… my musings on, er, "stuff"
Having the best of times in Italy. Flew to Naples on Thursday, currently staying in Salerno. Today is Easter Sunday and we have travelled to the lovely nearby town of Vietri sul mare. The sun is shining, the town is pretty and bustling with Italians enjoying the day.
Spent most of the last week in Italy. On Monday, we flew to Pisa (at a very civilised 10.50 am – a good time to fly: no need to get up insanely early, but still giving you time to enjoy in your destination) and, after a long, wet late autumn/early winter it was an absolute delight to step out into the Tuscan sunshine. I shan’t repeat everything here – visit the Hap-pea travels blog to read more about it https://hap-pea-travels.co.uk/italy/tuscany-and-no-tinsel-day-1/ – but it was a wonderful five days away, enjoying some better weather (other than one morning when we went to Pistoia – a bit higher up, and found ourselves in cold, damp, low cloud all morning) we had warm sunny days, with chilly mornings and evenings, lovely food, culture and style. Italy has won me over – my faltering learning of the language continues, and whilst away, we booked our flights for October ’26: originally we were going to fly to Malaga and stay in Grenada and Antequera, but after one day in Italy the flights opened, my head had been turned and we’ve booked a week in Bari instead.
Returning on Friday evening, we have enjoyed a rare couple of dry days at home. Yesterday I went out for a 6K run, today I refereed Ashcott U16s. I end the year felling fitter than I have done in a long time. Today, I also gave the lawn a quick mow – there is quite a lot to do in the garden, but everything is just so wet, its not very enticing to go outside even when its not raining. What a good job it was to have four sunny days in Italy!
In the early hours of this morning we made it home from a wonderful week in Nice. We flew out last Saturday evening, and spent the week based in a small resort: Cros de Cagnes about 15 minutes from the centre of Nice. The “town” we stayed in was lovely, 5 minutes from the train station giving us access up and down the coastline and we had a wonderful view from our apartment: across the road to the sea.
Breakfast everyday was a real treat: we found a boulangerie on the sea front 50 metres from our apartment and we soon settled into a routine with everyday beginning with a two coffees (each) and sharing three pastries, all for just a little over 10 euros.
I took the opportunity to swim daily, the water quickly deepening of a pebble beach. It was rarely flat calm, and on a few occasions, when the wind strengthened, the waves would crash against the shore, enough to deter Becky from swimming much. Both this week, and our fortnight in Greece, have reminded me just how much I just enjoy being in the (warm) sea. My happy place!
We hunted for heart shaped stones
and used the train to explore the coastline, visiting Nice (very Nice), Menton, Antibes, and even a day trip to Italy: Ventimiglia.
It was hot, perhaps at time too hot for exploring the towns and cities we did. We both loved the holiday – an extra, or add on, to our two weeks in Greece, and Becky, in particular, enjoyed trying to recall and use her schoolgirl French from 39 years ago (I struggled with the language – defaulting to Spanish, the realising this was wrong. Once I even found myself using Italian (arrivaderci) – no idea where that came from (this was before we had been to Italy for the day)) But, despite the wonderful art, clean streets and “typically French” architecture, I don’t think it did enough to knock Greece off our number one summer holiday spot.
Whilst we were away, Sam (& Poppy) had stayed at home, so my plants are well watered and the flowers beginning to bloom. After four very different weeks (2 in Greece, Sam’s graduation “week”, and a week in Nice) we are now home know for the rest of the summer, what feels like phase 2 of the summer holidays.
On Friday school finished for the (academic ) year. To be fair, as Head of Year 11 all of “my students” had finished and gone home in the previous week, so if I’m honest I had pretty much checked out myself for the last week or so. But I don’t feel guilty about that – its been a tough year and I have, at times, questioned why I do it. The almost complete lack of emails in the last 10 days or so has been a real treat, and a reminder that there is life beyond school. But the money is good – I am conscious that I am at the peak of my earning power and I will never earn as much again, so its a bit of a balancing act to fill the cofers in readiness for slowing down and, ultimately, retiring. Something had to change, and that change is my year group – I pick up a new cohort in September, I hope that they will be better than the group I have just waved goodbye to. One more cycle – ie year 10 and then into year 11 – as Head of Year is the plan, but plans can always change …
Sam (and Poppy) came home on Thursday, having finally vacated his Cardiff house, and today they have travelled up to London. Early doors tomorrow, Becky & I head of to Greece – flying to Skiathos, then on to Alonnisos followed by six days in Skopelos, so my blog will continue for the next couple of weeks on https://hap-pea-travels.co.uk/ Am looking forward to submersing myself in the Greek sea, and having it wash away all my cares and troubles. Yamas!
