Used Books and More | Manchester, England


While in Manchester, we found this amazing used bookstore. I'm kicking myself in the bum, because I can't remember the name of the store. We found it as we were strolling about in the city center. It was quite dusty, but also cozy. In the front there were heaps of old novels and paperbacks. They even had sections specifically for Doctor Who. I spent most of my time perusing that area. I was able to purchase a tiny little Dalek, Weeping Angel and Cyberman. I know they're meant to be menacing, but when they're so tiny, all I can say is, "aw".

I really enjoy used bookstores like this. Manchester and Edinburgh had many similar kinds of establishments. In Florida, we used to have this amazing used bookstore, All Books and Records. It was huge and filled with books, DVDs, CDs and comics. It was a haven for Markus and I. Then one Saturday we drove there and it was unexpectedly closed. We never found out why, it was boarded up and the sign was gone. It was like a piece of us had suddenly gone missing. In the growing age of technology, stores like this are slowly disappearing. It makes me sad, but it makes me cherish the ones that are still open even more.



The John Rylands Library | Manchester, England


After we left Chetham's Library, we walked across town to The John Rylands Library. This library was built in the 1890s and is absolutely gorgeous. I felt like I was walking in the halls of Hogwarts, which I actually did later in our trip! Unlike Chetham's library, this is a working library that is associated with the University of Manchester. I can't even imagine attending a school like this. I wouldn't be able to concentrate on studying, I would wander about admiring every nook and cranny. I was so overcome by the look of the place that I had to stop and take a photo of everything, it was so hauntingly beautiful.


Chetham's Library | Manchester, England


While I was doing research for our trip to Manchester, I found Chetham's Library. It's the oldest free public reference library in the United Kingdom. I was sold when I read the words oldest and library.

The library itself is quite small and you can't look at any of the books. They're all locked up and fenced in on shelves. It's a  bit sad, but I can understand the concern. We have to conserve the old tomes of years past. There wasn't much to do in the library itself, but it was still lovely to be able to spend a few moments with such beautiful old books.