When we arrived this morning, we grabbed an Uber to get to our hotel. Thankfully, they let us drop our bags off early and said our room would be ready by 9 AM. We grabbed coffee at Black Sheep Coffee and went for a quick stroll (with a handstand stop) before we could check-in. (Let it be known that we agreed on one idea for today: that we would take today “easy” so we didn’t run ourselves ragged on day 1...)

Anyway, checking in early was a huge blessing because we barely got any rest on the plane. We rested up for a couple of hours, but my back was on the fritz so eventually, Andrew went to explore a futbol museum while I tried to recover to enjoy the day. By the time he got back, I was ready to explore and do my best to ignore the pain.

We decided to do a bunch of little things today since it will be our only day in Manchester. Once we ventured out of the hotel, we started with some lunch at a ramen restaurant (one of my new favorite things to try). It was good, but not the best we’ve had. After lunch, we both needed a pick-me-up, so we found an adorable tea shop. One of my resolutions this year is to replace at least 2 cups of coffee per week with tea since it aggravates my heart issues. The tea was delicious and the place, North Tea Power, was very cute.

From there, we went to The John Rylands Library, a beautiful and historic library that has been well-maintained over the years. The architecture was really something, as was the reading room that you can still use today (unlike many libraries like this in which they’re just used as tourist attractions). Andrew was intrigued by the 100+ year old bathrooms that are still functioning and open to the guests. It’s impressive that everything still works. Andrew knows I’m a sucker for anything book-related, so I’m glad this made the list of things to do today.

The next task on the list was to see the Industry and Science Museum, but it was a bit of a walk, so we stopped for some sugar fuel on the way. Alex’s Bakery housed a delicious Nutella Brownie that was just destined to be eaten by Andrew and I. It was worth the three flights of stairs we had to climb to get to it.

The Industry and Science Museum was free to enter, as was the cool library. The main exhibit was cool, but it was nothing we haven’t all seen at a field trip to a somewhat-local museum at one point or another. It showed evidence of the technological age and all the things that have drastically changed our lives in the last 200 years. It’s always good to see these things as it never fails to humble me and remind me how easy it is to be alive in 2020. The things we have access to would have literally driven people mad 300 years ago because it was all so impossible.

The second part of the museum was truly fascinating, though. We went inside the oldest standing railroad station in the world (not functional). Standing there, you can’t help but think of the people who first took a train ride to Liverpool, guaranteed to be just a two-hour journey, which used to take significantly longer than that. People didn’t understand the danger of the railroads though and there were, tragically, a high number of accidents. We walked through the whole place, went outside to see the rails, and walked another exhibit. When we exited, the sky had shifted from one of consistent, yet subtle raindrops to the start of a beautiful sunset with the sun peaking through. It was the perfect combination for a gorgeous rainbow.

After the surprise rainbow, we had one more site we wanted to see before we went back to the hotel to take a break. Manchester’s Town Hall is a wonderful work of art and I had read that one of the nearby hotels has a pretty awesome view of it. We marched that way as fast as we could to get a picture before the sun went all the way to sleep. It was a journey to get the shot - but worth it. An interesting note of importance is that the Town Hall will actually be closed for the next 4 years for restoration and renovation projects. Thankfully, it wasn’t too bogged down by contradiction yet.

After our rooftop adventure, we felt the jet lag and needed a rest. We crashed back at the hotel for about two hours and then went back out to find some food and drinks! We had read that Mickie Mayor was the place to go. It’s a surprise when you find it. From the outside, it’s an unassuming kind of place. One that seems wholly unremarkable. When you walk inside, however, you’re hit by amazing aromas, the sound of 500+ people chattering away, and a space that is so pleasantly designed that you don’t mind the family-style dining. We tried fish, pork, and sweet potato tacos and all the food was gone by the time we decided to call it a night. It was a wonderful place and to be honest, the pictures don’t do it justice.

Remember when I said we were going to take today easy? Apparently, our light day includes just under 8 miles of walking and only 4 hours of sleep. 🤦‍♀️

On that note, it’s time for bed (6 hours ahead, here)! Tomorrow, we’ll take a train to the next city. Andrew’s excitement level has been rising for days. Sunday is the day his childhood dreams come true!

‘Till tomorrow!

We patiently waited at the coffee shop for some lunch spots to open. We settled on a pizza shop called “Crust.” We were the first ones in; early lunches aren’t really a thing here. I ordered a way-too-large pizza with garlic dough rolls and I don’t regret a bit of it. My favorite cider, Rekorderlig, is accessible at basically every location, so I enjoyed that as well. It’s difficult to find in the States.

With our stomachs satisfied, we ventured toward the water for our upcoming tour. We checked-in, grabbed a coffee, and got on the bus. The Magical Mystery Tour was a 2-hour busride that took us to popular Beatles-related locations. The first stop was Penny Lane, which is really just the sign and a short road. Famous, cool, but rather tiny!

