Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Italia - Napoli vs Rome. Round 1. Ding Ding.
December 2011. Audit in Italy. My first as lead. Nerves.com.
So Monday morning we arrive in Rome; shitty Ryanair and 15kg luggage allowance. Robs only brought three t-shirts for the whole trip. All of which apparently look pretty similar. Next up, 3 hour drive across Italy to San Salvo. I'm totes over the sleeping in front of colleagues now and I'm pretty much out of it once we get on the motorway. The moments I was awake I witnessed some pretty hairy moments involving Italian driving thus decided it was best to sleep anyway.
Arrival at the plant, opening meeting smashed. Its 5-30 so we head to the hotel to check in. ooh, picked up the pool car. Beemer. Result. Hotel is nice. The Gabri Park. This is where we first encounter Carla. The receptionist. Very very very helpful (We later decided that Carla was my stalker). Decide to have dinner in the hotel; its been a long day.
The weather is unusually hot for December, round about 20 everyday. On the Tuesday evening we go into the town of Vasto for dinner with some other Pilkington employees. The pizza place was the best pizza ever!! Thin, crispy, amazing. Vasto is a cute little Italian town. So quaint. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasto
Thursday is bank holiday. Work from the hotel day and Vasto for lunch. We ate lunch at a beachside restaurant, had the creamiest gelato and went for a little walk on the beach; possibly my best work day EVER. Did I mention, Robs only got three tshirts??
So it's the weekend. And where did we decide to go. Naples aka Napoli. In a word: dump. I drew the short straw and it was my turn to drive. We discovered that the car radio skipped a lot, so armed with Robs netbook and some classic dance music, we drove across Italy. Possibly one of the worst drives of my life. Getting to Naples was relatively easy. However, once there we took a wrong turn, ending up in a rough part of town with hooded youths on mopeds and street corners. A green light resulted in us practically stationary in the middle of a junction screaming. Arrival at the hotel and we were shaking. We concluded that we would eat in the hotel that night. By the way, Robs only brought three tshirts.
My room had a view of Mount Vesuvius. Really really cool. Tea in the hotel restaurant - Good. What wasn't good was that the waitress failed to understand I only wanted a glass of red wine not a bottle to myself. I ended up with a bottle. We then went to the hotel bar for cocktails. They were disgusting and we were serenaded by an old man on a piano "Alll by myself...." Hilarious and depressing. So early night ready for Saturday. I can't find the big light switch so have to sleep with the light on. Not cool.
Saturday morning arrives and we are out the door by 9-30 walking to the station to get the train to Pompeii. Turns out we have a half hour wait until the next train. This allows our platform to fill up with Napoli football fans. The train comes, they storm on. They ain't getting a seat before me so i storm on too. Rob is shocked. That train is cancelled so we all pile back onto the platform ready for the next one. On arrival the same rush ensues. I wasn't as quick this time and we had to stand. The Napoli fans proceeded to make a smoke a spliff on the train. Anyway, we arrive at Pompeii relatively unscathed to a tourist box selling tickets for the minibus up the volcano. The minibus was overcrowded with 2 children shoved in to sit on adults knees. I swear they were at least 9. I've never felt as sick as I felt on that minibus winding up the side of the mountain. We make the climb from the car park to the top. It's cloudy. We can't see bloody anything!!! But still we did it!!!
So next up are the ruins of Pompeii. Interesting but it was pretty samey after a while. The baths and the amphitheatres were interesting and it was educational I guess.
Sunday morning. Casual We got a taxi from the hotel. It had two metres running, one showing €12 and one about €40. He charged us €20. Go figure, and if you work it out let me know. So had the pizza, found a bar. Had several mojitos with which they then plied us with tapas snacks. The mojitos were good so we stayed in the said bar till home time around 2ish when we then flagged a taxi. The taxi driver was mental. At one point he had both arms out wide shouting 'NAPOLI!! NAPOLI!!!'. We made it home. Just. No flies on me this time though, I took the card out of the slot so the big light went off. Boom.
Sunday morning is a casual walk across town to the museum. The museum doesn't have a cafe so we pop across the road where we meet Mario. Mario tells me I'm beautiful and gives us free chocolate filled pastries. On leave said establishment, Mario kisses me on either cheek, and nods to Rob as if to say 'I'd give her one...' Rob just nodded back so not to upset him/cause an explaining scenario. It was in all honesty hilarious. Museum was half empty except for the secret room. That was full to the brim of old age porn. And there was this really really cool room. Other than that though we're struggling as most stuff was out on loan.
