Liverpool

me at the gate of Strawberry Fields
The gate

John was raised here by his Auntie Mimi
The childhood home of George

The childhood home of Paul

The childhood home of Ringo

If you don’t love The Beatles as much as we do then you might want to just pass on this blog spot completely. Dave hooked us up with some wonderful people on our cruise who had planned a Beatles excursion with a magnificent tour guide – the day began with a lot of rain – this would not stop our van filled with Beatle fans. Liverpool has a feeling, a smell, a vibe and a resonance of The Beatles that still lingers long after the band no longer exists – although I still do believe they exist as much today as ever.
We got out of our van and walked down a rainy alley to see The Cavern Club of Liverpool – There is a life-sized statue of a young John leaning against a brick wall – hands in pocket and one foot crossed in front of the other. A shop displays vividly colored psychedelic beach chairs imprinted with the Beatles faces. It is very early in the morning, nothing is open yet, there is a silence – but the Beatles essence can still be felt.
These are some of the places we visited: The birthplace of John Lennon – The childhood homes of Ringo, Paul, George and the home of Auntie Mimi where John was raised. We went to Penny Lane – an intersection of streets where the young boys used to meet – our guide explained the lyrics of the song for those who didn’t know them.
We went to the church where John and Paul first met and we were introduced to a man named Dave who said he was there the very day they met – In the words of John Lennon “That was the day, the day that I met Paul that it started moving.” We stood inside of the church where they played their first gig it was an amazing feeling to be in that very hall where Paul first preformed / auditioned for John – I stood alone and looked at the stained glass windows – I tried to imagine what it must have been like.
Across the street – “The Church of England – Diocese of Liverpool – The Parish of St. Peter – Woolton.” We walked out into the cemetery – our guide pointed to a grave with the marker that read “Eleanor Rigby” telling us that the Beatles wrote the song about a fictional person – however the name was a common British one.
“Strawberry Fields Forever” – an overgrown grassy tree shaded area where John used to go as a boy. The area is bordered with a concrete fence with two concrete pillars with the words “Strawberry Fields” painted on them serving the purpose of holding up an ornate steel gate that has a multitude of several coats of red paint on it. The concrete pillars and the gate are covered with bits of graffiti – mostly bearing names of fans, where they came from and the date they were there. What a magnificently awesome way to spend the day in Liverpool, I highly suggest it.
Penny Lane there in a barber showing photographs - Of every head he's had the pleasure to know. And all the people that come and go, Stop and say "Hello”. On the corner is a banker with a motorcar, and little children laugh at him behind his back. And the banker never wears a mac in the pouring rain - very strange. Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.There beneath the blue suburban skies I sit, and meanwhile back-In Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass, and in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen. He likes to keep his fire engine clean, it’s a clean machine. Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes. A four of fish and finger pies in summer. Meanwhile back behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout the pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray. And though she feels as if she's in a play, she is anyway. In Penny Lane the barber shaves another customer, We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim, And then the fireman rushes in From the pouring rain - very strange. Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.There beneath the blue suburban skies I sit, and meanwhile back. Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes. There beneath the blue suburban skies...Penny Lane!