A guided walking tour around the city is a very interesting way to know the city better and also to meet people from other countries.
The ones we were participating on the "Blackbeard to Banksy the Ultimate Bristol Walking Tour" met in front of the Bristol Cathedral.
This tour was not only about the art of Banksy but also the history of the city. From Blackbeard, the notorious pirate, through Edward Colston, the slave trader whose statue fell during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests among other curiosities of Bristol.
I confess that it was difficult for me to understand the guide, but I think I got the main ideas. I leave here some of the curiosities I've found more interesting.
BRISTOL HISTORY
Photo 1: Old Map of Bristol 1851 by John Tallis
Photo 2: Bristol Bridge Photo 3 & 4: Uk map & Bristol map. Why Bristol is called Bristol?
There are many theories about why Bristol is called Bristol, but one of them is that back in medieval times, Bristol had a variety of spellings, which often included a ‘C’ or a ‘G’ after the ‘Bri’. Indeed, the word ‘Brygstow’ or ‘Brigstow’ is in use in the city today in a kind of renewal rather than survival. This supports the theory Bristol evolved from the two early English words for Bridge and Stow (meaning meeting place). So Bristol simply means ‘the meeting place at the bridge’.
The original town was listed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 1051 as a port trading regularly with Ireland. Bristol played an extremely important role in sea trade for hundreds of years following this, but as the scale of business and trade grew in the city, so did the need to develop the narrow and relatively small harbour.
Photo 1: The Old Market building
Do you see anything unusual in this photograph?
Tick, tack... Haven't found it yet? Tick, tack ( this is a hint! )
The old market building’s clock, installed originally in 1822, has two minute hands, just over 10 minutes apart, in order to show both Greenwich Mean Time and Bristol local time.
It is a fact that, before the railway, in the city of Bristol they didn't see the need to have the same time as their compatriots in London. Bristol only officially adopted the standard time five years after 14 September 1852, which was the established date. During these 5 years, when it was 12:00 of the noon in Bristol, it was 12:10 p.m. by the railway clock.
Photo 2: The Nails
These round-topped pedestals were used by merchants when closing a sale. Money was placed on the surface of a Nail, which means the deal had been closed; hence the expression 'Paying on the nail.'
It is likely that small samples of wares were also displayed on the Nails during the transaction.
Money money money ! Let's play a little game! Can you find the definition of these idioms?
1.They always pay on the nail. They are never a day behind. | A. To be born to a rich family. Usually people who have everything they want. |
2. Sue’s parents give her everything she wants. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. | B. To have just enough money to live on, to have no money to spare. |
3. Maybe this winter we have to live from hand to mouth because of the electricity price . | C. It refers to an exorbitant fee for a product or service. |
4. The prices in this store are daylight robbery, let's go in another one. | D. To pay (someone) immediately, on the spot, or without delay. |
ART
Photo 1: “Well Hung Lover” by Banksy
Bristol's home-grown and anonymous graffiti artist Banksy is known all across the world for his satirical, anti-establishment and thought-provoking street art. Several pieces remain in various locations around Bristol, so you can see his amazing work first hand.
This artwork is actually on the side of a sexual health clinic. Since its creation, the work has been shot at with a blue paintball gun. There are many different theories as to who was behind this...
Photo 2: Mural to promote Bristol’s ‘Women’s Safety Charter‘. by Hazard One
Murals intended to raise the issues around the harassment of women have been painted on the old bank building in Bristol. Organised by Bristol Nights it is a project aimed at promoting the cities zero tolerance stance towards the issue.
Photo 3: “The Vandal” by Nick Walker Attempts to describe his feelings on the financial crisis.As you arrive in Stokes Croft, the artistic quarter of Bristol, you can see a piece of street art on almost every wall, cleverly built into the exterior construction of the buildings.
Photo 4: other murals painted during an event called "See No Evil"
Photo 5: "Clothed With the Sun" by El Mac
It was painted during an event called "See No Evil", as part of an effort to revitalize one of the more drab streets in the heart of Bristol. It could be interpreted as an updated Madonna painting, or a homage to single mothers in a country that has the highest rate of single mothers in Europe.
Photo 6: "The Duel of Bristol" by Conor Harrington
Harrington painted itfor the See No Evil festival in Bristol, but continues to be thought-provoking for those who visit it; raising questions about the levels of tolerance and peace in Bristol.
MEETING NEW PEOPLE
There was a young American woman in the tour who was also travelling alone so we started talking . When the tour ended, Sarah and I were very hungry so we went to Saint Nick's (St Nicholas Market) where there was some street food and we ate BBQ with fries and red beans sitted on the grass of the city green areas near the river Avon.
After a little rest, we both wanted to go see the pastel houses and the Clifton Suspension Bridge and in the way we met Yoky, a Chinese young woman who was also traveling alone, so she joined us and we went together to walk the city!
I reckon that this is one of the beautiful things about travelling alone and also a challenge: meet other people, practice english because is the only way to understand each other and learning new things from the other people!
4 Church Ln, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4TX, Regne Unit
Clifton Suspension Bridge, B3129, Bristol BS8 3PJ, Regne Unit
White Lion. Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4LD, Regne Unit