viernes santo en Málaga

A trip to Málaga on good Friday to see the processions. This year, rather than stay in one place, we decided to just wander around the streets and literally bump into the many processions there were around the city.


Calle Larios before the processions started.

Unlike the Easter Sunday the year before, the good Friday processions take place in the early evening and go on until well past midnight. The first procession to reach Calle Larios was due sometime after 8:30pm.



A bare-footed penitent waits for the trono to move again.


We wandered past the site of an old market, heading towards the river when we heard the distant bell, signalling the start or finish of the rest period for the people carrying the tronos. We got to the side of the street just in time to see the trono of Jesus Christ on the cross pass. It was lead and followed by dozens of walkers in the usual attire. Unlike the previous year, it seemed a more solemn atmosphere. The marching band consisted of a wind quartet.


Trono of Jesus being carried through the streets.

The second procession was near the ayuntamiento. Two tronos went by. The first of Jesus being taken from the cross. The second of Mary. This procession was accompanied by a full marching band, The smell of incense and flowers adding to the emotional atmosphere.


Trono featuring Mary.

A great website to visit to see videos of semana santa in Málaga is http://www.tvspain.tv/blog/?tag=malaga-tronos. Particularly the videos at the bottom of the page.

Regatta in Venice

I have always wanted to see a nice boat sail down the Giudecca channel. Like the P&O cruise ship on the adverts. However, its usually just the local fisherman, taxi boats, ACTV Ferry and vaporettos going up and down. Until this visit.

There was some kind of boat show on at the Molino Stucky Hilton hotel on Giudecca. A number of fancy yachts were moored there. A few more were sailing on the channel. Maybe a will see the cruise ship next time.


Papa's boat cruising past.


Sailing up to San Marco.


Near the Tronchetto car park.

Il Tamburello

After the football it was back to Sandro's house for an aperitif before heading out to dinner. Sandro had booked us into a nice restaurant in Castelfranco called "Il Tamburello". It had a reputation for excellent meats. It certainly lived up to it.


Around the table, Andrea, Sandro, Diana, Grazia, Roberto, Antonella and Monica.

The restaurant seems to be set in the middle of nowhere. The restaurant is surrounded by a beautiful garden and water features, including a pond filled with fish. Ideal setting for a barbecue, which is a must in Summer according to Sandro.


At dinner with friends, not an engagement party mum!

Inside, the centre of the restaurant is dominated by the open BBQ area where the chefs cook the meats. It seemed that we were going to get special treatment tonight. The Maitre d'was a happy customer of Sandro's BMW dealership. We were in for a treat!

Spritz on arrival. The anti pasta was a wonderful risotto with artichokes. Next was a pasta dish washed down with a lovely white wine. The main course was a large selection of meats with polenta and potatoes. I was soon asking what the Italian for "Doggy bag" was. Plenty of red wine accompanied the meal.



A nice selection of meats.

After all this I was bursting at the seems. I couldn't possibly have a desert. The Maitre d' wasn't having any of it. He sent out the chef to tell us what the specialty of the house was. It sounded wonderful, even if I didn't understand everything. It tasted even better.


Desert.

Zero Branco v Vittorio Veneto

Lowly placed Zero Branco entertained high flyer's Vittorio Veneto as Cipo aimed to keep another clean sheet to help Zero Branco pull clear from the relegation positions. The journey to the game was a little strange at the Tronchetto car park. The police were out in force. Today was also the day of the big derby match, Venice v Padova. Looked like they were expecting trouble.

It was a cold and grey day as the players took to the pitch. They were led out by the female referee. Should be interesting.


The players salute the crowd.

The game started off rather poorly for Zero Branco. They didn't seem confident on the ball. Squandering possession like a Sunday league team in the UK. However, Vittorio Veneto were not much better, although they did look threatening down the left wing.

It was a quick break down the left that led to the first chance of the game. Zero Branco lost possession again in the centre of midfield. Vittorio played it down the left channel and the cross into a crowded penalty area broke to the edge of the box where a Vittorio midfielder had all the time and space he required to fire in a shot that rattled the crossbar. Cipo was unimpressed with his defenders and raced out to berate them.


Cipo in Goal.

The feared onslaught from Vittorio never materialised. Maybe they didn't fancy the conditions as it started to rain. More likely, the picky lady ref was blowing her whistle any time two players looked remotely like they were going to come into contact with each other. The effect was to stifle the game and Zero Branco grew in confidence.


Cipo makes a save.

As I was beginning to feel that I was going to see another 0-0, Zero Branco broke free down the left. A decent cross to the far post was completely missed by the keeper and Zero Branco's front man couldn't miss as he tapped in from close range.

Vittorio Veneto huffed and puffed but couldn't find a way passed Cipo. The game ended 1-0 and the players celebrated as if they had won the league. Is this the springboard they need to escape the relegation dogfight? I hope so.

A stroll around Venice

Starting at Piazzale Roma, a stroll around Venice.


