Beatlemania to Mersey Culture

After walking for 30 mins thru the rain, +Niamh and I finally managed to get the airport hopper at 4 am. We got to relax before making our way thru security. We were heading thru security when an issue with our bags came to light. It seems it was due to our iPads in our bags, since when do you need to remove such items from your bags and place into the trays provided. They need to inform people of such, as we were 2 out of 10 people in a row. After that issue was sorted, we walked through duty free, until we came upon the new chill out area, where we got to relax in the comfy chairs and charge our phones before making our way to our boarding gate. We surprisingly were first onto the plane. The flight itself to Liverpool was  over before we knew it, lasting 30 mins. First thing we saw,once we got outside the John Lennon airport, was a Beatles inspired sculpture, The Yellow Submarine. We hopped onto the 500, the express bus into town, which took roughly 20 mins.

We hopped off the bus at Albert Dock, where the first thing we did was get tickets for the 11.30 am Magical Mystery bus tour. As we had 2 hours to spare, we went and did The Beatles Story museum nearby, which was suggested by one of sales staff at ticket office on buying tickets. The Beatles Story took us the visitor on a journey through the lives, times, culture and music of The Beatles. From their origins, to the bands famous days at Abbey Road Studios via an underwater trip on the yellow submarine. Once we exited via the attached Starbucks, we made the 2 mins stroll onto the Magical Mystery bus. The tour was fun and fascinating lasting 2 hours, showing us places associated with the Beatles including their childhood homes and schools. Along the way, our tour guide Tommy kept us all entertained with Fab Four tunes and stories, stopping at Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. The tour finished at the legendary Cavern Club. The tour ticket gave us free admission and free small souvenir consisting of a Beatles postcard. After relaxing for a while and making use of the Cavern's free wifi, we walked quickly due to the rain to the Pier head, to experience the hidden Beatles gallery consisting of rare photographs and the 4D Beatles cinema, which we both felt could have been done a lot better. 

We literally ran to the nearby Museum of Liverpool, which was free entry, with particular highlights been the Beatles short film and little Liverpool section. After a scrumptious dinner, we were lucky, the rain finally stopped, so the search for our accommodation, Cocoon International Inn began, which in itself was a fun experience. We finally got to the place after a few detours and 12 hours after landing into Liverpool. It was one fun Beatles filled day. 

After a slight sleep-in, it was full engines blazing, with our first stop being the Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral  at Mount pleasant, we both felt that the cathedral, was one of the most unusual. At the other end of this street is the Anglian Cathredal, the biggest Cathredal in UK and the 5th biggest in the world.

From the Cathredal , we strolled towards the city centre passing by the Alephi hotel, to the Empire theatre where the Beatles famously played. Our first culture stop of the day, was the Walker Art gallery. The gallery had paintings and sculptures from the 13th century to present day. The building next door was the Central Library, which had a fun interactive book element on the pavement outside. To our pleasant surprise, the building next door was, the World Museum. The museum contained various fun elements including full scale dinosaur skeletons, aquariums and the obligatory section dedicated to ancient Egypt and Rome and an unusual fixture - living and speaking Sleeping Beauty type Princess complete with tiara.

After a  5 min breather, we strolled 15min to the Albert docks to the International Slavery Museum and Mersey Maritime Museum which were both located within the same building. We decided to start at the top floor and work our way down. The Slavery Museum highlighted the history of slavery and slave trade over the years. The next floor down,& the particular highlight overall was, The Untold Story of Titanic and finished off our visit to the Maritime Museum, we explored the history of maritime in Liverpool and sunken ships which co-insided with closing time. The upside of this day of culture was access to all these museums was free entry. To finish off the day, we went to Wetherspoons for Sunday roast and drink before the trek back to the hotel. 

What seemed like a pure wake up call, someone within the hotel at 5 in the morning had music blaring at full blast. Then someone started bagging on that room to turn it off, shouting people trying to sleep. Soon after that, we checked out and hopped into our taxi to the airport. First thing we noticed, was an ambulance and 3 cop cars at end of the next Main Street, got to love morning of a bank holiday. The final attractions we got to see was the Anglican cathedral and to our pure delight, we got to see the famous Chinese Arch on route to the airport. After finally boarding, just before 8 am and landed back in Dublin at 9 am, the 90 min plus bus journey home commenced.

Ed Sheeran To Harvey Nichols via Linda Martin

On route to work whilst on Twitter and Facebook, I managed to get the details and then buy 2 tickets for +Ed Sheeran secret gig at Vicar Street on May Bank holiday Monday. As soon as I could managed to change my hours in work to leave a tad bit earlier. After work on that Monday, I met +Niamh on route to the gig, where we met mates Micheal and Sarah in the bar of course, after collecting the tickets from the box office first. When Ed came on stage, everyone went crazy, ourselves included. He played for almost 90 mins non stop, a particular highlight besides Ed singing of course, was how he introduced his 90 years old grandmother, who was in the audience. It was one of the best intimate gig ever been at, and one that's made my year so far. We couldn't believe we got a full length gig for a tenner. I had to sprint like never before, to try to make my bus at the other side of the city, which I just about managed.      

              

The following Saturday, we met up for Pre Eurovision food, in Yamamori, before heading to Panti Bar for Eurovision madness. There was a surreal atmosphere and a packed house throughout the show. You could hear the love and hate for certain countries, which kinda made it more fun and interesting. Especially during the scoring stage, when Russia got points there was continuous booing. When Conchita Wurst of Austria, was finally announced the winner, the whole place erupted cheering and celebrating. After everyone calmed down, Panti and Linda Martin took to the stage and sang Terminal 3 together. Linda then sang Why Me, on her own. I was luckily enough afterwards to get a photo with her.

   

Sunday, I met Niamh at Merrion Square, for the Giro D'Italia, near the finish line of Stage 3 of the race. Stage 3 was a 187 km cycle from Armagh to Dublin which had it nail biting moments and infamous bike pill up along route. The stage was won by the German rider Kittel at the line, winning by half a wheel over the nearest competitor, on his birthday no less. It was surreal to watch and only re-watching on the big screen did everyone really see, how close it really was. There was a great turnover all along the route and in particular in Merrion Square.

We had to met up, the following Wednesday, as Niamh won 2 tickets for a preview screening of  Two Faces of January at Movies at Dundrum. This had a drinks reception beforehand on the fashion floor of Harvey Nichols. Niamh wasn't quite impressed that there wasn't any alternative to the alcohol, however better late than ever, iced water was finally brought out. I made the most of the drinks reception.