Monday, 15 February 2010

A tourist in your own city.

The other week, when we were in Liverpool, we saw a group of Spanish tourists waiting at the train station. We then started talking about what it must be like to see Liverpool for the first time, and to be a tourist in Liverpool. Growing up on the outskirts of Liverpool, we obviously can't even remember the first time we saw it and take things like The Albert Dock, the Mersey, the Liver Birds, the TWO cathedrals, for granted. So, for Valentines day we decided to go on The Yellow Duckmarine tour around the city.

45/365

I couldn't really get many good photos while we were on the tour, because of the weird plastic sheeting over it, but look at the duckmarine! They're from World War II, created by the Americans specifically for use in the D-Day landings because they can go on both water and land. Now, over 60 years later, they're ferrying tourists around Liverpool and the docks. It was really fun - the tour guide was typically scouse, full of funny anecdotes and facts.

Albert dock

After the tour, we went for a wander around the Albert Dock. Whenever we go around the Albert Dock, we always reminisce about our childhood. My Grandad always used to bring us on days out, and Scott said it was a favourite day out for his Dad take them on too. We remember when Fred the Weatherman used to do the weather on the floating map of the UK and when he fell in and when there was the streaker! And of course visiting the Maritime Museum, and climbing on the huge anchor outside it.

Albert Dock

Me

We went and visited the Tate for another dose of culture. I love visiting the Tate, it always has such great exhibitions on that are mostly all free. In fact, all the museums in Liverpool are free to enter, which is pretty rare these days. Liverpool must be such a good city to be a tourist in I think though. I can't wait for the Museum of Liverpool to open too. We also decided that we're next going to go to the top of the Anglican Cathedral, because it has the best views of all the city apparently. 

I know this probably all reads like an advert for Liverpool, but that's because I really do love it! Have you ever gone on a sightseeing tour of your own city? 
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27 comments:

  1. Hi there, I'm new to your blog but I used to love your updates on thehighstreet on lj. I found you through one of my blog followers.

    I really love this idea and I think I'm going to do it myself. I've been living in Newcastle for almost 2 years and I used to commute her for a long time before that yet I've never done any of the tourist things! Thank you so much for the great idea. I love the idea of the duck tours, they have them in NYC too but we never did them.

    Love, Amy Marie // http://seventysevenbroadway.blogspot.com

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  2. The Duckmarine is amazing! :D I live in London so it would be silly of me NOT to do the touristy thing at some point! x

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  3. oh my city is also a tourist spot especially in the summer. I like it but get really bored of being here and want to moove, anyway when I see the tourist I often get thinking of how it would be if I wasn't born and raised here :)
    ah and liverpool seems really beautiful!
    x

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  4. I love Liverpool too! I live about 20 minutes away but I've never been on the duckmarine tour (always wanted to though, I love seeing it drive past when I'm walking around town!).
    I graduated in the Anglican, it's lovely in there and they have a little cafe, cute!

    http://emeraldgreen88.blogspot.com

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  5. Hey I just found your blog! I love these pictures, I have never been outside of my country except to go to Canada. :)

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  6. I did this around Bristol once, it was such a great way to see otherwise forgotten parts of the city!

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  7. My best friend lives in an apartment right by the Albert Docks! I love going over to visit her and seeing the Tate and that whole area! And I remember the weatherman falling in AND the streaker on this morning too!;)

    Liverpool is a great city for tourists, definitely. What with all the Beatles stuff as well. Belfast, I guess you could call it my "home city", it's not got the best array of things for tourists to do but it's getting better! There's a black taxi-cab tour that takes you round all the scary murder-places which is pretty eerie, but interesting!

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  8. That's a fun way of celebrating Valentine's day. I like your coat, btw. =)

    Happy V-day!

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  9. How fun! Liverpool looks lovely.

    I'm all for being a tourist in your own city. My city isn't a great tourist city (as far as public transport, tours and friendliness are concerned), but there are some lovely historical places hidden away that are fun to go visit. :)

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  10. This is a grea idea, thank you for sharing! I need to go to more UK cities, it's not always all about london after all! x

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  11. Great pics! I've lived in Washington, DC for many years, and my boyfriend and I love to be tourists in our city too. Most of our museums are free also; isn't it great?

    Seeing my city through the eyes of all the tourists who come here helps me to remember what's great about it (which is especially good to do when you're sick of crowded metro trains, delays, noise, and hectic city living in general). You remember how beautiful it is and how special!

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  12. i often go to the tourist attractions in my city but have yet to go on the open top bus...but what a great idea! especially for v day too

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  13. that sounds so fun!

    this past summer my good friend Isaac and I were so bored that we sort of decided to be tourists in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. we went to most of the museums, fun areas of town (there's a beautiful area of St. Paul with gorgeous old victorian houses from the early 1900s), restaurants, etc. we definitely saw more than most kids do over the summer

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  14. Ooh I didn't realise you were from Liverpool! Me too. Lovely post, really shows off some of the delights of the city.

    I don't do nearly as much touristy stuff as I should, I think as a result of working in the tourism/heritage sector - anything Beatles related is too much like work! I do love a simple walk around the city though, particularly the Georgian Quarter. And there's always something interesting going on here, tis a lovely place to live.

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  16. How great! The Duckmarine looks pretty intense and intimidating- I'm sure I would've loved going on that tour though!

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  17. I have never before gone on a sightseeing tour of my own city but it sounds like a wonderful idea! Loving these pictures!! :)

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  18. I LOVE doing this! Last weekend the Mr and I had a weekend 'away' in York, a city we both grew up only 20 mins away from. I know York like the back of my hand but we did the whole tourist thing and it was such fun!

    I've never been to Liverpool properly. It looks like a fantastic city. :)

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  19. what a great idea to be a tourist in your own city!

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  20. We have boats like that in Seattle too, I've always wanted to ride one. You make me want to hop on a plane for England. It looks amazing! I'd definetly be one of those people creeping around Beatles haunts
    -indigo

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  21. I can't wait to visit Liverpool someday, it looks wonderful! And the duckmarine is SO cute!! :D

    http://playingdressupwithkellie.blogspot.com/

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  22. I love Liverpool! I had to take my little cousins sight seeing in London, I've lived here all my life but they had never been...they got so excited! I think most of the stuff I had a done before , usually on school trips etc.
    God the floating map should come back, that was the only point that I watched the weather on tv! x

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  23. ive lived in london since i came over here with my family 25 years ago... but never did any of the tourists things... i was thinking about taking my daughter to see the london attractions this easter hols :)

    sometimes you need to reconnect with your city through different eyes to fall back in love with it.

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  24. ohhhh i just stumbled across your blog, and its made me so homesick! in a good way though - it makes me look forward to coming home

    xxx

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  25. That's actually a good idea. I mean, now that I think about it, I don't know much about my city.....

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  26. I would love to visit Liverpool! Looks like a great time and your pics are lovely. I have visited a few towns around D.C. Its a lot of fun to take mini adventures.

    inbugsdrawers.blogspot.com

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  27. Wow, my Uncle lives in Southport, so I've been to Liverpool once or twice, but it's nice to see places through other people's eyes. It makes me want to go there again.

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