Airbus A380

Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport is about 20 minutes away
from Coventry and has a runway long enough
to support the enormous Airbus A380-800.  Today was the 3rd
day of daily flights between Dubai and Birmingham.
We found the perfect location for a little plane spotting.
Emirates Flight 39 (below) is just about to take off.
  

I am using a telephoto lens in all of these images.
The A380 is so big I just about managed to fit it in the frame.

I am pleased I could get the distant shot of the plane
heading over Coventry and then to Dubai.

When the Emirates flight left I tried some more shots.

Seeing this one (below) made me pause for a moment.

There was a little drama too.  Black smoke.
A recycling centre nearby caught fire just as we were
watching the planes. Not good.
Hopefully, by now, that fire is out.

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Shopping Trip To Birmingham

Selfridges, Birmingham

Coffee pods for sale individually or in packs.

I liked the look of the colorful display.

These don's qualify as murals but I'm still contributing to

Monday Mural because of the overall display look.

Click the link to see some proper murals from around the world.

A Great Enterprise

Birmingham New Street Railway Station

Originally opened in 1854.  It

had the largest single-span arched roof in the world,

accommodating a number of railways.

In the 1960's the station was completely rebuilt.

The most recent £550m redevelopment is nearly complete.

Have a look at one entrance.

The station is almost finished.  It looks quite futuristic to me.

Trains come and go underneath the station and shops.

I guess they are going to call it Grand Central.

In the shot below, I am standing on the walkway with

my husband.  The reflection shows the back of the Odeon Cinema

and another nearby shopping centre.

This reflective design goes all the away around

the building which seems as large as a

football stadium.  I will have fun coming back

to seeing the finished station.

Only 26 minutes from Coventry by train.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

and Weekend Reflections

using my iPhone.

The Shakespeare Express

Snow Hill Station

Looking up Cromwell Street, Birmingham

4965 Rood Ashton Hall Steam Train 

Built in 1929 for the Great Western Railway.

 The photo above was taken at Snow Hill Station

looking between the engine and carriage.

Below is the full view taken at 

Stratford Upon Avon Station later in the day.

On Sunday we had a fun day taking a

steam train ride from Birmingham to

Stratford and back.

Unfortunately, it rained a good portion of the day.

The couple of hours we had in Stratford was

spent taking short walks with plenty of stops for tea!

If you fancy a trip on a steam train like this,
please follow the link for The Shakespeare Express.

Participating in Our World Tuesday

B Is For Britain From Above

(Above) I am looking down from The Secret Garden at The Library of Birmingham

at an exhibition of old aerial photographs of Britain. 

(Below) That's Mr LOL looking at an image of Coventry 6 years

 after WWII bombing of the City Centre.

 His grandfather lived in Bayley Lane (bottom left of image below) 

close to Coventry Cathedral and survived.

For more images and information about the Britain From Above project,

 please click the link HERE.  There is an invitation to register and then 

participate in helping to identify and provide information about old aerial photographs.

Participating in ABC Wednesday

PS. Happy Birthday, Lily :)

The Secret Garden, Library Of Birmingham

On Friday I shared photos of  Library of Birmingham.

Here are a few more shots from the 7th floor rooftop garden

known as The Secret Garden.

If ever you go to Birmingham, you must put this Library  

on your 'places to visit' list.  It is free too :). 

You can read more HERE.

PS.  England are out of the World Cup 

BUT I have high hopes for USA!

Library of Birmingham

Today we jumped on a train and visited Birmingham's

new public library.

This is a view from inside the 

library looking up.  The glass on the right

surrounds an elevator that goes to a rooftop terrace.

Library of Birmingham (left) & Baskerville House (office building, right)

Centenary Square, Birmingham

Below is a hint of the view.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Home Away From Home....Candy!

Before I get to the photo, let me suggest this nice day out from Coventry by train.  In just 30 minutes you can be in Birmingham (sometimes referred to as England's second city.  It is a big place.)  The train takes you past Birmingham International Airport and across pretty countryside before arriving in the City Centre.  A comfortable walk and you are in Bullring Shopping Centre where you will find fabulous stores and best of all Selfridges, a huge department store.  And what does Selfridges sell? LOTS and LOTS of American Candy.  It isn't cheap but a lot cheaper than an airfare to our nearest USA store.  There is plenty of selection but my favourites are here - I think I will have a Baby Ruth or two or three :).  Gradually, American treats are finding their way to the UK.  I am happy.

Did you watch the Academy Awards?  How exceptionally nice that I just happened to wake up at 1.30 am, slid out of bed quietly and put the 'telly' on downstairs.  I am happy with most of the results and so glad we saw many of the movies.  I was back in bed at 5 am and got up a tad later than normal.  If you watched the show, hope you enjoyed it too!

So that is what's happening here, check out Our World Tuesday to see more photos from other Cities.

Tomorrow it is back outside in the cold, cold, cold!  

15,000 Aluminium Discs - Selfridges, Bullring Shopping Centre, Birmingham

Birmingham City Centre is located to the north of Coventry and is less than 30 minutes by train.  Step off the train and you will discover a large number of shops, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, museums, etc., etc.

This stunning architecture was eye-catching when we visited Birmingham today.   Can this be England?

Behind this wall of aluminium discs you will find Selfridges Department Store and a rather large shopping centre.