News

Firstly my brother and his girl-friend are getting married at the end of April in Paris ! It's only going to be a civil wedding and a cocktail with family and friends.
Then you remember I told you I'm now involved in a drama group ? I had an audition lately. I didn't get any part but a few of my colleagues congratulated me on my performance. I was going to operate the lights in their end of May production. Instead I'm going to do the prompt ("souffleur" in French). No, I'm not going to be stucked in a hole underneath the stage... I don't know yet how it's going to work...

Last evening and last day in Venice

Saturday night I had a Japanese-Italian meal at Rialto Mercato. We had a shower and a couple came in rushing from the terrace. The lady called her Dad and said they were having "fun" in Venice ! Sunday I went to San Marco the long way : Plaza Roma and Tronchetto (the bus station) and there caught the Water bus to the airport.
It had been a wonderful break in this "fantastico" City.

Bye bye Venice (3)

Bye bye Venice (2)

Bye bye Venice (1)

Venice : Day 4

This morning I wanted to visit Salute Church and la Dogana Dal Mar. I made a late start from the hotel and took the vaporetto. Now let me tell you about public transport in Venice. The "vaporetto" is a water bus which runs in most parts including to go over the islands and the "terra ferma" (the continent). There are slow lines and faster ones. From the railway station to San Marco it takes one hour on the slow one (at least 10 stops) and 35 minutes on the faster one (about 5 stops). Then if you need to cross over the grand canal where there are no bridges you'll most likely find a "traghetto" post sighted at the end of a narrow street. They are in fact gondoles for 10 people, they run as soon as they are filled up and it costs 0.50 euros. To go on the vaporetto you need to buy a ticket or a pass before hand but - except at a few stations - there is no control whatsoever.
I arrived at La Salute at lunch time so I made it straight for a restaurant right behind. A very nice place overlooking Giudecca Island. They offered me a grappa at the end of the meal. When I saw the bill I thought I might as well drunk it... I paid happily and was even going to kiss the waiters but then I thought better of it.
La Salute - as much churches - didn't reopen until 3 and la Dogana Del Mar was closed for repairs. So I went instead to the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection. They have all the best Modern artists' paintings and sculptures in there and a delightful garden.

Venice : Your blogger opposite San Marco (Dogana Da Mar)

Venice : Day 3

Today has been a lovely day. Even quite warm at times. I spent the morning in the Cannaregio where used to be the Jewish Ghetto. I wanted to have lunch in a local restaurant unknown to most tourists. Except if you have the right travel guide. I was there at 12:30. It was fully packed with Venezian people. They asked me to come back at 1. I went back to the hotel to get change and came back at 1:30. They asked me to wait a further 10 minutes. 30 minutes later they let me in with a French couple. We had to share a table. So we had a chat, talking mostly about food as you do among French... I must say it was nice to be able to break for a short while from my solitude and to have a laugh !
It's nice to notice that over here when you try to speak Italian they most of the time answer you back in Italian. No offence but I resent the fact that as a tourist in some places they speak to you systematically in English.
After lunch I went back to the hotel where I had a rest and dined.

Venice : Madonna Dell'Oro

Venice : Unity Celebration of Italy on San Marco

Venice : Cannaregio (2)

Venice : Cannaregio (1)

Venice : Day 2

This morning it had stop raining and he fact we had a rather pleasant day. I explored the area of San Polo. The highlight was the church of San Pantalon (see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pantalon). I managed to find the restaurant I was looking for last night with only a traditional map ! Today was a Bank Holiday : the 150th Anniversary of the unification of Italy. To celebrate it I went to Florian's on San Marco square. I had a trio mousse : green, white & red and a hot chocolate to wash it down. I had the evening meal nearby in a wine-bar-restaurant. To note that over here people of all generations love to have a glass of wine standing up inside or outside a bar.

Venice : Medallion of Byzantine Emperor near San Pantalon

Venice : San Polo area (2)

Venice : San Polo area (1)

Venice : San Pantalon

Venice : The Grand Canal from the Plaza Roma end

Venice : Day 1

"Cheap & cheerful" flight this morning from East Midlands. We took off in the mist and landed in the mist too. It has been raining in Venice most of the day. Funny enough I have been watching the local news in my room and there is actually floodings in the area and Venice might be next...
Anyway. It's the 4th time (3d as an adult) I'm coming here and once again my breath has been taken away as soon as we arrived by water bus near the City. My hotel is at the other end of the Grand Canal, opposite the railway station, in the neighborhood called "Santa Croce". I had picked up a restaurant in one of my guide, only a few minutes away from the hotel. I tried to get there thanks to the Iphone sat nav... I only ended up going round and round. Venice is a place where one has to get lost... At the end I entered into a "trattoria" at random. I had to ask for the menu I saw outside. And thanks to a few words in Italian the waiter even smiled to me. The food was fresh, simple and nice.
Right now I'm watching a soap style comedy on"la Cinque". Would you believe it ?
Buena sera.

Venice instead of Sicily

Last Saturday my friend T. and I we were supposed to go to Sicily for 10 days. Unfortunately the day before T's bosses asked him to stay in Nottingham as they had a family emergency abroad. So we canceled our trip. At the beginning of the week I was hoping that T. would be able to get away soon. It didn't happen. I then booked a last minute holiday for myself in Venice ! I'm there until Sunday.

Venice : San Marco (2)

Venice : San Marco (1)

Exceptional White Rabbit Book Club meeting at my place

Last Wednesday I held the book club at my flat because the White Rabbit has been under a slight refurbishment. A lady from the group had suggested « The Crown of the Blood » by Gav’ Thorpe and she knew the author. It’s a fantasy booked aimed at 18-25 years old boys but mainly read by teenagers and middle aged ladies. I tried the 1st pages and then I gave up : it seemed to be a world unreachable. We had invited Gav’ to share drinks and cake. He came along with his girl-friend K.

Please see below his review of the evening on his own blog :

http://mechanicalhamster.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/chasing-the-white-rabbit/

Meet up at Lion Pub, New Basford, Nottingham : Shipstone St Jazz Orchestra

Mental and singing

The most important thing to get ready to sing is to relax. Mentally and physically. So first of all, wherever I have to perform, I have to get there in plenty of time. Quite often the only place to get some privacy are the Gent’s. I go through a couple of breathing excercises and keep repeating over and over to myself « you’ll be fine, it’s not a competition but a challenge ! »

Last time I had a concert was at my birthday party. So I was acting as the host and as the singer. From the outside surely it seems a non-stressing situation : my public were my friends. I was going to perform in a nice and comfy setting.

Anyway after I had made sure everybody had a drink and nibbles. I went to the loo and got ready. I then went ‘ on stage ‘ and introduced briefly the pianist and the programme. Once I had signaled to the pianist I was ready I knew there was no turning back : I had to go all the way through no matter what ! While singing I thought about all the advice and tips I got from my singing teacher. And at the same time focusing on the words : every song is a story with renewed feelings every time. Making eye contact can be a bit unsettling especially with people you know very well. I couldn’t help but wondering if my friends liked what I did. I could see my godfather descretely yawning. I thought : is he getting bored or just tired ? An other friend was sort of looking judgemental. I thought : « she used to be a professional singer, she’s probably ticking in her head all the mistakes I’ve done so far… »

All the same it went very quickly and I was releaved that it was over but as well sorry that those happy moments were already over.