That was a mouthful of a title so have the rest of your dinner and read up

• Manchester Begins
• Manchester day 2
• Ambleside (Lake District, England)
• Wansfell Pike
• Laundry Debacle
• Liverpool
• Liverpool day 2

Manchester Begins

The beginning of our Manchester adventure kicked off with, you guessed it, rain. Fortunately, this time around, the downpour only managed to soak us while we were boarding the bus in Birmingham. Upon arriving in Manchester, remnants of heavy rainfall were evident everywhere. However, luck was finally on our side as we managed to stay dry while locating our hostel.

Speaking of the hostel, it was another Selina establishment, and we were hoping for an improvement in facilities compared to our experience in Birmingham (and definitely no encounters with disabled iPhones). Thankfully, things seemed to be off to a good start. We anticipated having to store our bags and kill time before check-in, but to our delight, our room was already cleaned, allowing for an early check-in. Some might call it the perfect beginning!

Stepping into our 4-bed room was pretty much what we expected, except for one small detail: there seemed to be a territorial battle of sorts going on. Our two beds were crammed right up against the window, leaving barely enough space to squeeze in. However, with only us in the room at that point, we decided to take matters into our own hands. Flexing our tiny muscles, we rearranged all four beds (more of a drag, really) to reclaim an extra meter of space.

With the room now in better shape, the next hurdle presented itself: laundry. Desperately needing to freshen up our clothes, we sought advice from the lady at the front desk downstairs. She pointed us in the direction of a nearby laundry facility. With legs ready and a washing bag slung over our shoulder, we embarked on a trek through Manchester to the first one marked on our maps.

Plot twist! After visiting that one and two more, we discovered they were all online-operated facilities only. To add to our frustration, the one recommended on TikTok was closed for the day, rendering it useless.

Back to the drawing board we went, having already wasted a good hour wandering around. Online services were no help either, as they only offered small loads at exorbitant prices, even for pick-up and delivery. Feeling a bit defeated, we resorted to what seemed to be a traditional laundromat about a 30-minute walk away.

On our bike (legs) we made our way there just as the rain started to fall, we entered the establishment, and the lady behind the counter seemed to know exactly why we were there. When we inquired about doing our laundry, she informed us it could be done by the next day but would cost around £20 per bag. Yeah, no thanks.

She then dropped the bombshell that the only laundromats were located on the outskirts of Manchester, about a 40-minute bus ride away. With time slipping away, we politely thanked her and trudged back through the raindrops to the hostel. But not before I decided to snap a quick shot of a random building for my Instagram… and here it is!

Now when you look closely you can see a man in white shoes staring at me. Well, Matt informed me he was a former Love Island competitor Messy Mitch. So in Mr Messy Mitch’s head I had seen HIM and gone oh cool, and taken a picture of him. Well unfortunately for him I was more interested in the random building behind him.

With our heads hung low and the unfortunate reality of wearing the same undies for another day sinking in, we decided we’d wasted enough time on this laundry side quest. Instead, we made our way to the bar downstairs to cash in on our free drink at Wilson’s Social. With a refreshing pint of Corona garnished with a slice of lime in hand, we plotted our dinner plans. Let’s just say our initial choice fell through, leading me to opt for Subway instead — the new Dorito sandwich, to be precise (weirdly enough, it was a solid 10/10 recommendation).

When shower time rolled around, to my absolute delight, there was only one shower for the entire floor… a fact that in the Selina you wouldn’t read about… Finally stepping into the shower, I was relieved to find that the water actually drained. However, no matter how hard I tried, the temperature refused to drop below scalding hot. So there I was, showering in what felt like the fiery depths of hell before drying off in what effectively felt like a sauna. So far, Selina beds: good. Facilities: need some serious work.

Manchester day 2

As I begrudgingly emerged from my slumber, I was greeted by the unwelcome onset of what felt like a cold. But today held a special promise — a visit to my favorite place… OLD TRAFFORD. Picture me shouting the name of Manchester United’s stadium, but imagine it as a pained scream. Yes, I confess, I am a Liverpool fan through and through. However, even for someone like me, stadium tours of this magnitude are still intriguing. And besides, Matt is a die-hard Manchester United fan, so I swallowed my pride and tagged along.

