Proof that it's not only the Brits who are prone to (over?) indulging. After my posting regarding the carnival in Tempio Pausania I received an email from one of my Sardinian friends.
'In two weeks time it will be Carnaval (sic) time down here, ppl get banana for a week.....the only negative thing could be the bad weather but as long as we keep drinkin' we wont feel it'
Friday 25 January 2008
Monday 21 January 2008
Tempio carnival 2008
Feasts and festivals are a major part of Sardinian life and barely a week seems to go by without a village somewhere on the island finding an excuse to throw a party. In Aggius the major festivities take place in August, when the streets fill with musicians and dancers (all of whom who seem to have a near obsessive love for the music of Carlos Santana), and October when the single men of the village take their opportunity to find a partner and er, well I’m sure you get the idea.
However between 31st January and the 5th February the nearby town of Tempio Pausania hosts a carnival that ranks among the Party Seven of all the Galluran festivals. A chance for the locals to pull on giant papier-mache heads, neck a few Camparis and party like it’s mille nove cento novanta-nove.
I have to confess I’ve yet to experience this particular festival myself – January and February in Sardinia generally bringing the sort of weather that makes your testicles retreat back into your body. But what keeps willing me back to the carnival’s website several times a year is the spectacular – not to mention downright creepy - sight of tuk-tuks disguised to resemble 10 ft high devils and men dressed as giant jellyfish (possibly).
Well, that and the pictures high-kicking young ladies wearing barely enough lycra to cover their tuppence.
;-)
Visit the Tempio Carnival site
However between 31st January and the 5th February the nearby town of Tempio Pausania hosts a carnival that ranks among the Party Seven of all the Galluran festivals. A chance for the locals to pull on giant papier-mache heads, neck a few Camparis and party like it’s mille nove cento novanta-nove.
I have to confess I’ve yet to experience this particular festival myself – January and February in Sardinia generally bringing the sort of weather that makes your testicles retreat back into your body. But what keeps willing me back to the carnival’s website several times a year is the spectacular – not to mention downright creepy - sight of tuk-tuks disguised to resemble 10 ft high devils and men dressed as giant jellyfish (possibly).
Well, that and the pictures high-kicking young ladies wearing barely enough lycra to cover their tuppence.
;-)
Visit the Tempio Carnival site
Saturday 19 January 2008
Sardinia just got a little closer
January and February in Sardinia is much the same as the UK. Outside of the major cities the people tend to go into hibernation unless it's a particularly mild winter while the better off tend to jump on a plane to visit relatives living abroad.
At home we've just had what, for us, is fantastic news. Easyjet have announced that from April they are to begin flying to Olbia airport on the Costa Smeralda coast from Bristol. This might not seem like a big deal to most pepole reading this, but to us it's the equivalent of someone offering to pick you up from outside of your front door. No more five hour commutes to Stansted. No more overnight drives to Luton. And if we want we can pop over to visit our mates for the weekend.
At home we've just had what, for us, is fantastic news. Easyjet have announced that from April they are to begin flying to Olbia airport on the Costa Smeralda coast from Bristol. This might not seem like a big deal to most pepole reading this, but to us it's the equivalent of someone offering to pick you up from outside of your front door. No more five hour commutes to Stansted. No more overnight drives to Luton. And if we want we can pop over to visit our mates for the weekend.
Sunday 6 January 2008
The Welsh Harvey Goldsmith
Received an email from one of our Sardinian friends, Andrea (that’s a bloke by the way), over Christmas asking me to put together a list of small live music clubs. He wants to bring a band he manages - who seem to sound a lot like crusty US metallers Korn - over to the UK for a short tour.
I’ve asked another friend who used to promote local college gigs for a bit of help.
He seems to think that the best way to do it is to contact expat sites and newspapers in London, and maybe try and get small news pieces in the rock press to drum up some interest. Then get the band to drive over and do two or three gigs in quick succession and not too far apart in order to keep the costs down.
Strangely at the same time I’ve also been asked to help set up some shows for a South African choir who want to play here.
All very interesting but having never done anything like this before the pessimist in me can’t help feeling I should run screaming in the opposite direction.
I’ve asked another friend who used to promote local college gigs for a bit of help.
He seems to think that the best way to do it is to contact expat sites and newspapers in London, and maybe try and get small news pieces in the rock press to drum up some interest. Then get the band to drive over and do two or three gigs in quick succession and not too far apart in order to keep the costs down.
Strangely at the same time I’ve also been asked to help set up some shows for a South African choir who want to play here.
All very interesting but having never done anything like this before the pessimist in me can’t help feeling I should run screaming in the opposite direction.
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