The maritime city of football and the Beatles

    I wanted to visit Liverpool since long ago. I am a football fan and I like rock music. Local FC is one of my favourite teams and everyone is familiar with the story of the Beatles, one of the most influential bands (not only) in the early era of rock music. Moreover, Liverpool used to be a significant port and trading centre. Taking the opportunity of a day off, me and a friend of mine took a train with return ticket to the Liverpool Lime Street Station.

We had some time to the departure so we bough some newspapers. Apart from that, I found an almost full pack of cigarettes. I was happy, because as a very occasional smoker, I will have tobacco supply for months. Cigarettes and alcohol are quite expensive here in Britain, due to the excess duty. Money collected in taxes in invested into anti-smoking campaigns and similar initiatives. 

Anfield

     From Lime Street we headed right to the Queen Square bus stop. All day ticket costs 3.80 and you can travel as much as you want. We are both football fans so there was no doubt what would be our first stop – Anfield Road. We spent there approximately 2 hours; therefore I covered it in a separate article here. http://erik209.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/youll-never-walk-alone.html

The Bombed Church   
       From the stadium we took a bus back to the station. Originally we wanted to change for another service towards the cathedral. But after we realized that it was within walking distance, we decided to walk. Once again I have mistaken the cathedral with some ordinary church that we came across while walking. For that reason I took a photo. Only during my third visit in Liverpool I realized that the church had no roof. It was bombed during the Second World War and now it serves as a meeting place for the youth.

    The Cathedral

      The cathedral is really big, I think t is the second biggest in England. Although it was built in the late 20^th century, it has the atmosphere and façade of a Gothic church. It was built in neo-gothic style, as I learned from the minister with whom I had a little talk about the faith. 

Chinatown
Not far from the cathedral is the China town with the typical arcade, like the one in the Forbidden City.

Albert Dock

     Graduatelly, we straddled down to the Mersey River and reached one of the city’s quarters, Albert Dock. Originally it was a docking system for the ships. In the colonial period Liverpool boasted the reputation of one of the world’s largest ports. In 19^th century, 40% of all trade passed through Liverpool, as well as majority of the slave trade.

    The Beatles

     The Museum of Beatles – ‘Beatles Story” is also located in Albert Dock. Beatles started playing in Liverpool in the beginning of 60's but later they recorded in Abbey Road studio in London. (I have been there as well) Their songs were played in the museum and the fan shop, which was absolutely not surprising. What else would they play, Justin Bieber?

   The Liverpool Eye

     Opposite to the Beatles Story is some kind of Liverpool Eye and the Echo Arena, which hosts important cultural and sporting events. Lady Gaga, Muse, Oasis, Coldplay and Elton John have all played there, but oddly none of the former Beatles. Together with Ringo they are the two surviving members of the band.

     The Royal Liver building

     From the dock we headed for the centre. For a while we stopped at the Royal Liver Building. On the top are two “liver birds”. This medieval cock has become the symbol of Liverpool, even part of the FC logo. Two birds are on a patrol over the city. According to a story, the cock is checking the local pubs, whereas the hen is oriented towards the sea, waiting for young sailors.

Liverpool offers much more to visit. For example another football team – Everton, another cathedral – Metropolitan, and another musician – Elvis Costello. We focused only on the most important things. And some shopping, of course. Maybe, with all of the people moving out in the aftermath of the industrial decline,  it is the city of yesterday, but anyway in Liverpool, you'll never walk alone. I will definitely come back, if not move in, because I can imagine my life in this city.