The Joys of a big city, and time

I remember specifically the person who told me that Manchester is probably the coolest city in the world. and they lived in london! my god.. madness..dont get me wrong, manchesters probably pretty cool, but this is one of the cross roads of the world. its fantastic. truly awesome.So, Ive been here for a few days, and its great. Im sitting here uploading pics, drinking tea with fresh milk and eating toasted bagles. how bland does that sound? but its wonderful. I had a decent coffee yesterday (had to atually go to a cafe run by an Aussie.. but it was worth it, they advertise it as 'Australian trained Baristas' we are a selling point people!)So I was staying with my cousin, but they ahve tootled off to France for a week to chill so i get to look after myself (and some very odd fish, with a story, they are orphaned fish their owner ran off to some island in the middle americas leaving them and his guitar here) for a few days till mum comes. Which is pretty exciting. But yes, My cousin is an Aussie who has worked here long enough to get UK citizenship (5 years it takes) and they have set up a flat, and a life, and its really good to see. And not only that but they have taken up so many opportunities to travel around Europe, Morroco etc. Its just very different to visiting Alexs, and its interesting to see the comparison. Australians have a very interesting reputation over here..especially those of us who come on Visas, I dont think the idea of Aussie tourists really exist to the average English Man. Basically people think of us as coming over here, working the crap jobs for minimum wage and getting pissed every night. We also, in some cases, tend to live all together, create towns of aussies and dont really mix with locals. And have a reputation for not making the most of the opportunity to travel in Europe (like flights can be £1 more commonly £10 plus maybe £16 in taxes, to France, Florence, Madrid where ever, the opportunities are fantastic) and i think its a shame that so many australians just work and go home. there are also these chain Pubs called Walkabout (im sure Alex has told some people about these) I went past one, but neither me nor my cousin could bear the thought of going in. I sort of feel I should at some point, but its, nah, its just embarassing, and its places like that I have a tendency to use my English accent to its full extent. There are times when Im not so proud to be Australian, and that has nothing to do with my country, but the people I meet who are representing it. (never forget when you are travelling you are representing your counrty, and you will be in at least one case the first Aussie someone will meet) And I think its a shame that you automatically get put into this box when you come here.. that we have created this stereotype for ourselves. On the whole though I am proud of my country, its a pretty groovoid place, but when you see things like Walkabout and the way we market ourselves sometimes *shudder*.But anywyas it was great seeing my cousin (hadnt seen him in like 2 years) meeting his GF and exploring here. Its actually really exciting, and it feels like ages since ive been genuinely excited, (happy, content, loving it.. but not excitied as such) this city is just so cool. (George! Alex! how can you have stayed so long in Manchester and not come here and explored!!) it buzzes with energy. Its like the other Part of Ankh Morpork, if LaPaz was the shades this is the rest. And you can see how it was the basis for so many good writers and inspiration to so many good stories. Oh yeah, and it is good shopping. I am going to end up even broker after this. lol. It is rather expensive, and I think if i do come back here to work it would be worth it to do it as a professional,because you can have a very decent lifestyle. Oh, and the FOOD!! Aside from the fact that I think ive lost weight since I got here, simply cause im eating healthier food, and less (about 2/3 of what i was in Portugal) its just soo good. I had Thai for the first time in 3 months, soooo worth it. and a latte. its good stuff, and i like to think i appreciate it more now after ive seen one of the alternatives. One Portugeuse girl I met was comparing Portugal and England in their method (so to speak) of conquoring differnet countries. And she was saying how the Portugese tend to mix (relationship wise) more with the locals, where as the English tend to keep themselves seperate. Obviously she thought the Portuguese way was better, but then i was thinking about this later, And its actually reallyintersting. Ill take her word that there were alot of mixing couples wise, but what they dont do is adapt from, or learn from the conqureesees (people who were conquored). So where as the English brought back Tea, Indian food, clothing, Chinese food, and have adapted elements of the cultures, traditions and food into their home culture and lifestyle, the Portuguese kept all that a long way away. They conqured various regions, discovered lots etc. but they keep it all very out of their home. They dont have multinational food (one or two average chinese restarunts), in the form of restaraunts or raw ingredients (you coulndt get teh stuff to make a curry even if you wanted to) and i think its intersting to see how two countries did it so differently.But anywyas, I was going to see if i could catch up with George and Alex but Manchester is a long (expensive) way to go for one day, and they didnt seem to be up for meeting halfway, which is a shame, but their call and I guess ill see them when we are all home. I was thinking again about all the people ive stayed with (and the places ive stayed) and the contrast. Like in Peru I was never relaxed, there was no chance of chilling for a bit, you had to be on your guard, and that even went for nighttimes at hotels and stuff. And then I went to Andoya which is one of the most amazing places. It just has a feeling of Pure safeness, and that is something ive never found anywhere else. Its the most fantastic vibe. I also spent a night at Eivinds, and Patricks. And both were nice places to stay. Then there was Brads which has always been a lovely place to stay. Theres something about staying with people you have known since you were a kid, its really nice. (maybe because you already know the boundaries adn how they will or wont react if you do soemthign wrong, and somehow you rarely tend to do anything 'wrong'). Then there was Alexs, which wasnt quite the same because I was paying to be there. Then the Matoss which was good but a bit stressful because i didnt know how anything worked. (ie. no drinking on the couch, no food outside the kitchen etc. and when you dont know that to start its nerve wracking when you get it wrong). Germany was also really nice. My room mates were great and pretty chilled about me getting up early. And now theres staying here. Its the first time ive stayed with family, and its really nice. Very chilled, relaxed, welcoming and there is a feeling of 'warnerness' to the place which is wonderful. But as always im in debt to people who have taken me in, fed me, and especially those who have treated me like an adult. So thats enough for today, Im planning on going shopping in the city and who knows what else. Also planing on going to Camden at some point (as in the Waifs song, 'I took the tube over to Camden to wander around, brought some funky records with that old moe town sound') apparently the market is really cool and funky. and i need to buy food.Anywyas take care my dears. Look after yourselves. and smile