Trunks and Trails: South Africa // Part 1

Good day, everyone :)
Summer is over, sad face. We're into September now which means back to reality and back to wading through college work and life and not being able to use the excuse "but it's summer" as a viable excuse to be a bit lazy 😂
September is also when I have my birthday. The 21st, to be exact. So I'll be looking forward to that and I'll be looking forward to going back to Sligo in a few days and getting out to Strandhill, Rosses Point and seeing friends again, so it'll be a pretty hectic month!
But on to the blog post!
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So at the start of the summer, right after I came back from Erasmus, it was a quick change over before I was on the road to the airport, heading to South Africa!
I returned to Ireland on the 7th of June, a Wednesday and on the 10th, a Saturday, I was packed up and ready, with my family, to head off again.

 Preparation

The preparation for South Africa began pretty much as soon as we were told about the trip. As this was a family holiday-style trip, amazingly paid for by my father, it was his idea to go there in the first place. So to get prepared for South Africa, it was a case of researching the areas we were going. Listing what we could go and see, what we would like to do and make sure we have all the necessary items, medicines and accessories for the trip.

1. One of the key things to get done before going to South Africa was to make sure that we were all appropriately and carefully medically checked and vaccinated. Things to get vaccinated against were tetanus, hepatitis and typhoid. Being in Spain, it was a bit of a task to find a place that would vaccinate against, basically, tropical diseases. For anyone travelling abroad to a place that may require vaccinations, check out this website to find a tropical medicine bureau/clinic near you: https://www.tmb.ie/
2. In the month that we travelled to South Africa, June. It was winter time in South Africa. Now once we got there, it was 30 degrees celsius, which for an Irish person, is far better than any day in our summer. So for me, the essentials needed for the trip were items such as shorts, t-shirts, sunglasses, caps and light shoes. Whilst there, we were treated to some odd looks from the locals. They were in body warmers and long pants, calling it cold.
3. Travel Agent documents/information. Travelling via a travel agent, as we did. Keeping an eye on your documents and making sure you have all times, dates and information correct, and it'll make for a less-stress time.

The Trip

Saturday, 10th of June. We left home in the early afternoon. The travel plan was to, instead of driving to Dublin, was to drive to Galway and take the bus from the Galway Bus Depot to the airport, direct. We took GoBus from Galway airport. I find GoBus to be a good, direct transport from the airport. It saves money for those driving and it also gets you to the door of the terminal building sufficiently and punctually. Our flight was leaving at around 15:45, we made it to Dublin airport just after 2:30 so we had enough time to check in the bags and get ourselves something to eat. We quickly made it through security and weren't waiting too long before our first flight was boarding. 

The first leg of the journey was a quick flight from Dublin to London Heathrow. What I love is that it takes about 45 minutes to fly from Dublin to London. Enough time for a powernap! For the first flight, we took an Aer Lingus flight. It was my first time flying with Aer Lingus, actually. For the flight over, I can't really review or say much about the service because I was already asleep before take off...

But 45 minutes later we were touching down at Heathrow Airport and shuffling through the transfer area to sit and wait a few hours before our next flight. Heathrow Airport is quite cool, I think. A bit pricey in some places, but it has a lot of stuff to see and a lot of restaurants, so when you're stuck in Heathrow on a layover, it isn't hard to find something to pass the time. It's worth going into WHSmith  and maybe pick up something to read because the next leg of the journey is the big one.
The next leg of the trip was from London Heathrow to Johannesberg Airport in South Africa. We boarded the aircraft, got everything settled and sorted. For

me, it was my first experience of a real long haul flight, so it was quite fun to see tv screens, blankets and food being served on the aircraft, I mean it made the trip feel a bit more luxurious. We weren't taxiing to the runway and setting off. Flight time- Just over 10 hours. The start of the trip is the amazement stage where we picked through the movies and music, ate our on-board meal and tried to sleep. We flew from London to South Africa with South African Airways who provided a nice service, a comfortable flight and the food was not too bad! Here is some advice for if you're going to do the long-haul trip:

1. Travel Socks: You'd be quite surprised, as even I was skeptical about whether or not to wear travel socks, as in my head I was thinking "Damn, I'm not an old man, I don't need to wear travel socks". For me, a few hours into the flight and my legs started getting sore and the compression in the cabin was making my feet swell a bit but the socks kind of contained it and made the flight just that bit more comfortable. I'd recommend when doing the trip to pack a pair of travel socks, just in case.
2. Neck Pillow: One of the things that made the flight a whole lot nicer was the fact that I had brought my own travel neck pillow. When I sleep on a plane or bus or other transport, my neck really gets strained. A great investment for those long haul and even short haul flights is a travel neck pillow. I purchased my memory foam neck pillow from Primark/Penneys for only 4 euro. 4 euro well spent! For info on the Primark/Penneys neck pillow: https://www.primark.com/en-ie/product/memory-foam-travel-pillow,d1181102620150104
3. Download Movies/Shows: Although South African Airways provided almost up to date movies, music and tv shows, there was only limited selection. Don't be totally reliant on that, download a couple episodes of a show or a couple movies. I mean, for a 10 hour trip, you could definitely start and finish a season of Game of Thrones!

We arrived in Johannesberg like a bag of weasels. Tired, grumpy and hungry, thankfully we didn't have long to wait for our last connecting flight. After we collected our baggage, we moved through the Or Tambo Airport until we were greeted by a rep from Travelchoice, the travel agency we booked through. Helpfully, he guided us from gate to gate and gave us all the information and necessary ticketing we needed to pass through the airport. After getting through what felt like the 10th security check, we were then waiting for our next flight. Johannesberg to Nelspruit. The airline we flew with was the South African Airways subsidiary airline, AirLink. A jet sized aircraft was what was carrying us from Johannesberg to Nelspruit. Another 45 minute flight, the crew on-board treated us to a little gift, a luggage scale, from AirLink for their 25th anniversary. 

