Hidden gem

I will probably not share anything else Pope Benedict XVI preached but I do agree with this statement about the organ:

"The organ has always been considered, and rightly so, the king of musical instruments, because it takes up all the sounds of creation and gives resonance to the fullness of human sentiments, from joy to sadness, from praise to lamentation. (...) The organs great range of timbre, from piano through to a thundering fortissimo, makes it an instrument superior to all other. It is capable of echoing and expressing all the experiences of human life."

Last Friday, I saw The Lord Mayor's Chapel opened to the public. I never pass by College Green during its opening hours, so it was quite unusual for me to see it opened. Actually, I thought it was not even an active chapel. That's probably why it is often called "the hidden gem". So, I went in.

Built in 1230AD, it was a chapel to St. Mark's Hospital founded by Maurice de Gaunt, which was served by a number of clergy and lay brother. In 1450 Henry VIII sequestrated it and city fathers had to purchase the buildings and lands from him. The chapel's building is the only building left now.

The inside of the chapel is charming, very warm and cosy. Very well preserved and quiet. Not too big, not too small either.

As I always do in every church I visit (occupational habit, probably), I went directly to admire the organ. It is hidden at the very end of the aisle. The organist started his rehearsal at that exact moment I was there so that I could fully enjoy it. However, it did not sounded as it was in shape. Apparently, the organ has not been radically refurbished for more than 50 years. They are hoping it keeps working until funds are available to undertake the work needed (estimated in £300.000) to maintain the beautiful traditional instrument.

Name: The Lord Mayor's Chapel

Location: BS1 5TB
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm
Entrance: Free

Webpage: http://www.lordmayorschapel.org.uk/

Lady Boys

Every Tuesday evening, I walk through Castle Park and enjoy the silence there. This week, however, as I was approaching, I could hear the first notes of a party hit. I am not sure if it was Lady Gaga, Rihanna or someone else. But as I was approaching I realised the "circus" came into town.

"Lady Boys of Bangkok", they are called. First thing that came to my mind when I read it was a night out in Castro District, San Francisco, CA a couple of years back. Castro District is one of the United States' first gay neighborhoods and it is currently the largest. Having transformed from a working-class neighborhood through the 60s-70s, Castro remains one of the most prominent symbols of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgeder (LGBT) activism and events.

You could see anything in this district. Things you might think people would keep for their most intimate moments could be seen at daylight in San Francisco.

The show is called Glamorous Amorous, and I can't give you my own feedback because to be honest, I haven't seen it. The logo speaks for itself, though. 

They promise a "party like there's no tomorrow under an exotic ambience". You can expect the "usual truly glamorous and funny cabaret antics, complete with even more flamboyant costumes, painstakingly immaculate make up and show stopping choreography".

I am more Cirque du Soleil kind of person, their name (The Lady Boys of Bangkok, seriously?) didn't catch my attention anyway. It could be an alternative plan if you don't have any for the weekend. They will be in town until tomorrow (27th April) and tickets can be bought in here £10-£48.80.

Oink oink! Moo moo! Baa baa!

A green oasis in the heart of the city of Bristol. That's what St. Werburghs City Farm is. Located in the neighbourhood of St. Werburgh (BS2 9YJ), the farm offers a bunch of activities for kids and adults starting from training and educational activities for individuals and schools to a very nice cafeteria with a very unique playground.

The vision of the city farm is "to be truly inspirational city-centre farm that supports an informed, healthy and cohesive community to live, learn and play sustainably, in harmony with the environment". They wish to create a future where people are better connected to the story of their food from farm to plate, better connected to nature. 

According to survey conducted by The Telegraph, just half of the young UK adults know butter comes from a dairy cow and a third do not know eggs come from hens. That's why project like this this city farm are so important for future generations. Read the article here and judge for yourself. 

The farm is very neat and tidy area. They have some sheds for animals such as pigs and cows, a pool for ducks and a couple of very well-preserved areas for chickens. However, I reckon sheds and fenced areas should be slightly bigger for the animals to move freely. I guess they are limited by the amount of land available in the area.

The farm is opened 360 days a year with opening times from 9am-5pm in summer and 9am-4pm in winter. There is a café opened everyday except Tuesdays, and a shop where you can buy eggs, plants and nice handmade gifts. 

