East Midlands flight LS649 to Malta MLA on Jet2. Saw Jessica Bates working in cabin crew, last time I saw her was in Aslackby when she was 9 or 10.
Stayed in Swieqi for a night ready for trip out to Sicily.
Peter Bargh
Sights & SoundsEdited highlights of a month in Hong Kong
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- Squawk
Parklife! – a bit far back in the depths of the Hong Kong Convention Centre. My photo is a mobile pic…a blur of Blur!
London Heathrow to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific Flight CX 238 with Gerald Garraty
A night at Laghetto di Villa Ada, Rome to see Jose Gonzales. Excellent gig, nightmare of a journey though. I’d read up how to get there by bus from the apartment in central Rome…which according to the web site was from a bus stop two streets away to take me to the park gates. When trying to buy a ticket I was told that there were no buses, so I grabbed a cab. The driver gave a card and said call him at the end and he’d come and pick me up.
He never came, and there were no buses. After several calls for cabs and none turning up (due I guess to the fact there was no fixed address to come to) it was looking like a night on a park bench or a very long walk! Fortunately after much persistence I finally got a cab turn up and take me back.
But back to the Gig. The venue was lovely a park on the outskirts of Rome, with several craft shops around the side of the stage selling interesting jewellery etc. And food stalls. Had a hamburger…and then the stage open air and a lovely Italian evening. Was great to be immersed in a crowd of happy Italians, all enjoying the ambience. Jose played a great set…simple light show, to go with the delicate music. Wonderful!
Trenitalia from Pisa Centrale Roma Termini, Coach 5, Seat 07A
Accommodation at Via della Cisterna, 1, Rome, Lazio
Rome was fun. Lots to see, loved the Vatican City. Walked along the river Tiber and visited the Colosseum (didnt go in) and Trevi Fountain as well as many other historical sites. Enjoyed an evening in one of the squares watching a street performer play with fire.
28th Flight back from Rome (Ciampino) to East Midlands RyanAir FR9651 19:40
Caught a train from Venice S. Lucia to Firenze S. M. Novella Coach 6 Seat 14B
And then the host picked us up and took us to the Appartamento Pera, Via Luigi Pera 10, Pisa. This was a residential area, but the apartment was brilliant. Very clean and lots of facilities including a great coffee machine. Being in the middle of residential meant there was little choice for restaurants but the one available looked very good, and had good reviews. Sadly my first ever try of Spaghetti Vongole was very disappointing. Great atmosphere though with all the locals.
Central Pisa was a bus ride away and an enjoyable place for breakfast as the sun was shining on the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II square, near the bus stop. Walked up the hill to the typical touristy leaning tower and was amazed at how many took photos holding it up!
Flew from East Midlands to Venice (Treviso) on RyanAir flight FR6571 at 18:15
Then I caught a bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma and map in hand made my way to the accommodation booked through Airbnb to Ca’ Manin,Venezia, Veneto 30125. Great apartment in useful spot. While in Venice I walked around most of the city’s tiny streets and crossed most of the bridges, including the must see Rialto bridge over the Grand Canal. Did the usual touristy visit to St Marks Square and caught a boat out to Burano (lace) and Murano (glass).
Danish alternative rock band, Mew, live at The Ritz in Manchester. This is the second gig this year where I’ve been stopped from taking photos. They probably would have taken the camera at the door (like they did at The Leadmill) when the bouncer asked to look in my bag…and then asked if my camera had interchangeable lenses. Of course I said no, even though I had two lenses in the bag he looked in. With Gerald Garratty and Phil Otter