We landed in Nelspruit Airport and it was such a sight to see. The airport was basically a hut with a woven roof, tractors were pulling the luggage trailers and the warm air was awesome. We weren't long in the airport, we gathered our bags and moved through to meet our car transfer. Travelchoice's transfer drove us from Nelspruit Airport to Hazyview town, a good 1 hour drive.

Hippo Hollow

The layout of the vacation was to get the relaxation out of the way before we got on to the activity side of the trip. We got to our accommodation for the relaxation part of the trip, Hippo Hollow in Hazyview. Thatched roofs and huts surrounded the entrances, a couple of peacocks walking around the place and we were immediately greeted by the concierge as we got out of the car. The one thing that worried me was that when were getting the keys to our rooms, we signed a waiver basically saying that we are constantly surrounded by wild, dangerous animals so don't be stupid and get killed. 

We got to our rooms. Nice, airy huts with a small kitchen area, lots of bedroom space, a very nicely designed bathroom and access to the terrace/pool area as well as a barbecue area on the back porch. After getting our stuff sorted, changing clothes and showering, we were ready to check the place out and get food. Not sure what to expect on the menu, we were happy to see that they had regular food likes burgers, paninis, pizzas and other assorted foods like that on the menu. We sat on the patio which overlooked the river and also looked up to the hills where we could see elephants roaming around, having a jolly old time. The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging in the bedrooms, regaining strength and energy. There wasn't even enough energy to go to the pool, to be honest.
In the evening, we went to the main reception where we were ushered to another part of the resort. Along the trail there was little bonfires lit and we were given a cup of some sort of beverage. Hoping it was alcohol, it was downed but however, it was not. It turned out to be some sort of banana pureé kind of drink that did not go down well. We entered this sand pit area where there were other guests seated in the audience area. We were given a bowl of spicy popcorn and waited.

Not too long after sitting down, loud drums started going off. A posse of dancers came out and started moving to the rhythm. Their dancing was mixed with some traditional singing. The dancing was very cool but also a bit out of the ordinary for us. A lot of shaking of bodily parts, legs flying everywhere, but it was very entertaining and a good welcome for us.
The rest of the stay in Hippo Hollow included a lot of eating and relaxing by the pool. But of course, we were in SOUTH AFRICA so we couldn't say no to a few activities during out relaxation time.

Panoramic Tour

One of the things in our many list of things we wanted to do was do a panoramic tour of the surrounding areas. Nelspruit, where we were, was

surrounded by amazing viewpoints, waterfalls and scenery. Through our concierge, who booked the activities, we were set up with our driver who was going to take us on our day trip. 

The day of panoramic touring came and we were set up with a Mhangele Luxury Tours driver who was happy to greet us and take us on our way. The plan of attack was to start with one of the furthest landmarks and work our way back to Hazyview. We drove up to places like Graskop and Sabie to see some of the beautiful views. Graskop was our lunch place on the way back but first we went past Graskop

The first stop on our drive was up in the Blyde River Canyon. A place that looks down into deep forest and really amazing bodies of water that was just picture perfect. Not staying long in any of the places we stopped we moved along. In the Blyde River Canyon parking lot was a lot of souvenir stalls, and of course, being very bad with money, I bought a little wooden elephant. Along the tour we saw many waterfalls, forests and high looking points that looked all over Mpumalanga. Some of the places on our Panoramic Tour included:

• Lowveld View
• Berlin Falls
• Bourkes Potholes
• Lisbon Falls
• The Pinnacle 

Of course, one of the most beautiful viewpoints we got to see was God's

Window. Probably one of the most stunning views I have ever seen in my life. The air up there was so fresh and the view was like nothing I've seen before. The dense forest and the sun shining through the valley, the name was truly fitting. If anyone is going to Nelspruit, go and see God's Window. It's just fantastic.

On our way back to Hazyview, we stopped in Graskop for our well deserved lunch. Looking at the views can be very famishing work, let me tell you. And as you all know, I never decline food... We stopped at one of the best eateries in Graskop. Harrie's Pancakes. We sat out on the veranda with our drinks. The menu was incredible. All the pancakes and waffles you would want. Savory or Sweet, they had all the combinations you'd want. My sister and I ordered the white chocolate waffles and my father ordered a savory pancake. Reasonably priced, the food was very very tasty. Dutch bacon pancakes. White chocolate waffles. Ugh I was in

heaven. But alas, it didn't last forever and we made our way back to Hazyview. 

The only downside I can say is that the driver we had, it wasn't until after the tour was finished that he mentioned that he didn't have a card machine and gave us our bill. So, it was inconvenient to have to try and find an ATM. Other than that, really, it was a great experience.

For more on Mhangele Luxury Tours, you can contact them at: mhangele.tours@gmail.com

And to see Harrie's for yourself, check out: http://harriespancakes.com/

Elephant Whispers

As I mentioned above when we arrived at Hippo Hollow, we were having lunch and we could see elephants roaming around the hills. Well, adjoining Hippo Hollow is actually an elephant sanctuary which does deals with Hippo Hollow and allows guests to come up for a morning and see the elephants, so obviously we had to do it! 
We woke up excited to go and see the elephants. They're an animal I would

definitely associate with like, exotic and sub-Saharan holidays. If I dreamed of going on safari, elephants are definitely on the top of the list. Luckily my dream came true. Gulping down my bran muffin and croissants, we were led across the bridge that joins Hippo Hollow and Elephant Whispers by one of the Elephant Whispers' staff. 
We got to the main shop/office area and the first thing we saw was the fattest dog but probably one of the cutest dogs I've ever seen. A big loaf of bread laying in the shade. We went to the office area so we could sign the disclaimer saying that we'd be surrounded by elephants and we're responsible for our actions. We signed and waited for the guides to come and get us.
Shortly, a guide brought us to the main arena-like area where they had six elephants waiting to greet us. Literally such fascinating creatures. Hugely intelligent but also very friendly. I was surprised at how close we could get to

