Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
36 Hours in Liverpool ...
OK, so I am kinda cheating by looking up "36 hours in ... " Liverpool and this is what I find out. Liverpool is 800 years old and last year it was the 2008 European Capital of Culture! I can tell you that the redbrick city definitely is full of culture! A town with pubs on every corner and mid-block with really cute names such as the Pig and Whistle, Fly in the Bread, Head of Steam, The Farmers Arms says alot about a people. I highly recommend stepping into shops with names such as "Hairy Records" where one can find old vinyls and where top chefs offer amazingly tastey fare at "Everyman Bistro" (which is really really good, by the way).
Real Cost of Trendy
Today we visited an area that been experiencing gentrification for about 20 years. Along the majestic Princes Avenue of the Toxteth area of Liverpool, people whose beautifully built homes over 100 years ago that once created thriving neighborhoods and buildings of merchants catering to the Black and minority ethnic communities are encouraged to sell their aging
infrastructure in order to create new and trendy areas that will bring in new money, new resources and ultimately new people. Those who choose not to sell have been systematically forced out by removing community development centers and other institutions that instill, encourage and nurture responsibility for the good of all.
We've been asked to think about the price of new and trendy. To do this, one must factor in social cost too.
infrastructure in order to create new and trendy areas that will bring in new money, new resources and ultimately new people. Those who choose not to sell have been systematically forced out by removing community development centers and other institutions that instill, encourage and nurture responsibility for the good of all.We've been asked to think about the price of new and trendy. To do this, one must factor in social cost too.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Ugly and the Beautiful
The Ugly: We learned that although Liverpool entered the slave trade last after Bristol, London, and others in England, it became the richest, premier, first city of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade industry. It still has the money and buildings to prove it. The addiction for sugar quickly turned into cotton, tobacco and other natural goods from the Americas. Back and forth: Humans shipped west, raw materials shipped east, and finished products shipped back west. Liverpoolian (Liverpudlians, Lerpoolians, Liverpolitans, or Scousers) merchants raked in millions of pounds per trip.
The Beautiful: One of the amazingly good things that resulted from the trade exchanges: The mix of people from all over the world, African, Chinese, Irish, Caribbean have created a beautiful city. Different histories, shared experiences emerged with a new energy, a new way of expressing themselves. From its music scene to its graffiti art, Liverpool holds more than I had imagined.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Penny Lane
After dinner this evening, I went for a walk in search of the Beatles' Penny Lane as our residence hall is only a few streets away. Three of us found it after about 20 minutes. Actually, it not really that long. Its narrow with row houses off of one side and a nice green space on the other. What makes Penny Lane special is that there is a pub at the very top of the road where the original blokes would meet at night and create some amazing music. As we walked down the street, three Irish grade school teachers, just coming back from a soccer (football) match offered to take our pix next to the Penny Lane sign. As two joined us, the third took our pic only to be stopped by a person driving by offering to get out of their car to take all of our pix; making the lyrics come right to life:
....In penny lane there is a barber showing photographs, Of every head he's had the pleasure to know, And all the people that come and go, Stop and say hello.
....In penny lane there is a barber showing photographs, Of every head he's had the pleasure to know, And all the people that come and go, Stop and say hello.
AfricaOye
On Sunday afternoon (June 21) , I listened to great sounds of music from Africa in Sefton Park just a few blocks from our residence hall. AfricaOye is the biggest live free African Music Festival in the UK. http://www.africaoye.com/
The sky was grey, and the temperature was cool. But that did nothing to stop everyone from having a wonderful afternoon in the park. They told me the reason for the popularity was because it is world music. Liverpool is an entry point for new groups first coming into the country; and subsequently, its well known for its amazing music culture.
The sky was grey, and the temperature was cool. But that did nothing to stop everyone from having a wonderful afternoon in the park. They told me the reason for the popularity was because it is world music. Liverpool is an entry point for new groups first coming into the country; and subsequently, its well known for its amazing music culture.
Everyone was happy, dancing and jamming.
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