So Much More Than Just The Beatles

To say we are enjoying Liverpool is somewhat of an understatement.  We are absolutely loving it!!!!  (Well, I am - Mike is working in Grantham this week, poor lamb.)  It's a fantastic city, with everything more or less within walking distance of our mooring at Salthouse Dock.

Our mooring at Salthouse Dock by night

 Before Mike headed to Grantham for his brief return to the rat race, we managed to do some touristy stuff - and there is plenty to do.
Despite living on a boat, our first port of call was the Mersey Ferry.  The ferry is a 50 minute ride with commentary and two stops where you can hop on/hop off.  We got off at Woodside to see the U-Boat Story, where they have U-534 on display.  It was really interesting, worth the stop and included in the cost of your ferry ticket.  There's also a fantastic cafe there serving locally produced homemade food.  From the ferry you get fantastic views of the Liverpool skyline.  And yes, they play 'Ferry 'Cross the Mersey'....

The Mersey Ferry sporting it's Razzle Dazzle livery in tribute to the dazzleboats of the Battle of the Atlantic.

 The next day we headed away from the waterfront and up to the city's two cathedrals; the Anglican Cathedral which is the largest anglican cathedral in the world and the Catholic cathedral which was built in the 60s.  The Anglican is an imposing building, huge, majestic and I loved it.  Lovely clean lines inside, simple, but effective.  It was only completed in 1979, having taken 74 years to build!!

The interior of the Anglican Cathedral

There are wonderful 360 views from the top of the tower.

The Catholic Cathedral is completely different, with the appearance of a wigwam from the outside!  Inside they have used stained glass to it's full potential, creating the most beautiful light.

The two cathedrals are completely different, but both so impressive and well worth visiting.
Near the cathedrals is the Chinatown area of Liverpool, where lives the oldest chinese community in Europe.  The stunning gate was made in pieces in Shanghai and brought to the city.

With Mike safely away earning us a crust, I booked onto the tour of the Oldest Commercial Wet Dock in the world.  It was designed and built between 1709-1715 and is now underneath the car park of the Liverpool One shopping centre (which I must admit to frequenting since our arrival here.........).  You book at the Maritime Museum (which we've also visited), and the tour is free of charge.  The guys who do it, Dan and Yazz are brilliant.  They clearly love their subject and really bring the history to life in a very entertaining way.  This is a 'must do' if you visit Liverpool.

A very small corner of the Oldest Commercial Wet Dock in the World

 With Mike away, I decided some company would be good, so my Aunty Nancy and cousin Jane came down for a couple of days.  Bedding was then turned around on Thursday for the arrival of Diane on Friday.

Aunty Nancy and Jane on the Ferry

Me and my Favourite Aunty Nancy enjoying a glass of wine.

 We leave Liverpool on Monday 27th July, though not quite sure where we're going.  The plan had been to head up the Lancaster Canal, however, a collapsed culvert at Rufford (the entrance to the canal!!) has now closed the canal, they estimate until the end of August :(  So there will be some planning over the weekend for an alternative route - watch this space!