the elephants. They brought one or two of the elephants forward and laid them down so we could understand more about the physiology and life of an elephant in the wild. Absorbent skin, huge satellite ears, bristley hairs on them and really weird texture to their skin. My favorite elephant had to be Tembo. The 3.4 metre giant who weighed like 6 tonnes. We had our elephant pellets and were able to ask Tembo to do some commands. Lift his leg. Shake his trunk. Take the hat off your head. All in the name of food. An animal after my own heart, to be fair.
After the in-depth look at the elephants, we got what we all came for, a ride on the back of an elephant. It has to the one of the coolest things ever. Sitting and feeling the weird way the elephant walks. Seeing the area surrounding our resort on the back of an elephant. It was really really magnificent. We got to ride on the back of Tembo, so we were 3.4 metres off the ground and it was awesome! 
A little tip for riding a 6tonne x 3.4 metre elephant... Wear something you can be flexible in. It hurts.

You can see more about Elephant Whispers here: http://www.seasonsinafrica.com/adventure-activities-in-south-africa/lowveld-activities/elephant-whispers/


The rest of our time in Hippo Hollow was spent eating, drinking and lounging. But after our activities, it wasn't long until we were onto the next stage of our African adventure!

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Be sure to stay tuned for the next part of the African Adventure!

Pacheco, Woyzeck and a Whole Lot Of Driftwood

Good evening, lovely people. How's everything going for you all? My last post wrapped up my Roadtrip Saga. Such fun times on Erasmus, let me tell you. And wrapping up that awesome trip was really fun and now, after writing those posts, it's fun to read them and look back and for everyone involved on the trip to reminisce about the awesome roadtrip.

So since that roadtrip, bits and pieces have happened. Finished up my Spanish experience and in a whirlwind of travelling bliss, was up and travelling again to South Africa less than 72 hours later. More on that later in some follow up blogs. So by the end of this summer I'll be uploading and trying not to brag about the awesome experiences in Spain and South Africa.

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Beginning this entry, I currently find myself sitting in the center of Galway City surrounded by art, merchandise and a lot of cool people.

At the beginning of this month, I found myself in a situation where I didn't have a job, was searching for a job and trying to find something to occupy my time rather than sitting around doing nothing. One of the many things I pondered and researched was the Galway International Arts Festival. Something that I have visited in the past, been meaning to get involved in for years and from a touristic point of view, was drawn to. 

The week before the festival began, whilst I looked around for a job, I made the decision to just go for it and apply for a volunteer position with the festival. Thinking I wouldn't be accepted for whatever I wanted to apply for, I ended up applying for a lot of different things within the festival including, visual arts, theater and box office positions. The first position I was drawn to and had the strongest inclination to work in was as a merchandising officer. Luckily, I was contacted not long after my application process by the wonderful volunteer co-ordination manager, Carly, who told me I had been accepted for the merchandise position, I had to show up at the festival HQ and be introduced to my job.

The introduction process took place on the 12th of July and was a quick briefing, That night I signed myself up for the following nights show and got to work with, and still get to work with my Hub/Black Box team. Shout out to Lea, Joe, Aoife, Juley, Vincent, Kady, Yvonne, Camila, Jess, Celine... I legit could list everyone who I want to shout out, maybe at the end! And that's briefly how I got involved as a volunteer for the Galway Arts Festival. 

Unlike my other posts, I'm not gonna drag on with a tale of whats been going on, Instead, I'm going to detail what I saw, what I thought of it and for the weekend coming up, what I'd recommend going to see.

Ana María Pacheco/Ailbhe Ní Bhriain/John Beard

One of the luckiest things I think I got to be able to do as part of the GIAF team for 2017 was to be able to work my merchandise job from inside the main Festival Gallery on Market Street.
In this Gallery, which I highly recommend going to see over this coming weekend, contains two interesting and contrasting artists. Being involved and working for merchandise means that in the mornings and evenings I am surrounded by some pretty complex and impressive pieces of art that I could only dream of creating.

Ana María Pacheco:
My first visit into the Gallery, I can honestly say that the work of this artist left me feeling slightly down and the initial impression I got from the artwork was a

feeling of both amazement but also a slight negative feeling towards the art. It's not that the work was bad, it's just my initial introduction to the art was accompanied by slight misunderstanding of the art, the background of the artist and how much work, detail and effort went into creating such, and I can honestly say, masterpieces.
Given the nature of the jobs I was doing within the Festival Hub/Gallery, I spent most mornings walking in and around the work of Ana María Pacheco. Pieces like The Longest Journey, a piece so large and eye catching; Dark Night of the Soul, a masterpiece of myth and history and a plethora of prints which would definitely leave you feeling impressed, inspired, depressed... But would leave you with a striking emotion.
Ana María Pacheco's exhibition ran for the entirety of the Galway International

Arts Festival. The best part about working so close to the work of this artist, is the interesting reactions, ideals and comments the general public had about the pieces. The different themes they thought of and their willingness to let their mind wander whilst looking at the art, which in turn, painted many different concepts in my mind.
The second day the exhibit was open, the Gallery was treated to a special visit by the artist. Ana Maria Pacheco visited the Gallery with Colin Wiggins, the former curator of the National Gallery of London. Their main reason for visiting the Gallery was to partake in a "Conversation with the Artist". For 45 minutes, Ana sat and discussed the methodology behind her work. The techniques. Ideas. Formats and ideologies

she considered when constructing and creating her work. Being within earshot, it was fascinating to look and hear a woman of 73 years of age telling the gallery she still makes huge sculptures and the precision in her work. 
After her talk, she fielded some audience questions before I got the pleasure to greet her and sign some of her programmes. A very humble woman and very open about greeting the public. It was interesting to hear and speak to a woman of such stature within the art world.

