I was recalled to work a few days early. Explaining this to my Son did not go well. My rotation partner had an unfortunate accident. Thankfully he is American and I could deflect the blame at America. Members of the USA basketball team, I apologise for the nerf bullets that were shot at our TV. Collateral damage.
Currently I am in Greece. When work eases, normal programming will resume.
In the meantime this internet beauty has crossed my eyes.
Stick reviews on instagram. I know I have found mighty sticks in my life time. Being able to review them is a great idea.
I look forward to sharing a stick review.
It turns out oral surgery is not the best base for blogging. Plenty of blood and tears but the sweat escapes me. I have been enjoying peaceful time in my temporary super accomodation. I did make a couple of supplementary excursions that were not treatment related. The abundance of time distorting commercial enterprises with attached hotels reminds me a bit of Ibiza.
There is a lot going on in Bangkok. It is funny, after so many years of traipsing around the globe I do not find it that overwhelming now. I have even found the winter weather more desirable to what we were experiencing in Italy. People are not really taking photos of random commercial artifices, that did not stop me.
This really caught my eye.
Then you get in a car and see the other more real enterprises.
It is going to be a bit of an adjustment being back in New Zealand but I think I will manage. It will be nice to get into a home routine again. I have plenty of ideas to fashion into content. More jaunts to consider. If the TGDT has taught me anything it is nice to have a real person to share experiences with.
I flew Etihad to Bangkok. Having not flown Etihad before I was most impressed. I paid a nominal fee to blank out the seat next to me for the first leg. The service was on point. I especially enjoyed the flight attendants roaming routinely chanting instructions. Put your seat up, and the row numbers to board were some of my favourites.
I drifted in and out of consciousness having previously decided a deeper sleep for the second leg was preferable. I was soon marvelling at the galactic space station terminus that is Abu Dhabi international.
I slept a bit too heavily on the way to Bangkok. Loosing my right ear bud twice. The first time it was rescued by the French lady beside me. The second time I had to wait for everyone to get out of my aisle before I found it. Pro tip. The seat covers are attached with simple poppers, just like boats.
Stereo sound regained, my driver collected me and I checked into my stupendous accommodation for my time in Bangkok. The complex was opened last year.
View from balcony.
The toilet has an ingenious electronic bidet.
Clearly I have jumped into the future. Somehow I managed to wake up very early this morning. Also making me think I have inadvertantly time jumped.
I went to the gym.
After a delicious buffet breakfast I went for a walk.
Street loses a few marks for poor cable management
Silvi and I did a synched watch for HOTD.
There is a fierce amount of room service.
I have managed to spend some time in and beside the pool.
I am now off for the first of my appointments of the week.
Lingering in Verona was a wise decision. I spied a slogan about it being the most Italian of cities. I certainly reconnected with some of the better facets of Italia.
Nurtured nature.
Centuries on show.
Gelato.
Speaking of which we ate exceptionally well in Italia.
Silvi unironically ate some horse. What a Woman.
We left by train at about 5:30pm. The train was late arriving and Venezia was a different place at dusk. We still have until November to visit the art festival and we can make that so.
We arrived back in Barcelona very late. I think it was 3am before sleep came. Today has been all about packing and very mixed emotions. Silvi helped me get my luggage train to the airport which has sprouted two suitcases. It was very sad to say goodbye.
Now I sit tearing up tapping away waiting for another plane. Five nights in Bangkok await with some medical tourism. I am sure there will be something to write about.
Verona was founded in 49BC. Its geographical location between Venice and Milan has always given it significance for trade, defence and tourism. Our day began in a whimsical fashion. We engaged in some vague shopping. Instagram and guided tours have sadly destroyed Juliet’s balcony. We did find a nice place for lunch. Just like Venice you can walk one or two streets away from the masses and find relative seclusion.
A top ten list of attractions was consulted and I selected the Giardino Giusti. Turns out this was well selected, being part of the classic Grand Tour. Royalty, poets and artists all stopped here. We had a great time.
Entrance to Garden.
You can still find artists.
There are statues of Diana, Venus, Atlas, Apollo and Adonis dotted about.
