bill's pilgrimage 2010, part 2a: liverpool.
My second (planned) destination was Liverpool, which is actually the reason why I call my journey a "pilgrimage". If you remember, I am an adopted Scouser, and my Scouse passport says I have to make a pilgrimage to the Republic of Merseyside at least once a year. ;)
Like last year, my kind hosts were sebastiona and her boyfriend, and I'm particularly indebted to them, not just because they showed me so many wonderful things in and around Liverpool but also because they let me stay longer than scheduled when my flights were repeatedly cancelled due to the volcanic ash cloud. Thank you so much, Jen and Pete, for never making me feel like I'm unwelcome despite the awkward situation. :) Also, thank you to blue_eyed_miss for sending me all those texts and making me feel so much better about everything. :)
Things I did in Liverpool:
Albert Dock is one of my very favourite places in Liverpool. It was opened by Prince Albert in 1846, and the warehouses used to store valuable cargoes in light, well-ventilated conditions. The dock was originally designed for sailing ships, but soon those were superseded by larger steamships that needed wider access and an open quayside. By 1920, the dock was no longer used for commercial shipping and the warehouses closed in 1972. Today, Albert Dock hosts the Maritime Museum, the Tate Liverpool, lots of restaurants and cafés, souvenir shops and expensive lofts.
How I'd love to live on that ship. ;)
Look, it's the Indy! ;)
The entrance to the lofts where, for instance, Xabi Alonso used to live when he was still playing for Liverpool.
Albert Dock from the outside.
I love this little mast with rigging. :D
The Echo Wheel. It gives you an excellent view of the city, especially the dock area and the Pier Head, and was definitely worth the money we paid for it!
Albert Dock, as seen from the Echo Wheel.
The Echo Wheel from the other side.
The Echo Arena. When this photo was taken, the area was crowded with little kids wearing wrestling shirts and toy belts, so we assumed there was some wrestling show going on. I felt all nostalgic. XD
The other riverbank. *insert ambiguous joke here* XD
The signs are clearly lying, there's no deep water, just mud! XD
The "Yellow Duckmarine", a converted Second World War amphibious landing craft (DKW, affectionately known as Duck), which rumbles round the sights of central Liverpool before taking to the water in the dock itself. It starts at the entrance of the Albert Dock and is tons of fun, especially when you have a tour guide who makes you sing "We're all bouncing on a Yellow Duckmarine" and stamp your feet during the journey. XDD
Albert Dock, as seen from the Yellow Duckmarine during the sightseeing tour through the city.
This is where the Duckmarine drives into the water and back out of it.
On tour in the docks area.
The grey thing on the left side is going to be the new Liverpool Museum, the buildings in the middle are the Three Graces.
In case you feel like playing some S&M games, here are some shackles for you. XD
The tour guide said we should wave at ourselves when we passed this building. XD If you look closely, you can see the Duckmarine in the mirror. ;)
City Centre.
Bill Shankly welcomes you to Liverpool!
I also loved the Age of Sail related part! "Sea Shanties and salty sea dogs"? Bring them on! XD
Last time I was there you couldn't see much of Lime Street Station because of all the construction. Now they're getting somewhere! :D
No clue what this is supposed to be about, but the circle moved and looked rather intriguing. XD
An example of the awesome architecture in Liverpool. I love that style. :D
Activities at Liverpool One, the big shopping precinct.
I'm pretty sure I took a pic of this building last time, but I feel I can't have enough pics of buildings that look like ships. ;)
The Statue of Queen Victoria. At a certain angle, it looks like a "King Victoria". *snicker*
The statue is located in front of the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts.
Unfortunately it's ridiculously expensive to ride in one of these.
The British & Foreign Maritime Insurance Company. Pretty shipship!
Liverpool is very proud of the Liverbird.
No clue what this monument is for, but I thought it looked nice.
This building actually consists of practice rooms for doctors. I wish the doctors' houses in Germany were as pretty as this!
The University Hospital, which looks more like a tropical hotel or something. ;)
Liverpool University!
One of the many churches in Liverpool.
Weird tree!
According to Jen, this place is packed with people when there's an important international match for Liverpool. ;)
The Bluecoat, an art gallery.
Liverpool Cathedral, a.k.a. The Wigwam. ;)
The Gay District! Unfortunately we didn't have time to go to a gay bar, so that's definitely on my list of things to do when I come visit again! ;)
Of course, the "Navy Bar" is a gay bar, too. ;)
Hope you enjoy the pics! Part 2 will be up as soon as possible! :)
Like last year, my kind hosts were sebastiona and her boyfriend, and I'm particularly indebted to them, not just because they showed me so many wonderful things in and around Liverpool but also because they let me stay longer than scheduled when my flights were repeatedly cancelled due to the volcanic ash cloud. Thank you so much, Jen and Pete, for never making me feel like I'm unwelcome despite the awkward situation. :) Also, thank you to blue_eyed_miss for sending me all those texts and making me feel so much better about everything. :)
Things I did in Liverpool:
- went for extensive sightseeing in the Liverpool city centre, visited Sefton Park, Chester and its zoo, the squirrel reserve at Freshfield/Formby, the Irish Sea, and the pier in Southport
- saw Liverpool's gorgeous 4-1 victory over Benfica live at Anfield (OMG!)
