Things I like of my life in the UK... and things that I don't!

I have heard many people complain about this country, mostly about the weather. It is true that the UK doesn't have a tropical climate; here, when sun shines at midday does not mean it won't rain one hour later. We get cold and snowy winters, but also sunny and really hot summers! I have been living in Bristol for over two year now. I found several things I really like in this country but also some others that I would never get used...

Squats, empty buildings and social housing @ Bearpit Outdoor Gallery

Just a couple of minutes ago, I was coming back from the city centre when some young guys who were begging or just hanging out in a tunnel-pass at the Bearpit asked me to smile. I don't really like when people I don't know asks me to smile, neither people I know. Why could I smile if a couple of metres before a wall reminded myself how screwed up the world is. "There are 4.1 million homeless people and 11 million empty houses in Europe" (Photos...

What can I do in Bristol during the Bank Holiday weekend?

I am not able to remember if it was the same last year but this May's Bank Holiday is full of festivals. It's been several weeks that most of the hostels are fully booked in Bristol with people coming if it's not for the VegFest, they are coming for the Love Saves the Day festival or Dot to Dot. The fact is that there are still some tickets available for the festivals so if you haven't plan anything for the long weekend, here you have some ideas: 23-24...

1-day trip to Exeter

Exeter, the historic city in Devon, is a very good place to go for a day trip. It is only 1h30min away from Bristol (70 miles southwest) and there are many interesting things to see over there. The city is on the River Exe. Historically, its lowest bridging point was at Exeter, though there is now a viaduct for the M5 motorway about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. HOW TO GET THERE? National Railway connects Bristol with Exeter in...

Rave on Avon

Giving local music the stage to shine! Rave on Avon is back at Stokes Croft! Next Saturday, 17th May, an all-day multi-venue festival will take over the neighbourhood for a day of music and partying from 2pm until 6am in the morning. All events, music and dances before 6pm will be free. For events and concerts after 6pm, you will need to get a wristband. It will give you access to the participating venues: Blue Mountain, Lakota, 51 Stokes Croft,...

Traditional Folk Music at Grain Barge

If you feel like listening to some traditional folk music in a really lovely location while you drink local beer, you have a plan for Wednesday. Lisa Knapp, who emerged in 2007, will be filling the Grain Barge's "Hold Bar" with traditional folk music. Fiddle, banjo, strings... She has been nominated three times by BBC Radio 2 for Folk Awards (Folk singer of the year, Best Album and Best Non-traditional Track). Check her music on the video below,...

BS9 Arts Trail

This is the third Arts Trail I publish in the blog. After the West Bristol Arts Trail last October (read about it here) and then, the  North Bristol Arts Trail November last year (read about it here), it's time for artists around Westbury-on-Trym, Henleaze, Stoke-Bishop and Henbury to show their artwork. It's time for BS9 Arts Trail. This coming weekend, 10-11 May 2014, between 11am and 5pm, artists will open their homes and galleries...

Busking around Europe

Hasn't your heart softened after watching this video? These young Paraguayans, who not only made very decent instruments from trash but also play them beautifully, are a clear example of how music can make a big difference in any child's life. Matt, a good friend of mine who lives in Bristol, will spend this summer 2014 cycling around Europe with an amp, guitar and microphone, playing music to raise some money for a great charity: Musequality....

Travelling? Check this out!

Although I have mostly been supporting and encouraging local stores until now, I found it impossible not to mention one of the best bookshops entirely dedicated to travelling. Located in the historical Corn Street, there is a store you must visit if you are travelling in the near future. The store is called Stanfords and for those who don't know, the Bristol branch was the first store to be opened outside London back in 1997.  It's a...

Eat and drink is Bristol's Fashion!

Starting today 1st May until 18th May, Queen Square is hosting Eat Drink Bristol Fashion. During 18 days, there will be food, live entertainment and drinks in the tipi village they built in the beautiful square close to the Harbourside. Queen Square, planned in 1699 in honour of Queen Anne, is a garden square in the centre of Bristol. It was originally a fashionable 18th century residential area but now most of the beautiful buildings have...