Archive for November, 2009

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Supermarket sweep

10/11/2009

I need to confirm this but my initial research indicates that the train to Madrid which takes about 90 minutes costs between 35 and 50 €, that’s ludicrously expensive. Buses look to be a lot cheaper but take ages so I’ll have to weigh it all up.

The hostel is okay, the massive building has bags of character and the facillities are good. The people staying here are a bit odd though. Lot’s of funny looking young Germans sporting a variety of horrific styles and odd behaviour. I think they’re some sort of youth group, though some of them seem quite old for that. It’s like Byker Grove gone wrong, they’re freaking me out a bit.

After I checked in I was told my room wouldn’t be ready for a few hours so I went down the supermarket for supplies. It took me ages, the layout was barmy. Pasta on one aisle and then the pasta sauces on a complete different wing. You think you might get apple juice near the soft drinks section, nope, you have to navigate the toiletries, pets, dairy and meat sections first. There were many more examples of rudimentary supermarket planning practises ignored. Bloody Spanish.

There was also some bloke shoplifting away blatantly in front of me, 2 paella ready meals down the front of his jacket without a care in the world. Bloody Spanish.

I think the lack of sleep is making me cranky (ier than usual), I have been up for around 35 hours though now (unless you count a couple of 20 minute power naps on the bus).

I’m relieved though as I’m here for 3 nights so I can afford to take my time a bit. I don’t plan on doing anything but carrying on with my New Zealand visa and flight scouting tonight, then some much needed shuteye.

One thing I don’t need to sort anymore now is hostels, I booked ahead for them all while in Milan as most of the places I am visiting now only have 1 or 2 hostels that have dorms and if they fill up that spells problems for me. The only one I haven’t booked yet is Paris as there’s plenty there, though for some reason several people had previously told me there’s none in Paris. Wrong they were.

I’m likely to leave visiting Normandy on this trip now, I’d pretty much need to hire a car to visit the D-Day beaches properly which is an expense I could do without at this point. I’ll see though, but at worst it’s marked down for a scooter trip for a later date.

Some heavy duty Zaragoza exploring is in store for tomorrow, what I’ve seen so far is extremely unimpressive, but that was just on the half hour walk from the station through estates full of hightower blocks. I expect everything the other side of the hostel to be very different.

PS I actually didn’t get a chance to do any NZ stuff or sort out my bus or train ticket for Madrid. I’m not really sure where the day has gone, I think I’ve just zombied my way through it at a terribly slow pace. As it’s half 12 and I’m closing in on having been up for close to 40 hours, I think it’s time to finish my Ambar beer and go to bed. It won’t take me long to finish it though as the measure at the hostel bar is 0,2l. That’s not even half a pint, on that bombshell I’ll say TTFN.

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Send the bugger’s back back

09/11/2009

Last night when I went to bed at about half 2 I left my finished book on a random cabinet in a random corridor for someone else to enjoy, I like doing that. At half 9 this morning it had already gone and in it’s place was Ender’s Shadow. I almost felt obliged to read it but it looks very long and these fantasy/sci-fi novels always have loads of sequels/prequels so I put it back in the end. Is that bad book karma?

I got my ticket for Zaragoza okay, €65 though, ouch. I ordered it in French and confirmed what time it left and got in at and if it was direct. But it’s never like in the text books, she was rattling on about all sorts and I wasn’t getting it all so I had to ask her if she spoke English as I didn’t fancy missing crucial information just to improve my French. Anyway, I have to check-in at least half an hour before it departs, which is crucial information as I often board seconds before they depart.

She said I can leave my bag there for the day which is handy as it will save me €4 and mean I can get the bus to Monaco, which at 40 minutes takes twice the time as the train but is more scenic and another €4 cheaper for the round trip. I need to make sure I’m back by 16:00 to pick it up though.

Crikey, there is some money knocking about here. I’ve been walking up and down the marina trying to figure out which boat I’m going to get when I get home. This was my number one choice but due to space considerations on the Stretford passage of the Bridgewater canal I’ve opted for this instead.

For lunch I ate at a place called Le Botticelli. €9.50 for moules marinières avec frites, not bad at all considering where I was. It does however mean a baguette for tea.