Galway International Arts Festival was the latest in a wide selection of exhibitions of Ana María Pacheco. Her work has been on display in places like Oslo, New York, Boston, Kyiv and London. After doing some research, it's not clear when and where her work will be exhibited in the future. Personally, I would be interested in seeing more of her work. So I recommend keeping up to date with Pratt Contemporary Art's website: http://www.prattcontemporaryart.co.uk/ana-maria-pacheco-2/

Ailbhe Ní Bhriain
"Ailbhe Ní Bhriain is a Cork-based artist who works with film and photography" this quote is extracted from the website of the Galway International Arts Festival. The work of Ailbhe Ní Bhriain's work has been and is something that I would consider to be "complex pieces of art". It's something that goes beyond my thinking, I think. The "Inscriptions" exhibit was and has been the one piece from the Arts Festival that has still left me puzzled. 

In an age where images can or cannot be true, in terms of digital remastering, retouching, photoshopping, editing... all forms of photo and technological works to recreate and shape an image to how we want, the work of Ailbhe Ní Bhriain is a complex and artistic way to digitally remaster and reconfigure an image in a way that stretches the mind beyond comprehension and makes you look past the obvious. Either that, or I haven't gotten the grasp of the art...
The inspiration behind the art pieces on display the the GIAF arts gallery was the early text of Samuel Quiccheberg, the German writer who had the earliest cognition of "museology" or the categorization of pieces, in a way to create what we now know as a museum. His piece "Inscriptions of the Immense Theatre" was the power behind the exhibition. The work on display was difficult to make sense of, and unfortunately, I couldn't attend the talk given by Ailbhe Ní Bhriain

which may have shed a light on the artwork. 
The fact that the work had and still leaves me puzzled is kind of what intrigues me more about the art work and kind of inspires me to go and see more of her work, to see how it compares or could it be contrasting pieces of art.

Apart from the Galway International Arts Festival, Ailbhe's work has been on exhibition in places like Paris, Rennes, London and most recently, Carrick-On-Shannon at the Docks. I would recommend going to see Ailbhe's work, if you're into complex, digitally remastered pieces of art. For more: http://ailbhenibhriain.com/works

John Beard
On my last day of the festival, being surrounded by the works of Ana María Pacheco and Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, to see more art was on my list, as when would I get a chance to see it. So knowing that there was a strong art exhibition down in The Shed, on the Docks. On my break I walked down to The Shed to see what kind of exhibition John Beard had on display.
The Raft of Medusa, painted by Théodore Géricault in the early 1800's was an oil painting that depicted the shipwreck of the French vessel, Medusé. A ship bound for Senegal where the British colonists were to return the ownership of Senegal to the French. This was a huge diplomatic and essential power move on behalf of the French Monarchy, who had just overcome the Napolean defeat.

The Medusé vessel had the newly appointed French Governor and his family on board the ship. The ship hit a sandbank and began to crumble. With 400 people on board, there was enough room on the lifeboats for 250. In an attempt at survival, the remaining people built a raft and drifted on the water with nothing but 1 pack of biscuits, 2 cases of water and numerous casks of wine. Because save the wine and not the food, right? The people on board the raft turned to cannibalism and after 13 days at sea, were rescued.
Théodore Géricault, after the events of the Raft of Medusa, it was a controversial painting in the French Romantic era. Mostly due to the political scandal involved due to the fact that the Captain of the Medusa was incompetent and reflected back on King Louis XVIII. The Raft of Medusa painting went on to inspire many of the great French artists like Delacroix. The Raft of Medusa, as I believe, is on display at the Louvre.
John Beard's recreation of the Raft of Medusa, named "After the Raft of Medusa" was something to behold. Thinking that the Guernica was an art piece to see, the size of John Beard's work... wow, it was impressive. On one side of the hanger was the "After the Raft of Medusa" piece but on the opposite wall was a mirrored image on a black slate-like wall. The look of both pieces as you stood in the middle was super intriguing. His work has invoked my desire to see the original Géricault picture. Unfortunately, I didn't work at the Gallery where this piece was on display nor did I get to meet John Beard but my impression of the art work... Just wow. The history behind it, it makes for a more fascinating piece knowing that it was a scandalous piece... I mean, DRAMA!

John Beards work has been on display in many galleries worldwide in places like Sydney, London, Lisbon and of course, Galway. And his work can be seen on exhibition in places like the Tate Gallery and with some collections all over the world. For more: http://johnbeardart.com/

Woyzeck in Winter

A musical/drama piece brought to the Arts Festival this year by Landmark Productions and GIAF, Woyzeck in Winter made it's worldwide premiere in Galway at this years festival. A combination of two separate but not wholly different pieces, Conall Morrison and a creative team re imagined and combined the two old pieces of Woyzeck and Die Winterreise both made between 1825 and 1840. These two pieces, one musical and one a dramatic piece, gelled to become what we now know as "Woyzeck in Winter"
I had the pleasure of going to see Woyzeck in Winter before the opening of the festival, during the previews of the show. It was a piece I'm glad I got to see. It was melodramatic. Cold. Energetic. Vocally strong. The only fault was in the actual storyline. A bit of tweaking to make the story stronger would have

worked really well and have one, and not three or four themes running through the story. However, the talent of the show really made up for it. Featuring strong vocalists like Camille O'Sullivan, the show featured other acting greats like Peter Coonan (Fran from Love/Hate) and Rosaleen Linehan. The show's talent shone through and made for a really good performance.
The piece had different themes. Mental health. Human experimentation. Love. Loss. Betrayal. Mistrust. All the key things needed for a melodramatic masterpiece, right?
Jamie Vartan designed the set. The set was outstanding. Broken pianos everywhere. Snow fallings. Beautiful set arrangements. It was very well laid out.

