There were oil derricks out in the ocean when we docked in Liverpool.
Although some COVID rules were relaxed everyone was encouraged to wash their hands before each meal.
Since we were all once Beatles fans, this day was anticipated to be lots of fun.
And then, here we were. Liverpool! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
I have to say I was surprised.
When we first heard in the 60's about the Beatles, I'd had the impression that Liverpool was a smaller shipping and industrial community.
We were informed by our guide that Liverpool has the second highest number of art galleries, national museums, parks, etc. in the UK. Only London has more.
Our first stop was the Beatles Story Museum.
We saw what the Cavern where they used to perform looked like as well as exhibits showing the path to their super stardom.
We were told the story about John Lennon when he lived with his Aunt Mimi. John was scolded by his aunt for often climbing over a wall to play on the grounds of Strawberry Field and he would say, "It's nothing to get hung about." Those words would be in his song, Strawberry Field which used to be a Salvation Army children's home.
Granted, seeing Paul McCartney's home had us most intrigued. Travel Buddy, Cal found this awesome Carpool Karaoke video with Paul McCartney that shows where our knowledgeable tour guide must have gotten a lot of her information. And yes, we did see where he signed his name on the Penny Lane sign. 😁 And we also saw many of the places Paul talks about in the video.
The Palm House was OK, but you know that for people from Hawaii, it was not very interesting.
What was most surprising was our driver, John. He was our bus driver when we went to Caernarfon Castle the day before! What are the chances that of all the tour buses around Liverpool, he'd be driving our bus?
We only got to see this statue from the back as we rode past so I had to get this from Wikipedia.
It was a fun day and we are all still enjoying the memories of it.
Very fun!
ReplyDeleteThe city certainly makes the most of that connection.
ReplyDeleteLove your pics, Kay. I was not a Beatles fan growing up (Elvis was my guy), but looked like a great tour. And like that you guys still wear masks when necessary...
ReplyDeleteNice photos!
ReplyDeleteI see that Liverpool is making the most of the connection. And why not? I’m sure that it was interesting to our genervation. I wonder about the next.
ReplyDeleteI like the Beatles too and would like to have visited Liverpool. I think of it as a port town and didn't realize how cultural it is! Palm trees only interest me in their native locale with sandy beaches and lots of water. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun!
ReplyDeleteStrawberry fields forever! This was so much fun. Thank you for bringing us along
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a day for songs running through your head.
ReplyDeleteThe Beatles were such a phenomenon! I had a crush on Ringo just because I had less "competition" from those who adored Paul, John, and George.
ReplyDeleteI imagine it would be easy to get pumped about Beatles and all the stuff there.
ReplyDeleteLots of cool things to see there! I've never seen the statue series of all of them walking on the plaza/street. Thanks for taking us along! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI wish we could have spent more time in each city and each site. Art and I are thinking we won't do cruises for a while now. Our next trip will be Tokyo to see our kids and grandkids.
DeleteSounds neat
ReplyDeleteNice trip that you had. I havent' been to Liverpool for the 3 years I stayed to study and work in Oxford in my 20s. Looking for to be able to visit the UK again.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a good time.
ReplyDeleteThe first date I went on with my girlfriend, who would later become my wife, was on a Beatles tour in Liverpool! When we visited Penny Lane, some guy asked why it was painted and not brass like all the others in the area. Just then, a chap came out of a nearby house in his underwear with a brass Penny Lane sign held above his head and did a couple laps around the bus. The guide just asked if that answered the fellow who asked's question. I never forgot that moment.
ReplyDeleteThere wasn't a brass plaque there, but the guide showed us where Paul McCartney had signed the painted sign. I couldn't see it very well at all since it had weathered too much since he'd signed it. That's so cool you had your first date there.
DeleteThose Beatles certainly represented our generation.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased it was a fun day :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan