All Hallows' Eve

It's Halloween again. I can see it in every store, restaurant, bar and even private houses. The business sees Halloween as a chance to sell Halloween themed products and pumpkins, vegetable that we don't see the rest of the year, seem to be everywhere. The 31st October is thought to be the night of the year when ghosts, witches and fairies are especially active. It happens on the eve of a major catholic festival, All Saints Day, the time in the...

Inner Zone, Outer Zone... Bristol First Bus fares change!

November, month of changes. At least it will be if you use First Bus. During a consultation First Bus run some months ago, the company got strong feedback on the issue of fares and they understood there was a need to do some changes. I am personally satisfied with the changes that First is going to implement in the fares, but I can understand not everybody will share my satisfaction. Zones will change now: there will be a Inner Zone, which...

The perfect storm?

We were warned to expect the worst. However, the storm that stroke Bristol this morning was less severe than forecasted. Media has over-reacted by comparing this storm to the ferocious St Jude, the "Great Storm" in 1987 (more info about St Jude). Even the summer thunderstorm was bigger! After a couple of days of strong wind, the so-called "storm of the decade" arrived to Bristol during the night, bringing heavy showers and winds of up to...

Ashton Gate Flea Market

Today, defying the "masive thunderstorm" which was supposed to hit Bristol at some point this weekend (read here), I went to the Flea Market to see if I could find any bargain for my Christmas presents. Finally, the storm did not strike Bristol, at least not so far, although we are having strong wind and rain every now and then. Tonight, perhaps... There are several ways to go to Ashton Gate by public transport. I took the First Bus 76 and I got...

Harmonica Festival

Since I was a child, I have always been surrounded by music. My mom used to dance with me in the living room when I was just one year old, and I have the image of my dad playing the guitar engraved in my mind as far as I can remember. He also used to play the harmonica, among other instruments, and that is probably why listening to the harmonica makes me travel back in time.The man in the picture is Carey Bell, an American blues virtuoso who played...

Rugby League World Cup 2013

If you search Cook Islands on Google, it will point one green relatively small island in the Pacific Ocean. However, Cook Islands comprises not one but 15 small islands with about 100,000 visitors travelling to them in 2011.  When I read about the Rugby League World Cup 2013, I realised our teachers didn't emphasize enough on geography. Although, being such a little country in the middle of the ocean... I don't think it is such a big deal...

MShed: your museum, your story

Located on Prince's Wharf beside the Floating Harbour, the MShed is a museum to explore about the city which was opened in 2011. The museum's name comes from the way the port identified each of the sheds.  The museum is closed on Mondays, and opens from Tuesday to Friday between 10am-5pm and 10am-6pm on weekends. The entrance is free yet there is a £2 suggested donation. The permanent exhibition is divided into three galleries: BRISTOL...

Making Sundays Special: Highlights

For the very last time in 2013, we have been able to enjoy (even though it was under the rain) the Make Sundays Special day, which has been happening for once a month for the past months. Traffic is closed to motor traffic in Baldwin and Street and Old Market and opened up for walking people. The special event going on today was the Bristol Eyd Fayre 2013 in the Creative Common (BS1 6DG), where they were selling islamic goods between 12-5.30pm....

Bristol Festival of Literature 2013

Starting from tomorrow 19th October until the 27th October Bristol is hosting the Festival of Literature, where 60 writters will perform in 28 different venues. It is a 'themed celebration of the creative word', as they say in the official website. As they say, 'it is a non-for-profit venture, currently unfunded by any public money, but grateful for the support of local firms and the people of Bristol'. I summarized most of the events happening...

2-day trip to Peterborough

"Why? Why would you go to Peterborough for the weekend?". That is what my friends in Bristol repeteadly asked me when I told them I would be off on a trip to Peterborough. "There is nothing to see there!". Most of them have never been there, and it might be a small city in the middle of nowhere between London and Leeds, but Peterborough has a lot to offer. There are a couple of ways to get to Peterborough with public transport. You can get a...

A young wave of consumerism in Cabot Circus

I am getting old. 26-year-old PhD student and I am already feeling old. 18-year-old 2013/2014 university freshers took Cabot Circus this evening and I was there, trying not to get stressed by the amount of people in the shops and not to getting crazy with the extremelly loud music. I have to say "Well done, Cabot Circus!" for the effective consumer campaign of today, they must have made a lot of money in 3 hours! Between 6pm until 9pm, Cabot...

Lunch at the Canteen

The Canteen is around the corner from my place, and everytime I go there to have some coffee and I see somebody having lunch there, I always get green of envy. So, I finally convinced my friends to go there for lunch. One of them was a little hungover and he just had a coffee, while another friend and I were having our lunch.  The Canteen serves lunch everyday between 12-3pm and dinner between 5-9pm. They promote local and organic...

West Bristol Arts Trail

Happening since 2008, West Bristol Arts Trails is back this year too. This weekend, 12th and 13th October, over 100 artists in Clifton, Clifton Wood, Redland and Howells will open their studio (and even home) doors for you to check their works between 11am and 5pm. Oils and watercolours, as well as sculptures, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, photography... every year thousands of visitors come along and check the latest artworks of local artists. Personally,...