Words can only relay so much of a visual piece. And watching it in theater that didn't allow videos etc. I can only recommend going to see it, which you should do! For more: https://woyzeckinwinter.com/performances/

The Second Violinist

A show I had to go and see twice. An uneven set. Subtitles. A huge screen displaying games, texts and emojis. Running around. Drama. Bloodshed. 

A modern opera that left me wanting to go and see it again. Aaron Monaghan stars as Matthew/Martin. A Carlo Gesualdo lover and a violinist struggling with his demons. A lot goes on in this piece. A lot of things happen on stage and you have to keep your eyes peeled to all corners of the stage to be in full awareness

and submersion of the piece. The composition of the music score compliments the action so well and leaves you on the edge of your seat and also left me bemused at the actions of the conductor!

An Enda Walsh directed piece. Enda Walsh, for those who don't know, is a Tony Award winning director and play write who is a friend of the Galway International Arts Festival, previously bringing pieces like Arlington, Ballyturk and Misterman to the Festival, bringing the acting talents of Aaron Monaghan, Stephen Rea and Cillian Murphy to the festival. His continued success and sheer genius as a play write was evident in The Second Violinist. The piece is Enda's second opera piece. Penned alongside composer Donnacha Dennehy. On both occasions I saw the show, it concluded with a standing ovation, truly deserved. 

Aaron Monaghan combined with the vocals of the likes of Máire Flavin and Benedict Nelson, the piece sent chills through the audience as well as open eyes as the brief bit of nudity provided by Aaron Monaghan. The drama. The tragedy and the pain could be felt from the lead actor and the score made it feel more real. 

I can say that The Second Violinist is a piece I would go and see again for a third time and I can only wish it good things. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

This piece I highly recommend getting tickets to. If you can, go to: https://thesecondviolinist.ie/performances/  And get yourself tickets for the performance in Dublin, it'll be worth it! 

Passenger

On the first Saturday of the festival, some of the volunteers, including me were eligible to get tickets to go and see Passenger perform at the Absolut Big Top. I took the offer of the free ticket and went along to the concert.

Now, Passenger, to my own personal knowledge, had that song: "Let Her Go". So I was expecting for him to sing that song and for the place to die. But knowing that he was famous for said song, he played out his set. A very well performed set, I must say. Once you got into the tent where he was performing, you got swept up in his music and next thing you know, you're screaming the song back to him.

Before he took the stage, Hudson Taylor were on stage and they ROCKED the tent. They were pretty awesome and got the crowd all going. When Passenger came on, the crowd was ready. Absolut vodka sponsored the festival, so that's pretty awesome. The drinks flowed and so did the music. But I was kinda right. As soon as Let Her Go was over, the crowd was walking out the gate. His set was good though! I was impressed!

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All in all I can say that this years Arts Festival was pretty good! Long days, crazy times and laughs but it was a well spent experience making friends, learning new things and feeling more cultured afterwards! The wrap party was well worth the two weeks of long days, let me tell you! So thank you GIAF for the fun times! Until next year...

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Italy: Where I Want To Go- Part 2

Following on from my Part 1 post on where I want to travel in Italy, this Part 2 will look at other places I want to travel to in the boot-shaped country. 

As I have stated in my previous post, I have been to Italy once before. Whilst being in Italy in June 2014, I flew into Rome but however I did not stay there. From Rome, I traveled to the Adriatic side of the country to the region of Marche, in the paper-making town of Fabriano. From Fabriano, I traveled to the coastal town of Senigallia and the religious town of Assisi in the Umbria region, bang smack in the middle of Italy. Being in Italy for 2 weeks, I did not travel much within the country, regrettably. I do hope to return to Italy and I wish to travel around and see different places and immerse myself in the culture, art, cuisine and scenery of Italy. Having friends in Italy gives me an added desire to visit the country and the possible insight into places that wouldn't be especially popular. 

In my first post, the three places I wrote about were: Rome, Venice and Genoa. Popular, well known places and destinations I am sure to enjoy. In this post, featured destinations will be: Florence, Naples and the region of Puglia. These are more places I'm anxious to visit also.

Florence:

The City of Florence is the capital of the region of Tuscany. Historically, Florence appeals to me as it is said to be the birthplace of the Renaissance and also the home of the Medici family so I am sure these facts enrich the art

culture and history in Florence. Called "The cradle of the Renaissance", Florence boasts many pieces of architectual beauty and heritage sites. There is so much to see and learn about in Florence, I'm incredibly anxious to visit. It is kind of a must-visit place in Italy. Places in Florence I wish to see are:

• Uffizi Gallery: Commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici, a member of the Medici family to display grand works of art. Because of the vast size of the collection that has been gathered from the renaissance era, The gallery boasts so many masterpieces and amazing stamps of history including: Leonardo di Vinci's "The Annunciation", Michaelangelo "Tonto Doni" and Caravaggio's "Bacchus". The most represented and an artist whose work I want to see is Botticelli and his "Primavera" piece of art. 
• Ponte Vecchio: A medieval-stone closed bridge over the River Arno. The
  
  bridge has stalls and stores, which back in medieval times was a common thing. Dating back to 996 in documents, this structure is a big part of Roman history and trade culture. A commemorative statue of Benvenuto Cellini was built in 1900. Benvenuto Cellini was a master sculptor and goldsmith of the area, to this day, the bust of Bevenuto still remains. I think seeing this historic part of medieval Italian trade culture would be incredible.
• Piazza del Duomo: I've heard people talk about the heart of Florence, how amazing it is and anyone who has traveled to Florence that I have spoken to have said the the Piazza del Duomo is worth seeing as you would be in the heart. It is one of the most visited places in Europe and the world. From this piazza, you can access many amazing historic buildings including: Florence Cathedral, Baptistery of St. John, Giotto's Bell Tower and other well known buildings.

Florence is one of the top places on my bucket list for traveling in Italy. It's one of the prominent destinations in Italy and I'm dying to visit!

