Liverpool and The Lake District

I never noticed before the OPP crest on Paul's uniform

 Liverpool has a lot of Beatles stuff as you would expect. I did not plan very well as I got there on a Monday and lots of the museums were closed for the day, however the Beatles one was open, and I loved it!! It is hard think what a little amount of time they were together but what an impact they had.

Of  all the places I have been this trip I found Liverpool the easiest to navigate. Who knows why.

Castle Riggs Stones

Lots of these guys around

Most places had signs welcoming dogs, I would love to know what the unfortunate incidents were.

Then on Tuesday the trip out to the Lake District. Frank the tour guide was really good, he played some Beatrix Potter stories and a William Wordsworth poem. Similar to the Peak District there were lots of walkers around. and people with their dogs. Our first stop was Castle Riggs Stones. They are 5 thousand years older than Stonehenge, but a lot smaller, more like the stones on Mull. Frank says the way to se the Lake District is to walk, so atone point he dropped of anyone wanted to do a little walk of about a mile. So I did it. Lovely views. The last stop of the day was Ambleside, beside Lake Windermere and a nice walk beside the lake. It was a long day, we did not get back until 6:30. The roads there were very windy and twisty, and not very wide. I sure would not want to drive it myself.

I am back in Oxford, getting ready for my weekend with Lachlan while his parents jet off to Belfast. 

London/Manchester

Church in Bakewell

No longer a phone box, but a defibrillator station.

 London was good I enjoyed the shows. I went to the V&A and they had a three really good exhibits that interested me. One was about musicals, another called Divas and the third had clothing from various films and theatre. The place I was staying at was only a twenty minute walk from the V&A. Weather has been very warm, though it is cooling a bit now.

I took the train to Manchester, only a two hour trip and very enjoyable. I went to the Manchester Art Museum to see an exhibit about Haute Couture. Really good. Then yesterday atrip to the Peak District, which was the first national park in England, created in 1951. There were a lot cars parked along the road, and people hiking. Although the peaks cannot compare to the Rockies. The guide was very good, and I was very thankful I was not driving, narrow roads and some were only single lane. We drove by Chatsworth, the Duke of Devonshire's place, and stopped in a couple of towns, Castleton and Bakewell. Lovely old buildings. The last stop was Poole Caverns, where we had a tour of the cave. Really interesting.

I am not sure if it is just me, but I have found the GPS leads me astray, so I seem to end up where I do not want to be.

London

 Yesterday was a walking day, 20,000 steps. I explored around Chelsea and Kensington. 

Last night I went to Old Friends, the tribute to Stephen Sondheim with Bernadette Peters and Lea Solonga. So good, although the woman sitting next to me did not enjoy it as much, she left at the intermission. On the other hand the woman on the other side, cried at the sad songs!! 

Visit with the Fairhearts

 My trip over was uneventful, planes have gotten bigger but seats have gotten smaller. I was very glad to get to Oxford. Del picked me up at the bus stop.

On Saturday we walked over to a small craft market and Lachlan helped me pick out some new earrings. Saturday afternoon we went downtown to the Ashmolean, there was an exhibit there on Victorians and colour. It was really good. Anne and I saw that and Del and Lachlan went to see the Roman coins. Afterwards a stop for cake and coffee, then home for pizza and movie night.

On Sunday we drove to Iffley Village, right beside the Isis River, fed the ducks and geese, then stopped at a pub for a bite and a drink. The weather has been fantastic, low twenties and sunny.

I am in London now staying at a place in Chelsea, so nice and central.

Anne and Lachlan at Anne's College