Day 2 in Carlisle. Early breakfast but got out too late. We drove like mad to Corbridge to visit the Roman town there. Lots of interesting ruins and a main road that ran all the way to Carlisle. Lots of photos of the columns in the granery, the underground watering and sewage system etc. Also a lot of restored inscriptions. Translation plaques follow the photo.
Then to Chesters Roman fort. Photos of town, barracks, baths. The chief had his own baths in the back of his home. The museum there had a room in which pretty much everything in it was an altar. Roman altars were not what we tend to think. They are about as big around as a column with a broadening at the top on which to pour or burn the offering. A big one was about 4 feet high. There are a lot of them. The Romans were very religious (we would almost think of it as superstitious) and made regular offerings to everyone from Jupiter to the genius of the captain of the guard. To ignore this duty was to invite bad luck at best and disaster and tragedy at worst.
Two of the places (yesterday and today) we stopped were crags at the top of which was the wall. Quite a hike up, but great views of the surrounding countryside including "enemy" country to the north.
I think it is fair to say that Hadrian was one of the greatest of Rome's emperors and so it is odd that he is most known for building a wall, since it was not one of his greatest accomplishments. On the other hand the wall is an quite a feat even for today. It is hard to look at it still stretching over and across the rugged hills of Northern England and not be impressed. The Romans were serious people and when they set there minds to it, and were at their height, it seemed there was nothing they could not accomplish.
Photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/opus440
Now to the not so good part of the day. We were heading back, trying to get to the rental car office before noon. We called ahead and let them know where we were at and to get directions so we would have no misturns. We arrived about 10 minutes late. Apparently customer service is not a concern for this particular outpost of Enterprise car rental because it was locked up and no one was there. I was pretty sure that I saw a car pull out of the drive way just as we were making our u-turn to the other side of the street.
Great - we called the number - nothing - transfered to the national cust. service. "Go to the nearest airport and drop the car there." "Really?" "Yes." "Great."
20 minutes later we arrive at the Carlisle airport - if that is what you want to call it. Regional is too big a word. No rental office of any kind. No nothing. Call again. about 45 min. later we get the message - leave the car at the hotel and they'll pick it up on Mon. "We won't be charged for the extra day, right?" "You shouldn't be." "Great."
So back to the hotel - then to the pub (Crown Hill pub - good food) discouraged and hungry - about 1:30 now. A pint and fish and chips and we are better. Watched rugby - GB vs. Aus. First half GB was doing well. We were tired and went back to the hotel. Michelle wanted to take a nap but I discovered there was a craft shop downtown. That got her up and we walked about 15 min. to downtown.
Downtown Carlisle is like a big, open mall. Saturday it was filled with people including the adolescent mall rats and the accompanying drama. We hit the craft shop and Michelle bought yarn. A Hari-Krishna accosted us and tried to sell us "Monk Rock." We declined. He was a nice guy, but also clearly a good salesman and raising money.
On the way back we achieved one of my goals: We ate at McDonalds. I have never eaten at a McDonalds outside of the US. However, I was intrigued when I heard on the radio show "Wait, wait, don't tell me" that chicken mcnuggets are different in Europe and the UK than in the US. Apparently there is a non-foaming agent that is used in the batter in the US that is disallowed in the UK. That agent is dimethylpolysiloxane - otherwise known as silly putty.
Yes, they taste different. Actually they taste more like chicken. There is also the optional sauce of "Sweet Curry." It is the UK afterall. It was pretty good. My other favorite sauce, "Sweet & Sour" also tasted different - more orangey. Michelle said her Big Mac was a little different too: more mustardy. The fries, of course, tasted the same.
We grabbed a bus back up to the hotel. Re-packing now - getting ready to leave in the morning. Three different trains to get from here to Cambridge, but looking forward to the choir at King's College. Then off to Cardiff on Monday and I have to get to work.
Brennen
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