Monday 7th July: After short drive into Liverpool via beautiful Chester, the industrial scenes around the Wirral and the slick Merseyside tunnel, and we arrived at the Albert Dock, in the 2008 European Cultural Centre, Liverpool. Immense civic buildings on the edge of the Mersey estuary demonstrate days-gone-by prosperity from shipping industry at this world heritage shipping port. But the docks have now been revolutionized, with shops, arenas, galleries, museums and many other tourism facilities. We managed to see the 'Beatles Story' and the 'Tate Liverpool' gallery, as well as check out the interesting shops, and watch the yachts en route on a oceanic race. Apparently on the following weekend, they were expecting 70 tall ships also in the dock!
Sunday 20th July: This chateau is in good condition, but is still under restoration, however, the interior has been very well preserved, and portrays extravagance and an idea of life in the 17th century for royalty in France. We learned that this was one of the first dining rooms ever built as the French typically ate on occasional tables in living rooms. An example of a menu back then included Pigeon Soup! Every inch of the wall and ceilings were covered in art, such as this huge ceiling painting by Le Brun. Louis XIV played backgammon here, agruably! Apparently the kitchen was still operational until the late 1950s! There are candles everywhere, which are lit for evening openings in the summer, and sometimes classical music is played. Next time we'll go in the evening. Very interesting.
