We expected Liverpool to be dark, dirty, and ugly, filled with industry and such. No such thing. Liverpool was lovely, clean, and beautiful. We booked the Beatles tour and wow were we glad. Our tour guide was actually really named Paul who was gracious, knowledgeable, and friendly. Our driver was Phil, rather silent but effective. As we departed in the bus we traveled on streets lined by good looking dwellings. It was clean and pretty. Then we turned down a street that had abandoned dwellings that seemed to be falling apart. Paul told us that we were approaching the birth place of Ringo Starr. There was a movement to prevent the destruction of this block of housing and it will be renovated and preserved. It was likely aimed at preserving Ringo's birthplace.

Paul announced that we would be going next to Penny Lane and we would see three of the places mentioned in the song. First we came to the entry to Penny Lane and stopped for photos. Next we went past the bank where the banker with the motor car was. Then we went past the shelter in the roundabout, but behind it there was no lady selling poppies from a tray. The third landmark was the barber shop where the barber was who was showing photos of every head he's had the pleasure to know. Penny Lane was not a busy street lined by many, many businesses, many with Penny Lane in their names.  

Next we went to the birthplace of George Harrison, another not so nice looking area, down an alley next to a pub. We passed some youths who might have looked a bit tough, but they were laughing and greeting us and were very nice. Apart from the fact that they were smoking, they were quite harmless. They wanted to know where we were all from. George's family home was in a row of dwellings,on a side street/alley named Arnold Grove, unremarkable except for a planter hanging from a window next to the front door.  

Our next stop was Strawberry Fields. We could only go to the entry gate of this property as it is a private place owned by the Salvation Army. At the time of Lennon and McCartney's youth, it was a children's home even then operated by the Salvation Army. Our tour guide said that John would come to the property to relax and think. 

Our next stop was the house where John Lennon spent his later youth and lived till he left and became a famous Beatle. He actually lived with an aunt, his mother's sister. The home is on Menlove Avenue, a nice but unremarkable suburban street. One would not notice it but for the sign in front marking it as the home of John Lennon.  

Next, we moved on to the family home of Paul McCartney, on Forthlin Road also an unremarkable suburban street. The home has been acquired by the National Trust and is maintained as a shrine almost. Tours of it are possible, but we did not know that in advance so only got to see the outside. 

Next, we went to the riverfront and Albert Dock, home of the Beatles Story, an extensive exhibition devoted to the lives and times of the Beatles. In this exhibition there are so many placements of quotes, , accounts of the lives of the Fab Four as well as photos and of the young group.      

The history of the Beatles is chronicled extensively, from the time of their coverage in the local music paper, Mesey Beat, to their performances at the Cavern Club (which is reproduced in the exhibit), and the major albums they recorded.   There even is a Yellow Submarine that one can walk through.  

Towards the end of the exhibit are four separate displays in homage to each of the four, Ringo Paul, John, and George The Beatles Story ends with a series of presentations dedicated to John alone, including a bronze of him and a room with his piano, guitar, and the lyrics of Imagine on the wall. The song plays constantly in the room.

We concluded our tour by a trip to the Cavern Club. We parked in front of the Hard Days Night Hotel. Our guide, Paul, challenged us to figure out the Hotel's logo. Melissa guessed that it depicted the location of the individual group members on stage when they played. Our guide said that was correct, but it was only happenstance that it matched the groups placement because it was a representation of the first chord of the song.

We went to the Cavern Club walking down down down to the performing area that is still in operation with performers all day and night long.   As we departed the area we encountered a life sized bronze of John and could not pass up the chance for Melissa to pay her respects.  

In the morning, before our tour, Melissa went shopping (of course) at the mall at the Albert Dock (where the Beatles Story is located). She got two things there, a fascinator

and a photo of the Jelly Bean Beatles, in the sweets shop.

To say that we enjoyed Liverpool would be an understatement. It is a beautiful and lovely place with massive parks, clean streets, and friendly people. It is one of our favorite places we have ever visited.