If I’d have had more time I’d have got the boat over from Monte Carlo to Monaco Ville to have a good look round but as it was I only had a bit under 2 hours, which was enough to at least get a feel for the place.

I was a little bit worried when getting back from Monaco as the bus stop that I thought was on the correct road didn’t have my bus number (100) listed and the station name didn’t appear on the Nice to Monaco bus leaflet I had either. There wasn’t any margin for error or else I would likely find my bag impounded for the night and me up little brown river.

I was quited pleased that I managed to ask the driver of a different bus “Excusez-moi, le linge cent pour Nice, c’est arret ici?”. I’m sure there’s plenty of errors in there but it was good enough to get the info I needed which is the important thing, 2 minutes later and I was on the bus.

My long haul bus journey preparation hasn’t gone very well. I’m dying for a waz as the bus station toilets are out of order and my supplies are not what I’d hoped for. I’d planned on getting a ’4 cheese’ baguette that I saw last night but I couldn’t find the place again and didn’t really have time to. Then it was too late to find anything else so all I have is a large bottle of water, which I can’t really drink because as I just stated, I’m dying for a waz. Also, because of yesterday’s dog dung incident, I’ve no pen to mark out stuff I want to see in Spain in my rough guide.

It’s going to be a long 18 hours, I hope the first stop is soon and is at a well stocked outpost.

One thing I meant to say is that I was probably a bit harsh on Nice yesterday, after going through different parts on the bus today and then rushing around looking for grub at a different time of day, it actually looks fairly interesting. The Côte d’Azur will make a good scooter trip at some point in the future.

Phew, pee had.

Phew, food had. Well, a bag of crisps anyway.

We just passed through Marseille, it looks a pretty lively city. Am I right in thinking it’s where ‘The French Connection II’ was set? One Google search later and it seems I am.

Later, we also stopped at Barcelona. It seems daft going through a city like that and not staying for a night or 2, but I’m short of time now and I’ve been twice before anyway. It’s always a cheap flight away in the future though.

On the bus I listened to the Super Furry Animal’s latest 2 albums via Spotify. Now I’m very reluctant to critisice this band as I love their entire back catalogue (well maybe not ‘Guerilla’), they’ve been putting out great stuff for years. But these latest 2 (2007′s ‘Hey Venus!’ and this year’s ‘Dark Days/Light Years’), while still full of ideas as ever, they just don’t have the tunes for me. A shame. This is only IMHO mind, the reviews in the media have been good for both. I’ll still be very interested in what comes next, I can’t write a band as inventive as that off.

Right I’m finally in Zaragoza. It was a pretty horrible journey really as it was such a busy route the bus was forever stopping and the lights coming on, also all the seats were taken so it was very cramped. 9 hours in and my back knew about it, it was a very sore and uncomfortable 2nd half of the ride. That’s the last monster leg of the journey I have to do now though I think, it should be relatively straight-forward from here on in (hopefully!).

I’ll have a quick look at the train and bus tickets while I’m in the depot and then it’s off to the hostel to collapse.

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End of The Road

08/11/2009

When I awoke this morning the Chinese guy in the bunk opposite asked me if I minded if he made a call on Skype which of course I didn’t.

Anyway he didn’t use a headset so I could here it all, though oddly him and the other guy didn’t speak to each other that much but typed messages while being able to see each other on video.

The really funny bit though was that the guy he was speaking (of sorts) to had some loud cheesy pop ballads in English playing and was singing along to them happily. It was most difficult not to waz myself laughing.

My plan for today is to SSS and then head into town to see if I can sort my bus ticket to Zaragoza for tomorrow night. It’s an 18 hour journey, gulp. Then I’ll check if there’s somewhere I can store my bag tomorrow day in the station as I think I might do a little day trip to Monaco, it’s only a half hour away. After that I’ll have a butchers round Nice and maybe take in the Chelsea vs Rags match. I’ve got 3 Chelsea in my fantasy team you see.

To get a feel for the city I walked the hour or so to the bus station (via the train station). The feeling I got was dog crap, right under my left Converse Allstar. I spent the next half hour scrubbing and digging canine doodoo out of crevices with a pen I’ve had since Lake Ohrid. Not a pleasant task.

