Going Walkabout.

 Wednesday 8th August 2023 in Liverpool.

Today, we decided to explore the local area on foot. Our first stop was the "Piazza Fountain" on Drury Lane. R fell in love with this fountain the first time he ever visited Liverpool very many years ago. It consists of many huge steel buckets that fill with water and, when full, tip over and send the water crashing down with a noise like waves crashing against the side of a ship. Just the most evocative sight and sound!

Sadly, this is a picture taken from the internet as the fountain is now dry and threatened with demolition. There is a petition to save it and R voted for it but only time will tell if this unique fountain will survive.

Further on, we walked down Mathew Street past the Cavern Club. This statue of Cilla Black (Priscilla White, who often performed at the Cavern) is outside the original entrance to the Club. This entrance was closed by "Health and Safety" as the stairs were dangerous and a different entrance opened a few yards down the street. But the Cavern is still the same Cavern Club. More in the future as we plan to go in later in the week.

Predictably, Mathew Street is very Beatles and music themed.

Our next stop was St John's Tower, known locally as the Radio City Tower; the City radio station has its studios and aerials in the top of the tower. Despite M's concern about heights, we decided to take the lift 400ft up to the top.

It was worth it! The views were spectacular. The sun was shining and the air was so clear that you could see for miles. This is to the east, towards the Catholic Cathedral.

And this towards the Anglican Cathedral which very much dominates the skyline from wherever you may be.

All the way round, there were these labels explaining about famous Liverpool people such as Mr Livingstone who left Liverpool in 1859 on the Steamship "Pearl" and was considered to be lost forever until found by Mr Stanley twelve years later in 1871. This especially resonated with us, as we had seen the two hats that Livingston and Stanley were wearing when they met, when we visited the National Geographical Society in London.

Our vantage point in the tower also gave us a great view of Salthouse Dock where MM is moored, just to the right of the red arrow.

Liverpool Limehouse Station looks like a model railways station from this height.

Sitting on a park bench to rest our feet, M got into conversation with a local lady who advised that we really ought to go and see St George's Hall just round the corner. The neoclassical building was opened in 1854 and housed Law Courts and Concert Halls; it now also houses the Registrar's Office (note from M: the lady, who was about our age, told M that she knew the Beatles quite well and that they used to give her a lift home after their gigs. M likes to think that it's true!).

Back to St George's Hall - its main claim to fame is the Minton Tile floor in the central hall, which consists of over 30,000 Minton tiles. Normally this floor is covered to preserve it and it is  only uncovered once every four years - and it happens that it is uncovered this week! It really is spectacular, and very beautiful.

The huge brass doors to the central hall are all labelled as "SPQL" with a Liverpudlian nod to the Roman "SPQR".

It is quite easy to see why the main floor is usually covered. The floor just inside each of the main doors is very worn. In the background is one of the original worn circles whilst in the foreground is a restored version  - a bit of a difference!

On our way back to MM, we passed yet another Liverpool musician trying to make a living from his art. One had to admire the range of instruments if not, perhaps the quality of the result. But good luck to him anyway and an "A" for effort for his "One Man Band".

Later in the evneing, we went for a walk along the river frontage as we had heard the unmistakable sound of the siren of a cruise liner arriving, but we just missed her; she had already left. Still, it was a lovely walk in the light of the setting sun.

This has been an incredible week so far but it has been lacking one thing in particular. Last year we met up with our good friends on nb "Lazy Bee" and planned that we would come to Liverpool together this week. The moorings were booked in January and we so looked forward to spending a week moored next to Shelley and Harley. Sadly, they had to return to their native Australia last month and we REALLY miss them. As compensation we have all agreed to return to Liverpool next year, so it will be a pleasure postponed, not cancelled. 

We miss you guys and you are very much in our thoughts.