Showing posts with label TRaVeL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TRaVeL. Show all posts

Saturday, 13 April 2013

Ibiza - part 4 (Accosted by 3 Ladies from Leeds)

My last night in Ibiza had arrived. It had been a great 4 days and it was a Friday night. What to do?
I went down stairs to the hostal bar for some food and a beer to contemplate. I'd said hello to a group of ladies by the pool earlier in the day and they came into the bar and sat opposite. We got chatting, Rachel, Abi and Lauren were from Leeds. They asked me to come and sit with them.....the night had begun! :-)

                                                                    Rachel

The drinks started to flow...................................................................................

                                                          Lauren and Abi

It was then decided that we should go into town................................................


                                                            Straws = Cocktails

Cocktail time......................................................................................................

                                                                   Oh Dear!!

Random drinks..................................................................................................

                                                                     No idea!!

This led to dancing.............................................................................................
I will always remember this night when I hear this song!
Rihanna - Diamonds
I actually danced and sang to this bad boy!!???
It felt good at the time! ;-))))

                                                            Dancing = Drunk
This led to falling over!
Not me, Lauren, fell over and managed to fracture a rib!
We carried on drinking.......................................................................................
We went into a bar inhabited by really tall people!!

                                                          They were 8 foot tall!!
We carried on drinking......................................................................................
It was the early morning before we went in search of food..................................

                                                                 
Before we headed back to the hostal and continued drinking in the girl's room.

I retired to my room at about 4am after a fun filled night.
Safe in the knowledge I had at least four hours sleep before having to travel home by bus and plane absolutely 'hanging out my arse.'

They say a picture can say a thousand words!
I'm smiling to myself as I look at these on this blog post. :-))
A great end to a fabulous break.

Cost =
Ryanair flights £55 return
Hostal Marino £80 (£20 per night)

Benefits = Priceless
Fun
Sun
Good Times




Friday, 12 April 2013

Ibiza - part 3 (Cafe Del Mar)

The best things in life are free!! 

Sitting on the steps leading down to the sea outside of Cafe Del Mar and watching the sunset....wow!
The birds were just flying in and out of shot, dancing and floating on the air currents.
Managed to bag this shot! I love it! 
I now have it on my desk, I just have to look at it, close my eyes and I'm there.

A beer in hand, 
sun shining on my face,
 as free as a bird, 
without a care in the world! :-)


Such a beautiful view!
It's difficult to describe how peaceful it all felt just sat there, when normally your day is so hectic you barely have time to eat your lunch.


Go and see it for yourself, you will not be disappointed! :-))

There is only one song - Energy 52 Cafe Del Mar


Sunday, 7 April 2013

Ibiza - part 2

I slept ok but forgot about the number one rule of travel - always bring ear plugs - I'd looked at them at home but hadn't bothered to pack them? Mmmm! A couple of disturbances through the night but nothing too bad.First things first, open the curtains to see sunshine! Yeah! The weather in Ibiza is unpredictable at this time of year so a big win! A quick snack and plenty of water and time to head off for a run.


Ibiza is ideal for off road/trail running and biking, something I never really appreciated the other times I'd been here. I ran from the Hostal down to the sea and along the coastal path. It was absolutely stunning!

This then ended with a quick dip in the sea...................fookin freezin!! ;-)))
I felt wide awake though!!

As expected, I got lost on the way back to the Hostal. A short 30 minute run ended up being a nice 45 minutes. I had nothing much planned for the rest of the day so it wasn't that much of an issue.
I had booked the trip at the last minute and mainly just to get a bit of sun and have a rest, read and reflect on a variety of things. A run always clears my mind and sets me up for the day.

I'd managed to read some of Book One of the Murakami novel IQ84, the title being a reference to Orwell's 1984,' which in typical Murakami style involves the use of magical dreamlike phenomena and using the device of a parallel dimension into which characters slip through cracks or portals. The novel starts by one of the main protagonists, Aomane, going down an emergency staircase leading down from a city expressway which leads into a different time zone with two moons...she realizes things will never be the same! 

