Exploring Douglas, the Capital City of the Isle of Man

5-Jul-2015 • Douglas Isle of Man

Shortly after check in at our Bed and Breakfast, Marc and I began exploring the city of Douglas. It was a Sunday and while some businesses were open, they didn't stay open late. In fact, everything closed for the day by 5 pm. After that, the entire city was literally quiet and deserted.

We later found out that the following day, Monday, was a bank holiday which meant most businesses in the entire island was closed for the long three day weekend. I must say, given the absence of people everywhere we went, the city looked and felt like a ghost town.

We loved the architecture though. The buildings followed many different designs. There were Victorians, Art Deco, Edwardian, and more. In fact it was the city's overall look which I remember most of all.

The War Memorial along the waterfront

Beautiful houses like these lined many residential streets

The Parish Church of St. Thomas which we later visited

A very colorful street though deserted because of the three day weekend

An old mailbox

Half timbered houses reminiscent of French houses of the past centuries

The absolutely picturesque marina

A drawbridge which let a few boats go through

Art Deco in the midst of hundreds of Victorian houses

A bigger picture of the building with the Art Deco design

THe Jubilee Clock

The base of the Jubilee Clock

Thought this was a Filipino Restaurant given the name. But no, it was a Thai Restaurant! Imagine that!

A piece of Switzerland in the island

Art next to the Market Hall

The Market Hall built in 1899, Douglas, Isle of Man

A fuller view of the main façade of the Market Hall

Another side of the Market Hall

Despite mixed reviews on the internet, we had no problems with the Steam Packet ferry company that we traveled on from Belfast to Douglas. The ferry wasn't very big but it was comfy and the ride was smooth despite the grey skies and off and on drizzle

The Steam Packet office

Lloys Bank of Douglas, Isle of Man, right next to the ferry terminal

Shopping street in Douglas

The Isle of Man Bank, Douglas

The Isle of Man POst Office, Downtown Douglas

There was a Marks and Spencer in Douglas

The commercial district of Douglas deserted due to a bank holiday

Where has all your people gone Douglas? It's a bank holiday!

Nice clock over the entrance to a local cinema

I tell ya, we Filipinos are in every corner of the world