Note to friends: So glad you’re here. Read it all, or just scroll through the pictures. There won’t be a test! For more, click the title. Enjoy! Patti.

We had to start today in the future and take care of details for the end of our trip. We finally tidied that business while sitting in a pew at the Liverpool Cathedral, the largest Anglican cathedral ever built. The church took just 74 years to build and was just finished in 1978. Not bad considering the world wars and financial woes hampering construction. More than 300 ft above our heads was a small hole through which workers raised the 11,000lb Great George bell, one of 8, all rung by hand.

So there we were sitting in a pew, chatting quietly when Gillian came up to us. “May I answer any questions?” She was wearing a red robe and had a nametag. That inquiry lead to our own private tour with the most eloquent and enthusiastic tour guide the cathedral has. We started with the memorial to Gilbert Scott, the genius 22 year old architect, to  downstairs in the lady chapel (started in 1904 and finished in 1910), to everything else. We finished at the cafe where, after a two hour private tour, we desperately needed a tea and scone.  Even though Gillian had done all the talking, my head was spinning!

There are strong associations with the Titanic and the White Star Line running throughout this church with ship imagery in all the nooks and crannies as a tribute to those lost at sea.

After the cathedral, we had just enough time to hurry to the British Music Experience museum, which was basically jazz to modern music. It was not thorough, but was lots of fun! We sang along with Elton and Queen, and rocked to the Beatles, and played guitar like Mick Jagger. Why not!

After a stop back at the hotel, perfectly located , we set out for dinner nearby and found not one or two, but three guys dressed in veils!  This is the way guys do bachelor parties here, stag style. All three dudes were blind drunk, barely able to speak, but very willing to smile for my photo. I think the middle guy was the most likely to stay married (I’ll check back in a few years.) All were charming and well-dressed as you can see. Never seen it before and then three in a night!  I’m laughing hard by the last one—couldn’t believe it!

Lovely day, lovely Liverpool. Good night.