Sunday
I decided a couple days ago to visit Liverpool as I had a desire to see the sea, and listen to the voice of the seagulls. I told to Mrs. Smith to go this weekend, and as our journey was delayed by the horse race, we decided to go on Sunday.
Below you can see how freezing the morning was. The second picture is the St. George's Hall in Liverpool. Click the pictures to enlarge.
We caught a bus from Chorlton Street Coach station, to Liverpool Central. It was 6,20GBP return for a person, which was good. The journey was only 51 minutes, (thanks for God, Liverpool is so close).
As we arrived the first thing I have heard, were the voices of the seagulls above me. We didn't have any map or directions, the only thing I knew that we must see Albert Dock and the Perch Rock Lighthouse.
Luckely, the city was made for tourists. You could see signs, and tourist information everywhere. The Albert Dock from the bus station was about 15 minutes walk, passing by the stunning St. George's Hall. 
Albert Dock pictures - Hoodies in Liverpool
Liverpool is the Capital of Culture in 2008 of Europe, and I think I can understand why. The city was nice, clean, and huge, and I don't know why It reminded me of London on some level. At Albert Dock, finally I could see the river Mersey, which was almost
1km wide at this point, and this was not even the widest part of the river. Difficult to imagine that it starts from Manchester (Stockport) and finds its way to the sea after 113km. The river was kinda gray, and despite what people say, it gets cleaner every year.
At Albert Dock, we went into the Maritime Museum, and Slavery exchibition, and also visited a war museum.
Then we have asked one man for directions, as I decided to use the ferry to cross the river and get to New-Brighton to see the lighthouse. After another short walk, we could buy our tickets which costed 4,3GBP each for all zone (bus, train, ferry, ships) in Liverpool for a whole day. Bargain, right?
A couple minutes from the ticket office there were two warships at the dock. These ships were in service, and they only docked for the weekend. There was allowed to go on the ships for some areas, and as we had 15 minutes till our ferry, we decided to get on board, and look around.
The ships were very similar to HMS Belfast (London - 1947) I have visited already in 2004, this ship's name was HMS Portland. We made a quick look around, surrounded and followed by mariners, and soldiers (with machine guns on their shoulder), then quickly left the vessel, and started to run all over the docks to catch our ferry (which goes in every hour only). I told to Mrs. Smith, we look like terrorists after placing bombs on the warship and try to run away. I was really hoping they will not gun us down :-)
Also made me think of the security gap of the Royal Navy, as nobody was checking our bags and they let us get on a warship in service.
Unfortunately we have just missed the ferry. One minute, that is how much we were late. We had to wait then for another hour, but in the meantime we were making many pictures and videos.
The hour passed by very quickly, then we could get on board of the mersey ferry. The Ferry was cruising along the bank of the river towards the sea, then reaching the Fort Perch Rock it turned back on the river and arrived further back, on the shortest distance from the departure point on the other side. During the cruise we had some introduction about the service (It runs for 600 years), and about Liverpool also. The whole journey was about 40 minutes.
On the other side, we asked for directions again as we still didn't have a map. If you travel without a map and you are depending on other people makes you realize how nice are others. Everybody was very helpful with us, and they explained everything very detailed way.
We got on a bus from the ferry station (we had to wait about 30 minutes), and in about 20 minutes ride we found ourselves at the foot of Fort Perch Rock.
Seeing the lighthouse tower growing out from the sand/sea really got me. When we got there it was low tide, therefore the lighthouse tower was standing on the ground, surrounded by rocks (which were covered with algae, it made them green). Also around there were many small paddles filled with sea water. These made the whole area very peacful, and relaxing.
When the tide comes, the foot of the tower stands in water, and emerges from it.
The Perch Rock Lighthouse was secured from one side by wave breaker bricks, which were running into the sea for a long distance. The other side was the river Mersey falling in to the sea.
Mr. John Smith is at the Perch Rock
We have made many pictures, however the weather was not the best. It changed a lot even in those about 2 hours we stayed there. At the end it was hail, and hailstones were covered all over the shore.
Not Far from the lighthouse there were a couple people fishing. We went there and ask them about that, because it was difficult to understand how can they catch anything in this weather, and in low tide. They were very nice, and explained that there are many fishes around in the water, easy to catch, and opposite to hungarian habbits, they dont wanna eat the caught fishes, but put them back to the sea. The reason, they said, the river/sea is too poisoned at this part, and they wouldn't like to eat fish from here.
They let me to make a photo of them, and we continued our journey, as the weather was incredible cold. We also noticed if you stood for a couple minutes in one place, the sand below you started to became soft, and you began to sink. It was quite scary. :-)
The Fishermen, who were referring themselves as MENTAL because they catch fish just for fun.
We went closer to see the Fort also, but had no feelings to get inside, all we wanted is to grab a cup of hot tea, so decided to catch the bus back to the ferry.
From here, there was quite easy journey to home. The ferry took us back to the other side of Mersey, then we went back to the bus station the same way. We could catch an earlier bus, and arrived back to our flat in Manchester just right after 8pm.
I have to tell, this lighthouse and the whole area was the most stunning, and most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. You felt the time just stopped, and forgot all the troubles made your life miserable. It was perfect relaxation, and perfect peace around.
For me this was the place I only saw in movies, but always wanted to experience myself. It was even beyond belief.
