And if they left....no more Liverpool!

Saturday 18th

Dusk at Saltisford Dock last night.

What a day! Started by going down into the depths of the Mersey tunnel, (loads of steps) then an open top bus tour round the city alighting at the Archdiocese of Liverpool. (more steps to the church) A walk to the Liverpool Cathedral to view the interior and loads of steps up the Bell tower (did have a lift on part of it) to the viewing gallery before walking back to FS via Liverpool one shopping centre. Groan...my poor little legs. Must have climbed over 900 steps today and both of us now knackered! I knew we had steps to descend and ascend because the Mersey Queensway tunnel tour was on our agenda for today. But was shocked when Billy (our guide) told us about the 300 down and 300 back up!  Just a small bunch of us took the tour, maybe 20 or so, plus the two guides Billy and Ryan. The tour took us behind the scenes, down one of the ventilation shafts with the giant fans, into the control room where the traffic is monitored all the time. Under part of the River Mersey and told the history of the tunnels construction. Out of one of the side refuge escapes tunnel we were so close to the speeding traffic that we were not allowed to lean over the side or wave at the motorist. No photos allowed because of distracting the drivers and it might just put the drivers on alert thinking we were checking their speed!

Queensway tunnel.

The opening in 1934

Just in case the roof caves in and we need to swim for it!

Control room now disused as a new room commissioned 6 months ago

Huge fan blades

Under this concrete walkway, the river. A weight attached to a rope was thrown into one of the side vents to see if the tide was in or out!

Just a few of the 600 steps!

We emerged 2 hours later and given a medal for managing those stairs. Then it was off to have lunch at the Fab 4 cafe before purchasing tickets for the hop on hop off the bus around Liverpool city.

The fab 4

Arch of China Town

The Swan boats on the move.  FS nestled between Carpe Diem and Annie B (opposite)

This sculpture by John King 'A case History' shows the names of famous Liverpudlians (including the Beetles) on the travel tags

Having gone all the way round the route, on the second circuit we alighted at the Archdiocese of Liverpool

Archdiocese of Liverpool. The bells were ringing summoning the worshippers. (Saturday service) when we arrived.

Interior

Liverpool Cathedral

Views from the top

 And the wildlife of which I have included the Liver Bird because of the saying. ( the Liver bird which looks more like a cormorant then an eagle, has to be well secured because if it ever flew away Liverpool would cease to exist!)