Palio di San Giovanni Battista

Hey Guys! Hope you guys are all having a good day! Ireland are playing France today in the Euros, so c'mon guys, cheer on the boys in green!
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In Fabriano, a town in Italy where I visited in 2014, June is quite a popular time in the cultural and tourist calendar for the area. The Palio di San Giovanni

Battista is a very much community event in Fabriano. 
What is the Palio di San Giovanni Battista?
The Palio di San Giovanni Battista, named in honor of John the Baptist, is a historically backed re-enactment of an event brought back to the present day after centuries of strife. The Palio takes place from start-mid June and will continue to the sacred day of John the Baptist, in whose honor the doors of each participating district face each other in the varying competitions like popular historical games, decorative floral displays (infiorate), competitive archery, flag displays and the culminating the grand competition which involves racing, forgery and other spectacles. 
The four districts of Fabriano compete against each other to become the Palio winner. These four districts are:

• Porta del Borgo (Yellow)
• Porta Cervara (Red)
• Porta del Piano (Blue)
• Porta Pisana (Green)

In 2014, I stayed with my friend in Fabriano who brought me to witness the different events of the Palio di San Giovanni Battista, starting with the opening ceremony. A procession of people in medieval attire from the different districts strolled up through the main street of Fabriano into the Piazza. Initially, I had

no idea what was going on. It was like taking a step backwards in time. The outfits were amazing to see, the people played their part and the community were out in their numbers taking pictures and wearing the color of their district.

The year I visited, it was also the year of the World Cup so there wasn't a shortage of people around Fabriano at the time. I got to witness the different events of the Palio. These different displays, I've never seen before. There was a sports day-like event that involved the four teams competing in sack racing to one side and then stilt walking back, there was a medieval type rounders, cart racing just to name a few. The flag displays and drummers made the events really amazing and created an atmosphere for the event. The infiorate gave a different and artistic feel to the event with amazing works of art being made with plants of different colours. Each district had their own tavern in the town which made up the night life of the Palio.

The year I was there, the finale put me on edge as I rooted for Porta Pisana, the district I was staying in. Watching them through the different events, but that

year, the winning team was Porta del Piano.

Last year (2015), I did not keep up too much with the activities of the Palio di San Giovanni Battista, but this year I kept up to date with the event and followed Porta Pisana. To everyone's amazement and delight, Porta Pisana won the Palio di San Giovanni for the first time in 21 years, an amazing victory that left me delighted for the district.

*Pic Credit: Palio di San Giovanni FB Page*

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I recommend those travelling in Italy during June to travel to Fabriano and witness the event. Not only are the sub-events interesting and good fun to watch but the parties surrounding the Palio are always lit! Congratulazioni Porta Pisana!

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More on Italy coming soon!

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Galway: A Culture Capital

Growing up outside of Galway City, actually getting to go into the city was seen as a treat because you'd always come home with something new and nice. And growing up outside of the city, a greater appreciation for the metropolitan and busy lifestyle was developed as you would see people going about their business. 
I've spent a lot of time in Galway growing up, going to many places, seeing different events and divulging in the true rustically modern atmosphere of the

city which I'm sure crafts the people of Galway and all it's inhabitants to be the hospitable, warm and friendly people that they are.

But for those who have never been to or experienced Galway or know what Galway even is, let me tell you all about it.

Galway is a city that is enriched in culture, history, food and all round banter. Guaranteed that if you come to Galway, you won't be disappointed. There may not seem like much to do, but the more time you spend in the city the more you'll find to do. Museums, waterways, beaches, shopping, scenery and access to the most amazing and unique landscapes in not just Ireland, but in the world, in my opinion. 
Getting to Galway is quite an easy task. For those travelling to Ireland or travelling domestically, most towns and cities will have bus links to and from Galway. There is a coach station in Galway that links Galway to Dublin Airport via CityLink and GoBus, two of the more popular bus companies. Not only is there a bus link to and from Galway but there is a train link through Ceannt Station which serves Dublin, Athlone and other stops.
Galway is currently in the bidding race to become the Culture Capital of 2020 and personally, seeing the effort being made throughout the city shows a sense of pride in the culture being exerted by businesses, the people of Galway and the community of the West of Ireland as a whole to gain a name for Galway as a rightful cultural capital.

But what makes Galway City a good candidate to be a cultural capital and what makes it a unique part of Ireland?