After that I was very much on the lookout to prevent a repeat occurrence. I must have dodged twenty turds, it was everywhere. Bloody French.

I discovered lockers at the station are €4 so if I go to Monaco for a few hours tomorrow morning that will do for my bag, it will be easier than having to go all the way back to the hostel. I also discovered that the ticket office at the bus station must shut pretty early on Sunday. Bloody French.

So the first thing I will do in the morning is get a tram back down to the station and get the ticket straight away. I’m a bit anxious as I’ve only checked on a website all in French, that the bus I think I’m getting actually exists. If it doesn’t the butterfly effect won’t be pretty.

I’m just watching the match now in Mc Mahon’s Irish bar, after that I’ll go and have a proper look round the old town and on the main promenade.

Erm, well, I suppose nice is okay. I didn’t feel obliged to walk around for very long though. Maybe it’s better in the summer.

I finished ‘The Road’ a little over 24 hours after starting it. It’s a proper page turner but quite depressing really. I reckon the film will be really good, I think John Hillcoat is an excellent choice as director as the stark no nonsense style of ‘The Proposition’ is just what’s needed.

As I edit this I’m just in the process of applying for my New Zealand working visa. Then it will be time to start looking for flights, if anyone know’s of budget one to those parts from the UK then please get in touch.

A special prize is on offer today readers, the author of the first comment to be added to this post will find themselves receiving a lovely genuine Macedonian pen. This is a straight up offer, no $hit.

The pic is from, well, you probably know where it’s from. No nice pictures taken today you see.

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Posted in France, Italy | 6 Comments »

Nice to see ya, to see ya Nice

07/11/2009

Well today hasn’t started too swell, I missed the 11:10 train to Nice I intended to get. The problem was that I just missed a tram to the central station while buying a ticket and annoyingly the screen said the next one wouldn’t be for 25 minutes which wouldn’t give me time to get my train ticket.

I had planned to get it yesterday but didn’t get a chance and as it’s an international journey I can’t use the ticket machines that I’ve become a dab hand at. So that means I need to wait in a queue (which are usually rather hefty).

As I knew I didn’t have time I just mooched back to the hostel to hang out there while waiting for the 15:10 train.

The worst bit is though that I’d sourced a bar in Nice that is showing the City vs Burnley game, now I’ll get there much too late for it. Boo.

France will bring me up to country number 26, the bad news is there will be no completely new countries for me now that I’m not going to Andorra or Portugal. Boo.

I made the 15:10 without issue. €30, not too bad for a 5 hours journey.

‘To Lose My Life’ by White Lies starts with a good opening track and then goes downhill rapidly, very dull stuff.

My mate Jimbo is texting me the City score, it’s now nearly half time and we are 2-0 down. I’m glad I got the late train. Unless there is a magnificent 2nd half comeback it will be a disastrous result. As I type SWP has just pulled one back.

It finished 3 a piece in the end apparently. Not quite disastrous but certainly not very bloody good.

While on the train some crazy Italian fella who was with his wife and daughter was grilling me indirectly via a Russian girl who speaks Italian and English. He was asking banal questions like “Have you ever had lasagna?”, “What do you like and dislike about Italy?” and “What do people drink in England?”. He was driving the poor girl mad.

The Villa Sant Exupery is where I’m staying in Nice. My first impressions are very good, a nice big bar with loads of free internet terminals and cans of Ottweiler Pils at €1. Goodo.

Actually it’s just occurred to me that I will likely go to Monaco at some point tomorrow, that counts as a new country. Whoo!

The pic is of the pet reptile thingy at the hostel in Milan, a right vicious little bugger when worms are dropped in he is.

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Gianfranco

06/11/2009

Last night me and the Canadian fella went to some Irish bar round the corner, it was okay and quite lively. I experimented a bit and went with Beamish and Guiness, I’m getting the taste for proper ales and stouts now. At €5.50 for a pint of anything though it didn’t do my budget too much good. I’ll be swimming to New Zealand at this rate.

When I awoke this morning it transpired that my drinking buddy had barfed in the bidet during the night. His story was that he woke up in the early hours and was that dying for a waz that it made him physically sick, an unlikely tale if you ask me and the hostel staff weren’t buying it either.