The next stop was awkward to me, as were a couple of the other locations that the guide pointed out. We stopped at the previous homes and/or birthplaces of several of the band members. They went so far to let us know that some were conceived AND born in such locations. Why would anyone need to know that?? And who asked THAT question? Anyway, Andrew and I both felt awkward taking pictures of people’s doors (and in some cases, people’s actual homes NOW).

The most notable stop was Strawberry Field, which came with a story about why there’s even a song about it. Apparently, the band was asked to write songs about their childhood and release them to help the city in some fashion. Penny Lane and Strawberry Field were then submitted and released as a one-track-per-side vinyl album. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go beyond the gate as it’s used for other things now (and I kinda think our tour guide just didn’t have access), but the sign was pretty cool, regardless.

The tour was certainly interesting, but I wish we’d gotten to learn a little bit more. It was fun, regardless. The bus drove back toward the pick-up spot and from there, we decided to hit up the Official Liverpool gear store by Anfield Stadium. Andrew figured it would be better to beat the rush, since tomorrow will be so crazy with the big rivalry game. It was a good move. The place was pretty busy today and I’d hate for him to have not gotten something he wanted because demand is too high tomorrow. I convinced him to spend money on himself, which he rarely does. An ornament, sweatpants, new T-shirt, and a quick photo moment, and we were on our way back to the hotel.

Uber is a thing here, by the way, but we worried it wouldn’t be. Our driver said it recently started booming, but it’s still a tad controversial in England. When he dropped us off at the hotel, we knew it was time for rest. What we didn’t know: our hotel room number. We completely blanked and played “wait, it was - - -“ for a good moment. We laughed and eventually made it to the room (I was right, by the way 😉).

I took a bath, Andrew napped, and we watched a British game show called the Chaser, which was quite good. After a couple of hours, we decided it was time to venture back out. We had looked up a couple of places to go, but one was highest in our list: Ghetto Golf. Known for its ridiculous holes, design, and overall vibe, we couldn’t pass it up.

The wait was about an hour and half, which was no big deal because there was food there (shout-out to my Mac and cheese bites - YUM). When it was our turn, we were pumped. It was a blast. We adore mini-golf to begin with, but the themes were hilarious and the holes were utter nonsense.

I almost lost my cool for a moment, but I won the game and all was well. We got a hole-in-one on the same hole and had a ton of laughs. After we finished up, we walked through the entertainment district to see a few interesting places. There was a yellow-submarine bar merged with a hippie chic club. We went to another marketplace dining hall called Baltic Market (okay, cookie dough dessert, you were divine). We ended with a trip to some of the art murals on the street walls just a bit from there. Andrew got a shot with the Klopp; I took a picture with the instagrammable wings.

An Uber took us back to the hotel, but we decided a quick walk was something we both needed to wind down. Andrew led us to another hotel that was entirely Liverpool FC themed and then we walked back. A cup of tea and 2 episodes of the crown guided us (read: Andrew) toward sleepy time. He’s asleep already; I’m obviously writing this.

Tomorrow is a big day for Andrew. His childhood dream comes true; he will see a Liverpool FC match against their biggest rival at home in Anfield. They are currently in first place in the Premier League, something they haven’t won since Andrew’s birth year. Later on, the Titans play in the AFC Championship. It will either be the greatest sports day for Andrew ever...or it could be a hot mess. I know which one I’m hoping for🤞!

Till tomorrow!

Yesterday, we had passed by this cool looking restaurant, Leaf, that we planned to try today. Fortunately, it’s known as a great place to get brunch and drink tea. Andrew had a funky looking meal that I would never try, but he said it was good. I had a vegetarian meal that was a bit off-color for me, but it’s good to try new things every once in a while. It featured poached eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans (weird), and delicious sourdough toast. I devoured a fruity hot tea, Andrew enjoyed a Mocha. Once we were finished, we had to get moving toward the stadium for some pre-game adventures. It was cold today, so I grabbed a coffee to go to keep my blood from freezing. I’ve heard caffeine is good for that.

A quick Uber ride took us as close to the stadium as it could, given that some of the roads were already blocked off. It was about 1:30 and the game was to kick-off at 4:30 PM, which meant we had a couple of hours to kill. Today was about getting Andrew the full Liverpool experience. He’s waited 15-ish years to see his team play live and we were going to do everything to make it a worthy experience.

First, we stopped at one of the pop-up shops for him to grab a game-day scarf and a new beanie since someone conveniently left both of his at home. Next, our goal was to find a pub to have a pint before going into the stadium. The place we found, The Park, was PACKED. I don’t love standing-room only kinds of things, but I dealt with it. Everyone was cheering and chanting, nonstop. Seriously, there’s, like, 5 chants and they never went more than 30 seconds without singing one of them! Andrew was in Liverpool heaven and I couldn’t help but smile. Sports are cool like that; they have the ability to unify strangers.

