England, part 3

Good Friday started out with the traditional Hot Cross Buns. For those of you who have never seen a "hot cross bun" and only know the name because you had to memorize "hot cross buns" on the recorder in Elementary school (yes, this was me), I have posted a picture below.



Superstitions surrounding the Hot Cross Bun (from Wikipedia):
English folklore includes many superstitions surrounding hot cross buns. One of them says that buns baked and served on Good Friday will not spoil or become moldy during the subsequent year. Another encourages keeping such a bun for medicinal purposes. A piece of it given to someone who is ill is said to help them recover.
Sharing a hot cross bun with another is supposed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year, particularly if "Half for you and half for me, Between us two shall goodwill be" is said at the time. Because of the cross on the buns, some say they should be kissed before being eaten. If taken on a sea voyage, hot cross buns are said to protect against shipwreck. If hung in the kitchen, they are said to protect against fires and ensure that all breads turn out perfectly. The hanging bun is replaced each year.


I had thought the cross was going to be icing, but I was sorely disappointed when it turned out to be only some tasteless flour paste. Still, I managed to cut my bun in the correct fashion, and slathered it with butter. Of course we had several cups of tea before we could be off for the day, but we did eventually make it to the car and we were on our way to Chester. The medieval town of Chester was strikingly beautiful. It did rain on and off, so it was very overcast, but even still, the buildings were luminous. What makes Chester so remarkable is the way it is laid out. There are two levels of shopping before you reach what use to be merchants homes above the shops. All throughout the interconnected buildings there are the smallest little staircases and I often missed them before Lynne started pointing them out to me. Of course there are larger stairs at the end of each row of buildings, but in between lye the tiny ones where you can make a quick escape to the grown level. We walked around a lot, but I did not buy much of anything. Another thing that is unique about this city is that you can walk the entire perimeter of the old city walls. It took us about two hours to do, but it was really amazing getting to see the old city from every angle.

After our walk around the city walls we were both cold and tired, and stopped at an open air tea shop on the second level of one of the main buildings to have some tea. It was a great spot because we were also able to people watch. Unfortunately, the muffins we ordered were not made there and had been frozen. Lynne’s did not get completely thawed and when she tried to bite into it, she got a big hunk of frozen blue berry muffin. Jessica and I were at least lucky enough to have ordered chocolate muffins that were only mildly cool in the center.

After the tea we all decided to go. I am sure there was much more to see and do. I had even spotted a Starbucks down the way, but we were so chilled and exhausted, we did not want to stay. So, we bundled back into Lynne's light blue Citroen and headed home. Except, we made a detour on the way. We stopped in Market Drayton, the closest town to Loggerheads, where there was an excellent fish and chip shop. Oh. My. God. I think I died and went to heaven that evening. The chip shop smelt of grease and salt. The people working behind the counters looked hot, but amazingly, all the tables and the counter were impeccably clean. We ordered 5 fishes, and 3 large chips. The fish was huge. I mean, you order fish and chips in the USA and you get some measly piece of fish compared to what you get in England. The fish was so big; both ends were hanging off my dinner plate. And the fries, oh god, let me tell you about the fries. They were soft! I mean, they had a slight crisp to them, but they were in not way crunchy, and being that I like soft fries, I was in heaven. Everyone ate their fish and chips differently. Lynne ate hers with vinegar, David ate his with tartar sauce, Ann ate hers plain, and Jess and I ate ours with ketchup. It was by far my favorite thing I ate in England. I love the fried food.

And, as if the all the pounds of fried fish and potato were not enough, we topped the whole meal off with Cadbury Cream Egg ice cream. Then we all settled in the living room to watch the results of American Idol. Now, I know this might sound really wrong, but you know the blind guy who was on American Idol? Well, I have no idea why I did not remember him, but I didn't and so when he came up to sing I started saying how freaky his eyes looked, and how he seemed just a little creepy. Pretty soon we were all saying how creepy he looked, until I suddenly remembered. Holy Crap! He is the blind guy. When I came to this realization, everyone else felt immediately horrible for having agreed with me, but oh well. I mean I feel bad I did not remember, but how are just suppose to know he is blind. Okay, well I think that might be obvious to most people, but somehow I just missed it.

Photos of Chester:


This is the dominant style seen in Chester.




Notice the two levels of shopping.


Entrance to Chester.


A view of Chester from the city wall.








The Churches of Chester.