Over the years, we have made friends with people we have met during our travels and kept in touch by email since then. It is rarer that we make friends via e-mail and later get a chance to actually meet them in person in their native country. Part of our excitement in visiting England was caused by our having the opportunity to do just that. We told our friends we were going to visit England and would call them when we were there. When we called their home in Manchester, they suggested that they drive to Nottingham two days later, pick us up at the Marina, and see the local sights with us. They arrived punctually at noon after an eighty-one mile journey from Manchester.
Number one on our list was the legendary Nottingham Castle, but our hunger dictated a change in plans. Discovering we had yet to experience British pub food, they led us to Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, the oldest inn in England, established in 1189 AD. The menu was very extensive and moderately priced. We chose fish and chips, British bangers, and mashies and peas. The food was good, but lest we forget, it is a pub, after all. There were over 100 ales to choose from, but they look at you a little funny when you ask if you can have it cold. For those of you with children, or a disliking for alcohol, they offer all the popular soft drinks and milk, ice tea, hot tea and coffee. The food was better than we expected, and the locals made us feel very welcome.
Over the years, the Inn, which is cut into the hillside below the castle, has added more rooms until it now has three levels and an outside patio. One of the rooms is devoted to an ongoing dart tournament where enthusiastic fans noisily support their favorite players. We took our time eating and visiting with our friends before heading out to see the Castle and the rest of Nottingham. If you visit Nottingham, have lunch here and see the castle above.