St Andrews in Focus: Day 14

A majority of the older houses have two doors, an outer door which is often brightly coloured and an inner door which leads into the house proper.  Cultural tidbit:  According to custom, the outer door is opened in the morning and left open until evening, assuming it is warm enough.  I have no idea why though.  In the States, opening the outer door like this would serve as an open invitation for friends to pop by, suggesting to any guests that the owner is home and would welcome them.  However, British people don’t just stop by, ever.  Always, always an invitation is made or a phone call before someone goes to another’s home.  I’ve definitely broken this rule a few times with some of the locals from my church.  Somehow they all seem to recover from it just fine!