It is no secret that I am a
huge Beatles fan. I fell under their spell when I first laid eyes on them on the Ed Sullivan show on February 9, 1964 and that feeling will be with me until I shuffle off this mortal coil. So it was no surprise that my travels would take me back to Liverpool..I say back as this is my fourth or fifth trip to the 'Pool. The last trip was a long time ago in 1994....When my family invited me up to Yorkshire for the weekend of Martch 6th I thought it would be the perfect place to go in between that and Cornwall the previous week.
I had been wanting to do the 10km Beatles walk for years so on Tuesday March 3rd I set off from my digs in Birkenhead where I was staying with my airbnb hosts Anne and Steve.
I set off from Liverpool Lime Street station and no sooner had I walked two minutes then a huge gust of wind snatched my instruction sheets out of my hand and they flew across two lands of traffic and into the grounds of Great George Hall...I managed to get across to get it and finally set off...clutching those papers very tightly!
First stop was 6 Stanley Street, birthplace of Brian Epstein, mgr of the Beatles without whom....I said "Thank you Brian" and a fellow standing paying his respects as well heard me and told me about some other places to go such as the St James gardens outside of the Anglican cathedral and we chatted about music, etc. An interesting encounter.
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Anglican cathedral - Paul tried out for their choir as a child but failed the audition but he has worked with them since |
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Suitcases Sculpture just down the road from LIPA |
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Paul and George attended this school and now it is the Liverpool Performing Arts school co-founded by Paul |
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Flat where John and Cynthia Lennon lived after they married |
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Replica of the Cavern Club at the Beatles Story |
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John's Imagine piano at the Beatles Story |
I had visited the Beatles story over 20 years ago so thought I'd give it another try. It was interesting enough but I wouldn't bother going again. I saw one glaring mistake so I am sure there were others...
The Albert Dock area has really come a long way since I was there and I enjoyed my time there. A couple of days later I went back to the area and visited the Museum of Liverpool (dark bldg on left below) and it was outstanding.
It was time to head over to the cavern but on the way I walked by the Royal Liver Building and the beautiful Town Hall...so first let's say hi to some Super lambananas. The idea came from a Japanese artist who combined a lamb and banana - both prevalent items in the Liverpool docks at one time. In 2008 many more were created to celebrate Liverpool as a city of culture. They were dotted all over the city and then auctioned off. You can still see a few around. Reading the background online they were deemed as controversial and I can only imagine the reaction in Liverpool where no holds are barred and they say what they think. Truth be told I could not warm up to them but dutifully took pictures anyway....
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With the Liver building and Cunard bldg behind... |
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The Royal Liver Building - symbol of Liverpool. Built in 1911 and the tallest building in Europe at the time |
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Liverpool's Town Hall dates from 1749 |
I soon found myself on Matthew Street - home of the Cavern where the Beatles played in the early 60's.....and that is where my walk of the Beatles haunts ended. For that day anyway....more to come!
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Eleanor Rigby sculpture at the end of Mathew St
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