I was going to go to Lake Como today but the weather is pretty grim and to be honest I’m quite happy to just have a really lazy day in the hostel for once. I know I’m going to have a pretty hectic week coming up so it will be nice to relax.

I plan to nip out for some supplies later and I’ll do the hour round trip walk to the station to get my ticket to Nice so I don’t have to rush in the morning, but that’ll be it I think.

I’ll finally have a proper opportunity to figure out my ruddy route to Madrid and back to France from there too, that will be a relief.

Ryland (the Canadian barfer) gave me ‘The Road’ by Cormac McCarthy (who wrote ‘No Country For Old Men’) earlier. I’d already heard of it as it’s had a lot of press and I think there is a film adaptation to be released shortly. I like the post apocalypse survival sort of stuff and it looks an easy and short read so I’ll give it a go along side the mammoth ‘Don Quixote’. It will be nice to read a book in the traditional way for a change.

I’ve just booked a flight from Paris to Manchester on December 1st with FlyBe, not too bad at about 60 quid. I can’t wait to see The Citizens in action properly again. Oh yes, it will be alright to see family and friends aswell.

What is making it really difficult to work out my route is lack of hostels, or at least ones with dorms. I keep coming up with a path that works time and transport wise but then have to start again because of lack of suitable budget accommodation. It would be okay if I wasn’t by myself as there is usually somewhere with cheap private rooms for 2-4 people, but obviously I’d have to pay the lot myself as it stands which brings the cost up to hotel prices. Grrr.

I’ve had to cut Andorra out altogether (man, that was a whole new country!) and Marseille, Montpellier, Carcassone, Perpignan, Toulouse, Valencia, Seville, Biarritz were all being considered as destinations but are not feasible for one reason or another.

Anyway, after a full day and evening’s toil, here is my latest route:

Sat 7 – Nice
Sun 8 – Nice (Monaco)
Mon 9 – Overnight bus
Tues 10 – Zaragoza
Wed 11 – Zaragoza
Thurs 12 – Zaragosa
Fri 13 – Madrid
Sat 14 – Madrid
Sun 15 – Madrid
Mon 16 – Bilbao
Tues 17 – Bilbao
Wed 18 – Bilbao
Thurs 19 – San Sebastian
Fri 20 – San Sebastian
Sat 21 – Bordeaux
Sun 22 – St. Jean D’Angely
Mon 23 – St. Jean D’Angely
Tues 24 – St. Jean D’Angely
Wed 25 – St. Jean D’Angely
Thurs 26 – St. Jean D’Angely
Fri 27 – Paris
Sat 28 – Paris
Sun 29 – Paris
Mon 30 – Paris

I will hopefully be able to have less days in St. Jean D’Angely and Paris and fit Normandy inbetween, it just depends if I can find somewhere cheap to stay really.

Me and Craig (the Aussie bloke who works here) had a pizza for tea. I’ve had quite a few diavolas on this trip but this was my first super diavola. I’m not really sure what the difference is though, the only thing I noticed on the ingredients list that was extra was some mysterious element known as ‘zola’.

We then got some beers in at the hostel again and there was also a load of different shots and vodkas on the go as previous guests had left various stuff in the freezer. These shots (such as this one) would prove to be a mistake as when we went to the pub for a last couple of pints I felt completely ill during the 2nd one and had to leave it and do a bunk. Larry lightweight eh.

Another tie on the search front today; ‘New England buggering’ and ‘David Ginola bulge’. Oho err missus eh.

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That coat’s from Matalan

05/11/2009

I was only going to stay 2 nights in Milan but I’ll stay an extra one as the hostel is good, I’ve not had enough time to see what I want to here and I’ve still got loads of working out to figure a route to Madrid. Getting to Andorra directly from the French coast doesn’t look likely so I think I’ll have to go inland to somewhere like Toulouse.

I’ve now booked 2 nights in Nice instead of the 3 I’d originally planned. I may well book an extra one but it just depends on the what I figure out route wise. I’m looking forward to a rest from the constant planning when I get home!

Now I’m waiting for a tram into the city centre where I will get a connecting one to the San Siro. I should be able to see the joint AC/Inter Milan museum at least but I’m hoping to get on the stadium tour as well.

