Salford vs. Manchester - Two cities boat race

You could have heard about famous races between Oxford and Cambridge held for years in United Kingdom. However, have you thought that Manchester and Salford also compete each year to decided who will rule for next year? Indeed, in Salford Quays the races in few categories take place and competition is very intense.

For the first time we took part in this event as visitors, even though we were invited to take active part in that, but the teams were already full. Most of the races which counted to the overal ranking were professional, but most exciting was 'Dragon Race' where regular students were racing in boats with dragons and drums making a tempo for them.

Marta & Agnes at the event - air plane acrobations in the background.

M&M at the two boat race

Dragon's Race!

Manchester in white-purple against Salford in white-blue-yellow

Vikings in 'Dragon's Race' !

Final run!

Salford won Dragons Race!

Overall, the event was great and we enjoyed the races, even though Salford lost to Manchester.

To read more about 'Two cities boat race' have a look on this website

London Day 2&3

During Second and Third day we explored London with Tung - our very best friend, big traveller. Thanks to him we had a chance to eat amazing ostrich meat at Borough Market a place with fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and other organic groceries.

We also continued to see the most important tourist attractions as follows:

St Paul's Cathedral

Walking around London
(though we did walk a lot - London has a great and cheap transport system with Oyster card - well done!)

enormously huge St Paul's Cathedral

Tower of London

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge

Express yourself!

Pedestrian bridge over River Thames

Having Mochitos in Brasilian club

Cathedral nearby Borough Market

Ambassador Theatre - where we have seen STOMP musical

The weather was changing - from raining to sun, back and forth as we passed River Thames at least six times one day.

Fortunately, we managed to see a musical as we planned - STOMP - the show about street and everyday sounds - performers used random stuff such bins, lighters, matches and even sinks to show the audience that sounds and music are company of our everyday life's.

London is an amazing city - full of attractions, not just buildings but things which are inside, especially great paintings and sculpture in Tate Modern or National Museum, which we had not time to explore, but I suppose there is always an impression that London is more than that and always worth visiting again.

But, it is not the place where I could live - constant traffic, millions of people wondering around day and night, hubbub of the street... all that seems to be very tiring - also a "Rat Race" can be seen - people running all the time, living in hurry - such life can be good for short period but in long term is just killing...

Have a rest,
enjoy life,
once a year go to a place where you have not been before,
call your parents,
chat with friend,
spend some time with yourself,
plan next day,
go back to reality...
but do not forget to dream!

London Day 1

Visit to London is probably on the list of every traveller and tourist, it is so big and easy to lose that you need a guide to show you insights to it.

However, during first day, together with Marta, we managed to see most of the most important attractions - those we saw in Tv and heard about. Some of them where different - like Big Ben is smaller than you might think after watching Eurovision song contest transmission from London.

Nevertheless, those beautiful building are amazing, the architecture but also current utilisation - home of Royal Family - Buckingham Palace or Parliament building.

Everything is surrounded by new buildings and seems to be under pressure from them, but there are many parks where London citizens can have a break and relax, even see wild animals from close just in the city centre!

Great Britain coat of arms

Queen Elisabeth I statue in front of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Ducks in St James Park
(animals were so close to us, walking around the tourist, even squirrel were amazingly brave and familiarise with strangers)

M&M in St James Park

Buckingham Palace from St James Park

Westminster Abbey

Big Ben

Parliament and Big Ben by River Thames

First day was very lucky for us, as it was raining whole way to London and stopped when we left the coach. Walking around London for 5 hours gave us a great opportunity to create an image of the city, but lesson about it came with Tung and real experience of city life has came during second and third day.

Easter in UK

My third Easter I spend far from my family and home, but each time is special and great, and always try to celebrate in Polish style, according to culture and tradition.

Easter decorations.

Easter Sunday - traditional Polish breakfast - white borscht with coloured eggs, horseradish, a platter of cold cuts and sausages, white cheese with radish and Polish bread

M&M celebrating their first Easter

Exploring Salford... on a walk after breakfast

the Anglican Church we visited

Old Church nearby University

This Easter was special, traditional - thank You:*

Easter Greetings

I wish you all the best for Easter - happiness, love and health. Hope you spend this holiday with your family or friends in traditional way.

This is my third time I do not spend Easter with my family, but staying in contact with them is key to happiness.

Polish culture is very beautiful and a postcard from my grandmother reminded me to cultivate it and share with other people.

Polish way of celebrating Easter (Roman Catholic ritual)
1. Every free time in Easter week is usually devoted for houses cleaning - beating dust out of carpets, cleaning windows, segregating home stuff
2. Saturday morning - prepare basket with: eggs, sausage, salt, bread, horseradish - decorated with dwarf mountain pine - and take it to Church to bless food - which will be consumed on Easter Sunday
3. Sunday morning - family is meeting by the breakfast: traditional Polish white borscht and a lot of great, fresh meat - and one of family members speak up to wish all the people who gathered all the best, a lot of health and luck - then everyone share eggs and wish everyone individually all the best in life.
After that there is a walk to the Church and family dinner.
4. Easter Monday is again a day of family meeting by the breakfast and dinner - but the most amazing thing is "Smigus Dyngus" - Easter Monday custom of dousing young women with water - young men are running on the street dousing girls and women with water - old polish tradition says that if women won't me wet that day she will not get married

See pictures: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3

Once again, all the best and enjoy these happy holidays!

Yours,
Mario

Liverpool

Part of my parents visit in UK was a trip to Liverpool - which thanks to nice weather was a great experience. However, city itself did not impress us - due to many constructions going on nearby Docks, but exhibitions in museums were fascinating!

My wonderful parents

Mancia and Egyptian figure

Liverpool Cathedral

Chinese Gate in Liverpool - one of the biggest group of Chinese emigrants in UK live in this city


M&M in Liverpool

Liverpool Town Hall

M&M enjoying time in L'pool

Liverpool is European Capital of culture - visit their website to check events

Family visit in England

It is always nice when family decides to visit and they are always welcome and can feel like at home - especially when after 19 years of living under their roof you can finally invite them to your place and thank for all the good things and experiences they shared with you.

My parents came to Salford - Manchester to see how I'm doing in UK.

Me and my mother in Salford Quays
I have taken my father to football match:
Manchester City - Tottenham (2-1)

Manchester City Stadium

Me and my father by the Students Union building

Many thanks for visiting me in UK - hope you enjoyed it and had great time:*

Lancaster Summit

Weekend in Lancaster was the most inspiring time I had for a long time - students from enterprising societies across UK, Belgium and France came to attend workshops and network to promote enterprising skills and knowledge.

Apart from great parties, wonderful dinner and amazing organization - congratulations to Lancaster University - the key element were workshops which inspired me...

The tower made together with French and British students.

Working together and sharing experience, thoughts and ideas concerning organisation of events, societies life and ways to develop enterprising skills.

Amazing presentation about customers - what kind of colour they are - what sort of attitudes, values drive their choices.

Official business dinner in four star hotel (high standard - get use to it if you plan to be successful)

Marta on the dance floor :)

French and Belgium students having fun in UK

Alexander square - Lancaster University is located 15 minutes from city and campus itself is a big town with bars, restaurants, shops and everything that is needed.

UK Entrepreneurial Summit!

Many thanks to Lancaster University team who organised this marvellous weekend and special thanks to very inspiring speakers:
Emma Jones - Enterprise Nation
Joe Bugglas - Create