Naples:

After Milan and Rome, Naples is the third largest city in Italy and the capital of the Campania region in the south east of the country. Like Florence, Naples,

during the Renaissance and also the Enlightenment eras, played an important part in history. In the immediate vicinity of Naples contains a plethora of historic and culturally significant landmarks. The cuisine of Naples is world-renowned. Naples is recorded as the home of pizza and being a coastal city, I'm sure the seafood is quite tasty too! And you know me, food is an emotional experience! Besides the food, I am looking forward to seeing a few sights in Naples:

• Via Caracciolo: A walk along the Mediterranean coast, there is nothing better. According to what I've heard and read, walking along the Via Caracciolo, you are immersed in the cool sea breeze and refreshing Mediterranean sunshine. There is all sorts of street food and vendors in the area also, so dining whilst looking out at the coast sounds very appealing! I really want to take a look down around the Via Caracciolo as it seems very picturesque. And food reasons.
• Catacombe di San Gennaro: These catacombs have been carved out of volcanic debris and rock that form the Naples hills. Rooms and rooms of burial tombs in a labyrinth formation carved out through generations.
• Pompeii and Heculaneum: With Vesuvius on the Gulf of Naples, in ancient
  
  times, these two settlements were ruined by the lava, ash and smoke that came from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Being in the area and not going to see Pompeii and Vesuvius, it's something definitely to see and is on my bucket list.
• Italian Architecture: Like most places that I want to travel in Italy, the infrastructure, design and building of Naples, I feel, will stand out and capture my attention, ten fold. The regular buildings and how they contrast to places like the Castel Nuovo or the Palazzo Capodimonte. The most prominent forms of architecture in Naples is Renaissance and Baroque. I look forward to see all the designs of Naples.
• Food: The birthplace of pizza... That is all.
• Speaking about Napoli, a friend of mine, Giovanni. He said that when he visited the city "the thing that most interested me was the legend about St. Gennero". 18 times a year, for over the past 600 years, the blood miracle or the liquidation of of his blood happens and is one of the only blood miracles to still happen today. Great crowds gather in the Cathedral of Naples to pay homage and be immersed in the holiness of the miracle. Most notably happening on the Saints' Feast Day (September 19). According to Giovanni "If the blood doesn't liquefy, the legend says that a catastrophe is imminent to occur. This is very interesting because all the people, during the ceremony, start screaming and yelling"

Puglia:

Before I continue with my section on Puglia, I want to send my thoughts to the people affected by the train crash that happened in Puglia recently. A tragic thing to happen and affects the Puglia region. 

The heel of the boot. Puglia is a region of Italy in the south of Italy. The Adriatic Sea in the East, the Ionian Sea in the South East and the Gulf of Taranto in the South. Lets be honest, with this many sea's surrounding it, Puglia is said to have some of the best coastal beaches and sights near the sea. Sun holidays are always welcome, right?  Puglia has risen to one of the places I wish to visit in Italy. I've seen pictures of the landscapes and beaches and I've heard some great things about the region from locals and tourist to the region. I'm dying to get there. Some of the places in Puglia I wish to visit are:

• Bari: The capital of Puglia and is on the Adriatic Sea. In the South of Italy, it is the second largest city after Naples. The city of Bari and the surrounding areas contain a weight of history. So many sights and it's a coastal city too. Some of the sights contained in the beautiful Bari are:
• Bari Cathedral
• Swabian Castle
• Pinacoteca Provinciale

Bari, when looking at pictures and research, it becomes so much more appealing the more I see and learn more about it, I just wanna book a flight and go! 

The cuisine of Bari is quite something also to be interested in. A region famous for the likes of olive oil and tomatoes, food like panzerotti and even food like Ragú is famous in the Barese region of Italy. And now I'm hungry...

• Taranto: Reading into Taranto, I was very interested in what it had to offer
  
  and what it's about. Apparently, Taranto is known as the "Spartan City" as it is the only colony formed by the Spartans. Funnily enough, the name for Tarantula spiders comes from Taranto. I might hesitate a bit on going there but I'm quite sure there ain't any in Puglia. The architecture in Taranto is quite unique. Given that it is known as the "Spartan City" I am hoping there will be a bit of Greek influence in the design of buildings. Also situated in Taranto is the Aragon Castle, commissioned by King Ferdinand, which I find interested and would like to seek that. Taranto is also a port city, and is the name of the Gulf. I am excited to visit there, see the beaches and see the unique history.

So far, these are the places in Puglia I wish to visit on my travels, but I'm sure that in time I will have influence and inclination to travel to other parts of the region.

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*Pic Credit: Spalla67. florenceinfermo, paradoxplace, dayofarcheology, weatherforecast365*

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That concludes the second part of my Italian dream destinations that I hope to one day visit. I will be sure to make edits to the information on here, as I plan to get more insight into these three destinations. 

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Bucket List: Luxembourg

Figuring out my travel plans, a lot of places came to my head which I will write about eventually but one that popped up and took a lot of consideration was

Luxembourg. Not many people would be like "Oh I'm off to Luxembourg" or "You know, I'd love to go to Luxembourg" which is what makes it a real intriguing place I'd like to visit. Not as widely popularized like Belgium or The Netherlands in that region in the North West of continental Europe, after researching Luxembourg, it has strongly risen on my bucket list of places to go.

Quick Background

Landlocked in Western Europe, Luxembourg is a country bordered by Belgium, Germany and France. As well as being bordered by three of the more powerful countries in Europe, Luxembourg is one of the three countries along with Belgium and France that make up the capitals for the European Union and the seat for the European Court of Justice.

There are two main regions in Luxembourg, Oesling in the north and the Gutland in the South. Although it has two regions however, it is still a micro-state in Europe. Compared in size to the state of Rhode Island in the US. Ranked as the 8th-least populous country in Europe it still has a government and also a monarchy! In Luxembourg, the monarch is Henri, the Grand Duke.
Luxembourg is also a strong contributor to to favorable integration between countries, being an involved member of organisations like NATO, Benelux, OCED, The EU and the UN, Luxembourg is also quite a strong country for its size.

