Air Malta has recently launched scheduled flights to Liverpool, the land of The Beatles. Bernard Busuttil formed part of a group of journalists that spent a few days touring the city.
The first thoughts that spring to mind when one mentions Liverpool are The Beatles, football and the docks. Going round the city one realises these conceptions are true and that the city has really capitalised on them in order to become a modern hub of tourism and culture.
Air Malta’s timing has never been so good as the introduction of flights to and from Liverpool coincides with the city’s 800th anniversary as well as the fact that it will share the title of European Capital of Culture in 2008. Malta’s national carrier has introduced two flights a week, on Mondays and Fridays.
Air Malta flew for the first time to Liverpool on Friday 4 May. At the Departures Lounge at the John Lennon Airport the first passengers bound to Malta were treated to a show by Celebrity Communications Limited and to an array of typical Maltese food, such as gbejniet, bigilla, stuffed olives, as well as Maltese wine.
The dancers performed a number of typical Maltese dances such as Il-Maltija and afterwards invited some passengers to take the floor.
The performers had preceded journalists to Liverpool as they had been called up to perform around the city. In fact they performed daily at selected venues around Liverpool with considerable success. Such shows bode well for Maltese tourism – the locals welcomed the performances with much warmth, and looked eager to know more about Malta. Credit must go to Air Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority for organising such activities.
History of Liverpool
Liverpool’s history is intertwined with the maritime and wartime fortunes of England. The city was founded in 1207 by King John (Robin Hood’s nemesis). The etymology of its name is a moot point; however, the most common theory revolves around a pool which was a tidal inlet. In addition, the water of this pool is believed to have been thick, and sluggish, with a reddish colour. These attributes reminded residents of liver; thus Liverpool.
That inlet was vital for the city, since it prospered because of its access to the Irish sea. Yet until the 16th century, the population still numbered only around 500. In the 17th century there was slow progress in trade and population growth, until the year 1699 when its first slave ship set sail for Africa. This evil business turned up to be a lucrative one as the city began to grow rapidly because of the handsome profits generated, and which helped in the development of Liverpool.
By the 19th century, Liverpool was a world hub of commerce, as 40 per cent of world trade was passing through it. Its population grew rapidly especially due to a massive influx of Irish immigrants, who were forced to leave their island due to the Great Famine of 1845-1849. In fact, immigration was so massive, that by 1851, approximately 25 per cent of the city’s populace was Irish-born.
Its current 400,000 strong population is just half of its pre-WWII population. Heavy bombing by the Luftwaffe, known as the Liverpool blitz, killed some 2,500 people and obliterated almost half the homes in the metropolitan area, forcing people to seek refuge in the suburbs. There, four boys that would drastically alter the course of musical history, were born.
Beatlemania
John, Paul, George and Richard (better known as Ringo) have left an everlasting mark on their city. In fact, the 1960s were a prosperous decade for the city as it sprang to fame because of the Beatles, and this was followed by the domestic and European successes of one of its football teams, Liverpool FC, with the other equally famous team being Everton.
Beatlemania is still running high in Liverpool and there are some must-see places that visitors cannot miss out on.
The first has to be The Beatles Story, a Beatles-themed museum that retraces the lives of the Sons of Liverpool. A visit to the place transports you back to the times, culture and music of the Beatles. And it is truly a journey as visitors are treated to a walk through various exhibits and recreated scenes, starting from reproductions of the Fab Four’s birth certificates passing through a reproduction of the Cavern club, entering a yellow submarine and ending in the white room, were John Lennon sang his masterpiece, Imagine. Among famous exhibits, there are Lennon’s iconic round spectacles, George Harrison’s first ever guitar and the world’s only blue White Album. During the walkabout, visitors are treated to the Living History, a highly informative audio guide narrated by John Lennon’s sister Julia.
Another important venue for Beatles fans is the haunt at 10 Mathew Street, The Cavern. This club was the prime showcase of the Merseybeat and of Liverpool’s various bands, one of which was The Beatles. From 21 March 1961 to 3 August 1963 they played a total of 292 times for about 25 shillings a session. It was during one such performance that Brian Epstein watched them perform and offered to become their manager. The club was open from 1957 and 1973 and around 1801 session were held there, with performers including Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. On 14 March 2001, a Wall of Fame was unveiled in front of the Cavern. The wall features 54 Liverpool number one chart hits since 1952 and was unveiled by the first artiste to reach No. 1: Lita Roza with her How Much Is That Doggie In The Window. The wall is obviously dominated by The Beatles, with 17 discs on the wall.
In the coming months, the Cavern will also open the first Beatles-themed hotel that will be named A Hard Day’s Night.
Landmarks
Liverpool’s skyline from across the River Mersey is dominated by the Three Graces of Liverpool. These are the Royal Liver Building, the Port of Liverpool Building and the Cunard Building.
The Royal Liver Building is famous for being one of the earliest examples of multi-storey reinforced concrete construction and was finished in 1911. However, it is most famous for the two Liver Birds which stand atop its clock towers. These birds are one of Liverpool’s best known symbols. Their origin is unknown, however it is thought that this mythical bird, whose name rhymes with diver, is a cross between a cormorant and an eagle.
Most Liverpudlians always point out that the clock faces are two-and-a-half feet larger in diameter than those of the Big Ben.
The second landmark, the Cunard Building, was built between 1914 and 1918 and were the headquarters of the Cunard Line until the 1960s.
The other is the Port of Liverpool Building, which was built in 1907 and that used to be the headquarters of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
These buildings are best admired from aboard a Mersey Ferry.
Liverpool’s skyline features also the Radio City Tower, a 450ft structure that offers breathtaking views of the city, and as far afield as Wales and the hills of Chester.
Two other landmarks are situated at the opposing ends of Hope Street. These are the Anglican Cathedral and the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral. The first is the largest Anglican Cathedral in the UK and the second largest in the world. Ironically it was designed by a Roman Catholic, while the Roman Catholic Cathedral was originally designed by an Anglican.
The Roman Catholic structure has a modern design, after previous designs proved to be too grandiose and costly to execute. Liverpudlians affectionately call it “Paddy’s Wigwam” because of its largely Irish Catholic congregation and its general resemblance to a teepee.
One of most famous landmarks of Liverpool is the Albert Dock which covers an area of 1.25 million square feet. It was opened in 1846 by Prince Albert and was a combined dock and warehouse system which was later upgraded to feature the world’s first hydraulic warehouse hoist system. It was built in cast iron, brick and stone and was also the first fire-proof warehousing system in the world. The Dock was closed down in 1972 and has since been transformed into one of the best places in town, housing the Tate Liverpool museum, a variety of nightclubs, bars and diners, as well as the Liverpool Museum.
Nightlife
Liverpool by night is definitely cool.
People generally divide their time between the area around Mathew Street and the surrounding clubs, and Albert Dock and its more exclusive venues.
At Mathew Street, visitors are really spoilt for choice as there are a wide variety of bars and pubs.
Those who prefer electronic music should seriously consider partying at the Albert Dock.
Bernard Busuttil was the guest of Air Malta.