Opting to walk to Old Trafford, despite it being a 70-minute trek, seemed like the perfect opportunity to soak in some sights of Manchester along the way. Below, you’ll find some snapshots from our journey on foot to the stadium, including Howard, whoever that is…

Arriving at the stinky sorry amazing, awesome stadium was interesting. The sheer size of the stadium makes you wonder how the team could be performing so averagely… But let’s not dwell on that. It was massive, the pitch looked immaculate, and getting a glimpse of the locker rooms was pretty cool. However, there was one crucial element missing… Where were all the fans? The stadium felt eerily empty… Alright, I’ll stop with the jokes. Take a look at some of the pictures I snapped below. You’ll see my happy face (genuinely happy to be there, I must admit) and a few shots of some top Manchester players (or as some might say, legends)…

All jokes aside, visiting a stadium like this is a truly remarkable experience. Whether or not you support the team, if you find yourself in a city with a big stadium or a famous football team, I urge you to go and immerse yourself in it. You’ll uncover fascinating history, walk where great athletes once trod, and where future ones will follow. Plus, let’s not forget the cool photo opportunities! Trust me, even as a Liverpool fan, I highly recommend it.

Instead of trudging back on foot this time, we opted for the bus to conserve some energy in our legs, especially with the typical UK weather threatening rain. I’ve even got a snazzy little time-lapse video of that journey, giving you a glimpse of various parts of Manchester along the way.

Lunchtime rolled around, and it was finally time to give FAT PAT’S a try. This was the spot we had attempted to grab dinner from the night before, only to find out they were completely sold out. It was certainly an interesting setup — you place your order online and then wait down an alleyway where your food is served to you through a small window (takeaway only). And wouldn’t you know it? While we were standing in this open alley, the heavens decided to give Manchester United a good cleansing with a steady rain. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait too long, having placed our order while on the bus. With our food in hand, we made our way back to the hostel to devour it.

Back at the hostel, we ran into the American lady (who worked in law) that we had seen in line at FAT PAT’S. Interestingly, she had ended up with the chicken sandwich while we opted for the Philly steak. I must admit, hers did look better. We sat and chatted with her, swapping travel stories and advice as we enjoyed our meals. Overall, I’d rate the experience a 7/10 (the food not the lady), although my body definitely felt the effects of the sodium content afterward.

To cap off our day, we decided to visit the Museum of Football, which was conveniently located a short walk from our accommodation. Let me tell you, it was worth every penny. Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or simply enjoy history, I highly recommend paying it a visit.

The Museum boasts three impressive stories, greeting you with a free photo opportunity alongside a Premier League trophy as you enter. Each floor is packed with interactive exhibits, featuring insights from famous managers and glimpses of iconic football memorabilia worn by legends of the sport. These displays are skilfully intertwined with captivating real-life stories, some of which are downright mind-blowing.

The second floor is a playground for football enthusiasts, hosting a variety of games that measure reflexes and ball control. Needless to say, we spent a considerable amount of time here, engaging in mini-competitions among ourselves. It’s just another fantastic activity, especially on a rainy day, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

As for my stomach’s desires, the onset of a cold left me craving fruit, especially after a sodium-filled lunch. Thankfully, the Tesco meal deal came to the rescue. For my main, I opted for a generous portion of pineapple, complemented by a smaller container of fresh mango for a snack, and a large tub of yogurt to tie it all together. It was exactly what my body needed.

With that, our time in Manchester drew to a close, and the symptoms of my impending cold began to surface. However, one lingering thought remained in the back of my mind. Anthony, during our London to Bristol journey, had remarked that the females in Manchester were some of the most beautiful he had ever seen. This remains to be seen but If any wants to prove Anthony right, hi, I’m Jordan, nice to meet you.

Ambleside (Lake District, England)

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me! The 29th of March marked not only Good Friday and Easter but also my own special day. I was hitting the big 24, although my body felt a heck of a lot older as I woke up still battling a cold. The morning began with a heartwarming phone call from Mum and Dad, showering me with birthday wishes. Being in a different country for your birthday can be a peculiar experience, especially considering the time difference between the UK and NZ. It’s a different feeling altogether, missing your family on such an important day. If memory serves me correctly, this may have been the first birthday I’ve spent away from all my family. Nonetheless, it was still a rip-snorter of a day, so let’s dive right into it.

After a relatively uneventful train ride from Manchester through the countryside to Windermere besides people marvelling at the sight of sheep, which in itself I found hilarious but it made sense with such big cities in the Europe. We had made it to Windermere. This felt a little more like home with paddocks and actually some greenery, no longer concrete jungles.

As Windermere was one of the larger towns in the Lake District, we decided to take advantage of our time there on Good Friday and try our luck with getting some laundry done before heading to Ambleside. Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed when we discovered that although the Laundromat initially seemed promising, all the machines were in use and they were closing soon. Disappointed, we boarded the bus bound for Ambleside.

