Trip To England: Day 3

On Sunday, we decided to take a train ride on the Merseyrail from Ellesmere Port to Liverpool. The city is known for its younger (i.e. more hipster) population, compared to most cities in England; the music scene, made popular by the Beatles; and for being the port of registry for the Titanic.

We first walked around the trendy shops (you can get a foot massage from tiny fish that suck your feet) and then headed over to the River Mersey. The Mersey empties at Liverpool Bay. Ellesmere Port is on the other side of the Mersey, and has long been a dividing line between Lancashire county (Liverpool) and Cheshire county (Ellesmere Port). Along the Mersey are street vendors and performers. It was cool to see how similar/different they are compared to America. The street performers are a little more forward (at least in my experiences) in Liverpool. They actually mock people, which I think in America would ruin any chances of a tip.

The River Mersey

Along the waterfront is the Albert Dock. Built in the mid-1800s, it is the first non-combustible warehouse (made of cast iron, brick and stone). Now it is a great shopping and restaurant center.

Albert Dock

From the docks, we walked west and found the Three Graces: The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building. These buildings help define Liverpool's skyline. The Royal Liver Building's Liver Birds is a major symbol for the city, and the mascot for the Liverpool Football Club.

The Three Graces (minus the two modern buildings on the left and right)

From there, we walked to the Cavern Quarter on Mathew Street. The streets were narrow and cobble-stoned and you could hear loud music coming from almost every bar. Every summer, the city hosts the Matthew Street Music Festival, the largest free music festival in Europe. The highlight of the day was visiting the Cavern Club, where the Beatles frequently played before they got famous. The club is about 3 stories underground and held up by old, grafittied bricks. Every 20 feet or so, you go under brick arches, which I'm guessing is what keeps the place from crumbling. The acoustics are amazing and the place was hopping at 3 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. We saw little kids watch their parents drink a few (Europeans seem to be very open around their kids when it comes to alcohol) and numerous hen parties (aka bachelorette parties).

Luke and I in front of the stage at The Cavern Club

The whole gang in front of The Cavern Club

After a couple drinks, we made our way back to the Merseyrail to meet Warren's sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. What Luke and I really treasured was getting to hang out with Dawn and Warren and meeting their families. We really soaked in their way of living (PG Tips Tea 24-7!) and culture. Not to mention, we looooved going to their grocery stores!

After a great "traditional English-Indian meal," we got ready for our two-day trip to London!