Leicester

  

My city was founded by the Romans in the first century CE and was originally called Ratae Corieltauvorum, I know... quite a mouth full! The Romans, being smart people, knew that they would need a city right in the centre of the country and so, my home town came into existance. Eventually the Romans had to leave, and the place was taken over by other people who gave it a shorter name. The actual pronunciation is more like "Lester" making it even shorter still! 

You can still visit the origin Roman baths (pictured above), although most of the brick work was "borrowed" in order to build the Saxon church situated just behind it.

King Richard III lost the battle of Bosworth, near to Leicester and legend has it that his body was thrown into the river next to the park where his statue can nowadays be found. He was the last of the Plantagenet kings and made way for the line of Tudor kings, made popular by the recent HBO TV series. 

The sword previously held in the statue's right hand was stolen several times and put to theatrically dangerous use! It was soon replaced by the small dagger, visible in the picture.

The true passion of an English gentleman is not football, rather cricket. It's a different kind of sport in both speed and values, sometimes taking days to resolve a match. It is however, the perfect way to spend an English summer's afternoon... relaxing with a pint and (half) watching the action taking place.

I do warn you though. Cricket is well known for its complexed rules, I would explain them, if I knew how it worked myself!

Industrial Britain was connected by a vast system of canals. What was once the fastest way of transporting goods is now one of the slowest and most relaxing holidays activities. Live on a canal boat for a week or two and explore the green of the English countryside!

Leicester's old town lit up by night.

The town hall of Leicester with winged lion fountain. Leicester's old latin dictum is "semper eadem" which means "always the same". A quite fitting way to sum up the place!

Leicester's "number one son" is the footballer Gary Lineker, who played for Barcelona back in the '80's. Anyone remember him? He now earns a living doing sports commentary on TV and advertising crisps. In stark contrast, his family still run a fruit and veg stall at Leicester's open air market!

Barcelona has got plenty of Irish bars. Meanwhile back in Leicester we've got a Gaudi style bar! I'll leave you to imagine what the interior looks like!

The most well known band from Leicester at the moment are probably Kasabian. Check out the video for their song "Where did all the love go?"

Leicester is otherwise known as the capital of Bollywood and Indian culture in the UK. Here's Cornershop, a local band, fusing Indian music with British indie rock. The name cornershop is a kind of joke about Indian people owning local shops ubiquitously found on street corners around the country.

A visit to Leicester wouldn't be complete without seeing the clock tower in the city centre, or "Little Ben" as I call it! People usually come here to see in the new year, but be careful... the clock is a bit slow!

Vocab:

a mouth full - difficult to say

to take over - to conquer / take control of

brick work - construction materials

legend has it - according to legend

to make way for - to be surpassed by

a dagger - small sword / knife

goods - products

fitting - appropriate

to sum up - to define

stark - distinct

plenty - a lot

to see in - to welcome