During the bus ride, we encountered an intriguing character who must have noticed the New Zealand logo on my Macpac bags. Curious, he struck up a conversation, asking where we were from in NZ. Upon hearing Dunedin, his face lit up with excitement as he shared how he had been on a Navy exchange when he was younger, stationed in Dunedin for a period of time. It was another instance of a stranger connecting with us, a pleasant encounter that left us feeling welcome as the bus pulled up to Ambleside.

Hostel found and bags now safely secure in the locker room (we hoped) it was time to find something to do until check in. Luckily the YHA Hostel we were staying at had a couple boards full of activities (see below)

Pictures of the holy boards secure and our belongings safely stowed away, we strolled into town, putting my Macpac jacket to the test against the chilly and miserable weather (which it passed with flying colours). Feeling a bit peckish, we opted for a cheeky lunch at Greggs. For those unfamiliar, Greggs is best described as a chain bakery found throughout the UK. I must admit, the prices, portion sizes, and quality of the food we got were all top-notch.

Re-energized and with the sun now shining and rain not expected until later, we hatched a plan. Our goal? Conquer Wansfell Pike, a nearby mountain offering stunning views. Afterwards, we would return to our accommodation, grab our laundry, and make our way to a Laundromat we had found, which conveniently stayed open until 9 pm.

Wansfell Pike

I was absolutely thrilled to be out in the countryside, as I was already starting to miss it dearly. However, this particular walk up Wansfell Pike turned out to be more challenging than I had anticipated. The track was slightly muddy from recent rainfall, requiring us to navigate around certain areas and take alternate routes off the path for short stretches. The climb itself was incredibly steep — not the kind of steep where your legs feel a little tight, but rather the type that makes you exclaim “ow” and “ouch” as your legs, lungs, and back protest, leaving you drenched in sweat kinda steep. To make matters worse, I was battling what I believe was the flu.

Despite the difficulty of the climb, the weather was on our side, and we encountered people of all ages making their way up the hill. Some were moving at a snail’s pace, while others seemed to zoom past like rockets. The landscape was wide open, with lack of vegetation to offer protection from the relentless sun, causing sweat to pour down my face. As we neared the top after about an hour of climbing, I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of the stone fences snaking up ridges and down valleys. The sheer effort and time required to build them must have been immense. (Below is the climb)

As I reached the summit of the mountain, a smile spread across my face. Not only had I accomplished something significant on my birthday, but we had also completed one of the Lake District’s walks. Even though our time in the area was limited to just one night, it would have been a crime not to embark on a hike in such a stunning location. The view from the top was simply incredible. Photos captured on my phone failed to do it justice. From our vantage point, we could see the shimmering waters of Windermere and the charming town of Ambleside below. Turning around, we were greeted by expansive farmland and stone fences stretching into the distance. It was a picture-perfect moment, making the effort of the climb entirely worthwhile.

Descending Wansfell Pike, I could feel the sickness creeping in, but there was no time to dwell on it; we had to push forward. As we returned to Ambleside, we couldn’t resist taking a peek at an original cottage built over a bridge, though in hindsight, I’m still pondering why build it there? Continuing our exploration, we visited the Ambleside church before heading out of town.

On the way back to the hostel, we took a detour through a field that housed ruins from an old Roman fort. It was fascinating to use your imagination and envision the bustling activity that once filled this ancient stronghold. Amidst the ruins, I stumbled upon an old building. Its purpose eluded me, but it made for a captivating photo nonetheless.

Making it back to our hostel we checked into our room and also marvelled at the size of the kitchen and number of bathrooms, which made a change. Our room was a four bed, however there was only one other guy staying here who I am told snores like a train but then multiply that by ten.

Laundry Debacle

With laundry over my shoulder and my cough worsening, we set off for Ambleside once more to finally get some laundry done. This time, we were determined to succeed! Upon realising we needed coins, we made a pit stop at Tesco to pick up supplies like laundry detergent and eggs for the next morning. Oh, and a big shoutout to Matt for treating me to a delicious chocolate cake, which we savoured later on.

However, our quest for coins proved to be more challenging than expected. When we asked for coins at Tesco, we were met with a firm no. Undeterred, we tried our luck at an ATM, only to receive a couple of ten-pound notes — not exactly what we needed. Our next attempt at the post office was thwarted by the absence of the person in charge of exchanging notes for coins. Faced with this comedic series of setbacks, we couldn’t help but chuckle as we brainstormed our next move.

Then, a stroke of genius struck. I headed back into Tesco and found something worth one pound — a minty chocolate bar. Armed with my purchase, I approached the same cashier who had previously denied our request for coins. I paid for the chocolate bar and boldly asked for my nine-pound change in coins. Despite the sigh and begrudging demeanour, success was finally ours.

