An Andrews Adventure: DAY 287

Monday 23 April 2012

Welsh countryside

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMOTHER! We thought of you all day.
Our hostess with the mostess, Helen, stopped by at 10AM to make sure we had slept well through the night. Charles was the only one up but he assured her we were fine and bade her farewell. We decided to retrace some of the road we’d already been on to take advantage of John’s recommendation from the night before to go through northwest Wales including the charming town of Llangollen. (John by the way was the man Charles had chatted with in the pub who came up with an answer to Dian’s query of when would be the best time to hear some male Welsh choirs...”When they’re drunk” said John). Outside Llangollen where we had stopped to buy black thread, we saw many people setting up tripods and deduced that the little steam engine train traveling along the picturesque countryside was what all the fuss was about.

The region was famous for its purple colored slate

Typical Welsh town name

Impressions of that day’s drive included sheep, sheep and more sheep, little waterfalls near the road and a bit of snow, signs with a plethora of double D’s and F’s but nary a J,K,Q or Z. In certain parts there was shale on sheer cliffs that looked like California’s Devil’s Post Pile, in other parts it was like a scene out of the movie “How Green Was My Valley.” We continued on towards Liverpool and by 2:15 PM had our first sighting of the ocean.

After going through the tunnel to enter the port area we set our GPS (SAT NAV as the Brits call it) for the information center which happened to be where Beatles Tours

Liverpool

were available. While Charles and Nicole waited in the van in the limited time parking spot, Dian got the lowdown on what tours were available. We decided to take (courtesy of Aunt Monica and Uncle Rick) the three hour taxi tour and in 25 minutes we were on our way. (Well, we did have to come up with 12 pounds in coins for the recommended parking near the stadium where the Back Street Boys were to perform that evening. Coming up with that much change wasn’t easy and instead of being able to pay the full amount we could only pay till five the next morning. Oh well).

Classic cab

The cab called Eleanor Rigby was waiting for us as was our guide Phil who turned out to be a wealth of information and very personable. It was fun to go from late afternoon 5:30 to 8:30 and watch Liverpool transform into night. Besides the Beatles birthplaces we were treated to local history and especially the magnificent cathedral. Whenever we wanted to stop or ask questions we were welcomed and Phil even gave us a nifty CD and photo packet as a souvenir.

Location of John's first marriage

John's birthplace

School (in the background) Paul and others attended

We were dropped in front of the Cavern Club and after taking some photos there and at the Hard Day’s Night Hotel we walked back to our van noticing barely any cars in the lot and had a late supper then fell to sleep.