Typical canal scene in Venice.


An old palace on the canal.


The new "Fourth" bridge over the Grand Canal.

Designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the new "Ponte di Calatrava" has generated a lot of criticism from Venetians. Firstly, is it really needed? Its location connects the Piazzale Roma bus terminal with the rail station. The current route is by crossing the nearby "Ponte degli Scalzi", one of three bridges that currently cross the grand canal. The other two bridges are the wooden Academia bridge at the southern end, and the world famous Rialto Bridge in the centre.

The new bridge is heavily over budget and way behind schedule. The main sections of the bridge were ferried down the canal in Summer 2007, and the bridge was supposed to be opened in the winter. However, Well into March 2008 and no sign of the bridge being opened. Why? Unbelievably, with all the modern technology available since the last bridge was built over 70 years ago, there have been a few embarrassing problems.

Firstly, according to Roberto, The weight of the bridge has caused problems on both banks. They cannot support it. Secondly, you would have thought that disabled access would be high on the list of priorities. Nope, it has been designed without any. This may explain the reason why the engineers have asked for more time to complete the bridge. However, as far as I can tell, there is no official explanation for the delay, or indeed a revised opening date. Maybe it will be ready next time I visit.


Monica, Roberto and Martina near Piazzale Roma.


Teatro Italia


Birra Piccola!

Roberto had promised to take me to a pub that had "Fantastic" beer. It turns out that Roberto, Antonella and Monica had discovered the place earlier in the week. Apparently, 3 small beers means exactly that at this place. They thought it would be funny to play the trick on me.


That's better!

A proposal in Giudecca

So far so good. All the good planning done had paid off. Buying the ring was relatively effortless. The size of the ring was taken by secretively trying on Monica's ring that she wears on her right hand. A nice fit on my little finger.

Amazingly, Monica had little idea of what I was planning. Where was I to ask? The trip to Venice provided the perfect opportunity. But where and when? Getting Monica on her own was proving to be difficult. A planned stroll around Giudecca was the plan. Scuppered as Roberto came with us.


Monica in the Boat Yard.



The other end of a Gondola.

Back at the house and I was panicking. Would I ever get her alone? Then Roberto announced that we were having a family photo taken. Everyone was present. I suppose now is as good a time as any. So I popped the question. "You must be joking!". Not quite the answer I was looking for.


Finally, I had managed to Surprise Monica.


I suppose this is a "Yes".



Eagle eyed readers will note that the ring is on the right hand. Two reasons for this. 1) Nobody told me it was "normal" that the finger on the left hand would be a different size than the right. 2) Monica has been wearing her left arm in a sling.

Treviso

Off to Venice again, via Liverpool airport and Treviso. The cheapest way to get to Venice without a doubt. But to ignore the charms of Treviso is a mistake. One that I have made many times until my last visit. Luckily, this long weekend trip gave me a chance to quickly explore Treviso.


Typical Treviso building.

The city is billed as the "City of Art and Water". The canals and river running through the city make it an idyllic setting. This leads to its next claim "The perfect human-friendly city". The sight of a car passing down the street looks oddly out of place.


The Duomo.


Enjoying an evening stroll in Treviso.

With Monica and the rest of the family stuck in a lawyers office for an hour sorting out a few things, I was left to stroll around the streets on my own. I was drawn to the Piazza dei Signori. A meeting place for all Trevigiani. Also a parking place for all there bicycles, by far the most popular form of transportation in Treviso. A great place to take an espresso and watch the world go by.


Piazza dei Signori.

Office with a view

Finally! I have an office with a view. Its not a bad view either. It is a marked improvement over the soulless, usually windowless offices I have had in the past. The closest I have come to having an office with an outside window was when I was working in the C&S office in Oldham. That only came about as they wanted to use the old office, marooned between the offices and the factory floor with no natural light, as the print room.

My move up in the world of IT lead to another internal office with no outside light. Even the view into the office was obscured by the vending machines parked outside the window. Escape to Spain brought in the natural light, but the desk pointed to the wall. A picture of Boundary Park in the rain, to make me feel at home.

Now, after Telefonica have got their act together, I have moved into the new office. The desk facing the double doors leading to the terrace. Impressive views of the hills surrounding Nerja, including Mount Maroma which I didn't think you could see from Nerja. Not to mention the blue skies. Every office should be like this!


View from the Office.

February 2008

February 2008. What a disaster! Best just post the best pics and move along....



Watching the Titanic sail by at Blanco y Negro's. Distant memories of singing the Celine Dion tune in Churchills, Benidorm come flooding back to haunt me. More bad news, Man U somehow get a last minute equaliser against Spurs.



The streets were packed for the carnaval parade. The watching of the procession turned out to be a lot better than watching the Rugby. How did England lose to Wales?



Highlights from February included a day out at Alhama de Granada. A great walk in the gorge followed by a caranval.



Life with no Internet at the house was hell. But looking on the bright side, I had a cracking view from my Temporary office, outside H2O.