Stuck in Lancashire

I took it easy last weekend and stayed relatively put. Although my days weren’t as extensively packed as my previous few weekends have been, it was nice for a change. Plus i have a 25-day spring break looming on the horizon (at the end of next week).

On Friday, I hopped on the train and took the 20-minute journey south to Liverpool, where I was going to check out the Walker Art Gallery. Unfortunately, it’s only open on weekends until May. So I went next door to the Liverpool Museum. That’s the funny thing about Britain–its abundance of museums means you’re always next door to another museum. Just don’t go in the museums that are marked “Private” or “Ladies”–these seem to be temporarily closed to the general public. Although most highlight the perfections of cutlery, silverware, and porcelain, there are quite a few gems in every town. However, these gems are not always consistent. For example, in Chester, there’s the Grosvenor Museum which has Roman tombstones, portraits, and silver dishes on display. I’m not sure if the curator has eclectic tastes or is raiding charity shops. In the crypt of York Minster–alongside the spot where Constantine was crowned Emperor of Rome and the tombs of many great men from Norman times onwards, there’s a large display of silver dishes and cups.

The same goes with the Liverpool Museum. Although strangely absent of silver dishes and cups, there was everything from electronic music to what “commoner” life was like in ancient Greece, Egypt, and Roman artifacts to the British space program (which I had no idea existed). The best part of this experience was that I only paid £1.50, which also gets me into seven other museums in town as many times as I want for the next 12 months.

I also paid another visit to the Tate Gallery Liverpool, which never ceases to amaze me. Although the things I wanted to see again were all circulated with new paintings and sculptures, I have a new urge to return again. Especially since it’s free. The Pound Sterling remains 50% stronger than the U.S. Dollar, but 0 x 1.5 = 0, which I like very much.

Saturday was St. Patrick’s Day. I did not make the trip to Ireland, unfortunately, but did the next best thing. Liverpool has the largest Irish population in Britain (I think it’s due to its geographical location and industrial past…but I might be wrong). I met some Irish guys from my hall at an Irish pub for the fabled £1 pint of Guinness. It was really £2.50, which is outrageous. It didn’t even have a shamrock carved in the foam, something you’d expect for £2.50. We ended up visiting three or four pubs and I watched my British & Irish friends fork out pound after pound and fade into incoherence and near bankruptcy. I didn’t have the cash for the St. Patty’s Day Extortion Rate, so I made well sure to enjoy my Guinness drop by drop.

Supposedly, Ormskirk is situated near some incredible walking trails (waterfalls, ponds, woods, hills), but all I could find is a “nature reserve” down the road from the college called Ruff Wood. After a total view of the park which took a dazzling 15 minutes, I appropriately renamed it “Ruff Piece of Wood.” I have higher aspirations for the glorified vistas of West Lancashire next weekend. I WILL find the waterfalls, even if they’re only two feet high (I have a gnawing feeling).

I have also bought tickets for Saturday night to a world-famous club in Liverpool called Cream. Supposedly, it’s a Saturday night favorite among British celebrities and 4,000 - 6,000 other, less famous people. It will be an interesting experience as I have never been fully exposed to the rigors of pure, nosebleed techno music or a culture that enjoys it and incessant, oftentimes pill-induced dancing. As long as there’s a place to sit and watch people–and a place to momentarily find a retreat from the monotonous drum-&-bass–I should be all right.