The Chester and Liverpool Adventure

We travelled by rail from London to Chester, through gentle hill rolling green fields and hedgerows, still rather sodden from recent deluges. Very easy on the eye and this green eye candy, along with the gentle rocking of the comfortable Virgin Express train soon had our heads nodding. Our hotel at Chester was at “The Mill’ a former corn mill set on either side of the call, and converted into a hotel by its owners about 20 year ago. Both our room and bathroom were luxurious and spacious, thanks to the hotel website which family inspected when booking the best room they could find for us. The Mill Hotel was immaculately kept and compete with large spa, gym and swimming pool, whick I immediately took advantage of. We expecially liked the prints of Venice (one of our favourite cities) taken many years ago, which adorned the walls - so appropriate for a hotel spanning both sides of the canal and also boasting the only privately owned canal bridge. Chester and the River Dee were most significant for milling, waterway trade and transportation, and more recently for hydro power generation and tourism. The food, tudor style architecture in the main shopping mall and the walkway around the city walls is most popular with travellers. Ah, Liverpool! Home of the Liver Bird and the Beatles! No, we did not do a Beatles tour, but we did stroll down Mathew Street which features the ‘Cavern’ - not the original, and the many Beatles paraphernalia shops and pubs with names such as the ‘Hard Days Night.’ A stroll along the Docklands - now a World Heritage Site - gazing over the Mersey River - remember that song by Gerry and the Pacemakers?? and a visit to the Beatles Museum brought the nostalgia, the music and the exciting days of the 1960’s to the mind. The lads of went to the pub a beer and to watch the Irish v All Blacks game whle the gals quckly checked out the summer sales. While the shops and prices were the same as London, the overstocked untidiness and crowds and queues in the London shops wre missing - much more condusive to shopping!! And yes, we did purchase a couple of little items......

Friendly New York

I have to say that we have found the people of New York the most friendly out of all the overseas places we have travelled to in recent years.

The people working in the touristy and transport areas we have visited here, are effeicient, smile and look as if they are enjoying themselves. Even the people the streets are friendly and will stop to see if you need any help.

Why is that? Area they so all the time? Or is it because the recent Labour Weekend Holiday is the 'Last Hurray of Summer?'

While striding most of the way along 5th avenue today I thought about all the different types of people we have met around the world - in the tourism, service industries and in general, around the world.

For example, in St Petersburg the people are efficient - sometimes, but stoic and don't smile. Pushy in the streets, but according to our guide 'they just want to get there'

In Sweden - helpful when they realize you speak English.

Most European places that we visited - no shop service as we know it.

Italy - tending towards arrogance at times.

Spain - don't swagger like the Italians and not so 'full on'

Australia - no shop service as we know it.


Cuba - easy going - helpful when you get to know them

Washington (USA) effecient, friendly, but don't smile - as much as New Yorkers.

As we trundled out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which included a huge display about John Lennon and Yoko Ono, I could understand why John loved New York so much.

It was not just all its numerous nooks and crannies - it was the friendliness of the people!