August 19, 2024

I'm in Liverpool!

Ship still in Belfast! Things still a wee bit upside down, but I'm having fun! They need a little bit more time to get our final inspections approved to sail and hotel rooms were scarce and at a premium due to Music Festivals in Belfast, so Friday night they flew 27 of us to Liverpool  (just a 35 minute flight on Easy Jet! ) & 6 more joined us via Ferry today. We are all here till Tuesday, exploring the city. It's a lively place, very walkable with tons of weddings, Stag & Hen parties, all going on! Lots of shopping, outdoor bars & cafes and friendly faces! And of course the Beatles Magic is everywhere! ( Above is upside down house Fun with my new deck neighbor Shirene.)

Our hotel is right across from the port and Michael Jackson stayed here while doing a concert, 35 years ago this week - up on the 12th floor. Building looks like a record turntable and cost of rooms a fraction of Belfast cost. Saturday was bright and sunny and I covered most of city by doing a Hop On Off Bus and walking. Below are some of the highlights.

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SHIP SHENANIGANS - CLUE PARTY

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
It's never a dull Sea Day on the Odyssey! We have such creative residents, that are always coming up with new ideas to entertain ourselves and have a good time. This plot was the calculating of Eddie and Michelle - a Game of Clue! The rules were simple - find the party venue at 8:30 pm, come dressed as a character, weapon or room from the game and solve the mystery of who stole the Ship's bell.

TERRACOTTA ARMY - XI'AN, CHINA

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
In March of 1974, some local farmers outside Xi'An, China are digging a well and accidentally hit one of the great archaeological sites in the World! They were paid one day's wages for the find, roughly 4 USD! The Terracotta Army was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World by France's President in 1980 when he came to visit and wanted to meet the farmers, the oldest was then, 89 years old.

XI'AN, CHINA - WALLED CITY

By Pat Patrick • September 15, 2026
Xi'An, China has been on my must do list , for awhile. The story of the Terracotta Army has fascinated me, since I first heard it. What I didn't know too much about, was the actual City of Xi'An and the walled inner City that remains today. It was built from 1370 to 1378 during the Ming dynasty on top of the older Tang dynasty foundations. There are 9 miles of City walls, they are 39' high, 45' to 50' wide at the top and 55' to 60' at the base. There are four main gate towers and the only draw bridge restored is at the South Gate. There are 98 ramparts, watchtowers, battlements and a wide surrounding moat. It one of the oldest and best preserved fortifications in China .