Liverpool!
Liverpool: June 17th - 21st 2009
My first stop in the UK was Liverpool. I travelled there by train straight off the long haul flight from Kuala Lumpur. Fortunately I had got quite a bit of sleep because I had two spare seats next to me on the plane (!) so I was feeling surprisingly sprightly. I made my way to Euston station to catch the super-fast Virgin train.
I sat outside Euston station in the sunshine while I waited for my train, dodging cigarette smoke and watching London commuters on their way to work.
Made it to Liverpool!
This massive neo-classical building, St George's Hall, was just around the corner from my accommodation. It's pretty impressive. I think it's used for concerts but I couldn't seem to find a way in so I've only got some pictures of the exterior and the mega columns.
Lime Street, Liverpool:
I didn't get the chance to investigate the Radio City 96.7 tower while I was there, but you could see it from all around.
It was drizzly and a bit cold (hello Liverpudlian summer!) as I wandered down to explore the Albert Dock district. It was full of amazing old warehouses which pointed to the maritime history of the city and helped explain the huge wealth of previous decades that was obvious in the grand old buildings not far from the water.
Liverpool is an intriguing blend of old and new. There were heaps of developments going up, lots of apartments+offices being built near the harbour and a massive shopping district called Liverpool One. Imagine a huge labyrinth of outdoor shopping malls.
These boarded up shops make me sad.
Futurist
This seemed to sum up for me the juxtaposition of run-down old Liverpool with the rejuvenated 'city of culture' Liverpool that I noticed in my wanderings. It is a city of interesting contradictions.
Near the water, in a district called Pier Head, there are some stunning buildings. It was a pity the sky was so grey because so are my photos. But you can get a hint of the scale and grandeur of these places:
This is the Royal Liver Building, completed 1911.
The Port of Liverpool building:
Obligatory photo of the Cavern Club, where the Beatles used to play. I didn't do any specifically Beatlemania things, but I did go to a cool exhibition about the history of music in Merseyside called The Beat Goes On.
Me and some of my new chums at the conference dinner. From left to right: Me, Erica, Juliet, Anthea.
After dinner we went out to try and find a gig that Zora's friend had invited her to, but it had been cancelled. We ended up at a pub which was apparently once John Lennon's local. Good fun! More than one pint was consumed. Especially since my conference presentation was out of the way and my holiday had properly begun! :)
My first stop in the UK was Liverpool. I travelled there by train straight off the long haul flight from Kuala Lumpur. Fortunately I had got quite a bit of sleep because I had two spare seats next to me on the plane (!) so I was feeling surprisingly sprightly. I made my way to Euston station to catch the super-fast Virgin train.
I sat outside Euston station in the sunshine while I waited for my train, dodging cigarette smoke and watching London commuters on their way to work.
Made it to Liverpool!
This massive neo-classical building, St George's Hall, was just around the corner from my accommodation. It's pretty impressive. I think it's used for concerts but I couldn't seem to find a way in so I've only got some pictures of the exterior and the mega columns.
Lime Street, Liverpool:
I didn't get the chance to investigate the Radio City 96.7 tower while I was there, but you could see it from all around.
It was drizzly and a bit cold (hello Liverpudlian summer!) as I wandered down to explore the Albert Dock district. It was full of amazing old warehouses which pointed to the maritime history of the city and helped explain the huge wealth of previous decades that was obvious in the grand old buildings not far from the water.
Liverpool is an intriguing blend of old and new. There were heaps of developments going up, lots of apartments+offices being built near the harbour and a massive shopping district called Liverpool One. Imagine a huge labyrinth of outdoor shopping malls.
These boarded up shops make me sad.
Futurist
This seemed to sum up for me the juxtaposition of run-down old Liverpool with the rejuvenated 'city of culture' Liverpool that I noticed in my wanderings. It is a city of interesting contradictions.
Near the water, in a district called Pier Head, there are some stunning buildings. It was a pity the sky was so grey because so are my photos. But you can get a hint of the scale and grandeur of these places:
This is the Royal Liver Building, completed 1911.
The Port of Liverpool building:
Obligatory photo of the Cavern Club, where the Beatles used to play. I didn't do any specifically Beatlemania things, but I did go to a cool exhibition about the history of music in Merseyside called The Beat Goes On.
Me and some of my new chums at the conference dinner. From left to right: Me, Erica, Juliet, Anthea.
After dinner we went out to try and find a gig that Zora's friend had invited her to, but it had been cancelled. We ended up at a pub which was apparently once John Lennon's local. Good fun! More than one pint was consumed. Especially since my conference presentation was out of the way and my holiday had properly begun! :)