It has also been described as an epic romance and also addresses the issue of cults in Japanese culture,
'At least two cults are active in this story. One is a Christian sect known as the Society of Witnesses, whose pamphleteering members refuse lifesaving surgery. The second cult is more Aum-ish and more mysterious. It is called Sakigake (which might mean "forerunner", "precursor", or "pioneer"), and from two wounded escapees we hear some very nasty things about its leader.

As a big Murakami fan I am loving this book.

A pleasant wander into town and then a siesta before going downstairs to watch the football with the locals. I love siestas, I think I might have Spanish blood in me! I'd talked to Dan the previous night and he was there again to watch the football. It was Real Madrid v Galatasaray so the bar was pretty busy. One of the main reasons I love to travel is the opportunity to meet people you would never meet in your normal walk of life. It feels refreshing to think that, I would never have met this person if I hadn't traveled here, and this is definitely a big plus of stopping in hostels as it attracts a wide variety of interesting characters. A bit like a novel waiting to be written!

It turns out that Dan is writing a guide book to Ibiza, he is a trained cocktail barmen, he is interested in the same art as I am and he is a mad Daft Punk fan. I had been wearing a Daft Punk tee shirt when I first met him...coincidence or fate? Anyway, he was a lovely chap and we ended the night drinking rather large Rum and Cokes which were ridiculously cheap. A great day and night! I was also quite merry without spending a great deal of money. #Win :-))






Thursday, 4 April 2013

Ibiza - Part 1





Usual last minute rush! I will never change unfortunately. Got the Bus Link to East Midlands Airport.
Arrived in plenty of time for the flight and no baggage to check in. Flying Light, so to speak. In the queue for customs got chatting to a guy, as you do when you are waiting. It turned out he worked for Talk Sport and he was a DJ, banter ensued. A lovely chap indeed, Geoff Peters, it felt like a good omen for the trip ahead. Time for a quick ceremonial pint in the Departure's Bar and then the crazy queue to get on the plane. Ryanair, it is what it is - #cheap #cheerful #cattleClass #doesTheJob and then £5 for a can of lager!
The flight however, was only £50 return! I was going to go to Brighton but that would have cost me £70 just to get there and back #NoBrainer!!

The flight was only two hours and fifteen minutes and mainly uneventful bar for a wobbly landing before the trumpets announced our safe arrival on time.I was longing to feel the warmth on leaving the air conditioned atmosphere of the plane. It has been so cold this year in the UK. Beautiful sunshine and warmth if a tad breezy but heaven indeed!

A quick queue through customs and then to sit outside and wait for the bus to Eivissa (Ibiza Town). For the first time in a long while the 45 minute wait for a bus didn't matter so much as I was sat in the sun....My God I have missed you Mr Sun!!!! I had a wait for the bus to San Antonio so just sat in a square with fountains by the bus stop. It was about 6pm and full of people enjoying the evening sun. Relaxing after work, reading, friends chatting and children running around the open space.

The short bus ride to San Antonio took about 20 minutes, now to find Hostal Marinio. From experience, I should have just got a taxi but memories are short. After an hour of walking/asking people who could barely understand my northern attempt at Spanish/going the wrong way/ I finally found my destination. I was greeted by the proprietor of the establishment and made to feel extremely welcome. The Hostal is a family run concern - Hostal Marino - Hostelworld link
I was given my room key's and told to put my stuff in the room and come down and have a beer and tapas and watch the football with the locals. A quick freshen up and down I went.

Barcelona v PSG was the game on TV and Ibiza is a Barcelona stronghold (they speak a form of Catalan on the island). The atmosphere was cracking as the game was a close 2-2 draw! The beer was ridiculously cheap at 2 euro 50 a pint and free tapas provided. I decided on the spot that I could live here.I got chatting to a guy called Dan at the bar. He was a fluent Spanish speaker (mucho jealous) he had been born in Spain but now lived in the UK so I didn't feel to bad. We talked about the usual stuff, football, travelling, music and the general news. The game finished and I went to my room to chill and reflect on what had been a fantastic day. :-))






Sunday, 31 October 2010

Ghana


Teaching in Ghana was an unusual but amazing experience!
The main problem was the language barrier and the cultural differences.
The kids will smile and pretend they understand what you are saying rather than question or ask for help.

Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Identity

Went to London at the weekend.
Stopped in Camden in what can only described as a shithole which cost £70
Had a ace weekend and went to see Noel Fielding do a gig @ Just the Tonic Comedy Club on Saturday night in a tiny venue in Leicester Square. I took some footage but for some reason it won't upload!
Managed to meet him afterwards to say hello! He has bleach blond hair at the moment which looks strange.
"I asked for Billy Idol and got Pat Butcher" is how he described it.
On the Sunday, it was really sunny so we walked upto Camden Locks and had lunch.
We also went to The Identity Project which explored the idea of the self and who we are.
A really thought provoking exhibition which is well worth a visit if you are in London.




Saturday, 6 March 2010

The Beauty of Music :-D

Ace of Base


What can I say...
Early nineties cheesy Europop!!
However,
Whenever I hear the song..All That She Wants
I am immediatelly transported back to Romania 2009, on holiday,
 sat in a park, on a sunny afternoon, drinking beer with my mates!!
For 2 hours we listened to the best of Ace of Base..hilarious
I am smiling to myself just thinking about it!

For the rest of my life whenever I hear Ace of Base...
(not very often I imagine)
I will think of that special time with my friends :-Dx

All that she wants!!!


Friday, 13 November 2009

I've KiDnApped sPeCiAL WhiTe!!

Special White

I have kidnapped Special White
She belongs to me!!!
She is my ideal woman..S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
Happy memories of Romania in May!!!
2 weeks today we are off to Krakow!!!
I am excited and ticking off the days!!!
I wonder what we will bring back from Poland???

Sunday, 1 November 2009

Day Trip - Birmingham Bodies Exhibition + Pre-Raphaelites

 Day Trip to Birmingham
Went to Birmingham on Friday...ace day, train, drink and company!
Started with a can of Stella on the train...this is the law on a day trip!
Train took approximately 1hr 15mins- on time,all good.
Went to see the Pre-Raphaelite exhibition which is permanently dispalyed at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

 
The painting above was my fave in the exhibition - ‘The death of Chatterton’ by Henry Wallis (1856). The painting shows the dead body of Thomas Chatterton, an 18th century poet who killed himself by taking arsenic rather than live in poverty. The painting shows an impoverished young man who has died of self administered arsenic poisoning. Although relatively unknown during his life, Chatterton’s death became a well known event because of the romanticised reaction it provoked. As well as this painting, there were poetic responses from the likes of Shelley, Wordsworth, Coleridge and Keats. Like always, unless you see the picture in the flesh you cannot absorb the striking vivid colours used in the painting..truely beautiful and haunting! Also, discovered this artist!!!Patrick Hughes


Superduperspective by Patrick Hughes(from the front!)
This was fascinating..I will download the video I took of this painting!! you will be amazed..well I was!!


This is how the picture looks from the side!!!

Patrick Hughes is a Birmingham born artist. I had never heard of him before I went so it was a real bonus!
His work is described as -

Hughes’ paintings have been described as visual one liners designed to raise a smile and to question how we form our visual perceptions of the world.In Hughes’ exhibitions doors magically open and close and walls move as viewers walk past them.The exhibition is designed to amuse and captivate with eye-deceiving three-dimensional paintings appearing to really move – the exhibition challenges your eyes, brain and balance all at the same time.

After a few more beers it was time to go to the 'Bodies Exhibition' @ the Custard Factory -


The Exhibition--which features actual human specimens--allows people of all ages access to sights and knowledge normally reserved only for medical professionals. Take the opportunity to peer inside yourself, to better understand how your elaborate and fascinating body works, and how you can become a more informed participant in your own health care. 