The hospitality passes we purchased allowed us to enter the stadium at 2 PM, but Andrew wanted to walk around a bit more, so we went in a bit after that. The hospitality lounge was a nice perk (we bought the tickets back in August and buying those passes was the best way to guarantee we’d have seats). My 2nd favorite cider was available inside (I love access to cider over here) and there was heat, so I was happy! A magician was also there (yeah, strange) and he did a trick with my engagement ring that blew my mind. It was a nice way to spend an hour or so before finding our seats.

Because we’re used to the NFL and NCAA football, we figured we’d go to our seats about an hour early. Turns out that was completely unnecessary because no one gets to their seats until about 15 minutes before kickoff. I can only assume this is because there’s no drinking in the stadium, which is interesting.

Also of note, there’s no screens in the stadium. I was very confused; how was I supposed to see a replay and get unjustifiably angry about what I see so I can tell at the refs?! The stadium only holds about 68,000 folks, so every seat can probably see what is happening on the field. I suppose the screens aren’t necessary, but it was weird not having them.

Andrew walking out to the stadium was just shy of adorable. He was excited the whole game. And for good reason - it was a really good game. For those of you who don’t follow Premier League soccer, here’s the scoop. They play a billion games (roughly) and whoever wins the most by the end of the season (earning the most points), is the champion of the league. Liverpool hasn’t won the league since his birth year. This season so far, Liverpool is undefeated, in first place, and is quite far ahead of second place. Manchester United (the team they played today) is their biggest rival. It’s like Auburn/Alabama, Giants/Cowboys/, Michigan/Ohio State - they hate each other. For Andrew’s first game to be THIS game is a big deal...but really, only if they won.

Which, for those of you waiting in suspense, they did! 2-0 was the final tally, with the first goal being scored very quickly in the first half. Liverpool had two more goals hit after that, but they were reversed. In the last 10 minutes, tension was rising. ManU had had control of the ball for most of the half and Liverpool was looking a tad worn out. During the 3 minutes of stoppage time, Mo Saleh made a run for it and scored a breathtaking goal. The place went nuts; a lead scorer and well-known player, Saleh finally ended the drought he’s always possessed against ManU. It was his first goal against that team.

The game ended shortly after that and Andrew was smiling ear to ear. We stayed till all the players left the field and started to make the journey back to the hotel. A quick stop for Andrew to change from his Liverpool jersey to his Titans jersey and we were back out the door to find a pub to watch the AFC Championship game. We kept thinking: what a miracle it would be if they could pull this off today. Talk about the best day for Andrew and his favorite professional teams!

We found a pub, O’Neil’s, that guaranteed to have all major NFL games playing. A big, flat screen was directly in front of our seats. We were all set to settle in for the game, but as it turns out, the pub wasn’t serving food tonight. This was devastating news because I was actually starving. However, there was a Taco Bell just around the corner. After asking permission to bring other food in, we did the most American thing ever: we were sitting at a table in a pub in Liverpool, watching the Tennessee Titans, while downing some Taco Bell tacos. As you’re all aware, the Titans lost (in part, due to poor play...the other part, #thanksrefs). Andrew started to get realllll grumpy, but I reminded him of the awesome season the Titans had and the wonderful soccer match he experienced. He needn’t be greedy!

We promptly went back to the hotel after the game was over. Two and a half days have been spent here and we’ve learned our way around a good bit (pro tip: always cut through the train station). It’s been fun, but it’s also been cold! Tomorrow, we’ll pack up and catch a flight to Marrakech, Morocco for a slightly warmer climate and new adventures.

Till tomorrow, friends.

The lounge was 10x nicer than the available lounges at JFK, so that was a huge win. Some coffee, light breakfast, and a chance to relax were a huge blessing before the flight. They didn’t post our gate until about 20 minutes before boarding; we soon found out why. Our gate had no seating. We went to it, check-in, and then waited in line for about 25 minutes. Once we started moving, we realized we were to walk outside to board the plane - there was no tarmac. Thankfully, it wasn’t too cold while we waited.

The airline we were flying with is a budget airline over here called Ryanair. It was one of the most bizarre flight experiences I’ve had - similar to Spirit Airlines back home. People were consistently confused because they weren’t seated with their families; you had to pay extra for that (which we did). The entire flight (and while boarding), people kept standing. I’ve never seen people stand in the aisle the majority of the flight. Since there was no food or drink service, the flight crew didn’t seem to mind. It was also the most chatty group of passengers I’ve ever seen!

When we landed, it was a pretty quick transition inside and the airline was very well-marked. We got through customs, grabbed our bags, and found our driver in about 20 minutes. The drive to the city was CRAZY. People drive so incredibly close to one another, with motorcyclists weaving in and out of traffic with only inches to spare. The people refuse to stay on the sidewalks and I swear we were going to bump into entire families who seemingly weren’t paying attention. Then, at the last second, they’d look up and move, like they knew the car/bike was there all along. The closer you get to the Médina, the more narrow the roads become. The entrance to it passes through the King’s Palace barrier, which is barely large enough for one car, let alone two-lane opposing traffic. As I said, it was crazy!

The driver told us he couldn’t drive any further toward the Médina and had us get out. There was a porter waiting to help us take our bags and guide us toward our Riad.