While we were in England we got to experience first hand some of the most historical sites in the country. There is so much I could write about as it is hard to fathom how old these places are or when you realized the impact of the artifacts that are broken down by the passing of time. But on reflecting upon this amazing trip, I realize that the small moments of just being in a pub and experiencing British culture was just as fun and impactful as going to see sites like the Tower of London.
Our second day in England we spent the morning at the John Rylands Library in Manchester. John Rylands was one of my favorite things that we did across the pond, but after we were done exploring there a couple of us went to get lunch at a pub around the corner, The Lost Dene. This was my first pub experience and it felt strange at first. I had heard about pub culture before I got there, and I knew not to expect what you are going to find on Main Street in Cortland. It was laid back with a few local sitting around, causally enjoying a beer at 11 o’clock in the morning, which far from the norm in America. At this pub I had my first Guinness and a beef and ale pie as that was the special for the day. From that experience I began to fall in love with pub culture with its chill laid back atmosphere, going to two more that night in York. First I went to the Golden Fleece, a cool old building built in the 16th century and claimed to the most haunted pub in England, then to a sports pub to watch the London Derby, a football (soccer) game between Chelsea and Arsenal. I almost went to a pub every single day on that trip, which I found ironic because as any of my friends can tell you I am not a drinker. I can honestly say that of the things I miss the most is traveling around, finding a pub and enjoying a pint with my friends
