#5: Chester

Chester wasn’t originally on our list of places to go. But a friend of mine was taking classes at the university there, so we decided to try and meet up. I never connected with the friend, but what remained was a delightful day blending in with the people around me.

Chester was a postcard-quality town.

            It began on the train. I watched the city of Liverpool fall behind and give way to smaller towns nestled in the dark green hills. The seats ahead of us were filled with children, none of them older than five, chattering politely about their day trip. When we came to their stop, the aides ushered them out, and the kids repeated their phrase “Get off the train” in one adorable chorus.

"My kingdom for some cheese!"

Chester Cathedral garden

            My parents and I spent the bright, beautiful day wandering around Chester. We’d received some recommendations of things to see, namely the Roman walls and the stunning cathedral. But most of our day was spent walking around with no particular destination. I adored Chester, with its narrow cobblestone streets and shop fronts that looked like Shakespeare could’ve lived in them. Many of those buildings had dates painted above their doors; one of the homes we passed dated from 1897.

            But the thing I enjoyed most about Chester, as usual, was the people we met and saw. The docents at Chester Cathedral were bursting with information and with questions about my own trip to England. I had a fun conversation with a cheese shop owner about a “Richard III Wensleydale” she had for sale. And as we sat on the edge of the square, nibbling strawberries and cheese, I heard a symphony of everyday noises: two older men talking behind us, children laughing, and a blues guitarist serenading the square. I drank it in, happy to be considered part of this town, if only for today.