Liverpool 25 -ish years on (and back home)

And back..

The weather was kind to us.

So a good trip to see a City that has reinvented itself on several occasions, I'm not sure how much of the current  reincarnation is attributable (in part at least)  to Lord Heseltine.

Beatles

Among the drivers for Tourism in Liverpool the Beatles are undoubtedly among the top 5 - there's still a magic associated with the group and its roots in the city nearly 50 years since they ceased to be a group.

The Beatles were more than just John and Paul so I felt sad to hear of Quincy Jones bad mouthing  many but Ringo in particular and where's his house on this postcard!

There's something about a civic statue to a bunch of young men who (with George Martin & Brian Epstein)  helped culturally shape the world we now inhabit - it's not what statues and memorials commemorated  for hundreds of years - 

Their spirit permeates the city

Could be better (who is who?)

Eating out

I enjoyed the variety of eateries our last evening meal was a Spanish  restaurant where we enjoyed Tapas - and even there a Liverpool twist was on the menus with a 'Scouse' Tapas.

Lunya- Eating here caused some discomfit 

The meal though was influenced by the sight of people living in the Street opposite - The  Homeless I discovered are not only a problem in London and I recognise the issue is not just about money - many of the rough sleepers are battling demons of earlier issues they've confronted. 

Upside

But Liverpool is lively  there's the Graffiti of 

Dotmaster in Parr Street, exciting street art in new housing developments and shopping malls.

Parr St - One of the works by Dotmaster

In one of areas with expensive shops 

Colourful Sculpture - Part of a new development at the back of our hotel

Liverpool 25 -ish years on (Day 3) and OXFAM

Liverpool has an important Chinese community - one of the oldest it's twinned with Shanghai and has a monster gate (or Paifang ) built in 2000 it has the longest span for a gate outside China.

Liverpool's Chibnese gate - quite a span

It was great to be in the city for the celebrations for the Chinese New Year (this year it's the Year of the Dog).

As well as the usual drumming and crowds there was a fun fair!

Families and Fun celebrate the New Year -Gong Hei Fat Choy!

After lunch we took a trip to the new Liverpool Museum - great guided tour (for free) and learnt plenty of the history of the docks and how people survived in tougher times.


Particularly impressed by the Liverpool Cityscape of Ben Johnson (2008) as well as our friendly guide.

A Museum that reflects the city

'Contrite' Oxfam

Once Proud

Let's face it the biggest (individuals and companies)  and the best can muck up fail - who would have thought that Woolworths could disappear from UK high streets leaving barely an impression or that a throwaway remark from Ratner's CEO would destroy another brand (this used to be the text book example on many MBA classes)?

It's sometime since I was actively supporting OXFAM (I worked as a volunteer assistant in their local Record shop for a few hours a week) , I thought it was a legitimate thing to do the charity had good goals, I suppose I was even proud to be associated with them.

Well now we learn they have had bad employees and hushed up what happened, rather than behave like adults - they've made their troubles worse (as a child might) by

1) Hiding the facts
2) Saying others do the same
3) Saying it's not that serious (impropriety to staff and those they seek to help)
 and
4) Offering a full apology when the game's up

The service that they've done (unwittingly) is exposed the charity sector is not properly monitored (and they have voluntary contributions, tax breaks and UK government money).

I'm not sure that the outfit will fully recover but reform is needed.

Liverpool 25 -ish years on (Day 2)

One of those iconic things about Liverpool is that Ferry - you can take it across the Mersey.

Sir Peter Blake was commissioned 

He Dazzled and We took it

The round trip is not a long one (about an hour all in)  but there's plenty to see and learn about the Ferry (a version has been crossing the river for hundreds of years).

You can also see a different view of the 'Three Graces'.

Liver building on the left (once the tallest building in Europe)

Another Dazzler

We also took a city bus tour which told of the 'Good Old Days' (not so good low life expectancy, Typhoid and slums ) but also the pioneering work of  Borough Medical Officer William Henry Duncan .

Liverpool 25 -ish years on (Day 1)

I've become quite a fan of visits to UK cities.

It's something like 25 years since I was in Liverpool (for work) - mainly spent the time doing computer-y things (I was working with a TV Newsroom Computer company -BASYS) at Granada's (then) Liverpool studios in the Albert Dock where This Morning used to be 'made'.

This Morning used to be from Albert Dock  and Weather Map was there too 

Part of the pleasure of a w/e away is the train trip and on Friday morning we left London Euston for Liverpool Lime Street - operator Virgin Trains.

Comfortable journey with good service and although we were 20 or so minutes late in, no big problem .

Novotel Hotel about 15 minutes from the Station and very much does the job, all mod cons, Wi-Fi, Gym (if you like that sort of thing) nice telly (Philips) and a fine breakfast selection.

So  our first vsit was Tate Liverpool (I'd spent there time on my last visit) - nice lunch there - we looked at Tate Artist Room for Roy Lichtenstein - very good.

WHAAM ! perhaps Roy's most famed picture

But there are plates too.

Well although we had a nice lunch we were later ready for dinner and had an absolute cracker round the corner, old school Italian - place was Villa Romana.

 

Villa Romana -A very nice  restaurant