Posts by tag
travel
In Search of 53 German Student Girls
The dance that night was in a converted cinema. We sat in the front row seats and watched the natives giving it, like it was 1919. Country and western was big in the hinterlands back in the day. Sugary sweet songs of the poor emigrant Paddy in his bed-sit in London, pining for his golden haired girlfriend and his silver haired mother while he drank himself into a stupor.
Talking Soup book reviews ‘Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises’ Ernest Hemingway
So far, complex titles ranging from the heart wrenching narratives of Baldwin to the mind-expanding prose of LeGuin have been met with such turns of phrase as ‘it was alright’ or ‘it was good’. Now, given that the English language is prone to the kind of linguistic flare afforded to it by an unequalled vocabulary and system of expressions, I feel I could do more justice to these totemic works of literature than my long-suffering missus has hitherto been privy. Clear? Then on with the show.
Barcelona Burns. A week in protests.
The centre of town burns, the fires of the barricades rise until late at night. Seen from above the city recalls scenes from its past, when Barcelona gained the nickname of Rosa de Foc. But we are in 2019, a time when political dissent is intertwined with late capitalist tendencies, and indeed you can see Glovo’s workers diligently darting around the front of a barricade fire. Because in the burning city there are those who do not give up ordering sushi at home.
The Old Copenhagen Shipyard Blues
The inside of a new 80.000 ton bulk carrier was to put it mildly, a very religious experience. To go from the coffins of Castle Dracula, in driving snow, with a temperature hitting minus 25 Degrees, into a vast silent cathedral-like environment, had a profound effect on me. It was a place of bright bright lights and dark dark places. I suppose, with the scaffolding and the hanging lights it could also have been mistaken for some enormous Egyptian tomb excavation.
Homeward Bound on the Magic Bus
The Magic Bus stopped for no man as it sped across Europe, heading for Amsterdam. In Yugoslavia, it was changing Drachmas for Dinars time. My memory of the journey through Yugoslavia, is a rainy wind swept communist country. Pretty backward, with kid soldiers, wearing the worst looking ill-fitting uniforms you can imagine. These kids had guns, so it was scary when they went through the bus.
Greece: There and Back on the Magic Bus. Part 1
Lesson learned. When dealing with the Island Greeks, they’re lovely people, but they’ll take you to the cleaners given half a chance. This deflated our egos for a few nanoseconds. We saw a family out back refilling plastic water bottles from a well. If the silly tourists want bottled water, we’ll sell them bottled water. This was the Greek idea of keeping the tourists happy.
Sightings of an English Band in Poland, 1993
I mean, even the first time round, who the actual fuck was Alice? And who cared about living next door to her? I’m not very good at either listening to or remembering pop lyrics, but even without knowing any of the rest of them, I understood that it was a song about the girl next door. But rock stars didn’t want the girl next door, did they? They got on planes and travelled, got off, collected all that gear, got into vans and disappeared up the road, in search of more glamorous girls.
Back to the Football #3 Sants vs Hospitalet
Since the last entry, the boys of UE Sants have gone through something of a revelatory experience. What I mean by this is that they have won, twice in fact, including a comeback 4-3 victory against the adorably monikered Poble Mafumet, a performance reminiscent of the 2005 Champion’s League Final, or so said some throaty drunk bloke.
Just Standing There in the Dark
The basic truth of long-distance public transport rest stops is that although you get the stop aspect, no-one rests. This is due to a potent mix of acute social awkwardness, muzak and bad colour schemes. An empty bladder, stretched legs and popped-up blood sugar at a premium price is the best combo you can hope for.
Zadusnice: The Serbian All Souls’ Day
There are four Zadusnice in a year, one for every season: summer, autumn, winter and spring, and they always fall on Saturday. Saturday is the day of week devoted to the dead in Serbian culture. And Serbs are funny people. They are outgoing and talkative, and they love to socialize with one another, laugh and make jokes anywhere, even in the cemetery.
Having sex in a swimming pool
Unprotected sex, booze, a swimming pool and and forthright businesswomen all face Laurence in a down-at-the-heel Mexican hotel.
Welcome To The United States
The security man gives a mean, hawking cough and raises his hand over the glass to wave through the next victim. I mutter my thanks, grab my visa and scurry away. Welcome to the United States, you youthful, naïve ignoramus.
Selling the Americas
Alessandra Bergamin takes a trip to Melbourne’s “Discover the Americas” expo
The Ultimate London Pub Crawl
Two friends and one 23 year long quest; to get drunk in the vicinity of all 270 London underground stations.
Fear and Loathing in Indonesian Toilets
Any expat eventually has to assimilate into the local culture, regardless of how low you feel you must stoop.
The Papoose
The London Underground is my safe haven. Many people hate it; but for me, there is no other place that could give me the same, dependable experience.
Lara Croft of the Kabubble
Larger-than-life characters and daily life as a journalist in the surreal world of Kabul, Afghanistan.
Bingo, Football & Fascists
Drunken antics, bingo, Nazi grass and fascist salutes await Laurence as he takes a trip to a Real Betis football away match.
Visions of Albion
Visions of Albion, a short film by ‘EYE’ follows a group of Chinese tourists across Britain, showing what defines Britishness in the eyes of tourists.
England Your England
London is undergoing a living crisis. We present two short films courtesy of England Your England that discuss a very modern problem plaguing the city today
Politics in Lebanon is a hereditary illness
The phoenix has won the cockfight, but now it’s limping around in a heap of blood and feathers. Politics in Lebanon is a hereditary illness.
Running of the Bulls
Trouser-less and here in rural Spain. This is how the “Carnaval” finished for me.
Haitian Heroes
Haitian Heroes is a photography project by Dominik Prinz. Haitian Heroes tells stories of courage, bravery and hope among Port au Prince’s poorest children.
Ginger Syrians
Ginger Syrians, or ‘Gyrians’ as we know them are not just a curiosity in Aleppo, but a phenomenon. Michael Stark writes about drinking culture in Syria.
