Week 109–110 · England · Liverpool · Bath · Manchester
Around
Started with my new company a couple of weeks back, spending two weeks in the U.K. visiting offices and jobsites. Ended up spending a lot of time on the train — luckily one office was near Manchester so I was there for a weekend and got over to Liverpool for Saturday night at the Cavern Club.
It was $4 to get in to watch various bands playing 1960s music, $6 beers, then $20 to go further into the Cavern Lounge where a Beatles tribute band was playing. First the mop-top look, then the psychedelic songs. The actual place where bands played in the 1960s was at least 4 flights of stairs below the street. Truly a Cavern.
I do not know the story of the guy on the left — maybe Pete Best — but the moral of the story is "don't rock the boat, listen to the two smart guys." It's OK to be Ringo. Truly should be on your bucket list if you go to the U.K.
The Cavern Club on Mathew Street in Liverpool opened in 1957 as a jazz venue and became the launch pad for the Beatles, who performed there 292 times between 1961 and 1963. The original basement was demolished in 1973 during a subway construction project, but was rebuilt in 1984 using 15,000 of the original bricks. Pete Best was the Beatles' drummer before Ringo Starr replaced him in August 1962 — just months before the band's breakthrough. The rebuilt Cavern now hosts around 300 live acts per year.
On Sunday I had planned to do the Oasis "Experience Tour" back in Manchester — but it only ran every other week. Then I went to Old Trafford for the Manchester United Museum and Stadium experience — but it was closed by the time I got there at 4pm. Then to Chinatown for the worst Chinese food ever — so I have to rate Liverpool way better to visit.
"$4 to get in, $6 beers, and a Beatles tribute band. Truly should be on your bucket list if you go to the U.K."
Although I stayed in Bath 4 nights, I only made it out once for dinner and a walk in the morning before a train ride. To clarify — I happened to walk by the Jane Austen Centre but did post that I was upset I missed tea and the walking tour. That was sarcasm. Was nice to be in a place where I felt somewhat at home and they almost spoke my language.
Bath was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its outstanding Georgian architecture, Roman remains, and hot springs. The Royal Crescent — a sweeping semicircle of 30 terraced houses built between 1767 and 1774 — is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United Kingdom. Pulteney Bridge, spanning the River Avon, is one of only a handful of bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on both sides. The Roman Baths themselves date to around 70 AD.
Cast off when I got back to the USA. Not good — probably surgery. After literally 25,000 miles, my first encounter with a major flight of steps with one arm and luggage. My last train stop in Chippenham. Found out later that a lift was available in another part of the station.
Back in the USA now — heading to Harrisburg, PA, Summit, NJ, and Albany next week. Very exciting. Won't be back in UK/Europe for about a month. On a technology note — I was given choice of any phone. Stuck with Samsung and Android; pictures from the S6 are better than my new camera.