There’s a fella from Perth working at the hostel who is an interesting guy and looks like Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. He’s done 14,000 miles in a battered old Leyland van and had plenty of adventures along the way.

There’s also another strange bloke who does the cleaning. He walks round like a druid with his head permanently facing the floor. Even when cooking or using the laptop (which he tilts and stands over while typing). A weird one he is.

Last night I cracked my travel mirror. Now believe this if you will but the last time I broke a mirror was 7 years ago. Great eh.

I just saw a shop called ‘Fugazzi’, not the best name considering it’s selling jewellery! Donnie Brasco fans will know what I’m on about.

I did to get on the San Siro tour, €12.50 with museum access. It was okay. The museum is quite small and annoyingly you’re not allowed to take pictures and the tour basically consists of the dressing rooms and the pitch. The Nou Camp tour is much better as is the Eastlands one.

Still, it was good to have a proper look at one of the World’s great football arenas. Sitting in Paulo Maldini’s old seat in the AC dressing room was fun and I also had a little word with Jose to give him a few pointers for improving Inter’s Champions League form, I think he appreciated it.

Before I was playing around with the iConvert app and I discovered I’m 1.933084e-16 lightyears tall. Or if you prefer 0.009090909 furlongs, 1.288e+10 angstroms, 0.3636364 rods, 0.000987473 nautical miles, 1 fathom, 0.06666667 shackles, 1.8288e+09 nanometres, 2 yards. Blimey.

The Cathedral of Milan is perhaps the most impressive Duomo I’ve seen in Italy and that is saying something. The intricate detail in the huge stained glass panes is stunning. This is a must see when here, though the massive oriental tour groups are a bit of a pain.

Milan is well known as a world centre of fashion and I saw plenty of evidence to support that today. To be honest though, victim was a word that sprang to mind often.

Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ Fresco will not be on the menu after all. You have to book a month in advance for a viewing! I’d already read this was the case but had hoped that with it being out of season I might be able to wangle in. Not so, as a lad from Vancouver who tried today confirmed for me.

I actually saw a Lambretta today for the first time in the trip never mind just Italy. It was well ahead of me so I didn’t get the model but it was in immaculate condition with a gloss blue/silver paint job. Lovely stuff.

Back at the hostel now but I’ll save my further route planning for the morning, really can’t be arsed at the moment.

I fancied going to see a flick but after checking the listings they’re all dubbed. Philistines! Just say no (to dubbing).

So now I’m drinking a large bottle of Birra Moretti and it’s going down well. The bloke from Perth is a dab hand in the kitchen and is making a big vat of pasta with more ingredients than you can shake a big wooden spoon at, jobs a good’ n. After the grub there is the lad in my room from Vancouver who fancies checking out the local so I’ll have a little mooch with him.

The head-down fella came into the kitchen while we were having a drink. He seriously will not lift his head above a 90 degree angle, he had a glass of juice but used a straw just to avoid raising his swede. Craig (the Perth lad) shares a large room with him and says he even sleeps like that. It’s actually quite sad as it must be a mental thing, but even if that were to be sorted his posture would probably be a permanent mess by now.

TTFN.

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Fly me to The Moon

04/11/2009

Just after leaving Venezia Santa Lucia station we passed the Orient Express. Now that looks like the way to travel, I bet there’s no stamping of your ticket necessary on that mudda. One day folks.

There are two things I want to try and do in Milan. One is to see the San Siro and the other is to get out to Lake Como, which is where George Clooney lives (a lot of the time). Now I’m not just going to see George, don’t get me wrong we get on well enough, I just figure if he lives there it will be a nice place.

Oh, there’s also some ‘last bit of grub’ fresco by a bloke named Leo that’s supposed to be worth a look. I’ll keep an eye out for that.

On the train I’ve had a listen to Kid Adrift’s ‘L.E.D. Illusions’ EP. There’s a bit of Alaska in Winter going on in the background with angst-ridden vocals and electronica over the top. I’ll be curious to see if he comes up with more ideas for a full album as although I like all 3 songs here, they are all very similar and the vocal style certainly wears a bit thin very quickly.

