Liverpool, Chester and Ironbridge

Friday morning I got up to drive Kristin to work and the entire right hand mirror of the car was missing. Someone had obviously had decided that their need was greater than ours!

On Saturday we headed off to Liverpool (w/o driver's side mirror) and arrived unscathed about midday. We decided to have a much quieter weekend than our normal trips!

The first stop was Albert Dock, we didn't do The Beatles Story (did it Sunday), but grabbed a lot of information to decide what we would do. From the docks we walked to the Liverpool Cathedral (Anglican) and from the outside it looked very big, perched on top of the highest hill (St. James' Mount) in the city. It was constructed during the 20th Century of locally quarried (reddish) sandstone and a tower height of 108 metres. Inside there was some sort of Anglican festival going on with lots of different activities. We climbed the Tower (well mainly used the lifts) and got panoramic views of Liverpool. From the Tower, we spotted our next location to visit - the Catholic Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King).

The Metropolitan Cathedral was completely different to all other cathedrals that we have seen this year - and that is saying something because I reckon the count has to be over a hundred! It was very modern, built in the 1960's, but to me it just seemed like a very, very big suburban church in Melbourne!

From the Metropolitan Cathedral we walked down Brownlow Hill to the shopping centre of Liverpool and made our way to the Cavern Quarter. Here we visited Mathew Street which has the Cavern Club, made famous by The Beatles. So the "Fab Four", Kristin, Andy, Billy and Declan went into the club and by the looks of the place, I don't think much has changed in the last 50 years! The was a two-piece band playing and for a Saturday Arvo, it was quite crowded.

Next, we drove to Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields and took the obligatory photos. From there we found our hotel, the Throstle's Nest (I assume a Throstle is a bird, a thrush?)and had a quick break before going back into the city centre for dinner. Liverpool was rocking early in the evening and on the corner of Mathew Street and Temple Court, it was impossible to have a conversation in the street, due to the blaring music from all venues!

Sunday morning, saw us visiting Liverpool FC's ground, Anfield and around the corner Everton's home ground, Goodison Park. Then we drove to Aintree, the racecourse where The Grand National is held (on the first Saturday in April). After our sporting fix, we went back into Liverpool and Andy & Kristin did The Beatles Story and really enjoyed it.

We left Liverpool, via the Kingsway Tunnel under the Mersey River and headed to Chester, which once upon a time was a more important port than Liverpool! Now it is a quaint medieval town where the rich football stars have mansions! Besides having the obligatory cathedral and city walls, the most interesting feature of the town was the ROWS, a series of two-level galleried arcades, like having a 1st story footpath, which was convenient because when we arrived in Chester in was raining!

Our last location for the weekend was Ironbridge Gorge, a World Heritage Site, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. In the 18th Century, the Industrial Revolution was kicked started here by Abraham Darby, who discovered how to smelt Iron ore with coke, which led to mass-production of iron wheels, rails and locomotives. The town has the world's first iron bridge (still standing), constructed in 1779.

From Ironbridge we headed back to Cardiff, and are getting ready for another week at the "Salt Mine". As usual all the photos have been posted on the Web Albums.
cheers!

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