England and Loving It

When we speak of England, what crosses your mind? Yeah, Queen Elizabeth...Big Ben...Westminster...Fish and Chips? England is a constituent nation of United Kingdom, so you should never get confused with these two. It has many large cities, such as the following:

• London — largest metropolitan area in Western Europe, and a global capital of finance, fashion and culture.
• Birmingham — the UK's second largest city (by population) in the industrial heartland.
• Bristol — vibrant music and art scene, lovely historic buildings, an attractive waterfront and a laid back, friendly, amiable, mellow atmosphere in the West Country's largest city.
• Brighton — regency seaside resort and university town with quirky shopping, good eating, rich culture and vibrant gay nightlife.
• Liverpool — "The home of the Beatles", a booming cosmopolitan city famous for its vibrant nightlife, rich cultural heritage, magnificent waterfront, superb architecture, and excellence in music and sport.
• Manchester — third most visited city in the UK, a cultural, sporting, entertainment, shopping and media hub.
• Nottingham — "Queen of the Midlands", home of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle.
• Newcastle upon Tyne — a thriving northern city with world-famous nightlife.
• York — ancient capital of Yorkshire, with Roman, Viking and Medieval remains.

I have been in England three (3) times and it never fails to fascinate me. It is historically rich and people are generally polite. England highly values RESPECT!  Like most other places it is considered bad manners not to say "please", "thank you" or "sorry". A nod or a smile are also often the response. 

You will find a variety of English accents in the different regions of England, such as Liverpool accent, a "Geordie" accent and even "cockney" accent in London. People from these regions might consider a very formal "Queen's English" accent to be somewhat posh. Do not try to copy their regional accents when communicating with them - not unless you are really good- they might think that you are laughing at them. They will know if you are a tourist- so be true to yourself and communicate to them just the way you are.

English people value privacy, just like in any other country. So, refrain from asking personal questions. Some questions considered ordinary in other countries are considered "too personal" in England, such as where do you live and what is your job. And how do you resolve this? Apply the mirroring principle- if they ask you a personal question, then might as well ask them too!

Here are some photos taken in England.

Of course, the famous Big Ben in London

Skipton Castle, somewhere in the north of England. Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England.  http://www.skiptoncastle.co.uk/

Well, I assume you have heard about  Buckingham Palace. It is the residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster.

The elegant York Minster Abbey in the northern part of England. https://yorkminster.org/home.html

Fountain's Abbey in North Yorkshire- Veiled in a secluded valley, this National Trust property promises to surprise and captivate with its vast Cistercian abbey ruins, Georgian water garden, a medieval deer park, Elizabethan Hall and Gothic church. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden

Bolton Castle- 14th-century castle located in Wensleydale, Yorkshire England. http://www.boltoncastle.co.uk/

Bowes Museum- a jewel in the heart of beautiful Teesdale. The magnificent building stands proud in the historic market town of Barnard Castle housing internationally significant collections of fine and decorative arts.  http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/About-Us/Our-History

Castle Howard- a magnificent historic house in the north of England with ornate interiors, landscaped gardens and stories of pain and victory. http://www.castlehoward.co.uk/

Byland Abbey is a ruined abbey and a small village in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, in the North York Moors National Park. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/byland-abbey/

Raby Castle was built by the mighty Nevills in the 14th century and is one of the finest and best-preserved medieval castles in North East England. Visit https://www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/

And of course, welcome to Windsor Castle, the home of the Queen. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and The Queen's favourite weekend home. Visit https://www.windsor.gov.uk/things-to-do/windsor-castle-p43983

 At the Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom with Ambassador Lagdameo. 

These are just a few of the fascinating photos I took during my travels. There is a lot to discover in England. So what are you waiting? Pack your bags, file a leave from work and explore the world!!!!