A Walk Across Town...

 ... and a Shopping Spree

Yesterday was another fine autumn day here, and I decided it would be interesting to see how long it would take me to walk all the way "across town" to the Big Shopping Mall, which I haven't visited since before the pandemic. (Not for shopping, anyway! I did go to that part of town twice with friends back in July, by car; but then only to an art museum.)  

As this time I intended to go shopping, and trying on clothes, I did not bring my separate camera. But I could not resist snapping some views with the phone along the way.

 

Approaching the city centre. You may recognize this view from another recent post. However, this time I did not turn down into the centre, but kept on the outskirts.

Looking up another street towards the railway station (the red brick building). 

Passing a favourite view with the tower of the 17th century church in the background.

Oops, will have to make an unexpected little detour here as currently not allowed to pass under the railway bridge (hidden in plastic wrappings). They're exchanging the rails on that track...

The University.

An old railway station, nowadays home to some business office.

Part of an old textile industry complex that nowadays houses the Textile Fashion Center (with textile college, textile museum and some other related businesses). 

Students' residence building - over the river!

After that, I had to concentrate on cars, bicycles, electric scooters, other pedestrians and various crossroads etc for a while, and did not take any more photos until I reached my destination... (The whole walk across town, by the way, took around 45-50 minutes.)

In the shopping mall, just outside my favourite shop, I was puzzled by the display below. Couldn't for the life of me figure out what the scary mannequin in the empty cabin was supposed to symbolize or advertise. My best guess in retrospect (considering the flags with skulls on them) is that it could be the beginning of some kind of Halloween display. (If you have a better suggestion, please share!)

Once in the shop, I had other things to think about; and when I was done with my purchases, I had an extra bag to carry. I realized I had better take a bus back to the city centre... Walking all the way back home as well would be too much for me!

It was the most crowded bus I've been on since before the pandemic (I avoided the buses altogether for over a year, until I'd had my vaccinations), but at least I managed to get a seat. We are no longer required to wear face masks on the bus, but I chose to do so in this case. (In the two shops I went into, it had not been crowded, and no need to wear one.)

Getting off at the 'bus square' in the city centre, I decided to walk the rest of the way from there: 20-25 minutes along the river and across a cemetery, no traffic, and benches here and there along the way if I needed to rest. (And I did take advantage of that!).

 

Happy to report that my shopping spree was successful.  It may look like a  spur-of-the-moment orgy, but I actually had a pretty good idea in my head of what it was I wanted for the autumn/winter season ahead: One or two new plain tops with full-length sleeves, one or two pairs of (comfortable) trousers, and, if I could find one, a red (proper 'Christmas' red) cardigan or sweater. (Finding one that even had pockets was like the icing on the cake!) Mission accomplished! 😊