When I got into Milan it was time for a late lunch. I saw a sign advertising curry for the first time in quite a while, it was only a fast food place and not a proper Indian but I was in the mood for a Ruby so went with it anyway. It was okay considering it wasn’t a real curry house but the first thing I’ll be doing when back in Manchester is nipping down The Moon (number 4) in Withington for a mixed grill karahi (that’s not curry with a Brummy accent by the way). Umm, I can taste it already.

The hostel I’m in is alright. It’s pretty quiet as it’s out of season but there’s a kitchen and brekkie is included so that will save me a few quid. The Wi-Fi is decent for a change too.

Tonight I need to get to grips with my rough guide and do some research on Google. I have to confirm my route so that I can make sure I’m in Madrid come the 13th to meet some mates. I’m thinking I might give Turin a miss too and go straight to France. I’ll see though.

Eliminate Pro has provided an hour or so entertainment for me today. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch get hold of it (it’s free) and then add me (devo-mcduff) so I can blast you to pieces online, a nice little Doom style shooter.

No chance for a Milan photo yet so this one is all the way back from Kotor in Montenegro.

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Wherefore art thou Romeo (and Juliet balcony)?

03/11/2009

Hungry, hungry, I am hungry. Table, table here I come. I could eat 3 bowls of goulash, 15 pickles and a purple plum.

Ruddy starving I am, but I won’t be eating until 15:47. 1 minute after my train gets into Verona.

I didn’t sleep very well last night so I was in a bit of a go slow mode this morning and I had a bit of stuff to sort out too. So consequently I didn’t leave until 13:25 and then when I got to the train station the next one was in a few minutes so no time for some nosebag.

I think I might have pizza for a change, ahem.

I did just that too and it was one of the finest I’d ever had. If you find yourself in Verona, drop by the Primavera Cafe. I knew it was a good sign that it shares it’s name with a particularly nice Vespa model (the one pictured below that I saw earlier actually). It means ‘Spring’ in Italian, as in the season.

Verona didn’t really do that much for me, it’s a nice enough looking place but it didn’t really warrant the trip. I had a look in the ampitheatre and I’m sure it makes a great atmospheric venue for the modern theatre productions it now hosts, but as a tourist there’s not really any reason to spend more than 5 or 10 minutes in the interior. The other thing I was going to have a look at was the famous Romeo and Juilet balcony but I didn’t know where’s it was, diddums. Can’t say I’m that fussed.

To be fair to the city, I may have missed other things worth seeing as I didn’t have a map so it was just a case of stumbling around.

When I get back to Venice I might go on one of the ferry boat things just for the experience. At €6.50 it’s a touch cheaper than the €100 or so for a gondala. It’s also a considerably easier way of getting about than on foot, the narrow Venezian streets together basically add up to one very large maze.

I’ve got my train ticket to Milan sorted for tomorrow morning as well as the hostel booked, all tickety boo.

‘Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon’ is the last Devendra Banhart album I had to get to grips with. I love it. Warm and rich songs full of inventiveness. Nice one Dev.

Actually, I can’t be bothered with the boating idea. It’s cold and I’ve still got one. I’m heading straight in for some hot pasta and a hot shower.

Christ, I don’t half get myself in some pickles train wise. I had to wait an hour for the one back to Venice so then when I did get on I forgot to stamp the card. The machines are really discreet and it’s not a natural thought to do it when you don’t do it at home or have not had to do it in the 24 countries or so prior (I need a recount soon, losing track). Still, I’m a numpty.

Anyway I didn’t realise this until the inspector came around with only 15 minutes or so to go when to the main Venice station. Rather than just say I forgot I thought the ignorant tourist number would be a better approach (as it was last time). This fella was a ball buster though and wasn’t budging even though he acknowledged that as I’m not going to be in Verona again anytime soon I’d have had nothing to gain by not stamping the ticket on purpose.

He wanted a €50 on the spot fine from me, I didn’t have it and even if I had I wouldn’t have give it him anyway. So then he was murmuring about a €2000 fine (good luck getting that one out of me matey!) and that I needed to produce ID or he would have to call the Police. I called his bluff and said he’d have to call the Police then, a bluff it was ‘n all.

PS No matter how famished I am, you wouldn’t get me anyway near a purple plum, or any shade of plum for that matter. I’d probably give the 15 pickles a miss too.