Late last night we got back from a great six days in Madeira. I blogged daily and you can read that here: http://hap-pea-travels.co.uk/category/portugal/ We had a wonderful time, I enjoyed our hike, even if it was a little damp at the start. The rain did clear to provide some stunning views:
I had a swim – for much of our time their the weather was changeable, certainly warmer than the UK, and less grey, but it was only on Friday that we had plenty of sunshine and the temperature climbed into the low twenties. The sea wasn’t warm, but neither was it freezing – probably less cold than the med in late October?
The food was good – and you could eat at a sensible time in the evening – and the pastries divine. I enjoyed every one of the (many!) pastel de natas that I ate
and having discovered “God’s bread” it became a breakfast staple
The Christmas light were amazing, and everywhere, and I particularly liked the “storm tunnel” It felt like I was in a cartoon!
We both really liked Madeira – somewhere a little bit different from the norm.
Now its back home to reality, and the run up to Christmas.
Pic of the week 17/12/23
Last Sunday, at early o’clock, Becky and I headed to Bristol airport to catch a flight to Malaga and begin our Andalusian adventure. But first we had to navigate the hordes of excited young children and Christmas jumper and snow boot clad mums heading for a day at Lapland. Fortunately, our flight was on time and we soon rose into the still dark skies to leave the grim, grey clamour behind us. We landed to see blue skies, hopped on a Renfe train from the airport to Malaga central (3 stops) and then found the bus station, which was surprisingly busy and hectic, and we boarded our Alsa bus for the two hour trip to Cordoba.
Cordoba was calm, sunny and delightful. Cold in the mornings and evenings, it warmed up during the days, and was “chilled” for our whole stay. I loved the Romano bridge
It was peaceful yet purposeful, beautifully bathed in brilliant sunshine. The Mezquita was something special
an enormous space, part Mosque, part Cathedral. I loved the space and patterns, the mix of form and function. For me, it was a much more special, and beautiful, place than the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, but Becky disagrees with me on that.
The Alacazar de los reyes cristiano was impressive, too
It was the gardens (again, basking in the beautiful sunshine) that I particularly enjoyed.
One of the things that I particularly liked about Cordoba was the sense that it wasn’t totally touristy – not everyone automatically spoke English and I had the opportunity to really practice speaking some Spanish.
We headed to Sevilla (by train) for a day, taking in the Plaza de Espana
A grand vista, and another chance to practice my Spanish speaking skills and then, after a bit of lunch , the Setas, or mushroom
A magnificent wooden structure that you could walk, affording fantastic views of the city, and also of itself – a bit of an engineering and architectural marvel.
And we’d timed our return to Cordoba to be late enough to allow us to take in the spectacular Christmas lights …
The next morning was another early start, to catch the 0830 Alsa bus back to Malaga. The 2hr 30 journey was a pleasant route through the Spanish hinterland and was enjoyable in its own right. By the time we arrived in Malaga, the temperature had risen, we were in t-shirts as we took a paddle
and enjoyed a beer
Before later that evening, donning the puffa jackets and enjoying more magical Christmas lights
And then, the following morning, it was adios Andalusia and an uneventful flight back to the UK, after a wonderful, wonderful few days away.
Pic of the week 29/10/23
So for the last eight days or so, we’ve been away travelling through north-eastern Spain, Catalonia. Departing on Wednesday 18 October, we flew out to Barcelona (a very civilised 10 am flight!) and then hoped on a train into the city, where we stayed for 5 nights, enjoying the sites and scenes that Barcelona had to offer.