With coins secured, we ran our first load of washing, feeling like we had just received one of the best birthday gifts ever — the thought of clean undies was pure bliss. As Matt went off to repeat the coin trick for the drying half of our clothes, I took the opportunity to have another call with Mum and Dad, regaling them with tales of our misadventures and the exhilarating climb we had conquered earlier in the day.

After the call and the laundry were done, we headed back, treating ourselves to a burger and a pint of Guinness for dinner — a meal fit for a birthday king. And of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without the chocolate cake that Matt had thoughtfully gotten for me. With a sense of accomplishment and excitement for our clean laundry, we headed to bed, knowing that we had made the most of my birthday. As I drifted off to sleep, thoughts of our upcoming train journey to Liverpool danced in my head.

Liverpool

Liverpool proved to be a great city, although I regret not being able to explore much of it due to feeling very under the weather. Nonetheless, from what little I did see, I found myself enjoying it.

Upon our arrival in Liverpool, we found ourselves at yet another Selina hostel. However, this time around, we were able to head straight to our room without waiting for check-in, thanks to our later train ride out of Ambleside. We made our way to the eight-bed room, which boasted the luxury of two showers and a toilet ensuite.

After getting settled in our room, we were eager to make the most of the remaining daylight and set out to explore. Our footsteps led us to Liverpool Cathedral, which proved to be unlike any other cathedral I had seen before. It was a modern interpretation on a budget, resulting in a uniquely round structure that diverged from the traditional church architecture I was accustomed to. The interior of the cathedral was just as intriguing as its exterior. The sound seemed to reverberate and echo around the space, adding a sense of holiness to the atmosphere as people spoke. It was a fascinating experience, both inside and out, especially in the sunlight as we took in the sights and sounds of this distinctive cathedral.

Next we made our way back towards the train station where the town square was. Here made excellent viewing, the town hall standing strong and proud in the middle of the square and in the distance the famous Liverpool radio tower. What truly made this area of Liverpool special was the vibrant atmosphere, with people milling about in the warm evening, adding to the lively ambiance.

After being unable to resist filling up my camera roll with pictures of the old town hall it was time to find dinner.

Determined to catch the Premier League action, we set out to find a bar with both food and a screen. After a bit of searching, we struck gold and settled into Liverpool Lime Street bar. There, I indulged in a satisfying meal of Fish and Chips, complete with a unique twist of avocado guacamole that added an extra layer of flavour.

Unfortunately, by this point, I was feeling even worse, and it became apparent that I needed to head back to the hostel for the evening. Before calling it a night, I grabbed a Lemsip in hopes of alleviating some of the symptoms and wished for a speedy recovery.

Liverpool day 2

Waking up felt like I had been hit by a truck, then dragged back in front of it for another round. To put it simply, I had seen better days. With breakfast holding little appeal, I settled for two apples and yet another Lemsip. Despite feeling under the weather, I was determined not to let this trip to Liverpool go to waste, especially since it was game day (Liverpool vs Brighton at Anfield).

Summoning every ounce of energy I had left, I managed to drag myself along on the walk to Anfield. Although we couldn’t get a tour of the stadium due to the game, we figured we could at least admire it from the outside and soak up some of the pre-match atmosphere. The walk was long, but the fresh air did me some good as we strolled through parks and eventually reached Anfield.

The scene outside the stadium was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Two hours before kick-off, the area was already buzzing with people. We even managed to sneak a peek at some of the players as they arrived for the game. However, feeling no better, I ultimately decided to head back to the city centre.

With our data failing us, we trudged back to the town square, my legs barely cooperating at this point. We found the same bar and settled in to watch Liverpool concede in the first few minutes of the game. The bar erupted into a cacophony of yelling, followed by an uneasy silence.

With an orange juice in hand, I watched as Liverpool managed to equalise, bringing the score to 1-1. As halftime approached, the mood in the bar began to lift, and I found myself craving a hot chocolate to warm me up. When I placed my order, the lady behind the bar seemed momentarily taken aback, repeating it back to me with a smile to confirm. She chuckled and asked if I wanted marshmallows with it, to which I replied with an even bigger smile, “What’s a hot chocolate without some fluffy goodness?”

As I sipped on my hot chocolate, I started to feel a little better, though still utterly exhausted. With the final score resulting in a Liverpool 2-1 win, thanks to Salah, I couldn’t help but feel thrilled to have witnessed it in a Liverpool bar, despite my less-than-ideal flu.

My day was over as I felt exhausted and under the weather so I headed to the hostel early to pack it in for the night, before our bus ride back to London the next day.