
Para não dizer que falei de Birmingham… o prédio da prefeitura.
Just to mention Birmingham… The City Hall.