Next up; lets wander around town and try and find this market with the woolen nativity characters as promised by the staff in San Salvo. We walked and walked and walked. We found nothing except for littered streets and graffitti'd buildings. Quite sad really but apparently the mafia control rubbish collections: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Mafia_at_centre_of_Naples_rubbish_mess_999.html
Struggling for stuff to do in Naples we decide to go for some lunch at the train station and drive back to San Salvo. Over lunch it is discussed whether or not me and Rob can become Facebook friends, It transpires that he has already facebook stalked me, again, highly amusing. The drive back is fun and involves me rapping to Tinie Tempahs Frisky and shouting at Rob when I hadn't finished; then Rob rapping to Dr Dre, then me whailing through Coldplays paradise. That yielded the following response from Rob, and I quote "Statistically, you should manage to hit at least one note, yet you manage not to...". I think I have a beautiful sining voice, apparently not.
Dinner is in Vasto where there is a small mini festival with hot doughnuts in stick shapes. We got some, they were yummy. By Tuesday, just two of us, we're struggling for conversation and we have a rule that you have to bring some new topics of conversation with you for tea. Rob decided to tell me that he used to be a trainspotter. Wrong thing to do Rob. I swear, piss my self laughing is an understatement. This subject is a source of entertainment to this day. He knows EVERYTHING there is to know about trains. Also, he used to work at Toys R Us and wore a Barbie t-shirt once. I was bored too. I think it was this particular night that I told Rob I had a coffee machine in my room. He nearly crashed the car. I didn't; I just knew this would annoy him.
So, Thursday, audit is over, Closing Meeting done, Rome it is ready for Friday morning flight. Rob still has just three t shirts. I fucking know.
Arrival in Rome. Bad traffic, still, we manage to get there for 7pm ish. Shuttle bus into the centre fof Rome leaves at 7:30. Quickest change ever. Sit waiting for 10 minutes as typically the bus driver is late.
Bus driver drops us off and understandably, we're a little disorientated, however, after about 15 minutes of walking we stumble upon the Pantheon. Coolest building ever. Fact. I want to have pizza and drink Prosecco here. In the restaurants overlooking the Pantheon. But no no, 3 tshirt Rob as he's now known, wants to find the 'big ass square' so we keep walking. Can't find it, oh look, we're back at the Pantheon. It must be the other way, ok. I'd like to add at this point I'm pretty hungry and getting impatient. So off we go; 'Are you sure its not that way Rob; its pretty lit up down there?..' Nope, definitely not. OH LOOK. WE'RE BACK AT THE FUCKING PANTHEON. Maybe we will try that other way; the way I said Rob? Yes. Yes indeed the way I said. We got to the 'big ass square'; it had been overtaken by some 'cheap ass' Christmas market and looked rubbish, so we went back to the Pantheon and had Pizza and Prosecco sat outside overlooking the beautiful Pantheon. Now, anybody else might take this opportunity to point out to Rob; that a) this is what I wanted to do to start b) I was right about the direction of the bloody square, and as much as I would like to say I didn't and that I sat quietly satisfied with myself (he has only got three tshirts remember that; don't want to upset him more), I didn't. I took great pleasure in reminding him of point a and b. Anyway; that Prosecco tasted good and it was time for the whistle stop running tour of Rome.
First stop - The Collosseum. Has this beat my love for the Pantheon?? Possibly. Looks amazing lit up especially with all the Christmas lights too. This was the official 'Team Italy' photo. So then, we headed back to the 'big ass square' for a beer. An expensive beer at that, but it was gooood. 
From here we headed to St Peters. Unfortunately we couldn't get close as it was all fenced off, we thought about breaking through the fence but Rob wouldn't allow it due to the police car parked up just inside. That was unfortunate admitedly.
So Monday morning we arrive in Rome; shitty Ryanair and 15kg luggage allowance. Robs only brought three t-shirts for the whole trip. All of which apparently look pretty similar. Next up, 3 hour drive across Italy to San Salvo. I'm totes over the sleeping in front of colleagues now and I'm pretty much out of it once we get on the motorway. The moments I was awake I witnessed some pretty hairy moments involving Italian driving thus decided it was best to sleep anyway.