After all that boring stuff about the background. What is there to do in Luxembourg?!

Luxembourg is quite a historic place to visit. It would be cool to take a look at all the historic places and the architecture. Not a major tourist destination and being landlocked, it wouldn't have massive tourist attractions like Disneyland

• Vianden Castle: One of the largest fortified castles on the west of the
  
  Rhine. A 10th Century castle with more extensions in the 11th and 14th centuries. For architecture lovers, it has a mix of Romanesque and Gothic design. The castle is over 300 metre high and overlooks the river Our. I really want to see this castle and look around. I'm sure, considering it dominates the town of Vianden, it provides an awesome view. (http://www.castle-vianden.lu/english/)
• Hiking: Not known for its terrain, unlike places like Switzerland. But Luxembourg has incredibly unspoiled landscape which is perfect for
  
  hiking and hillwalking. In the north of Luxembourg, it contributes to part of the Ardennes region which contains the highest point in Luxembourg. The landscapes of Luxembourg are as stunning as they are charming. Actually, hiking trails throughout the country that offer so much. Views, villages, ancient ruins. You name it. The best part about this is the ability to stay and hike, which makes for amazing adventure tourism within Luxembourg. Where to look for these hiking trips:
• http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/what-to-do/nature-tours/hiking-luxembourg
• http://www.mullerthal-trail.lu/en/hiking-tours
• Different Famous Buildings: Luxembourg has a monarchy, which could mean really nice buildings and Luxembourgish architectural design. It would be real cool to see places like The Palace of the Grand Dukes, Altstadt Vianden, the Chateux de Clervaux and other majestically constructed buildings. Luxembourg also has some ancient ruins and old buildings that would make cool pictures and I'm looking forward to see.

Those are just three of the things to do in Luxembourg. But how would you get to Luxembourg?

Luxembourg is served by Luxembourg Findel Airport which caters for airlines such as:

• British Airways (Heathrow)
• easyJet (Lisbon, Gatwick, Milan, Porto)
• HOP! (Lyon)
• Luxair (Barcelona, Dublin,Geneva, Hamburg, Madrid, Nice, Prague, Stockholm, Vienna and many more)
• Turkish Airline (Istanbul)

The cheapest way to get to Luxembourg is to fly to either  Charleroi or Frankfurt Hahn airport and from there, take a Flibco bus to Luxembourg, Bus tickets can be quite cheap if you book in advance, you do have to book online though.

*Pic Credit: (Flagpedia.net, datuopinion.com, shootandscrawl.com, lcto.lu, luxair.lu)

Thats my ideal trip to Luxembourg and what I'd like to see and few ideas for you guys if you're planning a trip away. If you guys want more information, leave a comment below or drop me an email at: david.keane8@gmail.com 

Be sure to follow and like on Instagram @Davidcandykeane

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Italy: Where I Want To Go- Part 1

Italy is probably the most beautiful countries in the world, lets be honest. It is a country enriched with history, unique culture, spectacular scenery, delicious food... The list could go on. This country gives so much to the world, the most important to me would be the food, of course. 
I have visited Italy before. I was there for a while and stayed on the Adriatic

side of the country in the region of Marche, in the town of Fabriano. From Fabriano, I traveled only to Senigallia, on the Adriatic Coast and Assisi, in the region of Umbria. I flew into and out of Rome of course, but not seeing enough of Italy left me with a hunger to see more! There is so much of the beautiful country left to see and discover that I'm itching to go back.
Having friends in Italy makes the whole idea of visiting Italy a lot more attractive as I have people to show me the best places, to bring me to the best eateries and to ensure I have a good experience and that I won't be disappointed, maybe bring me to places and to show me things I would have missed if I was on my own. For example when I was in Marche, I went to see the Grotte di Frasassi (http://www.frasassi.com/) in Genga (Between Ancona and Assisi). If my friend hadn't suggested to go there, I wouldn't have gotten to see the amazing karst cave endowed with stalagmites and stalactites.
There are a lot of places I wish to visit in Italy, some for the fact I have friends there and wish to discover more, and others because of the popularity and the "need" to go there. Some places I wish to visit are:

Rome/Roma: 

The Capital of the boot-shaped country. I have only flown into Rome Ciampino Airport to then travel 3 more hours to Marche but unfortunately, I spent no

time in Rome. Let's be real, it's a must go place throughout the world. The atmosphere as you travel around the capital is something that resonates across the world but Rome just has this magical vibe to it. Kind of similar to something you'd imagine in Paris. It's something different to places like London or Dublin. Some must see things I wish to see in Italy are:

• The Colosseum: A place of ancient historical significance and recognition worldwide. The Colosseum is a landmark to Italy and a staple of Ancient Roman history. Everyone should be familiar with the gladiator fights that would have taken place in the arena. Now it is a major tourist attraction to Italy.
• The Trevi Fountain: This fountain appears in most movies shot in Rome
  and is an icon to the Trevi district of Rome. It's got a romantic sense to it
  
  that is really attractive and the whole concept to make a wish and throw money in, as a giant wishing well is a really nice idea. (Right hand over left shoulder, so they say). I for sure want to see this fountain at nighttime.
• Piazza Navona: A famed plaza in Italy. The plaza features the Fountain of the Four Rivers and in the middle stands an Egyptian Obelisk. From articles about Rome, it seems like a really unique place to visit.
• The Basilicas: A great way to see unique architecture of different places is to look at the churches and cathedrals that were build as they give a look at the type of architecture that has been passed down. Rome has plenty of basilicas which are enriched with heritage and history, as well as beautiful architecture. Some of the basilicas I wish to see are:
• Santa Maria in Trastevere
• Abbazia di San Paolo Fuori La Mura
• Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterno

Venice

You know, I feel like there is more to Venice than riding a river on a gondola. For sure I wanna do that but it's not all I'd like to do while I'm there. Many

popular movies have been filmed in Venice, so to see some places where famous movies have been shot fits nicely into the Literary/Culture Tourism category. Movies like; James Bond. Lara Croft. The Tourist and Indiana Jones have been filmed in Venice. There are some places in Venice I'd love to see:

• The Grand Canal: I mean, you can't not go to Venice and take a boat ride. It's something that needs to be instagrammed. How can you go to Venice and NOT take a boat ride!
• Opera at La Fenice: Masquerade and Opera are both things famed to come from Venice. Going to the Opera at La Fenice, known as "the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre"
• Saint Mark's Square: The Main Square in Venice. Near the Square is Saint Mark's Basilica which is renowned for its incredible architecture.

