23rd to 25th of April, 2017.
I arrive in Liverpool late at night, around eleven. I have the map from the station to the Hostel (Yha!) but of course I got a little lost.
The reason for which I did not try to get a Couchsurfing it is because I would spend just two nights and one day here plus I already had every second of my trip planned, so that is not how you should behave when you are looking for a CS host.
Until I get in there, passing through the streets I could see two totally different cities: the tiny one, about the pubs and crazy night life; and the biggest one, just a few blocks away, a normal regular city, which sleeps very early.
The Yha Hostel is the cheapest one that I found and it is very well located, near to the docks, easy to be find. It is a huge place. The rooms are very good for the price, very clean and with good bathrooms. The atmosphere is quite similar of the other hostels like that: the focus are the youth / backpackers, so there are vibrant colours, with a lot of thoughts and pictures about travelling. The breakfast is included (and served in the biggest room I ever saw from hostels until now) and there is a lot of stuff! I even took some fruits and yogurt for later. People are nice and friendly but unfortunately when I had a problem with my computer (it was not get connection) they did not know how to help me. But it was just that.
But lets still talk about my first night. I have to eat in the McDonald’s at the corner because it is the only place open around. I really thought I would have to order a chicken or a fish lunch, because I was too starving to have just the fries but luckily (yes, I did not know that), they have this vegetarian lunch and with some French fries and a juice I paid less than four Pounds. I know, it is still a McDonald’s, but for one night it saved my life.
Early in the morning, I start my journey. With the bike, I had a plan to follow that make sense according where I am starting: The five Beatles’ houses (Ringo had two); Strawberries Field (… Forever – I cannot help myself); Penny Lane; The church about Eleanor Rigby; The Yellow Submarine; The Docks, The Statue of them; and The Cavern (both of them). I never get that much lost! It took me the whole day to going around. Of course there are tours which can bring you all over those places but I do not think it worth! Walking or cycling you can enjoy the middle time to know better the city. You just have to plan a little better than me. Or you can divide the places in two days and might see the museum in the Docks and more places in town that are not related with them. I assure you it will worth!
I have lunch in a East Asian Hawker Food restaurant, called Tiger Rock and even go crazy and ordered a glass of white wine. Very good food! You might just need to know to ask without chili and you will be fine. I did not know that.
If you decide to check out The Cavern Club at night, try to get there early because it is always fool, every single day. And pay attention to go to the original one. Yeah, there are two: The one where The Beatles actually plaid and the smaller new sister (not that much busy). I do the mistake of going to the sister first and stay there for a while so when I find the original one, I am so tired that I just stay for a few minutes. They play live music in both places every night. And actually you can also play, just have to put your name in the list.
Liverpool is a a beautiful city with all those old amazing buildings around the Docks (you just have to be careful and not be gone with the wind). Unfortunately, I have this feeling that the city is all about The Beatles but, as I mentioned in the Stratford-upon-Avon post, not in a good way. I think that apart that, it is a quite normal city.
From Liverpool, I decide do not take a train directly to Glasgow, and stop in the middle of the way, for different reasons. My plans are look for a job and them share a flat with someone. So at this point, I have been looking for a roommate and some host to stay by CS until I finally find someone. Because of that, I need stay somewhere before Glasgow just for a couple of days and, luckily, to arrange that.