Using the occasion of Grand National Race, we went to spend a weekend in Liverpool area. Liverpool was the first big city of England that we really visited and not just passed by, spent a stopover or stayed for a night. Was it a good experience? Yes and no, but it did all but left us indifferent.

It couldn’t be otherwise, could it? But it often happens, that the inhabitants of the birthplace of some celebrity tend to roll their eyes when talking about this very celebrity. No, Liverpool is not this case. They do love and do listen just like everyone to the legendary Beatles without abusing with relevant merchandise (though I never said there wasn’t any). Anyway, the Matthew Street can’t be avoided by any single tourist of Liverpool.

Like I said, we haven’t explored thoroughly big English cities, however, we had a short look at London and Newcastle and honestly, it was quite deceiving. Unfortunately, here, maintaining the architectural style and historical buildings isn’t a priority. After the war, English cities were heavily damaged, but their reconstruction leaves a lot to be desired. Sadly, it happened to almost all destroyed towns, but here even the new buildings don’t correspond to any existing style, which makes Liverpool not really interesting to visit from this point of view.

Not only is it perfectly made and organised even for the less interested in history people, but also it is free. An impressive and interactive place, which tells the whole history of Liverpool from A to Z. We didn’t have enough of it. Most of all we were impressed by a short movie “The Rise and Fall of British Empire” – something that gives a lot to think about.

We left Liverpool with hard feelings. It used to be a powerful industrial city in a country, which invented and actually made the industrial revolution in the first place. Nothing is left here now. Huge docks of Liverpool are demolished, except for a little piece left for tourist amusement. However, in spite of this, Liverpool possesses quite important harbour. Factories that used to boil with life are closed and abandoned. Lonely creepy places. The UK, as well as the majority of European countries, moved the industry to Asia. Even if life during the years of Industrial blossoming was far from being easy and happy (poverty, child work, inhuman conditions, horrible destinies), it is the way that the countries become powerful (and exactly the way that China is getting more and more influential these days). If you don’t conquer and smash, you will be smashed and conquered instead. That’s the way we are, and it can’t be different. Liverpool reminded us about it once again.

And finally several shots from the streets of Liverpool.

That was Liverpool and I think, we loved it.