Suitcases

On a whim, my uncle and his family - who were in London on holidays, came to see me in Liverpool. A long bus tour from the capital but the city presented them with some sun (!!) and I was very happy to see them.

I have been away from Italy for over six years and, the way things are now, chances are I am not going to go back. Your family goes on without you and you learn to live without them - but the love and the feeling that you have that something you are always going to share with them knows no boundaries.

It was so lovely to have a chat with them and talk about memories and people with all know. We also went to the Beatles Museum, had fish&chips, visited Chinatown and went for a walk on Albert Dock :)

And this is us: sitting on John King's 1998 sculpture, A Case History - in Hope Street, Liverpool. It's a group of various suitcase and luggage, all in concrete and scattered on the side of the road. They belong to known people linked with Liverpool - but to me it's more like an analogy with my life. Away from home but trying to make a home and feeling at home.  

Tourists in the 'Pool

Two of my best friends came all the way from Bologna this week end, including a flight in the early morning which means they are leaving Liverpool tonight at 2:30 am and that I appreciate... I had to do my best to make them enjoy their visit!

So we went for a typical roast dinner in the pub on Sunday - with roast beef, broccoli, spuds, Yorkshire pudding and gravy (the gravy and the broccoli did not go down well!) as well as a walk around the city.

Liverpool is one of the few city that has got two Cathedrals: the Metropolitan one, Catholic and the Anglican one. 

The Anglican is 189 mt long and it's the longest cathedral in the world; in terms of overall volume, Liverpool Cathedral ranks as the fifth-largest cathedral in the world. Believe me, it's massive - inside and out!

Here we are in front of the Catholic Cathedral, built in the 60's as a result of the the Catholic population of Liverpool increasing under the Irish influence. Ultra modern church that can accommodate more than 2,300 people - very different from all the churches we are used to in Italy so well worth a visit.

Photos by Michele - grazie! :D

When mother came to visit

Ryanair has kindly opened a new route: Manchester to Bologna! This has made me really happy and made it a lot easier for people to come see me in the UK...

First one to take this opportunity was MAMMA: she jumped on the plane, ready to cook and clean (thanks!) for a whole week for me and just to say "thanks" I bought ourselves some tickets to go and see "Let It Be - The musical"

They had people up and dancing in the whole theatre and it was a really good gig - they featured over 40 Beatles songs and, being in  Liverpool, it was no surprise everyone was up and singing! Thumbs up for the "Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band" bit when they wore the full clothes the Beatles had! 

Me and the mother posing in front of the poster in the Empire Theatre

Spring at Albert Dock

Liverpool is a really nice city to live in - and when the weather is nice, it's even better.

You can go for walk down at the Albert Dock (which I keep calling "Pier" after the one in Ireland but anyway...) - Wikipedia says:

Today the Albert Dock is a major tourist attraction in the city and the most visited multi-use attraction in the UK, outside of London. It is a vital component of Liverpool's UNESCO designated World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City and the docking complex and warehouses also comprise the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings anywhere in the UK.

... and we believe it :)

The sunset was stunning last night and I can really "smell" the spring coming...
Hope it's a good 'un!

The central part of the docks, where ships used to load and unload

The view from the Mersey onto the Wirral peninsula, just on the side side from Liverpool

Happy New Year (of the horse)!

Yes, I know... December is long gone but the Chinese come round in their own time.

Went down to celebrate Chinese New Year in Liverpool - which is allegedly the oldest Chinese community in Europe.

Saw the dragon, smelled the fireworks (I am really short), ate some siu mei (well, I think...) and browsed around the Asian supermarkets in city centre.  

Now I fancy some seaweed pringles. 

the Chinese arch in Liverpool 

and the dragon!