Eurovision is everywhere in Liverpool.
From banners on streetlights and famous monuments transformed to the t-shirts and scarves worn by the fans who've flocked here from all corners of Europe, the song contest feels embedded in the very fabric of the city.
Somehow it's only been a week since the stunning launch event featuring Eurotopia and the Blue and Yellow Submarine parade. In that time the sense that we're living in Eurovision city has only grown, gathering momentum with each event from the amazing semi-finals at the M&S Bank Arena to Sophie Ellis-Bextor's show-stopping appearance at John Lewis.
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We always knew Liverpool would be a Eurovision host like no other - but you don't need to take our word for it. Fans we've spoken to across the city and at the Eurovision Village have been virtually unanimous in their praise, while semi-final host Scott Mills said: "I'm not just saying this. In terms of what's going on and how visible the contest is, this is the best host city ever."
Eurovision boss Martin Österdahl went even further - suggesting we should host EVERY year. While we know Martin's tongue is slightly in his cheek there, his fulsome praise is testament to the amazing efforts of Culture Liverpool and the city as a whole in welcoming Europe with open arms.
That visibility is key to what's made Liverpool so special over the last week. While no one can doubt that London, for example, would make a fine job of staging the grand final and the other set-piece events, few other places could so fully become Eurovision as Liverpool has.
No one could be here this week and not be aware something big was happening. No one but the most hard-hearted could be anything other than excited by the colour on our streets or the enthusiasm of Eurovision fans and the city's LGBTQ+ communities - with our LGBTQ+ reporter Paul McAuley sharing his own experience of "pure love, laughter and passion."
Love. Laughter. Passion. Let's embrace them all and have the party of our lives - in our city which could have been built for the occasion.
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