blakejonesmusic
local music, local arts, The Underground Garden

Tuesday, May 24th—-Liverpool–Bolton

The big excitement this morning was the trouble the band had rousing me from bed. They expected I’d OD.’ed on the cough syrup I’d been drinking or something–but nothing so rockn’roll-dramatic: just sleeping like a rock (with the earplugs in)–by the third try, and with some louder knocking, I was up—and it was time for
THE DAVID SUMMERS WALKING TOUR OF LIVERPOOL!
Yes, like last time, Mr. Summers generously gave of his local knowledge and led us through a walk of The Dingle (the not-so-well-off neighborhood we’d been staying in and where Ringo grew up) and beyond. When you’re in a different (and to you) exotic country, every little building is interesting, but especially to us Californians where a 75 year old building is ‘historic’. That same cool red brick church, still beaten up, but now looking like they may be on the road to refurbishing it, was just ’round the corner, as was that funny fortress looking thing. First official stop: The Princess–the pub around the corner (and maybe 30 yards from) Ringo’s boyhood house. This was the spot last time where we saw some pretty weathered locals listening to a bunch of American country music on the jukebox. Today, it was still early, so fairly deserted.
Then trucking up this and that street, back to the back-to-back Liverpool Institute and Art College where Paul/George and John (respectively) went to school (it’s now LIPA, the performaning arts institute that McCartney’s contributed greatly to..and apparently each year hands out the diplomas for [cool perk for grads!]).
Then down up that street past the Ye Crack, a little cafe/pub where the students would often gather and a tad farther to The Philharmonic….very swank pub—looks like someplace that [name your fave Victorian fictional character but I was thinking...] Sherlock Holmes would stop for a brandy and cigar. It’s famous for its beautiful urinals! (no kidding…like an upscale English Madonna Inn–laughs).

After a drink and further chatting..we trucked on along and got to the MASSIVE Anglican Cathedral. Massive doesn’t even begin to describe this place …it’s massive hulk dominates the area, and it’s absolutely awe inspiring inside. I’m enjoying what looks like ..to my amateur eye, the cool mix of wood and brick work you see inside these English churches.

So we got inside the Jacaranda (another one of those “Margaret moments–see “Day 3″). The Jacaranda was a coffee bar, another one of those early Beatle venues. Below, in the basement/performance venue are murals painted by their friend (and sometimes Beatle) Stu Sutcliff–still preserved; thank goodness for the bad taste of the 70′s that covered these walls with wood panelliing rather than painting over them.
We then walked down to the river where we were off to take a “ferry ‘cross the Mersey”. At this point we had to say goodbye to our good friend David who was going back to his life in Lancaster. We poked around and did some souvenier shopping in the official Beatle’s shop at the docking area there…then had a nice sort of round-trip sightseeing ride on the ferry—a bit windy…but no more rain.
Then it was back to The Pineapple to grab our bags and say goodbye to that home-away-from home and the nice people there.
Then it was Lime Street Station—Liverpool to Manchester to Bolton.
Olly and his parents picked us up in two cars, loaded the whole gang and our gear in, and took us to their nice (and large) home in Bolton. Then it was off to a grand meal at a Victorian coach house just outside of town—a big traditional meal in a big traditional setting….roast beef, yorkshire pudding ( I skipped the ‘black pudding’)…the works.
Then back to the Neasham house where we were immediately treated like family. Rod (Olly’s dad) pulled out his eclectic assortment of LP’s to play and Gail (Olly’s mom) pulled out her original pile o’ Beatles albums–first time I got to really look at one of those early issue boxes of the Let it Be album–with the book inside and all (only the 2nd time ever that this Beatle freak has even seen one of these books). So good day just being travellers and tourists.