Speak the Culture

I spent a few days wandering around the streets of Trastevere (number 12 on the list) last year. Only a few minutes walk from the main sites of Rome but a world away from the Spanish steps and co (perhaps because it doesn't have any big 'sites' to shout about). Great for small back street restaurants...

Perhaps the 'BBQ Summer' will kick in during September, combining with an 'Indian Summer' to produce a 'Tandoori Oven Summer'. Just a thought...

A beer garden used to mean you sat outside when it was nice now you sit/stand outside when raining/hail/snow/sun to have a fag or cigar (me) or pipe (my future me). The weather is the weather so we just gotta live with it.

I spent most of my early years (still young) traveliing around the globe but in the last 2 years I have re-discovered all the things I did as a kid. I went to The Tower of London, Hampton Court, London Zoo, St. Paul's (bloody scared I was - not good with highs and the Wispering Gallery is no joke for us Earth junkies!), the Tate (old and new) to ... Read Morename a few. I know it's nice to sit by the pool and soak up the sun but we forget what a heritage we have, an most importantly we have a monarchy, which funds tourism but also makes the Americans jealous and thats good for me. Let me know coz this is my area of expertise, well, this and beer. Chio

Having read Speak Spain I cannot wait to get my mits on Italy especially for the Art section written by my old mate Johnny Ball.

I can really recommend Speak the Culture: Spain. It was very educational with little bite size chunks of interesting facts scattered throughout delivered in a witty style. If you are interested in Spain or holidaying there this is a must read if you want to know what makes the Spanish tick.