Liver “dive on in” pool

Incoming all the Beatles puns you could ever want… and probably some that you don’t.

After Manchester I had a, Ticket to Ride, and I decided to Carry that Weight, of Bernice to Liverpool. If you are wondering how long the travel time is from Manchester, It Won’t be Long, just about an hour by train. Still in the north and it Don’t Bother Me! In fact I rather like northern England because like Manchester, if you are, Fixing a Hole,  that’s seemed to develop in your wallet, Liverpool is a very affordable city. Prices for food, drinks, entertainment, and transportation are much cheaper than in London or Brighton.

First impressions, larger than Manchester definitely a bit more hustle and bustle on the main streets. After spying many a bar’s brick wall painted to display the nectar of the barley & hops Gods (Guinness) it seems Liverpool has a heavy Irish influence.

Day one, stop one and where did, Lovely Rita, stop first? None other than a museum of course. This time it was the Merseyside Maritime and Slavery Museum. Being a port city, Liverpool has played a pivotal role in world history long before the Fab Four made it a permanent destination on the pop culture map. In fact Liverpool was the ripe ole age of 753 before the Beatles formed.

The rest of the day was spent at the Museum of Liverpool (another freebie, I was beginning to feel like it was my Birthday.) The museum goes into detail about the cities vast history. Alberts Dock and Pier Head is where you will find these wonderful museums, The Liverpool Tate art gallery, many a Day Tripper, a slightly larger than life Beatles statue, and some some incredible views.

I returned to my hostel and quickly found myself in conversation with a fellow ‘Merican staying in my room. We, along with another roomie, decided to join the Friday night pub crawl our hostel hosted. For just 10 pounds you will get properly pissed (pissed = drunk.) Our guide (who I renamed papa duck) led our flock to four different watering holes and plenty of fun. It is fairly common to find a hostel that leads a weekend pub crawl. To all solo travelers who enjoy activities most commonly associated with solo cups, I highly recommend attending one. It is a great way to experience nightlife without worry of how to, Get Back, home and a tremendous way to meet new friends. (The free entry and shots doesn’t hurt either.) Night two, a few of the faces in my room changed, but they were replaced with fellow fun-loving travelers. You know what they say, birds of a feather flock together, thus I found myself, yet again, attending the hostels pub crawl. Call it the Blue Jay Way, or a good way to spend, A Hard Day’s Night after sightseeing, but either way with every passing day I’m on the road, It’s Getting Better. 

In my ever rumbling appetite for all things rock history, visiting Liverpool was a like devouring a Savory Truffle. Day two and it was back to Alberts dock to purchase a ticket for the Magical Mystery Tour. (To clear up any possible confusion this was the actual name of the tour but take a drink anyway.) This is quite the popular tour so I suggest arranging a ticket as soon as you get to town. When I went they did not have any tours available until the next morning, but not to worry it was still a, Good Day Sunshine. I found my way down to Mathew street aka rock music Mecca. The first site I spied was the wall… no not the one Roger Waters sings about, rather The Cavern Wall of Fame. Composed of 1,801 bricks, each one has the name of a different influential artist that played at the original Cavern Club from 1957 to 1973 (a few 90’s bands also managed to find their way on the wall.) Some highlights include; The Rolling Stones, Queen, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, The Yardbirds, The Who, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and of course The Beatles.

The Cavern Club is the venue where the Beatles got their start and began a rock, Revolution, if you will. Just 2 pound 50 to enter if you go after 12pm, my excitement began to rise with every step I took down the descending spiral stairs case. Good thing the club is not too far underground or else I might have spun out of control with my dizzying excitement. The club is not much more than a brick enclosed tube lined with some tables. Honestly it looks like more of a bomb shelter than an infamous music venue, but this is fitting as I was blown away from the realization that I was in the very club where so many legendary artists once played. Talk about, A Day in the Life, I could have been, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds because I was simply walking on air. With a full bar and live music daily, this is a must stop for any rock fan to, Come Together, with some kindred souls.

You, Can’t Buy Me Love, but if someone was to buy me my ticket for the Magical Mystery Tour it would have been pretty darn close. I had to give the company I reservation name, they probably thought I was trying to be cute when I said Rita, but I’ll take cute over raging zealot any day. I boarded the bus and quickly realized it was me and a bunch of people who were born closer to the time the microwave was invented rather than New Wave.

Not a worry! I’m used to being in situations where I significantly bring the average age down. (If I had a dollar for every time I was told I’m old soul I’d probably have the same amount of money it took to produce Rubber Soul.) I was slightly aPAULed there was no one else from my generation on the bus, but it didn’t matter I was still singing, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da. The two hour long tour will take you to Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, the childhood home of each Beatle, and St. Peter’s Church. This was where Paul and John first met, and the adjoining cemetery is where Elenor Rigby is buried. The bus makes a few stops to allow for photo ops. Roll Over Beethoven, there is a new conductor in town! Along the ride our guide gave many fascinating Beatles facts, and I’ll give you one wild guess as to what music was pumping out of the buses speakers. Ask me in a year what it felt like to listen to Penny Lane as we rolled down Penny Lane with our guide pointing out the fire station, barber shop, and all the other original sites that still remain, and just maybe I’ll be put that experience into words.

Just like that I felt like I was saying, Hello, Goodbye, to Liverpool, buts it’s Across the Universe, I desire to see, so off I go… SO just where is this future, Paperback Writer, going next? Tomorrow Never Knows, but if you find yourself thinking, “that blonde vagabond I’ve Got to Get You into My Life,” then follow my blog! You’ll be emailed every time I post, so without having to beg or, Please Mister Postman, you’ll never miss a beat!