Last week, I had occasion to visit Leicester. I planned on going to the Cathedral while I was there, but traffic delayed me. The other two churches I wanted to see were closed, but the city was lit for Christmas and a fair was in full swing.
I was content to just wander the streets with the camera for a while. The old Roman Forum was playing host to a Ferris Wheel and with the medieval buildings, monuments and churches in the background, everything was light and colour.
I live in a village and love the peace and silence, but I am a city girl by birth. Although I do not miss living in a city and will avoid even my small local town whenever I can, there is a definite ‘buzz’ on a city street at night.
It is not something you notice so much when you are head down, running for a bus after work or feeling oppressed by the constant crowds with which you live, but when a visit is a rarity, the vibe of a city is like caffeine.
Especially early on a Friday evening at Christmas. The crowds are still sober and good natured. There is laughter. There are children being taken to see store Santas and glowing, wide-eyed with magic.
The air smells not of exhaust fumes or impatience, but of doughnuts, crepes and cinnamon, with the odd hint of fish and chips. and candy floss. A week before Christmas, no one is stressed yet. They are not on a last minute mission to get the mother-in-law’s present. It just feels good.
I had never really wandered around Leicester before. Even in the dark, I could see there were beautiful old buildings and narrow streets I would like to explore.
But I was happy just to enjoy the atmosphere for a little while. A vibe I recognised. Even the piped carols couldn’t get me down. Suddenly, I realised, it felt like Christmas.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
It looks wonderful! Have a lovely Christmas. Hugs and treats by proxy for Ani.
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Have a lovely Christmas 🙂 x
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Thank you!
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Michaelphelps1's Blog and commented:
WHAT A beautiful CITY! THANKS FOR SHARING!
MERRY CHRISTMAS and ALL THE BEST FOR 2017
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Thank you, Michael!
A very Merry Christmas to you too!
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Leicester’s lights are certainly a lot better than Birmingham’s! One street can’t have lights now because the tram comes down it. On the plus side, we do have the largest German market outside of Germany and Austria. But prettier, more colourful lights would be lovely…
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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My own little town’s lights are not exactly inspiring 😉 And our European markets, though good, are sadly very small.
Merry Christmas, Laura 🙂
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So atmospheric, Sue.
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I loved it, Jean…just for a little while 🙂
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I know that feeling. Always good to get back to the peace of wild things!
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Yes, I don’t mind dipping my toe in the city…but that’s as far as I really want to go these days.
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I’d put a foot in but not much more either.
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A triple espresso has its moments..but you wouldn’t want to do it often 😉
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This is beautiful, thanks for sharing this.😊 Merry Christmas to you and your family.🎄💝
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I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures, Apple. Merry Christmas to you too 🙂
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Great pics, Sue. Merry Xmas!
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Thanks, Olga. Merry Christmas to you too!
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you.
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Danke für diese wundervolle Reiseführung durch Leicester. Wirklich eine Reise wert. Bitte, wartet noch mit dem Austritt aus der EU. 😉
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Also in your language available 😉 : (Sorry!)
Thanks for this wonderful trip to Leicester. Really worth a trip. Please wait with the withdrawal from the EU. 😉 Merry Christmas!
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Bitte 🙂 We wait… 😦
Frohe Weihnachten!
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Wow. Brilliant photos and text a real city of light and magic
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For that hour or so, Paul, yes, it was 🙂
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Thanks for sharing such pretty Christmas photos. Merry Christmas Sue, and all the best for 2017. 🙂
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Merry Christmas, Marjorie 🙂
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When we woke up this morning the snow was still on the ground, and we thought, ‘yes, this is Christmas’ 😀
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We just had rain…and today, sunshine.
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How pretty. It does look very Christmassy 🙂
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It felt it too, Judy 🙂
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Great lights! You have the biggest ferris wheels in the world, I think. Easily twice as big as anything I’ve seen in this country.
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Maybe it’s just the angle…or our buildings are smaller 😉
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