Arrival at the plant, opening meeting smashed. Its 5-30 so we head to the hotel to check in. ooh, picked up the pool car. Beemer. Result. Hotel is nice. The Gabri Park. This is where we first encounter Carla. The receptionist. Very very very helpful (We later decided that Carla was my stalker). Decide to have dinner in the hotel; its been a long day. The weather is unusually hot for December, round about 20 everyday. On the Tuesday evening we go into the town of Vasto for dinner with some other Pilkington employees. The pizza place was the best pizza ever!! Thin, crispy, amazing. Vasto is a cute little Italian town. So quaint. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasto
Thursday is bank holiday. Work from the hotel day and Vasto for lunch. We ate lunch at a beachside restaurant, had the creamiest gelato and went for a little walk on the beach; possibly my best work day EVER. Did I mention, Robs only got three tshirts??
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| Risotto de la mer. Delicious. |
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| View of Vasto from the end of the pier. |
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| Gelato. Like cold nutella and bueno. Mmmmmmm. |
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| Peering into the crater of the Volcano |
Saturday morning arrives and we are out the door by 9-30 walking to the station to get the train to Pompeii. Turns out we have a half hour wait until the next train. This allows our platform to fill up with Napoli football fans. The train comes, they storm on. They ain't getting a seat before me so i storm on too. Rob is shocked. That train is cancelled so we all pile back onto the platform ready for the next one. On arrival the same rush ensues. I wasn't as quick this time and we had to stand. The Napoli fans proceeded to make a smoke a spliff on the train. Anyway, we arrive at Pompeii relatively unscathed to a tourist box selling tickets for the minibus up the volcano. The minibus was overcrowded with 2 children shoved in to sit on adults knees. I swear they were at least 9. I've never felt as sick as I felt on that minibus winding up the side of the mountain. We make the climb from the car park to the top. It's cloudy. We can't see bloody anything!!! But still we did it!!!
So next up are the ruins of Pompeii. Interesting but it was pretty samey after a while. The baths and the amphitheatres were interesting and it was educational I guess.So then we hopscotched it to Herculaneum in the hope of seeing the people, unfortunately we didn't make it in time and Herculaneum wasn't allowing anyone else in. So we went for a beer. Our observations of the cars that passed noted that the cars in Napoli are more likely to be damaged than not. Our plan for the night was to head to the Marina, find a restaurant and maybe a bar or two.
Sunday morning. Casual We got a taxi from the hotel. It had two metres running, one showing €12 and one about €40. He charged us €20. Go figure, and if you work it out let me know. So had the pizza, found a bar. Had several mojitos with which they then plied us with tapas snacks. The mojitos were good so we stayed in the said bar till home time around 2ish when we then flagged a taxi. The taxi driver was mental. At one point he had both arms out wide shouting 'NAPOLI!! NAPOLI!!!'. We made it home. Just. No flies on me this time though, I took the card out of the slot so the big light went off. Boom.
Sunday morning is a casual walk across town to the museum. The museum doesn't have a cafe so we pop across the road where we meet Mario. Mario tells me I'm beautiful and gives us free chocolate filled pastries. On leave said establishment, Mario kisses me on either cheek, and nods to Rob as if to say 'I'd give her one...' Rob just nodded back so not to upset him/cause an explaining scenario. It was in all honesty hilarious. Museum was half empty except for the secret room. That was full to the brim of old age porn. And there was this really really cool room. Other than that though we're struggling as most stuff was out on loan.
Next up; lets wander around town and try and find this market with the woolen nativity characters as promised by the staff in San Salvo. We walked and walked and walked. We found nothing except for littered streets and graffitti'd buildings. Quite sad really but apparently the mafia control rubbish collections: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Mafia_at_centre_of_Naples_rubbish_mess_999.html
Struggling for stuff to do in Naples we decide to go for some lunch at the train station and drive back to San Salvo. Over lunch it is discussed whether or not me and Rob can become Facebook friends, It transpires that he has already facebook stalked me, again, highly amusing. The drive back is fun and involves me rapping to Tinie Tempahs Frisky and shouting at Rob when I hadn't finished; then Rob rapping to Dr Dre, then me whailing through Coldplays paradise. That yielded the following response from Rob, and I quote "Statistically, you should manage to hit at least one note, yet you manage not to...". I think I have a beautiful sining voice, apparently not.
Dinner is in Vasto where there is a small mini festival with hot doughnuts in stick shapes. We got some, they were yummy. By Tuesday, just two of us, we're struggling for conversation and we have a rule that you have to bring some new topics of conversation with you for tea. Rob decided to tell me that he used to be a trainspotter. Wrong thing to do Rob. I swear, piss my self laughing is an understatement. This subject is a source of entertainment to this day. He knows EVERYTHING there is to know about trains. Also, he used to work at Toys R Us and wore a Barbie t-shirt once. I was bored too. I think it was this particular night that I told Rob I had a coffee machine in my room. He nearly crashed the car. I didn't; I just knew this would annoy him.
