Hull

[squirmelia]

The city of Hull was described as the "worst place to live in the UK" in 2003 by the Crap Towns book, so I was curious as to what to expect when I visited it last weekend.

Hull seemed a dreamy faraway place to me during the 1990s- telephone calls were much cheaper than in the rest of the UK, due to Hull's telephone network not being owned by BT. It's no surprise therefore, that the UK's first BBS was apparently in Hull.

At the weekend, while wandering around the city with cerebros_vivos, my gaze frequently fixated on the telephone boxes. Their appearance made me feel like I was visiting a different country, since unlike the rest of the UK, all the phoneboxes are cream-coloured (although they do not taste like cream).

Posters about lost trawlermen adorned the buses - evidence that Hull is a port town, as well as a fish trail covering the pavements and the Spurn Lightship waiting patiently at the docks. "Squids welcome here," the sign above the gift-shop said at The Deep (Hull's impressive submarium). I suspect that I saw at least 100 tentacles there.

Spiders nightclub was visited two nights in a row and I marvelled that a pint could really cost as little as £1.20. I failed to see the tree sculptures and the Humber Bridge, but I did realise that at one point, the air smelt very much of cocoa (due to the cocoa mills).

Comments

[the-elyan.livejournal.com]

Hull certainly has its moments, though they may be few and far between.

I enjoyed the Deep very much, and have been to Spiders, though not for many years (and have odd memories of the place - a very weird weekend all round).

The best way to see the Humber Bridge is from the train, because you follow the river right under it...

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

The Deep was indeed cool.

Unfortunately it was dark both times I may have gone near the bridge on the train, but hey, I've seen photos of it.

[the-elyan.livejournal.com]

We were very lucky when we went to the Deep in that we actually got to see the Giant Octopus moving around, which was enchanting.

I want to go out to Kilnsea, right on the edge of Spurn Head, for a taste of what the edge of civilisation feels like. I think kit's linked to the few bits of reading I've been doing recently about St Kilda.

[ptdc.livejournal.com]

Did you try to taste the phoneboxes? Or was that just a guess?

[bickichick.livejournal.com]

our Victoria telephone boxes are red.

[fred-smith.livejournal.com]

How fascinating. Now I want to see Hull.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I did taste one and was extremely disappointed at the lack of cream taste.

[caescarna.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention telephone boxes - I awoke this morning from a dream in which, after cycling a BMX up a long,overgrown and weed-ridden slowly-ascending set of concrete steps. Near the top of those was an old-style BT red phone box, which I found myself clinging to the front of and realising I could climb no further...

[gnommi.livejournal.com]

jealous! i have heard very very very good things about the aquarium.

[solitarywalker.livejournal.com]

i wandered a little in Hull, Quebec, but i wasn't especially impressed. Except for one spot where there's a lovely view of the river & Ottawa on the other side.

Sean licked the book-cloth, because if it's wet it'll curl and then he'll know the grain. But when i saw him lick the book-cloth, i said So you can tell the grain by taste? and then everyone laughed.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Are they identical to the old British ones or are they of a different style? Maybe I'll search and find out. :)

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Were there weeds inside the phonebox?

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

:) I suppose different grains might taste different though, in some way?

A view of Ottawa sounds cool!

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

The octopus I saw was quite still, but good to see anyway.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I definitely recommend going there if you're ever in the area.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Sniff some cocoa powder for a sort of Hull-like experience. :)

[cerebros-vivos.livejournal.com]

lol.

The cocoa powder must be smelt whilst standing on a fish for the ultimate in mini-Hull thrills!

[bickichick.livejournal.com]

I believe identical
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=25
it is small and dark- but red
I have seen 3 I am not sure if they work any more
one is out front eh six mile pub
two infront the elephant and castyle
three??the emprress ??
after much searcing
http://www.medanagrove.com/images/phone.jpg

[timeplease.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you visited Hull. I grew up there.

I can't say much about the nightlife. The BBSes were good - 5p per local call, no matter how long it lasted, was definitely good!

My main memory of the place was of the classical music scene - I play the 'cello, and I joined the city orchestra. It was fantastic; we tackled some of the most difficult repertoire of the 19th and 20th century, and the concerts in the City Hall were wonderful. I haven't had such a good time, musically speaking, since I left.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I was always rather jealous of Hull residents due to the cost of local calls!

No idea about the classical music scene though, I'm afraid - they didn't seem to play much of that at Spiders.

[djmindwarp.livejournal.com]

i've got crap towns II!!! hull's no longer #1...

i'm oddly interested in visiting, and to realize it wasn't too far from where i was staying in the northeast.

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