I'm here.... My first impression of Manchester is "Communist Indiana". The countryside looks exactly like Indiana to me, but the buildings and houses are all red brick and exactly the same as if it were all government housing. The roads are all about the size of bicycle paths and there are no overhanging wires.... other than all that, there doesn't seem to be much difference. No one on the street says hello and when I say "hi" they just look at the ground and quicken their pace. It all changes though when you are sitting down indoors somewhere public and they suddenly morph into the friendliest people you've ever met. British T.V. is hilarious... the daily soaps remind me of poorly directed jr. high school plays, but the news stations are refreshingly international and seemingly unbiased. It's funny to me to sit in a pub and look at two ladies in their sixties gabbing away over a glass of scotch as if they do that everyday (and they probably do). So far, so good... I will have more to say hopefully once I've seen a bit more. Now if I can just figure out the keyboard commands to post, then I'd be in business.... the box with my mouse hasn't arrived yet.