I was probably the only one who was in Birmingham without a car. A city with roughly 242.000 inhabitants, but close to 1 million in the larger area. A rather major one one compared to our cities across the pond. Well that sounded like there is something on and worth to stroll through downtown. Not being totally unexperienced with US city downtowns after about 8 journeys and their typical boardwalk scenarios, I was still a bit surprised that there were ! boardwalks, when I got out of the taxi.  

Actually they have only 40 taxies, I was told from my drivers in the inner circle, with maybe a few  more than one hundred in the suburbs.  This surprised me indeed, as in my hometown we have about 1000 taxies for a 1/2 million inhabitants. 
So typically you have to call 30 minutes to an hour in advance, if you want to go somewhere, a lesson I learned quickly the first day, while nothing was on yet at the Barbers. 

Joe (name changed), my first taxi driver drove me around the whole city on the highway, although I had given him clear instructions where to go, so I could spot the downtown area first on the left, then behind me, then again on the left, then behind me, suddenly in front to disappear again somewhere behind other things, until I told him to drop me just at the next exit. Joe was nice and gave me an introduction to B'ham at least and was kind enough to drop me not in a gang neighbourhood, but about 1 mile from downtown just to hand me down his business card, that I could call him any time for another sightseeing taxi drive. Well I didn't, sorry Joe.


"Going Green" is a special programm of the city, not too bad and a good example for other cities.

Congress area, the city is certainly crowded when sth. is ON here.

The next thing I saw was a 2001 Bullitt -- and I met the other tourist, that walked through downtown (I saw him 4 times in the next 2 hours). And yes, he asked me to take a picture from him before I crossed this road. Sorry, Kim or so, that I did not ask you to take one from me. I assume you must have been a Mustanger, too. I was still thinking I would see a few more local people around.
I counted actually 10 locals outside, 2 drunken, 4 at a bus stop (where no bus was obviously coming), 2 vanishing in a cafe and  2 suits smoking outside of the law enforcement center or something. Actually that was Monday. So I had space enough to enjoy the nice boardwalks and green areas around the convention center (where nothing was going on). 

Until I found this shop called Reed Books at the 3rd. Avenenue that I had noticed in a city brochure at the airport and that saved my day finally. Yes, Birmingham suddenly became gem with the lifetime effort of.

Guiseppe Moretti created the colossal Vulcan statue. A 50-ton statue that was restored after it seemed to be beyond repair initially. It stands for the nations iron and steel history in B'ham. 

One of the small english village spots towards the botanical garden area (west of the city).

Two other tourists in here, no well, there were 43 in the park, if I did not count a few twice.

O.k. I missed the Peanut Depot, the McWane Science Center and a few others, but I might come back one day....:)

The city from the hill, I just had walked over from there - pretty much alone.

If you wonder why there were no people, well yes, there were none the whole morning....

 A lost Mustanger and a first sign of the big show on the 15th. April? Hardly anyone that I spoke too incl. the taxi drivers and Hamburger restaurants staff members... knew something about the oncoming big event. 
BTW - I consumed 6 Cheeseburgers in that week, enjoyed a chinese buffet  and appreciated the sizzling steak with the Mach1 group. I adapted quite quickly in food processing to US standards, did I?

The area where jurisdiction is done or lawyers meet judges ot one groub member each other to make prime deals about other less fortunate persons destinies. 
 

Needfull things - Old stuff and tons of old magazines and newspapers inside. I fetched an old car mag from the piles that had a Trans-Am Mustang story in it for just one Dollar. The hour spent in that shop and browsing the piles was worth it and paid off with this deal.

Birmingham/Alabama - Showplace of the South" The kids from the busses had vanished in the technical museum around the corner and I thought I would need to change the road to make room, but there was indeed no need. 
 
Walking around-
My next target was this coal mining (or so) heraldic monument on top of a hill. As a european tourist you would think there would be a sign for walkers how to get there. No way, the street went up the hill with no boardwalk at all. I had to walk on the small green next to the road and was honked at several times. For 1/2 a mile I was followed by a not so nice gentleman, that always stood still when I stopped to take a pic of the downtown area, which made me curious to shake his hand and get to know him, but he walked backwards, so I stopped and headed forward a bit more speedy to get into crowded area (which was a parking spot, where to cars were waiting, one manned, oh yes, that was the local number 12, you counted right.). 

I tried to get access to the city monument, but although I could spot it, you had to walk around the hill at the roadside, with mirrors almost touching my hips and then a long way back up, which I although did not after reading that at the end I would need to pay a hefty sume for something that I saw already from the other side. (O.k, there is something more than that). 
Anyway I decided now to walk over to the botanical gardens and zoo. Not so easy again, as it took me 20 minutes to cross the conjunction although there were (what a surprise) buttons for pedestrians or bikers (no pedestrians and bikers for the last hour and the next one spotted.). 

But after that I could check out real local (more wealthy) typical southern living with an english touch here and there with the trees along the roads, nice 3-6 bedroom houses, large gardens and open garages with a few vintage cars to spot, but no boardwalks. A few dogs barked at me and I changed the road for a few times to challenge. They did not dare to follow, probably they knew that nobody would stop for them. 

There are at least 3 England inspred small villages a bit off from downtown that I visited to feel home and they really did. I met at least about 80 locals (were they?) in those 3 spots and that made me feel very comfortable. Sat down in a huge magazine shop with a coffee shop inside, grabbed the latest Muscle Car Review with a 45th.Mustang Special (you really missed something, if you did not buy it) and enjoyed another 1/2 an hour of the day. 


The 67,5 aqcres botanical garden with various sections (japanese, exotic, mediterranean, etc.) next to them was a very convenient spot and I think this is really the nicest spot around for relaxing, especially after a 5 hours walk. I spent another hour in there to compensate for the devastated downtown. Although they say 350.000 visitors come each year, I counted 43 this day, well not too bad, 30 of them were from a photographers group taking historically styled pictures.



More not so seriously meant strangers sightseeing experiences soon. I am tired after the collapsing of my site recently..:)

Author: Wolfgang Kohrn