• Food Culture: One thing that is unique about Galway and manages to draw people is the unique food that Galway has to offer. Being an Atlantic coastal city and on Galway Bay, seafood is a very big staple to the food culture in the Tribes County, Oysters especially. So much so that there is an annual Oyster festival held in Galway (http://galwayoysterfestival.com/) which, for those who enjoy good seafood, should visit. This year the Oyster Festival is being held from the 23rd to the 25th of September. All across the main areas of Galway City
  
  (Eyre Square/Shop Street/Latin Quarter/Spanish Arch), the smell of food is prominent. The variety of restaurants and eateries in is broad and wherever you eat, expect your expectations to be met. Some of the places I like to go for lunch/Coffee/Dinner in Galway are:
• Cafe Temple (https://www.facebook.com/cafetemple/#)
• McDonaghs Fish and Chip Bar (http://mcdonaghs.net/)
• The Seafood Bar, Kirwan Lane (http://kirwanslane.com/)
• The Kings Head (http://www.thekingshead.ie/)
• Il Vicolo (http://ilvicolo.ie/)
• Elles Cafe, Shop Street
• Historic Culture: The History in Galway is unique. From it's historical structures (Spanish Arch, Galway Cathedral) to it's notable people who hale from the country (President Michael D. Higgins, Lady Gregory). The "rustically modern" vibe I mentioned earlier, comes from the preservation and integration of the historic culture of Galway into the present day is incredibly commendable, for example. The St. Nicholas Collegiate Cathedral, one of the largest medieval churches to still be in use, is surrounded regularly by the St. Nicholas Street Market. Other things l
  
  ike people chilling around the Spanish Arch is a great example of present day, historic cultural submergence. 
• Atmosphere: The atmosphere in Galway is next to none. You walk down the main street of Galway and you hear the sounds of street performers, you see amazing displays of art and feel the vibe that can only be described as "Galway". The events that happen in Galway and things that make Galway memorable are what adds to the vibe and creates lasting impressions on tourists and inhabitants alike. For students, NUI Galway, GMIT and other learning institutes are situated here. The nightlife of Galway is next to none with live music, excellent bars and again, amazing atmosphere.

These three points are just a small pick of a large selection of reasons as to how to explain the culture of Galway but words can only express so much, The Tribe City is one that needs to be experienced for yourselves, and I would highly recommend it!

Interesting Spot: Oranmore (Galway)

Hey guys! As part of my new job, I am away from most social media and my laptop for a majority of the day and when I get time, I'm exhausted, so the frequency in which I will be able to blog will vary and for this, I apologize. 

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Today, as part of my job, I had to go to a part of Galway (my county) that I have never spent much time in or knew much about the town, We would have always passed through Oranmore on our way to get to the motorway or other parts of Ireland but we never found a reason to stop by.

So today, as part of my new job, I went out and did some maintenance in Oranmore and spent the day there.

The first stop we made, we pulled up and had a look around at the different jobs that needed to be done and the time it would take to do them. As this was going on, I looked on the other side of the road to come across literally, the most beautiful view which kind of made my day! There were cows in the pasture and behind them was Oranmore bay, an inlet that went out into the Atlantic Ocean. Right in the corner of my eye, Oranmore Castle loomed and looked onto the bay, topping off an already picturesque scene. Work became a distraction as I wanted to look and get the proper description of the landscape and the way the water looked with the sun glaring down, but unfortunately, the scenery became a distraction for my work.

After the first part of the job, we continued on to different parts of the town. We moved up the street where the scene of the bay turned into us working along the bridge. Now that became chewing gum for the eyes as it was so beautiful. I kinda just wanted to stop and take it all in. So we continued working with the water and other things and we moved around to different parts of Oranmore.

The people of Oranmore seem really nice. As we worked, no one intruded on our business and we were able to get on with it. They all seem really calm people and they make the area seem nice and warm (and not just the hot weather Ireland has right now).

As I walked around Oranmore, I took in this towns beauty. The nice bay scenery, the nice hum of people and students going about their business. It wasn't overly busy but it was enough to be really relaxed and beautiful. Oranmore gets a good amount of visitors considering that it is a connection route to the M6 motorway from Galway to Dublin.

I recommend coming and taking a look around Oranmore, if you find yourself in the West of Ireland. It's a great spot and the food I saw people eat in the restaurants looked absolutely amazing considering it's coastal, I'd say all the produce is fresh.

Pics of Oranmore to follow

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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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