Category
Travel
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03.02.07Notes from the coastIt's Whale Weekend in Mendocino, and we're passing through on our way to the Northernmost reaches of the California Coast, where the redwoods tower over sheer cliffs and crashing seas. We've stopped in a tiny coffee shop with internet access, where - what a surprise - there's a dick on a mobile phone broadcasting his personal matters and opinions to the whole town. Apparently, there's no need for a local radio station if you've got a bloke with a cellphone in the neighbourhood. Moron. That aside, we're having a good time on the road. The weather's been changeable, swinging between glorious ...
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02.27.07Things I learnt from the boys behind me on the busSpecial International Edition: San Francisco (#3 route, Filmore St - Union Square) Carlo is gay Ruben is, like, totally gay Amanda in seventh grade eithera) will do it with anyoneb) hasn't done it with anyone orc) definitely did it with that guy Josh in sixth grade, the one who looks gay. This last fact is known by all the sixth graders and all the seventh graders, seriously. There may be a significant stake ($5) up for grabs for anyone who can establish the veracity of any or all of these claims. In other news, Deon once did a rubix cube in, like, 4 minutes. When asked who ...
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02.26.07Way out westSo, we made it to San Francisco in one piece (of hand luggage, per passenger). Arrived around lunchtime on Saturday, local time, and then determined to push on until a reasonable-ish bedtime rather than surrender to the siren call of jetlag. So we went for a walk....actually, it's probably fairer to say that we trekked five miles around the city up and down its hills, because once we started wandering, we just couldn't stop. Then yesterday, we did the same again. With no specific destinations in mind, we did what we had wanted to do all along - wandered, ambled, bimbled ...
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02.19.07Book recommendations neededWhen I travel, I like to read things which are set in the location I'm visiting. I enjoy travel guides, personal travelogues and social histories, too, but I also look for books which will suit the landscape and culture I'm going to be reading them in - even if only slightly. Given that we're off to the Bay Area and Northern California this weekend, I'm looking for recommendations of books set in or around (or loosely based on) San Francisco, wine country and the Northern California coast, extending as far as, well, basically any of the Pacific Northwest. Also, works by ...
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02.02.07Memos to fellow travellersTo the two PR bints in the row behind me on the flight to Dublin: I had no idea that it was possible to have a forty minute conversation about the layout and furniture of your new office, but you have demonstrated ably that it is. Congratulations. To the woman with the loud and irritating voice on the flight from Dublin on Wenesday: You know how you were saying to your friend that you need quiet and you can't concentrate if it's too noisy? Well, me too. Shut up. To the businessman in the shiny suit and smeary specs on the flight ...
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01.31.07Shhhhh!Sitting in the BA lounge at Heathrow, waiting for a flight and reading an article in The Guardian about why Britain is so noisy, I cannot fail to notice that my concentration is lapsed, somewhat, by The weedy scat-jazz version of Corcovado pumped throughout the area The shout of two competing televisions (News 24 vs Sky Sports - I think the news is winning at the moment, though it's a close-run thing) The undulating throbdrone of an escalator disgorging suited commuters towards free lukewarm toast and rubbery pastries The periodic bing-bong!Good morning ladies and gentlemen, here is an announcement. That is all. bing-bong! of ...
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01.24.07Revolting QueueThe area of London where I live is pretty much the only place in this city where I still see people queueing for the bus. To be honest, that's one of the reasons I like living there. I want to live somewhere where people are courteous and considerate. In fact, I want to live in 1930s small-town England, but that's another story. The other morning, I witnessed near anarchy on the rivertide-lapped streets of south-west London, as the beautiful natural orderliness of things was disturbed by the actions of An Outsider. Burn him! Burn him! When I got to the bus stop, ...
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01.23.07Serendipity-doo-daThe other day, sitting on the bus while it crawled towards home in a traffic jam, I was reading my book: Said and Done - Roger McGough I reached the end of a chapter and looked up from the page, through the window of the bus. We were sitting in traffic outside a pub, and in my seat, I was right next to the window of the bar, with a direct view inside. And who should I spy through the window, quietly supping his pint? The author of the book I was holding in my hand, Roger McGough. Odd when worlds collide and align ...
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01.19.07California, here we comeSo, we're thinking about escaping to California for a bit, at the end of February/beginning of March. Itinerary as yet undetermined, but it will involve some driving, a lot of photos, a lot of relaxing and almost certainly some eating out. If anyone has any delightful insights/hidden gems/insider tips they want to share about places to stay/eat/see/take photos etc in or around San Francisco, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Redwoods or the North California Coast, then please do say something in the comments.
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01.17.07On Rampant TosspottageThese rules & laws of the road do not apply to you, because apparently you are somehow exempt, or have exempted yourself: Parking in only one parking bayYou have a giant car. We know. You are probably also a bad driver, because having an SUV or other 4x4 in London is usually a sign that you are hoping bulk and power will compensate for your nerves and deficiencies behind the wheel. Perhaps you also thought it was a status-symbol. Perhaps you thought your massive truck would demonstrate how much you want to protect your little posh-named offspring. But still, wantonly parking ...