We had a lot of fun getting lost in the labyrinth. Silvi recorded some video that may get uploaded at some point. I very cleverly used a white handkerchief to hasten my egress.
Here I am channeling my inner Dali :).
After a long Siesta it was time to watch some football before dinner at BistroconAmore. Please visit the webpage. It was a really nice meal. The bar/kitchen was right inside the main door. The chef sang. The waitress did not even try to speak English. It was divine.
It was soon time to make our way to the Verona Colosseum. Each year during summer a series of concerts and opera are performed. There is something VERY special about being a part of a spectacle like this. It was the first time Carmen had been done in Verona. It was also the first event of the ‘24 season. Carmen tells a very Spanish story sang in French. Structured in four acts with two inter-missions. There were a lot of performers. There were 4 donkeys. There were horses. I take back what I have said about horses. If you see one on stage. They do look the part.
People powered curtains.
The whole opera experience was very emotional. I do believe some tears were shed at the end. Opera is the Christmas dinner of the arts. Theatre, Singing, Orchestra and I do believe the costumes were by Armani. Throw in some donkeys and horses and it is a real treat. We were in bed at 1:30am which is later than I managed in Ibiza. There is probably a lesson in there somewhere. Or maybe some hard earned wisdom.
Today we will linger about in Verona. There is still plenty to see and do and with the weather very hot in Venice and being the weekend it might not be so pleasant. Opera, it turns out is hard to beat.
Have you ever woken up before your mind and body? I did yesterday. Silvis 3:10 am alarm was pulsing on the bedside table. I pleasantly let her know it was time to wake up. Half an hour later my body and mind had worked out something was up. Our trip to Italy was unfolding.
Barcelona airport was waking up as well. The two security points became eight whilst we queued and we were soon enough drinking Starbucks and waiting to board our plane. Thankfully it was Vueling. Vueling know how to load up a plane with passengers and how to smoothly get them off. I was soon asleep and woke as we started our descent into the Venice airport.
Venice has a special allure, given its prominence in Film and pop culture. The history is notable. The ingenuity of the Venetian’s allowed them to use a lagoon as a moat. Place huge buildings and industry on top of petrified wooden piles. The wealth, location and security allowed for continuous civic harmony for over 1000 years.
After a short bus ride we were at the central train station where we left our luggage and got on the wrong boat. Instead of heading towards the Saint Marco square we circumnavigated the entirety of Venice. This allowed me to marvel at the seeming chaotic array of water taxis, buses, couriers, gondola and utility vessels.
We eventually made landfall and successfully escaped the throngs of selfie obsessed tourists. Venice has banned cruise ships and instigated a small charge for visiting on weekends. If you are creative and patient you can still enjoy quiet periods in a busy place.
We found a nice quiet restaurant for lunch. It was so quiet we managed to leave without paying. Thankfully one of the waiters chased us down and we apologetically settled the bill.
We then made our way to the Grand Palace of Doge.
Not to be mistaken with the grand meme of 2013.
The interior was suitably overwhelmingly opulent. Not many design ideas that tickled my castle building goals.
Here is an impressive family tree of the rulers of Doge.
On our way out we got some neat views of the outside through the adjoining prison corridor.
We caught our last water bus of the day and made our connecting train to Verona. I may have dozed again. Our hotel is stunning. Only Italians could make mustard yellow appear classy.
We are here for the Opera at the colosseum this evening. We had a nice dinner looking at said colosseum. Today is Silvis birthday. We have some therapeutic shopping planned. Some gelato tasting and we will try and catch some of the football between Spain and Germany. Silvi can not lose.
I had a very lazy Monday, eating a vegan buffet from the hotel and visiting the nearest beach. Barcelona was in the middle of a thunderstorm and just one hour away the weather was perfect.
I made my way to Playa Soleil for my 8pm dinner reservation. A beach club, with a large assortment of sun beds with huge awnings.
Just off the beach the restaurant, gallery and boutique were housed.
I have become a big fan of making reservations. My table for 1 was right beside a huge table which had all of the touring DJ’s and associated guests lists. I managed to say hello and engage in some banter. I discussed at length how the ambient humidity was detrimental to how chopsticks worked on Sushi.
