Liverpool, Hadrian's Wall, York, and Oxford
There's really only one reason people go to Liverpool (unless you're a scholar studying the history of Britain's greatest seaport), and that's to go see Beatle stuff. I had heard for years how Liverpool was seedy, working class, and rundown, especially since the shipping industry went belly-up in the late 1970s. There must have been some pretty serious urban renewal in recent years, b/c the city center is actually very nice. On the drive in we passed through some rougher spots (reminded me of the working class neighborhoods of Philly), but, overall, it's probably much less dodgy than back in the Beatles' day when the docks were going full-bore (you know how those sailors are).
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| The Albert Dock, with George's Pier Head in the distance. |
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| Jelly Beatles |
I came to see Beatle sights, and the best way to do it was to pay some fools to ferry us around on a Magical Mystery Tour Bus. Everybody knows I'm a Beatles fan, but it is not my religion. I'm not so sure about our fellow magical mysterians. They played Beatles' songs throughout the tour, of course, and some people were singing along at the top of their lungs without a hint of embarrassment. I suppose it's the same on a Sound of Music tour. So far, I've managed to dodge that bullet.
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| Me, not really sure I want to get on the bus with the rest of the loonies. |
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| Me and Trum on Penny Lane |
If you know the song "Penny Lane" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-rB0pHI9fU), then you know "on the corner is a banker with a motorcar" and there's a "shelter in the middle of the roundabout."
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| The bank is on the right, and the (bus) shelter is on the left. |
"Strawberry Fields Forever" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UQK-UcRezE) is my favorite Beatles' song.
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| At the Gate to Strawberry Fields |
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| Trum, Lennon, and me outside the Cavern Club. |
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| Liverpool doesn't look bad. Right? |
Hadrian's Wall
It seems that back in 122 AD the Emperor Hadrian had finally had enough of the wild and woolly Picts raiding his provinces in Britain, so he built a crazy wall in an attempt to seal Scotland off from the rest of the island. It don't think it worked in the end, however. We drove along the wall for quite a ways, but the two best stops were Housesteads Roman Fort and the Roman Army Museum.
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| No wall can stop sheep. |
York
Ah, York. The first thing I think of when I think of York, is the York Minster, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, and the seat of the Archbishop of York. Or, maybe I think of how Constantine the Great was proclaimed Emperor of Rome at York in 306 AD? Actually, now that I consider it carefully, I probably think of "Theodoric of York: Medieval Barber"(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edIi6hYpUoQ).
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| The white rose of the House of York. Remember the War of the Roses? |
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| York has some of the most complete medieval walls in Europe. |
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| Not sure what was up with this, but it looks like that Hedwig-esque owl is attacking that kid. |
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| Narrow and Twisty Medieval Streets |
The York Minster
This venerable structure has played an important role in the history of Christian Britain. In fact, a church of some sort has stood on this site since, at least, the 7th century AD. Here's was I can tell you about it: it ain't small.
Oxford
On the way to Oxford we just had to drive through Sherwood Forest. Why wouldn't you? Unfortunately, Trum and I were the only Merry Men that we sighted.
The University of Oxford is the oldest, and most prestigious university in the English-speaking world. All manner of brainiacs and history-makers have trod it's hallowed halls, but I'm only going to name my favs: T.E. Lawrence, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis.
We only had time to tour one college, so I chose Magdalen College, where C.S. Lewis was a fellow.
The University of Oxford is also home to the original Blackwell's Books, the most famous academic bookstore in Britain. Trum bought a really cool poster, featuring the original cover of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. I was supposed to be the poster's custodian, but forgot and left it on the plane...
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| He has the poster in his hand, but his face foretells his anger at it's loss. |
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| The Eagle and Child is where the Inklings (including C.S. Lewis and Tolkien) used to meet and critique each other's writing. |
Avebury, West Kennet Long Barrow, and Old Sarum
After Oxford, we headed to the London LDS temple, but first stopped off for Trum to see the great stone circle at Avebury. We also visited the West Kennet Long Barrow, a Neolithic tomb, and Old Sarum, near Salisbury, an Iron Age hillfort that was built on by succeeding generations, until the 16th century.
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| Trum at Avebury |
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| In the Long Barrow |
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| The Man-Made Silbury Hill |
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| The Moat at Old Sarum |
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| Me and Trum at the Temple |
This trip was too long, too expensive, too tiring, and too ambitious. But, we survived, and had quite a bit of fun in the process. Farewell to jolly old England!
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