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The drawing room of Europe

02/11/2009

Today I’ve a bit of a hangover and a nasty cold, a potent combo. I’ll get out and have a proper look at Venezia shortly though.

I eventually met up with those Irish lads again in the Piazza San Marco. It’s a shame they are off to Vienna tonight (I gave then a few pointers of course) as they’re a good laugh.

We had a butchers round St Mark’s Basilica and as usual, very grand and impressive. The Pala d’Oro is considered an obligatory view I think but I can’t say I was overly moved by it.

The weather here is absolutely abysmal so all we were then doing was trying to find creative ways to get off the streets and out if the rain. A visit round the Puma shop (as in the sports brand, we weren’t weighing up whether to purchase a large and deadly cat or not), a gander at a very dull (but free) violin exhibition and a 2 hour squat in Burger King were the best we could muster.

An air raid style siren just went off which apparently is a flood warning. There’s some old geezer with a beard outside shepherding 2 penguins onto a gondala with a pair of hedgehogs behind them and a couple of wallabees in turn behind them. That’s not a good sign is it?

So there won’t be much I the agenda at all for tonight, just a bit of lazing round the hostel I reckon. That actually suits me perfectly at the moment. My day trip to Verona tomorrow might well be in jeopardy with all this funny weather malarkey.

We have a tie for search of the day this time round folks. Take your pick between ‘iggy pop the idiot’ and ‘man thinks that rat is dog’.

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Fawlty Towers

01/11/2009

I’m glad I got that jumper yesterday, even a tad chilly in the day now. You want to see the Italians, wrapped up like they’re members of Trondheim seal clubbing clubbers club.

The 1st leg of my train journey has been successful, granted it was only a 5 minute ride from the main station in Firenze to a smaller one where I could pick up a Milan bound train to get off at in Bolonga. It’s left 5 minutes late though so now I’ve only got 10 minutes or so to get a feel for Bolonga, probably not long enough to eradicate or illuminate my spaghetti and communists pre-conceptions.

Glasvegas’s self-titled album is what I’ve been listening to on the train. After ignoring them (or is just him?) for ages because I don’t like the name, I gave it a listen when at my friend’s in Brussels a whole 3 months back and now I’ve gave it a good few more.

I like it but it’s far from perfect. The pluses are his great voice with Scotts accent fully present and the the rousing tunes that back it. The negatives are the lyrics that don’t stand up very well by themselves and a lack of variety in the songs, cohesion in an album is good but repetitiveness is not. It gets the thumbs up from me overall though.

Beggars on the trains in Italy is something that appears to be common. They walk down the corridors distributing little square print-outs with sob stories on, then a few minutes later they will walk back, pick them up and plead for money. I decided long ago never to give to beggars, I’d rather give directly to charities.

I’m a bit excited now as I just discovered that I’ll be back in Manchester in time for City’s Carling Cup quarter final agaist Arsenal, whoo!

Speaking of City, my first task in Venice will be to locate a bar of mock Irishness to try and catch the game agaist Brum.

This hostel isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, in fact it’s quite nice with plenty of character. There’s quite a few stealth fees that they whack on top of the base fee but I already knew that would be the case from reviews I’d read.

The staff are a bit mental. There’s a lively Irish woman constantly bickering with a young fella named Michael, at least that’s what she calls him, he doesn’t look like a Michael, more like a Manuel really.

Also the WiFi doesn’t work here (and never will do with the ridiculous way they have it setup, I won’t bore you with the details) so it may be a while before I post this and subsequent blogs for the next few days.

Within a few minutes of checking-in I’d met a few Irish lads who wanted to come along with me in my quest (which would turn out to be futile) to find a bar showing the game.

They were good fellas and I spent the rest of the night with them and got a carry-out from the offy. We did have a look at finding somewhere to go out but the Venice nightlife seems a bit lacking.

We got stung for our evening meal. €17 for a tiny lasanga and a pint, ouch. This hostel has a kitchen though so I’ll be able to save a few quid for the next couple of nights.

Search of the day – ‘Komode in etc. Kosova’. Now how the rubber duck does Google work out that a search like that should end up here? It’s a thinker readers, a real thinker.

The photo is from San Gimignano, not took any Venice snaps yet!

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