Liverpool -- You'll never walk alone

Until 3 days ago I knew next to nothing about European football, and the only British team I could name was Arsenal. But as we got on the train from London to Liverpool, I noticed a lot of red-clad folks, and soon learned that Liverpool had won the European cup, and that there was to be a massive parade in the city that afternoon. So once we found our hotel (harder than it sounds) we made our way down toward the city centre, and joined the massive bulging throng. Waited for about 2 hours, though at least the weather was nice, and the wait was worth it, the fireworks, the happy excitement, and so on. And I now have an English premier football club to support.

Though I still must confess, I don't yet see the appeal of European football (aka soccer). Not that I am minimizing it, I'm sure it's a lot like American baseball -- if you know what you are looking for, there's no need for overwhelming excitement or high scoring. That said, I'd much rather watch American football, the same way I'd rather watch baseball than cricket.

Much of the rest of the stay has been a pilgrimage of sorts. First to the Beatles. Walking the streets they walked, and actually going to (restored) Cavern Club put a lot of it all into perspective and, as our guide pointed out, illustrated the long line of coincidence and synchronistic decisions that went into the forming of the band. Plus I enjoyed sipping a Guinness in the Cavern, listening to covers of 60's British rock. I also later had a Jameson Scotch whiskey with water, at suggestion of one of my trainmates, who turned out to be a former Irish priest.

The hardest part sometimes has been understanding the accents. Reminds me of the expression, "Americans and Brits are separated by a common language." But we've worked it out.

We also visited the Cathedral here that was bombed out in WWII and never restored, as well as the largest Anglican Cathedral in Britain (I forget the names). Both were interesting and sombering experiences. We also visited the courtyard behind the large Cathedral (St. James I now believe it was) an incredibly beautiful experience, sunlight dappling through ancient trees around very old tombstones, even heard an owl. Climbed that Cathedral bell tower, too, looking out on the city and down on the church and bells. And my fibit nearly had an orgasm over all the stair climbing and walking we did.

The longer I'm here the more I like the city, but I suspect one must stay awhile to reach that point. Our first impression was of age and decay and, so much like London, a lot of looking back at days of long-lost British Empire splendor. Not mention the long-gone swinging 60s. But as we wander around I find more and more things I like to do, and to eat, and just simply experience.

All in all our 3-week tour of Canada and England has ben well worth it, packing a lot of actual imagery around much of what had been only intellectual awareness. A good trip.

If only . . . .

If only hadn't followed my usual tradition of getting sick on such trips. Two years ago in Chile I came down with an intense case of food poisoning, which resulted in my spending our final week down there either moaning in bed or hunched over the toilet, where I did intense research on whether water flushed below the equator swirls in the opposite direction of the northern hemisphere -- the answer, nope. Nothing that dramatic this trip, just a nasty cold (despite the uncharacteristic sunny weather) and a badly-stubbed toe just before we set out on our walking tour.

So it goes. But I know I have no real reason to complain about anything, I'm upright and above ground, and able to experience a lot of wonderful things. So I sit here sniffling and coughing in the business center of the Conference Center, where my wife is giving her talk on things I cannot understand. It's a good life.

P.S. The first person to explain the significance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" in this context wins nothing more than a symbolic clap on the back but at least it's something, yeah?