Genoa

The capital of the region of Liguria and the sixth largest city in Italy. This city if famed for being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of San Salvador, Cuba and other islands in the Caribbean. Genoa, with remarkable enriching art, culture and cuisine, became the culture capital of Europe in 2004. The good thing about Genoa is that it is a seaport and also on the Mediterranean! Who doesn't love a Mediterranean city! Some of the places I'm hoping to visit in Genoa:

• The Royal Palace: When I heard that Genoa had a Royal Palace, like the Palacio Real in Madrid, I have to go and visit! I think the architecture of Royal Palaces are quite fantastic.
• Boccadasse: An old marine village in Genoa that looks really rustic, which
  
  is something that shows the authenticity of a place. It is enclosed in a narrow bay, which I'm sure makes for amazing scenery.
• Palazzi dei Rolli: A street of big buildings! Like, that sounds kinda cool and architecturally amazing!
• Christopher Columbus: Taking a look around Genoa, I feel, would give a great feel for the history. And especially that of Christopher Columbus, seeing any famous sites marked for the navigator or any landmarks. It would be quite unique.

These are just the first three places on my list of places in Italy to visit! Stay tuned for more and if you want anymore on these places, leave a comment!

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Eurovision Song Contest 2016

The Eurovision 2016 was held in Stockholm, Sweden at the Ericsson Globe Arena. From watching the 1st Semi-Final (May 10), the 2nd Semi-Final (May 12) and the Grand Final (May 14), the show seemed to be a roaring success. With an arena that

holds 12,000 packed to capacity on each night and the show garnering a magnificent 200 Million viewers worldwide, the show had a lot riding on it. On the first two semi-finals, the idea was to whittle the 18 acts of each semi-final down to 10 so that they would proceed to the final. In the end, 26 acts made it to the final, with the big 5 and Sweden already in the final without qualifying in a semi-final, but that's not my business. The show was hosted by Swede favorite comedian Perta Mede and last years winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in Austria, Måns Zermerlöw. Night after night, the two made the show extremely entertaining with comedic skits, musical intervals and witty back and forths between each other.

This was the 6th time that Sweden had hosted the Eurovision Song Contest (still not beating Ireland's record though!). This year, Australia became a fixture of the show and had to participate themselves in a semi final to qualify for final and didn't get the

guest pass. This year also marked the first time China and the United States of America were able to watch the Eurovision on their screens. With a lot of problems being earmarked across Europe (Brexit, Crimea and the migrant crisis) but this was just what Europe needed. Under the slogan of "Come Together", it became a new lease of life for Europe and the EBU. The Eurovision should be seen as the proper platform on integration between countries and that it's possible to get along. 

In this years Eurovision, there were some notable absences that have been poignant in previous years, for example: Turkey, Portugal, Slovakia and Romania. But although there were some absences in this years show, there were also some

returning acts. Czech Republic, Croatia and Ukraine being big participants to return. The show had 42 participating countries. This meant a lot of songs, a lot of performances and a lot of effort. Russia brought their own set to the Eurovision, many performers had visual effects. Not only was there a lot of effort and music but there was a lot of inter-country comradeship as before, during and after the contest, performers and fans showed their support for each other. Countries who had been eliminated in the semi final, their fans stayed for the final to participate in the celebrations of crowning the winner of this years contest. And watching it from home, it was very heartwarming to see the friendships being made and the whole idea of "come together" being made a reality.

The list of finalists are as follows:

• Belgium
• Czech Republic 
• The Netherlands
• Azerbaijan
• Hungary
• Italy 
• Israel
• Bulgaria
• Sweden
• Germany
• France
• Poland
• Australia
• Cyprus
• Serbia
• Lithuania
• Croatia
• Russia 
• Spain
• Latvia
• Ukraine
• Malta
• Georgia
• Austria
• UK
• Armenia

The final show was 3 and a half hours long. Each country performed and then the interval act came out. None other than Justin Timberlake himself. Playing on a stage

in front of 200 Million people internationallu. Petra and Måns then took the time to sing a song about the "Formula" to Eurovision success. Then the new voting system was introduced which saw the national jury and the televoting be taken into consideration. I voted 13 times. Hardcore fan right here. 2 out of the 5 I voted for came in the top 5, Russia and Bulgaria. Once the jury's votes had been read out, Australia was in the lead. The came the televotes. The suspense was killing me as Petra and Måns Zermerlöw read out the scores. It came down to the last 4 votes and everyone was on the edge of their seat. Finally, the country who won with a whopping

534 Points was Ukraine. Represented by Jamala, Ukraine won by televotes with their song "1944" a song about Crimean Tatar troubles.

Next years Eurovision will be held in Ukraine and it's safe to say that Ukraine will have a tough time trying to match the success of Eurovision Song Contest 2016, Stockholm, Sweden.

Congratulations to Jamala and Ukraine!

*Pic Credit: foxbet.gr, expressen.se, cromosomax.com, nanonews.com*

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Did you watch the Eurovision? What was your favourite song and what did you think of the outcome?

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