I must confess, my initial thoughts (well after the excellent train ride from the airport to the city centre) were a little disappointing as we found La Rambla and walked along the famous street of Barcelona – yet another disneyfied experience that could have been any where in Europe (yes, I’m thinking of you Dubrovnik and Rhodes old towns) – sanitised and designed to part the tourist from there money. But we soon left the well beaten track and headed into the gothic quarter – busy, but much less so, and certainly more authentic; you got a sense that you were in Spain, Barcelona, and not just a magnet for the cruise ship masses.
The next day we did the must sees of Parc Gruell and the Sagrada Familia – very and impressive and worth seeing. Becky loved the (slightly bonkers – my opinion) architecture of Gaudi
although I think I preferred the more classical constructions, particularly when married with the modern. I particularly liked this:
The Church of Santa Maria del Pi
The huge piece of modern artwork inside the old building drew me in and was particularly striking. The artwork was commissioned when the outside of the church was graffitied and the authorities entered into a dialogue with the artists, looking to collaborate. I don’t think these old buildings – wonderful though they are – should exist in a vacuum, they are part of a modern, breathing world and need to work out their place in today’s world.
With the pun fully intended, my highlights of the trip to Barcelona were when we gained height and could enjoy fantastic vistas across the landscape. On the Friday we went to Montserrat by train, cable car and funicular before exploring on foot the strange mountains and rocks
We also got high by going to the top of the church at Tibiado
and on the Sunday when we took the funicular up to Montjuic where, in addition to the views
we wandered the parks and grounds and saw a few sights from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
After some busy days on Barcelona, we went up the coast, via slow train (1 and half hours, E6 each)to the seaside resort of Blanes.
The day we arrived was windy and the sea very rough, but it was lovely to have a slower pace of life and sound of the sea crashing onto the shore.
The next day was calmer, we walked up to botanic gardens, Jardi Botanic Marimuta, which were beautiful
… and then we went and found a cove to soak up the sun for the afternoon.
where I swam in the sea – warm, and clear. The highlight of my holiday
And then it was up to Girona for night (flying back from Girona was much cheaper (and less busy & stressful) than returning from Barcelona)
Whilst in Girona, we walked the walls, and I made a new friend, Eugene, 78, who spoke to me in Spanish for some time about the region – I was pleased to be able to “get by” in conversation with several locals during the trip
Then it was an evening flight back to Bristol. Shortly after taking off we flew over Blanes in the dark, a last glimpse, a last reminder of a great Catalan adventure.
Becky’s blog – and far more photos – of the trip can be found here
Pic of the week 16/7/23
On Friday, we returned from 10 lovely days -en famile- in Soller, Majorca. We had a fantastic Finca a few minutes walk from the town centre, with a pool set in a lovely garden. It was, however, hot! As the week wore on, we became embroiled (emboiled?!) in the heatwave Cerberus with temperatures hitting 36, 37 degrees, and not getting much cooler at night (which then exacerbated the omission of air con from the property, although ceiling fans dis their best to keep us cool.)
We did a lot (well, Becky & I did – Sophie really didn’t like the heat, and Sam didn’t like getting up in the morning!) Probably the highlight for me was on the Sunday when Sam & I went coastering of Deia, climbing rocks and leaping of cliffs (10m high?) into the sea. The best bit for me was entering the sea cave – in fact, it was exiting the sea cave! The water was so perfectly blue as I rounded the corner the enter the final passage. This was no grand cavern, the exit was not very big at all!
Other highlights included our trip to the orange grove Ecovinyassa, and on our final day when Becky and I took the bus to Fornalutx, explored it and then walked down to Biniaraix and back to the house. But the whole holiday was great – food, family and fun!
Day 0 – Arrival
Day 1 trip to the Eroski!
Day 2 – Deia
Day 3 – Market Day in Soller
Day 4 – Becky went to Valldemossa, whilst Sam & I went coastering
Day 6 – Becky & I walked to Port de Soller. Hot, hot, hot!
Day 7 – In the evening we got the bus to Port de Soller
Day 8 – Ecovinyassa
Day 8 – exploring Fornalutx and Biniaraix
Day 9 – Heading home
(For the record, our return flight was delayed by two hours)
Pic of the week 23/4/23
On Wednesday we returned from a week in Rhodes. It was a wonderful week, the first three days spent in Lindos – small, picturesque, historic and with some great swimming spots (St. Paul’s Bay, and also the hidden cave swimming, off the main town beach) The water wasn’t warm, but it was swimmable, but it was crystal clear, and the most beautiful colour. Swimming in St Pauls bay it was deep, but you could see all the way to the bottom and the colour was a deep bluey green. Beautiful and serene.