The Process -
A human specimen is first preserved according to standard mortuary science. The specimen is then dissected to show whatever it is that someone wants to display. Once dissected, the specimen
is immersed in acetone, which eliminates all body water. The specimen is then placed in a large bath of silicone, or polymer, and sealed in a vacuum chamber. Under vacuum, acetone leaves the body in the form of gas and the polymer replaces it, entering each cell and body tissue. and sealed in a vacuum chamber. Under vacuum, acetone leaves the body in the form of gas and the polymer replaces
it, entering each cell and body tissue. A catalyst is then applied to the specimen, hardening it and completing the process.This method of preservation creates a specimen that will not decay.


I had wanted to go to the Bodies exhibition for ages..by chance found out that it was on in Birmingham! C had wanted to go for ages as well! result! What can I say...It totally freaked me out at first! C said that the colour drained from my face..why? Because when I first went in the thought that underneath my skin was all this stuff!! freaky as fook! It is unbelievable..these are real people..whole bodies, sectons of brains, eyeballs, ears, brain tumours, diseased livers, reproductive systems, vein systems...to name a few! The Human Body is an amazing piece of work. The bit of the exhibition that affected me the most was the preserved foetuses! I know some people would find these upsetting and disturbing but they fascinated me! I thought they looked out of this world. I am lost for the right words to describe them..amazing wouldn't do them justice..there are 5 in total - 14,18,19,24 and 28 weeks.There is a picture of one below..trust me when I say that you need to see these in the flesh to understand how they look and how they make you feel! I will never forget seeing this exhibition!!





We then went for a shop around the Custard Factory Area which is full of coolio shops and bars!! Bought a nice vintage jacket which the lads took the piss out of last night at the Maps gig!! This makes me like it even more!!! After the Custard Factory we meandered back to town, had a few more beers and got the train back to Nottingham. A fantastic day trip! I would thoroughly recommend Birmingham for a visit!!

Me and the crazy statue in the Custard Factory Area in Birmingham! :-Dx

Saturday, 15 August 2009

Jeff Aerosol



Randomly strolling through Brussels on a Sunday morning and came across this vinyl/cd store covered in Jeff Aerosol artwork...coolio baby!! :-Dx

Thursday, 13 August 2009

RoMaNiA

Special White - she is a special lady indeed!! Flew back to the Uk just to see us!! I am not sure where she is hiding at the moment? I think Mr Ridgill might have her in his office? :-Dx

RoMaNiA

I love this picture!!! Lizz drew it when we were in a massive cellar bar in Cluj in Romania!!It is the bar where Vlad and Jo met!!We stayed in the bar all afternoon/night and it was one of the best nights of the holiday!!Can't wait for the next adventure in Krakow :-Dx

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

RuDe GiRL

Stop your messing around
Better think of your future
Time you straightened right out
Creating problems in town

Rudy, a message to you
Rudy, a message to you

Stop your fooling around
Time you straightened right out
Better think of your future
Else you'll wind up in jail

Rudy, a message to you
Rudy, a message to you

Stop your messing around
Better think of your future
Time you straightened right out
Creating problems in town

Rudy, a message to you
Rudy, a message to you
Rudy, a message to you
Rudy, a message to you

Sarah, or the Covester as she is known is my best mate and rock at work. God she has had to listen to some sh#t over the last 6 months!!lol!! The picture is when we were at Luton Airport at 7 am and off to Romania..awesome hol!! She just loves the Specials, who we are going to see again in November!! Going to miss working with her in September!! Terry,Terry,Terry :-)xx

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

RoMaNiA

Flying off to Romania in the early hours of Sunday...
Vlad is thirty!!! Oh to be thirty again!!!
Would I make different choices? Who knows!!!

Monday, 11 May 2009

BrUssELs


Just been to Brussels this weekend!! Had an amazing time!! Sat in Grand Place drinking different types of Belgium beers into the early hours. It is the sort of place that is good for just walking around the streets and then finding a bar and watching the day go by.