At about 10pm Lee Burridge took over the decks, the dance floor was designed in a devious way with two dancefloors. One was used from 6 till 10:30 then doors were opened and the main room was used.
First Dancefloor
Second dancefloor.
I retreated back to my hotel before it got too late. My last day in Ibiza was spent at the beach. A clever thing you can do is drop your bags off at a luggage storage place. These have showers that you can use and it means you can enjoy the time before you catch your flight.
I met this character.
El Capitano from Senegal. He was trying to sell me knock off Prada hats. I am not a Prada person. I ended up at the Ushuaia beach club which was just starting a 3pm till 11pm session when I went to catch my flight. A bit like cruise ships you can stay in a hotel which is attached to a beach and has a nightclub. All of your money is spent at the same place.
My flight out was delayed but it was a perfect amount of time to visit, especially as I was by myself. Next time Silvi will be with me.
Today we get ready for our 4am departure tomorrow for Venice. Forza Italia.
I first went to Ibiza in 2010, I dallied long, missing flights and rebooking accommodation. Things have changed a bit but the thing that brought me back is still in abundance. Quality music and spectacular nature. Last night I went to the Space Eat and Dance restaurant on the boardwalk at San Antonio. The vantage point gives you epic views of the sun going down. I had a delicious dinner and the DJ was accompanied by a violinist. Space was a huge very successful nightclub here before evolving into something different. The restaurant was a lovely twist on times gone by.
You can see it on the corner there.
Wise words from the Don of Space 🙂
These matched particularly well.
Photos are obviously very important here. My excellent seat allowed me to take photos and video quite well. So well I befriended 3 Brazilian expats and a girl from Belgium. Taking photos is a great way to make new friends 🙂
Tom from Feralsites has fixed the comment system. Leave a comment 🙂
No bueno.
I woke strewn across the bed in an undignified manner. Silvi was not there. I had had uncharacteristic bouts of flatulence throughout the night. I sheepishly thought these may have driven the Domestic Goddess to the lounge. I did find her in the lounge, she had been vomiting every hour since 2am. She is currently running a temperature but feeling cold and back in bed. She will not be able to fly with me today. Thankfully I am feeling fine, but will monitor my wellbeing with my Garmin. Systems are currently nominal.
I will depart as planned and check into our hotel. She will join me tomorrow. This is sub optimal but it will allow me to be an NPC of some significance. This evening I will have a solitary dinner at Space Eat and Dance. I will take lots of photos and divine some stories out of the Balearic air.
I am going to take some solace in humble bragging about being in Ibiza on instagram. I shall especially talk about the magnificent sunset, sounds and how “Classic” it is.
I expect this will be updated throughout the day. If you are an email subscriber please visit this page as it should be updated a couple of times. Speaking of which if you are not an email subscriber you can do so with this very box on the right hand side.
Addendum 1.
I caught a cab to the Airport at about 11. Terminal 2 houses all of the budget airlines. I mentioned earlier that I have never not checked something in. I was about ten minutes into a queue when I realised I could just go straight to security. You can teach an old Dragon new tricks. RyanAir is my least favourite of these airlines. Without being too snobby it attracts a certain type of patron. Our flight was 40 minutes delayed. People had to be reminded to put seatbelts on. Someone was wearing an English football shirt. All stuff that grinds my gears. Thankfully I slept most of the way listening to a very enjoyable spotify playlist. Silvi not checking in mean’t I had a spare seat and could enjoy the view.
I was soon greeting my driver who would take me to our hotel. I told her it had been 14 years since my last time in Ibiza. She said it has changed a lot with VIP culture ruining a lot of the club nights. I heartily agree with this sentiment, and this is why our night out does not have a vip area.
VIP culture aside. Ibiza is still an amazing place. The weather is superb. There is a palpable buzz in the air. There are also now electric scooters which are a welcome addition. I have just been out orienting myself and have found the nearest scooter point and cafe. I will now get ready and head across to the other side of the island for the sunset and dinner.
Silvi update. She has got a couple of bananas down and should catch the early flight over here tomorrow for breakfast.