My Hometown!

It is getting to the point of my internship now where I am really starting to miss home and home comforts.

Before coming away to Malta, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time with my family in Malaga, Spain. This time that I was able to have with my parents before coming to undertake an internship for two months, allowed us to really reconnect and catch up on everything that had happened during my university academic year.

I do not get to travel home very often whilst at university, as I also have to juggle two part time jobs. One for a retail company and the other for my university’s student’s union.

This means that any time that I have to spend with my family, I will utilise well, as I do not have the luxury of having a free weekend for me to travel frequently and see them.

One of the many things that I miss about home at the moment is the scenery. Where my house is located, there are lush surroundings of countryside and farm animals, making it also a very quiet area to live in. My house in Malta however, experiences some of the loudest noise as we are situated adjacent to the main road, meaning we get a lot of noise pollution. It’s quite different waking up to the sounds of Maltese commuters stuck in traffic jams, as opposed to my cat waking me up.

My hometown is situated in a small town outside of the city of Bradford, which is also surrounded by a great amount of heritage.

Above: Haworth, home of the Bronte sisters

About 15 minutes away from my house is the village of Saltaire. Saltaire is a world heritage site, making it quite remarkable that I actually live so close to one of these sites. Saltaire is probably one my favourite villages that surrounds Bradford, as it is steeped with culture and history.

Saltaire was a man-made village, created by Sir Titus Salt back in the 19thCentury. He wanted to create a safe place for his mill workers to live, that was not entirely fume-ridden like the city centre of Bradford. So, he began the plans for his grandeur village, that would still stand to this day and many people still reside in the quaint houses.

Sir Titus Salt was not always the great man that everyone believed him to be. Creating a village came with consequences. His mill workers were then tied into his own laws and regulations, which often meant that their social lives were pretty miserable. He prohibited the consumption of alcohol as he believed that it made people lazy and lousy, and as he had a business to run, he wanted every-one to be working at their optimum.

Such was his control, that the mill he built, he made into the shape of a ‘T’ to mark the first initial of his name. Crazy… right?

Nowadays, Saltaire stands as a wonderful village that often has various activities and events taking place. The village still brings in a plethora of tourists, which undoubtedly helps the local economy.

One of the most popular events is probably the ‘Saltaire Village Experience’, where one is given the profile of a person who lived in the village during the 19thcentury and you are given a tour of the house you lived in, the people you lived with, your family and friends, your hobbies, your livelihood and also your death.

I myself have been on this tour twice and it always makes for a very interesting experience and you always pick up on something new each time.

Another great area to visit in Yorkshire, is the Yorkshire Dales. The Yorkshire Dales is a national park that is full of quaint villages, countryside scenery and natural formations such as waterfalls and caves. There are so many things to do here and I would recommend that anyone who has the chance to come to Yorkshire, takes the beautiful drive into the countryside to witness the Dales’ beauty.

Above: Rapeseed flowers growing on the North Yorshire Moors.

Some of my favourite places to visit are;

• Malham Cove

• Ingleborough

• Pennine Way

• Wensleydale and the Wensleydale Cheese Factory

• Bolton Abbey

• Ribblehead Viaduct

• Asygarth Falls

• Janet’s Foss

  
  

Above: A countryside walk in the Dales

The countryside is one of those places that will probably always be in my heart, as it is something I have always grown up with. My mother used to take my almost every weekend for a trip into some of nature’s most beautiful surroundings and every time I visit, I fall a little bit more in love with it.

Not only is the countryside and the small villages of Yorkshire a great place to see, but we also have some great cities that one can visit.

Bradford

The city of Bradford is an old industrial area that was once a haven for woolen production and had thriving communities. Over the years, its popularity has fluctuated, but it is now seen to be a up-coming destination. Bradford is the home of the Bronte sisters, David Hockney and Zayn Malik.

We also have been voted to have some of the best curries in the UK. (So, it’s not all doom and gloom).

Leeds

Leeds is a destination that really has something for everyone. From its ever-growing shopping complexes in the city centre and to the White Rose shopping centre in Beeston, to the cricketer’s haven of Headingley and the Leeds Beckett sports facilities, there is always something to do.

Leeds also has a great music scene, which is one the reasons that I personally love to go there. It is just a 25-minute train journey to get from my home to Leeds, making it a very accessible city. Ever since the age of 16, me and my friends have travelled to the likes of Belgrave, The Cockpit, The O2 Academy, Oporto and various other music venues throughout the city, to witness some of the best indie artists.

York

York is a city that is stepped in culture and history and is one of my favourite places to visit in Yorkshire.

There are so many things to do in this wonderful city, from the ghost tours, to the York dungeons, to the cruise of the Ouse, to afternoon tea at some of the most wonderful establishments.

Above: The wodnerful afternoon tea at Middlethorpe Hall, York.

York also has a great war history with a great Viking prominence. There are places such as the Jorvik Centre, The Dig, Clifford’s Tower, York Viking Festival.

I could go on and on about the greatness of my hometown along with its rich history, but, you will have to come and see it for yourself!

Photo gallery