A "Gentlemen Only" Pub and a Tourist's Unforgettable Lesson

I felt every eye in the room the moment I entered. My companion and I were outsiders in a sacred space. We walked self-consciously to a door marked "BAR." Inside, the stares continued. The pub, called "The Woody," was crammed and chaotic. Nobody was ever rushed. There was always time for another pint and a long conversation. Only after we got our drinks and sat down did we see it. A sign on the wall read: "GENTS ONLY." In that moment, I saw an Isle of Man that had been largely unknown to me.