Our First Full Day in Liverpool
For the second time on this trip to Ireland and the UK, Marc and I traveled on a Steam Packet ferry for our next destination, Liverpool in England.
We actually traveled on the Mannanan, the same ferry we took to go to Douglas in the Isle of Man. This time, the ferry ride was quieter, much, much quieter. Not only were there fewer people, but the big group of boy and girl scouts on a field trip from Dublin were no longer with us on this leg.
Liverpool was clearly a sight for sore eyes. The Isle of Man was a lovely place. But, I am a city boy. I love the hustle and bustle of city life and I couldn't be happier to set foot in the Beatles's hometown when we did.
The bank holiday was over and well dressed office workers were everywhere in sight. Businesses from convenience shops on street corners to huge department stores were wide open and full of customers. Cars and buses were in all directions. After the ghost town feel and look Manx had because of the long holiday weekend, Liverpool was a most welcome change. "Viva Las Vegas!", I say. Oops, sorry. I mean, "Hurray Liverpool!"
The John Lewis Department Store. I first heard about this place from the famous British sitcom, Are You Being Served? It sure was nice to see it in person. Marc and I also had lunch here in their top floor restaurant. It was pretty neat. Some travel snobs always recommend that tourists eat where the locals eat. Well, in this case, we did.
I knew about Liverpool being the hometown of the Beatles. I suppose anyone who is a fan or has heard of the group also knows that this was where it all began for this 1960s boy band. Because of this, Liverpool became known and the rest is history as one cliche goes.
The Beatles's images were everywhere. Not only were they on postcards but on billboards and in store windows too. There was even one hip looking hotel named after one of their songs.
We were told that the weather was really warm a week before our arrival. When we were there, it was dry but gray most of the time. It was very cold though. Good thing I came prepared. I actually had my thermal bottom under my jeans. I felt very cold. I suppose my allergies which had gotten really bad by this point of the trip had something to do with it.
Beatles Forever
Liverpool Playhouse
THe Sir Thomas Hotel housed in the Old Bank of Liverpool
Metquarter in what used to be the Old Liverpool Post Office Building
George's Dock Building and Ventilation Station
A partial view of the Mann Island Development along the Liverpool waterfront
This Liverpool structure reminded me so much of the newish library in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Beautiful architecture from Old LIverpool
Hard Days NIght Hotel Flag
The Hard Days Night Hotel. This was the hotel named after one of the Beatles's songs.
The Hard Days Night Hotel from a different angle
One of the four Beatles adorning the Hard Days Night Hotel
Since there were four members to the Beatles , it was but logical that there were four statues on the facade of this uber hip Liverpool hotel
Here's the third
And the fourth
More of the Beatles in one building in downtown Liverpool
I was told a visit to the Cavern was a must and so off we went one afternoon. Apparently, this was where it all started for the boy band.
The Cavern Quarter
Cavern Alley
The Old Town Hall
THe World Museum