Water... and trash.

The other day the bf and I went to Media City/Salford Quays (fun fact: for ever I called it Salford Keys. I didn't know it was pronounced QUAYS. I still can't say Quays with a straight face). Nice place. Pretty. It has a lot of potential as an outdoor space (something I think is really missing in Manchester!). I LOVE being next to water. LIving in Manchester is the fursthest I have ever lived from a body of water and it gets to me sometimes. So this was such a nice change to stroll around here near these lake/canals/water things. And the water had geese and swans and that was a really nice change from my standard city scenery. Medial city has a mix of a city vibe but also a close connection to nature and I really enjoy it there. Just take a look at this gorgeous picture I snapped of the beautiful sky:

Nice right? Wrong! The sky was so beautiful and the clouds really popped in the picture, BUT take a closer look and you will see that the beautiful water I was talking about earlier- is FILLED WITH TRASH! Seriously! I could not believe it. Take a closer look:

so. gross.

I was so excited to be here because, for one, it was like the last sunny day we will probably have in Manchester for 9 months. I thought how cool this neighbourhood is, with its up and coming bar and restaurant scene, nice walkways for jogging and walking the dog (one day I will have my own and not just stalk and pet every dog I see...), and especially the water. So wasn't this a bummer to see all this mess. It is just disgusting. And I think everyone should be outraged. Take this Buzzfeed on why Manchester is so great. Funny, number 2 and 17 are referring to this exact area and they look gorgeous! Sure, strip away all the trash and Manchester is really pretty (when it's sunny) (Okay maybe even in the rain I am starting to see its charm). So I think Buzzfeed is doing a bit of false advertising here, because it never looks that clean. Here I am on a sunny day in Manchester, walking along the water front (which I pine for!), and my thoughts are with all that trash sitting and stewing ruining the moment.

Meat Trash

I have just come back from holiday in Minorca. It was amazing with clear skies and ocean so clear and warm it was like a giant swimming pool. I got to chatting to my buddy who told me about @1PieceOfRubbish which is a pretty cool concept and I hope it takes off.

When I got back to Manchester, besides the rain and gloom, I was once again confronted by all this trash. Of course I don't expect things to get done in a week while I am away and to come home to pristine streets... but I guess I did expect that a little. My walk along the roundabout is particularily worse than when I left. Today I found two plastic meat trays side by side! Like what the hell! First- who is discarding these trays just on the road and second- are they cooking the meat? Non of it makes any sense.

And you know what? I think there needs to be some corporate responsibility here because one was a meat tray from Sainsbury's and the other one from Tesco.

Companies should step it up and care that their labels are littered all over town. But Mancunians should too! I mean come on- I know a lot of people who breathe and bleed
Manchester and all its glory, but I see very little effort to make this city a bit better. And when you think of the international reputation this city has, and the crowd it draws, you would think everyone would want to make sure its in good condition. Set a standard. Be a role model.