Tag Archives: Entertainment

Barcelona – No disputing girls like shopping!

Palau Guell

Palau Guell

El Ravel, El Barri Gothic & El Born – The old town Barcelona

Next on our list was a visit to the old town. Everything I’d read warned to be on guard against pickpockets here so it was with some trepidation that we took the metro to Parallel and stepped out onto the corner of Carrer Nou de la Rambla. This is a narrow road filled with traffic and run down looking little shops and restaurants leading to La Rambla. The closer we got to La Rambla the more interesting the buildings became culminating in Palau Guell, a town mansion designed by Gaudi with huge wrought iron gates that carriages used to enter. It is possible to go inside but, yet again, time was against us. I guess it is one more reason for us to return to Barcelona in the future though so it’s not all bad news. Continue reading →

Barcelona – Camp Nou, who says girls don’t like football?

Camp Nou, big on the outside

Camp Nou, big on the outside

Who says girls don’t like football? – FC Camp Nou Stadium Barcelona

By Monday morning the rain was gone and we looked out onto a clear blue sky once more. The Camp Nou stadium was our first objective of the day. Commando and I both love football and regularly go to watch our local team, Southampton, play so we thought we’d take the opportunity to have a look at the largest stadium in Europe and see how it compared to our own humble St Mary’s. We took the train to Sants Estacio and then hopped on the metro to Les Corts, which, according to our map was the closest to Camp Nou. Continue reading →

Southampton – walking the historic medieval city walls

Ferns growing on the historic walls, Southampton

Ferns growing on the historic walls, Southampton

Walking the medieval city walls of Southampton

The last time I walked the walls was when the boys were at school. In fact I think it was part of a school history project. Living in a city packed to the gills with history, I tend to forget about it most of the time. There are bits I stroll past on a regular basis but I don’t really think about them. Other bits I’ve barely even seen, despite living here all my life. Continue reading →

Marrakech – a fam trip and a gala meal

The garden at Palmeraie Golf Palace ready for our Gala Meal

The garden at Palmeraie Golf Palace, Marrakech, ready for our Gala Meal

Letting our hair down after an exciting trip – A Gala meal at Palmeraie Golf Palace, Marrakech

On the final night of our Mega Fam all of the different groups joined together for a gala meal hosted by Palmeraie Golf Palace  http://www.palmeraie-marrakech.com/palmeraie-golf-palace.htm  for a chance to swap stories of our adventures. We began our evening with a quick tour of the hotel, if you can tour a 312 room hotel quickly. This gigantic palace, ten minutes outside the centre of Marrakech is a great place for those who love golf. It has it’s own 18 hole golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior. Continue reading →

Marrakech – the mad world of Chez Ali, a Fantasia

The gate to Chez Ali

The gate to Chez Ali, Marrakech 

Chez Ali Marrakech, Walt Disney meets Ali Baba

Probably the most unusual experience I had in Marrakech was a visit to Chez Ali. It can only be described as Disney meets The Arabian Nights. The first time I went I was leading an educational group. On the itinerary it was billed as ‘Fantasia, Moroccan Dinner and Cultural Show’  and I had no idea what to expect. Continue reading →

Marrakech – back to the madness, Djemaa El Fna at night

First view of Djemma el Fna at night

First view of Djemma el Fna, Marrakech, at night

Djemaa el Fna Marrakech at night, the greatest free show on earth

After a relaxing day I decided to go back to Djemaa el Fna to see what the fuss was about ‘the square’ at night. I took a petit taxi from my hotel and, even before I saw it I heard the cacophony of drums, eerily wailing pipes and voices. The centre of the square was lit by the food stalls. The smoke from their fires rose up into the night and tempting smells from their wares drifted into the crowd. I was soon caught up in the throng and carried along. Continue reading →