- watched lots of football on TV, for instance Bayern's incredible Champions League 2nd leg against Manchester United, the Premier League matches Wigan Athletic vs Arsenal and the Manchester derby, Villarreal's defeat against Getafe, Real Madrid's victory over Almería (we watched that at Carra's pub and had tons of fun pretending we were the teams' managers, and also there was a group of Spanish guys at the table next to us XD), and the Barcelona derby
- had meals at awesome restaurants, for instance Jamie Carragher's Café Sports England, Daniel Agger's Qué Pasa Cantina, Meet (Argentine), The Sands (English), La Viña (Spanish), Lunya (Catalan), and Chaophraya (Thai)
- played "Liverpool FC Monopoly" (I had Daniel Agger, Steve Finnan, Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher, Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, Jen had Steven Gerrard, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley XD)
- watched tons of films (Cemetery Junction at the cinema, plus Fifteen Minutes That Shook The World, Maurice, Different For Girls, several Sharpe films, and The Damned United)
Albert Dock is one of my very favourite places in Liverpool. It was opened by Prince Albert in 1846, and the warehouses used to store valuable cargoes in light, well-ventilated conditions. The dock was originally designed for sailing ships, but soon those were superseded by larger steamships that needed wider access and an open quayside. By 1920, the dock was no longer used for commercial shipping and the warehouses closed in 1972. Today, Albert Dock hosts the Maritime Museum, the Tate Liverpool, lots of restaurants and cafés, souvenir shops and expensive lofts.
How I'd love to live on that ship. ;)
Look, it's the Indy! ;)
The entrance to the lofts where, for instance, Xabi Alonso used to live when he was still playing for Liverpool.
Albert Dock from the outside.
I love this little mast with rigging. :D
The Echo Wheel. It gives you an excellent view of the city, especially the dock area and the Pier Head, and was definitely worth the money we paid for it!
Albert Dock, as seen from the Echo Wheel.
The Echo Wheel from the other side.
The Echo Arena. When this photo was taken, the area was crowded with little kids wearing wrestling shirts and toy belts, so we assumed there was some wrestling show going on. I felt all nostalgic. XD
The other riverbank. *insert ambiguous joke here* XD
The signs are clearly lying, there's no deep water, just mud! XD
The "Yellow Duckmarine", a converted Second World War amphibious landing craft (DKW, affectionately known as Duck), which rumbles round the sights of central Liverpool before taking to the water in the dock itself. It starts at the entrance of the Albert Dock and is tons of fun, especially when you have a tour guide who makes you sing "We're all bouncing on a Yellow Duckmarine" and stamp your feet during the journey. XDD
Albert Dock, as seen from the Yellow Duckmarine during the sightseeing tour through the city.
This is where the Duckmarine drives into the water and back out of it.
On tour in the docks area.
The grey thing on the left side is going to be the new Liverpool Museum, the buildings in the middle are the Three Graces.
In case you feel like playing some S&M games, here are some shackles for you. XD
The tour guide said we should wave at ourselves when we passed this building. XD If you look closely, you can see the Duckmarine in the mirror. ;)
City Centre.
Bill Shankly welcomes you to Liverpool!
I also loved the Age of Sail related part! "Sea Shanties and salty sea dogs"? Bring them on! XD
Last time I was there you couldn't see much of Lime Street Station because of all the construction. Now they're getting somewhere! :D
No clue what this is supposed to be about, but the circle moved and looked rather intriguing. XD
An example of the awesome architecture in Liverpool. I love that style. :D
Activities at Liverpool One, the big shopping precinct.
I'm pretty sure I took a pic of this building last time, but I feel I can't have enough pics of buildings that look like ships. ;)
The Statue of Queen Victoria. At a certain angle, it looks like a "King Victoria". *snicker*
The statue is located in front of the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts.
Unfortunately it's ridiculously expensive to ride in one of these.
The British & Foreign Maritime Insurance Company. Pretty shipship!
Liverpool is very proud of the Liverbird.
No clue what this monument is for, but I thought it looked nice.
This building actually consists of practice rooms for doctors. I wish the doctors' houses in Germany were as pretty as this!
The University Hospital, which looks more like a tropical hotel or something. ;)
Liverpool University!
One of the many churches in Liverpool.
Weird tree!
According to Jen, this place is packed with people when there's an important international match for Liverpool. ;)
The Bluecoat, an art gallery.
Liverpool Cathedral, a.k.a. The Wigwam. ;)
The Gay District! Unfortunately we didn't have time to go to a gay bar, so that's definitely on my list of things to do when I come visit again! ;)
Of course, the "Navy Bar" is a gay bar, too. ;)
Hope you enjoy the pics! Part 2 will be up as soon as possible! :)