Although the entrance is free, small charity donations are  very welcome in the Donation Bin.

You can help the city farm bloom by joining the membership scheme. There are 4 types of membership: Gold (£5/month), Silver (£2/month), Standard (£1/month) and Concessionary (£10/year). There is an information office in the green building next to the coffee shop where you can ask for information of any kind. Just knock the door and come in. The staff are very kind and helpful.

If you ever go there, I would recommend you to focus extra attention on the scarecrows around the area. They are very nicely decorated, with extremely colorful clothes, the bests I have ever seen so far in the UK. I post a little example in here.

More information: St. Werburghs City Farm Website

Salseando

Music is part of my everyday life, and so is dancing. I have always liked dancing.  Never danced professionally, I'd tackle anything though. As a child, I did some ballet. During my teenager period, I danced traditional Basque dances. Then, in College, I dare to dance ballroom dances. Samba, Waltz, Tango, Bolero, ChaChaCha... a little bit of everything. I had an exceptional teacher who transmitted his passion for dancing to me. I also competed. 2013 though, is the year of Salsa.

At the beginning of January, probably as a new years resolution, I joined the salsa classes in Bristol. I convinced a friend to come with me and we are pretty good at it. ;) 

There are several places in Bristol where you can learn some salsa. In the city centre, there is Salsa Souls, in the Slug and Lettuce (BS1 1UB). There are other two dance schools in Clifton; Abanico Salsa (BS8 2LT) and Salsa Sabrosa (BS1 5JG), and yet another forth one in the south of Bristol called Salsa Bristol (BS14 9EA). Prices are quite similar for all clases: 6-8 pounds per class (usually around 2 hours per class).

It doesn't matter if you are a rookie, everybody is in the same boat. All of them offer lessons for absolute beginners and you can join any time you want. Mondays in Salsa Sabrosa, Tuesdays in Salsa Souls, Wednesdays in Salsa Souls (again) and Thursdays in Salsa Bristol. You could go to one class almost every week day if you'd like!

Remember, you do not need to bring your own partner. Classes are structured so that people rotate throughout. It allows you to meet new people and improve your leading or following skills with different partners.  Most of the times there are more girls than guys, which encourages guys even more to start dancing. However, lately the amount of girls in my class has decreased.

You don't need to wear anything special. If you have dancing shoes, bring them. If you don't, it is alright as well. Just wear comfortable clothes and avoid tight fitting skirts.

Lessons usually start with a warm-up, and the groups is either divided in two (beginners and intermediates) or the beginners class comes first followed by an intermediates class. There is a break in the middle and freestyle dancing at the end. 

Most dance schools also organise "Monthly Party" and "Special Classes" every now and then, where you can bring your friends, meet other dancers from town and have some fun.

More information
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Salsa Bristol (http://www.salsabristol.co.uk/)
Salsa Sabrosa (http://www.bristolsalsa.co.uk/)
Salsa Mania (http://www.salsa-mania.co.uk/)
Abanico Salsa (http://www.abanicosalsa.com/Classes/Bristol-Clifton/)
Salsa Soul Bristol (http://www.salsasouls.co.uk/)

The man with the ticket machine

Outside Bristol Zoo, there is a man with the ticket machine. In a car park, he charges £1 per car, £5 per coach bus. That is his duty. It is what he has been doing for over 23 years. Families, kids, couples, buses full of tourists... everybody stops in front of the man with the ticket machine, pays and leaves. Nobody pays attention to him, although he is a very pleasant guy. He is just "the man with the ticket machine".

Then, just one day like today, the man with the ticket machine does not turn up for work. Nobody knows what happens, nobody knows where he is. And nobody in charge of the car park.

Bristol Zoo Management then phones up the City Council and asks them to send a new parking attendant. But the City Council replies the parking is responsibility of the Zoo and explains that they have never sent anybody to work there.

Sitting in a villa somewhere on the coast of Spain is the man with the ticket machine, who had been working for over 23 years in a car park, where nobody noticed his presence, earning around 400 a day at Bristol Zoo.

And no one even knows his name.

It is up to you to believe this story or not.