LIVERPOOL European Capital of Culture 2008

I am a Liverpudlian - that means I was born and bred in Liverpool

Liverpool has been given the accolade of being the

European Capital of Culture for 2008

As the official opening ceremony took place this weekend I thought it an ideal time to show some photos of this city.

Liverpool is on the North West coast about 220 miles from where I live now here in the South East.

It is a major seaport and seafaring has been in the blood of both sides of my family

It is the port that saw the comings and goings of the slave ships and also

the port from where most Europeans emigrated to the United States

Within my lifetime it is the port where hundreds of prisoners of war returned

and I have vivid memories of being on the quayside with my family at that time

My sister-in-law's brother who is a folk singer was asked to sing Amazing Grace during the opening ceremony. The choice of song being synonymous with the slave trade.

The city was heavily bombed during the war as a result of being a major seaport and it took a long time to recover

It is a city with many museums and art galleries and good theatres

When we stayed as tourists we were unable to see all that we wanted to during our 4 night stay

It is also a city that has produced many, many actors, commedians and writers

probably the Beetles being the most well known

so come with me and have a look around

http://www.visitliverpool.com/site/merseyside-maritime-museum-p8987

There are many links on this site for anyone who is interested

The Maritime Museum

(photo curtesy of web page)

This is a fascinating museum and charts the history and movements of the many who emigrated to the United States, not just from Liverpool but from all over Europe

It covers every aspect of Maritime life including the slave trade and this is housed on 4 floors plus a basement which it given over to slave ships

The Anglican Cathedral

The largest cathedral in Europe

The Modern Roman Catholic Cathedral

The waterfront from a ferry

This view was taken from the Maritime museum building and is looking out to where the River Mersey reaches the Irish Sea

This is taken from the top of the Cathedral tower

We are seeing the Welsh mountains on the horizon

The waterfront from the cathedral tower

A Mersey ferry boat

Remember the Beatles song

Ferry Me Across the Mersey


St George's Hall


Some Art Galleries



All the warehouses in the old dock area have been turned into homes, fine restaurants, bars, shops and arts and craft places

One also houses The Tate Modern art gallery

A ride in an amphibian vehicle
The gateway to China town

During our visit Liverpool Football team won the European Championship

and this was the scene that greeted us at our hotel door

They were waiting for the team to show up in an open top bus

It was difficult to get out of the lobby and the only places in a very wide area that were empty were the roads that had to be kept open

Not something that I would have chosen for my visit but it was interesting all the same



The fans were even lining the top of the entrance to the railway station




And during the afternoon dancing in the fountains