Liverpool

 Saturday and Sunday 6th & 7th July.

Woke up to steady rain so decided to go back to bed, had a lazy morning waiting for weather to clear. Outside about lunchtime, as only had shortbread from last hotel and hot chocolate to sustain me. You’d think I would have had enough food on this trip to keep me going for a lot longer - haha!

Really cold outside, had to wear two jackets, wandered down to the harbour front and the Royal Albert Dock. I was going to the Tate Liverpool, only a small gallery on display as the usual Tate Liverpool is  under redevelopment. Some cool architecture along the waterfront a great mix of old and new.

One of the propellers from the Lusitania, it was owned by the Liverpool based Cunard Line. A more recent piece of sculpture below.

Visited the museum, had great exhibits about the rise and fall of the docks in Liverpool, Seems a lot of England’s history is about some people getting very wealthy on the backs of the hard working Englishman, then about them all losing their jobs. Pretty tough times in the latter half of the 20th century in Liverpool.

Went over to the Albert Dock where it is all brick buildings, here I visited the National Slavery Museum which was part of the Maritime Museum. It’s about acknowledging what part Liverpool played in the slave trade, and it seems that part was huge, about 1.5 million slaves were transported by ships out of Liverpool from West Africa to the Americas mostly for the sugar trade. Probably paid for some of the big buildings on the waterfront.

Bitterly cold, like a Christchurch Sou’ wester. So decided to make my way back to the hotel, time to stop by a little stage where they had bands playing as part of a festival, sat on fake grass steps to listen for a while as sheltered from the wind, but got bit of a wet butt so continued on, picking up some food from Tescos. 

Sunday, another rainy morning thought I would go out and find some gloves and a hat for Scotland as weather a wee bit cooler than expected. Found a shopping centre with a lot of empty shops, but got some merino gloves, hats too small for my big head! Booked in for The Beatles Story at 12.45pm so made my way back to the waterfront, 

Some interesting buildings - lovely brick works 

Statue of Billy Fury, another Rock n roll icon from Liverpool, I don’t really know much about him, but it’s a cool statue. There is another statue to commemorate all the people that emigrated from Liverpool.

Then it was in to the Beatles Story, a timed entry with headphones and Exhibits, a reconstruction of the Cavern Club, quite a small space, Photos and audio, was well done so enjoyable.

the American invasion represented by them arriving on the plane, and bellow - I wonder what song this represents? 

They had sections on all their solo careers and a replica of John’s white room. And his black velvet jacket

Had to photograph the four lad’s statues in front of the more classical waterfront buildings.

What everyone needs, an extended Hummer, love the mix of old and new architecture.

Looking back towards the  Museum from the other end of the dock by the passenger terminal. walked back through another part of the city had a late lunch and then on to hotel, fell asleep - been a while since I had an afternoon nap!