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Our first order of business in Birmingham was ThinkTank, the science museum, where we spent the whole day learning about steam engines. Our second day, then, was devoted to getting oriented in Birmingham. One of the things we loved about the city center was the many blocks of streets that had been converted to pedestrian-only. This area was a magnet for street musicians and diverse crowds, with all manners of international dress and language.

A local researcher helped us find the International Convention Center with its tour boat dock. On the way, he showed us the new library and suggested we ask for a tour brochure (I managed that later in the week).

The boat tour had recorded commentary (not our favorite format), but it was informative about the history and future of canals in Birmingham.

Touring Bimingham’s canals by boat

After the tour, we walked along the canal to an area we’d seen with multiple restaurants. We ended up choosing a pan-Asian place where Rick had the best curry of our whole trip.

My entree was a Malaysian dish called Sambal.

Later in the day, we joined the throngs of shoppers along the pedestrianized streets. Waterstone’s is a big bookstore chain in the UK.

This Waterstones was in a building that appeared to be an old bank.

The beautiful interior