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| The Waterfront - Liverpool - Photo:RandiAa© |
Part Two: FRIDAY JULY 29TH
My Programme this day (at least - most of it): 1.Memorial Service for the victims of Oslo terror, St Nicholas Church - 2.A Visit to The Pier Head and The Three Graces with June, Russell, Kristin, Kirsten and Robert - 3. Our Family Gathering and dinner in the Nordic Centre. 4. My evening walk in Albert Dock and Waterfront Area.
I started out early by myself this morning - just in front of me walked this imposing couple:
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Photo:RandiAa©
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In fact Liverpool astonished me, to all hours it looked like a nice and safe city, I saw no drunkards, drug addicts, beggars in the streets - streets were also clean and tidy. (I know: this is what my eyes noticed)
This day at 12.15 we were to attend a service at the St Nicholas church, to pay respect to the people of Norway after the recent happenings around Oslo - this was a peaceful and good hour. A Kvæfjord football-team of young boys also attended the sermon.
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| St Nicholas with lowered Norwegian flag - Photo:RandiAa© |
After the sermon a journalist from the Liverpool ECHO interviewed me.
After this arrangement Russell took us to some beautiful sights at Pier Head and the Waterfront area - we had just time for this before our family-gathering was to take part at 3.p.am.
Liverpool - short history:
The River Mersey (more photos from Tower-view later) is essential to the city, and the port that was founded on its banks. The "pool"-name originates from 1207 when king John built a church and a castle. But for many years the nearby Chester was far more important. Liverpool won the "competition" from the 1650's, industry based on local coal, glass and salt was a basic feature. During the 18th century wealthy Liverpool families spent money on shipping, trade and the busy port. Also the slave-trade gave wealth to the city...but during the 20th century, the wars competition from other cities brought decline; not until the 1960s with the Beatles, cultural events, new architecture, museums, galleries and art was new life and exciting life brought to Liverpool again
Russell took us to The Pier Head - a proud sight at the Waterfront. This was Liverpool's departure point for passenger shipping. An enormous amount of people boarded ships her in search of The American Dream.
We admired both from the outside and the inside the famous "Three Graces" named after the three daughters of Zeus who represented Festivity, Abundance and Splendour:the Royal Liver building, the Port of Liverpool Building and the Cunard Building.
To be seen in the background here:
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| Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Royal Liver Building - Liverbird on top- Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Royal Liver Building - Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Port of Liverpool Building - Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Port of Liverpool Building - Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Port of Liverpool Building - Photo:RandiAa© |
The Cunard Building is the last one of the Three Graces. - Also located at the Pier Head and designed by the architects William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell. The style is a glorious blend of Italian Renaissance and Greek Revival.
From start about 1914 up to 1960s it was the headquarters of Cunard Line, and the place from where thousands of passengers were sent off to America. Today, the building is owned by the Merseyside Pension Fund and several public and private organisations are located in the building.
The interior is decorated with marbles from Pentelic and Carrara quarries:
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| Kirsten, Russell and Robert outside The Cunard Building - Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Cunard Building - Photo:RandiAa© |
Our gathering started in the Gustav Adolf Church - Scandinavian Seaman's Church at 2 p.am:
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| Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Nordic Church upstairs sermon room - Photo:RandiAa© |
We were about thirty-five persons, various ages, the youngest was a sweet six weeks baby, Rosa. The majority had not met earlier, so there were hundreds of questions exchanged around tables and in all corners - people came from England, the USA (California), from Spain, and from Norway where the Stene originally derived from. My great-great-great grandparents Jon Olsen Stene born 1804 and Ingeborg Anna Røstadbakken born 1804 was the "source" for this gathering. One of their sons, Peder Jonsen Stene born 1838, emigrated to Liverpool, England. He was the brother of my great-great grandfather Ole Jonsen Stene. The English branch of the Stenes called themselves Steen over there.
The first exciting hour was spent with greetings and "Who are you?", "How are we related" - tables and photos pinned up on one wall were studied. There was even arranged a Skype-session with some that were not able to attend the gathering, but wanted to "join" us anyway..
How nice to mingle with all my distant relatives.......
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| Getting to know distant relatives - Photo:RandiAa© |
There was excellent food arranged for by the Norwegian staff at the Nordic Centre, and vine and beer to go with it:
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| Photo:RandiAa© |
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| Photo:RandiAa© |
After hours of talking, eating, hugging and socializing, I went for a little late-evening photo-walk by myself in the Albert Dock and Waterfront area, Friday evening, but I felt quite safe among all people around me in this lovely summer evening in Liverpool:
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The interesting area near by my hotel
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The new Museum of Liverpool is an amazing building, I see the same architectural style in Norway in the Opera House Oslo, and The Rockheim Museum, a blend of those two.
More about the Museum.
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| Photo:RandiAa© |
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| Albert Salt House Bridge - Photo:RandiAa© |
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| The Liverpool Wheel - Photo:RandiAa© |
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| Albert Dock area - Photo:RandiAa© |
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| Albert Dock area - Photo:RandiAa© |
Also see - Liverpool - Part One: THURSDAY JULY 28TH
Also see - Liverpool - Part Two: FRIDAY JULY 29TH
Also see - Liverpool - Part Three: SATURDAY JULY 30TH - The Great Photo Walk 1
Also see - Liverpool - Part Four: SATURDAY JULY 30TH - The Great Photo Walk 2
Also see - Liverpool - Part Five: SATURDAY JULY 30TH - The Great Photo-Walk-3
Also see - Liverpool - Part Six: SUNDAY JULY 31ST - My last day in Liverpool
See more pictures:
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