On day 4, the Saturday, we went by bus to Rhodes town, which initially seemed quite big, but by the end of our stay seemed much smaller (although we did walk miles!) It was (Greek Orthodox) Easter and we discovered that midnight on the Saturday into Sunday was a key part of the celebrations, so we went to the local church and stood outside as the crowds began to gather and the service was relayed via PA to the growing throng outside (of course, we didn’t understand a word of it) Whilst I’m sure that inside the church it was highly respectful and reverential, this was certainly not the case outside: it appeared to be an excuse for all the local hooligans to gather and throw around very loud fireworks! It certainly was a spectacle to behold!
The next day, we left the madness of Rhodes town and set sail (well via ferry) for rthe island of Symi, about an hour away. What a beautiful island! It being Easter Sunday, it seemed the whole population had gathered on the harbour front to eat roasted meat from the many, many spit roasts turning away. We wandered around the harbour and had lunch in a perfect taverna on the water front – on a holiday in which every meal was wonderful, this was the best. I had grilled lamb, it was delicious.
Back to Rhodes that evening, we spent the next couple of days exploring the old town and new, and finding the beaches on north-western tip of the island. Again, I swam in beautiful waters and we chilled in the sunshine.
A good time to go? Yes – I am sure that in the height of the summer some areas (Linods – I’m looking at you) would have been rammed full, and in the heat we wouldn’t have done all the exploring we did. The water was still a bit chilly and this was a disadvantage of visiting in April, and there was a real sense that not everything was yet fully ready – things were still a little tired and tatty in places, I’m sure in a few weeks all will be spruced up and looking wonderful.
A good island to visit? I’m glad I’ve been, but I don’t think it was as pretty as some other Greek islands. Basically it is a long island with strips of beach down each side. The geology seemed quite angular – lots of right angle cliffs, and quite barren, although the flowers – the yellow daisy’s in particular – were beautiful and it was great to watch some swifts swooping and Lesser Kestrels soaring magnificently around the Acropolis. It didn’t, perhaps, feel as “Greek” as, say, Corfu, particularly around Rhodes town – the old town was again to disneyfied, like, but not as bad as, Dubrovnik, and the new town could have been anywhere-hot-on-sea. But, to be sure, I had a great time and a wonderful holiday.
Beckys’ blog (1) and Becky’s blog (2) give much more detailed accounts, along with loads of excellent pictures
Pic of the week 12/3/23
Sam came home on Saturday for a couple of nights and it was lovely to see him. (He had been to a party at Smithy’s in Bristol on Friday night) He pretty much slept for most of today, emerging at circa 12.30pm, is currently out at Idris’s and he heads home tomorrow, but it has been nice to have him home for a few days.
Its been a cold week and we had some snow on Wednesday. Not a great deal, and it didn’t really settle down here, but the Tor turned briefly white:
but it was all gone by the end of the day as the snow just turned to rain. Has stayed cold for most of the week – I got v cold at games yesterday: low temperature, wind, some stinging rain – although this morning was pleasant with some sunshine and it didn’t feel cold. Although by late afternoon, everything had gone grey and it started to rain. Tomorrow promises to be wet and very windy – I would still struggle to say we are anywhere close to spring, beautiful blue skies have been a rarity.
Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps it was because tickets came on sale, most probably a combination of both, but we bought tickets to Malaga for December.
The plan is to fly to Malaga in the morning, then get the train to Cordoba, spend a couple of nights there before returning to Malaga for a night or two, then home. The initial cost of the flights was circa £50 each return, but carry on luggage etc added an extra £80. Still return flights for less than £150 aint bad (although it does say something when your bags are worth more than you!)
My foot: continues to improve, but is “still there” Did have a wonderful dream in the week where I dreamt I was running barefoot on grass – wonderful. Went swimming today, did 46 lengths, 1.5km. I am enjoying doing some exercise on a Sunday morning again.