You might have seen is interesting building as one of the Windows 7 backgrounds. It is part of a huge shopping complex in the centre of Birmingham

Not sure why we are here, but is an interesting place about an hour out of Liverpool. It’s a bit hard to explain the place… a seaside resort town (with rotten looking freezing grey beach). some of the tackiest shops budget accommodation and seaside attractions line the main drag overlooking the seaside.

Wax works, gypsies, fortune tellers, pony rides, horror dungeon, 2 luna park style attractions, a circus, sand castle world, cabaret shows with lookalike legendary performers elvis, cher, jackson, gaga….. get the drift? classy…no!

Its somewhere between The Geelong Show, St Kilda beach and old Las Vegas, lots of flashing lights but without the glamour or glitz. Its got the floorshows and gaming is mainly bingo. The casinos are really just big timezones and kid friendly.

Pensioners everywhere, never seen so many walking frames, sticks or motorised wheelchairs, they are everywhere.. probably why the place is so cheap.

About 2 km of the main drag has a nightly lightshow which as stupid as it looks promises to be pretty spectacular, every 100 meters or so is a different theme, Christmas, dr who, hawaii, bears, monsters…

….the place is that crass and I’m really enjoying it….. might be the 1.89 pound pints

This was a museum set over to sites about 500 metres apart along the docks. the first was a history tour from the early days in Liverpool until 1970. plenty of interesting artifacts and even a faithful recreation of the Cavern club and Star club in Hamburg.

The other site had a cool 4d ride or film that was a bit of fun..especially when the octopus touched you on the legs while in the yellow submarine.

upstairs was a special exhibition based around when the beatles dropped in on Elvis in 64. it featured a good story of Elvis and how he influenced music and culture with bands like the beatles only starting a band to be like him.

they had some impressive Elvis stuff including his wallet, plenty of famous clothes from albums and movies and even a couple of his famous jumpsuits including the one he wore in the 68 comeback special.

you could buy replicas of his some of the favourite jumpsuits for about 2000 pound…,no fat elvis period suits unfortunately.

Liverpool looks like it has had a huge overhaul over last 10 years or so and is fresh and vibrant. The city streets are huge malls with no cars bringing plenty of good shopping, cafes, bars and street vendors….geelong could learn a lot. heaps of street art also including the lambana half lamb half banana, there are 120 of them scattered around.

the historic waterfront is spectacular, old goods sheds and some flash new
museums and other modern showpieces.

. made it to Liverpool this place is grat.. just had 6 pints at the Cavern club where beatles started. … beatles coverband playing.. was amazing atmosphere. was expecting a crass tourist rip off but further from truth. cheap beer and great atmosphere

Seas were a bit rough so the fast cat service was cancelled instead we had to take the slow boat. it took about 3 hours from Dublin to Hollyhead, then a hour and a half wet drive to Liverpool. Boat was huge, I reckon about double the size of the Tassie Ferry, we paid a bit extra for the VIP lounge. Here we had the front of the ship in luxury, free food and drink, comfy chairs.

No screaming kids and worst of all No whining English pensioners, who go out of their way to stand in your way or complain about the most trivial thing. “arre ya eggs cooked properly, I never get properly cooked eggs when I’m out”. “did he shit hem self luv? I thawt he meighteve “. “eime. Just no good without mye fags love, I gotta go apstairs fora puff”. The oldies are all class!

Beautiful blue skies for a change, but the air is a bit nippy.

Got out on the streets about 9 am and walked until 1:30 then it was time for the first refreshment of the day ( 2 hours later than yesterday) and a lovely Guinness pie. The fresh Guinness is so good and easy to drink…and you wake up sparky …if only it was served at the breakfast buffet.

The big pin thing is interesting, it’s a 120 meter high needle with no purpose. It was an artwork for the millennium. It’s handy as a landmark to find our hotel that is about 100 meters away.

Like a lot of Europe the city’s main form of transport before road was on canals

The hard rock had one of U2s Tribants from their Zooropa tour. the other two pic are from their recording studios, the band plan to pull them down and build some hideous tower bigger than Bono’s ego.