So, Thursday, audit is over, Closing Meeting done, Rome it is ready for Friday morning flight. Rob still has just three t shirts. I fucking know.
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| The Beautiful Pantheon |
Bus driver drops us off and understandably, we're a little disorientated, however, after about 15 minutes of walking we stumble upon the Pantheon. Coolest building ever. Fact. I want to have pizza and drink Prosecco here. In the restaurants overlooking the Pantheon. But no no, 3 tshirt Rob as he's now known, wants to find the 'big ass square' so we keep walking. Can't find it, oh look, we're back at the Pantheon. It must be the other way, ok. I'd like to add at this point I'm pretty hungry and getting impatient. So off we go; 'Are you sure its not that way Rob; its pretty lit up down there?..' Nope, definitely not. OH LOOK. WE'RE BACK AT THE FUCKING PANTHEON. Maybe we will try that other way; the way I said Rob? Yes. Yes indeed the way I said. We got to the 'big ass square'; it had been overtaken by some 'cheap ass' Christmas market and looked rubbish, so we went back to the Pantheon and had Pizza and Prosecco sat outside overlooking the beautiful Pantheon. Now, anybody else might take this opportunity to point out to Rob; that a) this is what I wanted to do to start b) I was right about the direction of the bloody square, and as much as I would like to say I didn't and that I sat quietly satisfied with myself (he has only got three tshirts remember that; don't want to upset him more), I didn't. I took great pleasure in reminding him of point a and b. Anyway; that Prosecco tasted good and it was time for the whistle stop running tour of Rome.
First stop - The Collosseum. Has this beat my love for the Pantheon?? Possibly. Looks amazing lit up especially with all the Christmas lights too. This was the official 'Team Italy' photo. So then, we headed back to the 'big ass square' for a beer. An expensive beer at that, but it was gooood. 
From here we headed to St Peters. Unfortunately we couldn't get close as it was all fenced off, we thought about breaking through the fence but Rob wouldn't allow it due to the police car parked up just inside. That was unfortunate admitedly.
Then it was home time. Bed. Early flight home. I concluded on this one that I had a brilliant time. Work got done, Robs hilarious and soooo easy to wind up. Overall: great trip :-)
Lessons learnt:
1. Rob only had three tshirts with him
2. Italian driving leaves a lot to be desired
3. Bank holidays abroad are wicked
4. Pizza and Gelato in Vasto is the best I've ever tasted
5. Prosecco and pizza by the Pantheon tastes better when you've walked past said restaurant three times
6. Rob loves trains
7. Napoli's a shithole
8. I <3 Rome
9. Taking the card out the slot makes the light go off (Remember this one - could come in handy!!)
10. Rob gets scared if the petrol gage falls below half way. Loser.
Tune of the trip: Avicii Levels
Thursday, 5 April 2012
S is for Sweden, C is for Copenhagen..
A is for awesome trip. I could go on to spell Scandanavia but considering the week before I didn't know Sweden and Denmark were even in Scandanavia and that Scandanavia wasn't a country I won't bother.
November 2011. Early-ish Sunday morning flight to Copenhagen, started by Starbucks in Manchester airport; skinny latte with sugar free hazlenut extra hot pllllease.
Stumbling block one: the train from Copenhagen to Halmstad. Just because a seat is empty doesn't mean its not booked. There is no way of telling it's booked, you just sit in it and hope that somebody doesn't come to tell you you have to move as in fact they have booked that seat. They could learn a lot from the Virgin Pendolino system: Reserved/Vacant. Just put a note on it or something. The second thing about this train: Keep your eyes open on the train and pay attention as everyone will ask about the bloody bridge; when replying what bridge you on about people think your mental. That bridge is massive. It goes across the sea and connects two countries, yet I managed to miss it (3 times I might add before seeing it on the fourth go!!). They're pretty proud of that bridge....
So Halmstad is pretty. It's cool. Nice eating and drinking establishments; typically scandinavian. it's near Christmas, all the lights are up but no trashy different coloured lights. Everyone has a white star in the window of their homes and white lights only. Very elegant and cool.
Ooh, we get a pool car in Halmstad. Each team member has a turn at driving. Funny points to note: Susan broke the handle of the seat, then couldn't park it, then stalled and started in gear. Rob nearly had a coronary whilst Paul was driving, I won best driver award.
The weekend - trip to Copenhagen. Arrived pretty late after another debacle with the trains, so it's hard rock cafe for food and Christmas Tuborg drinks. Saturday morning, a walk into town; it's freezing. A canal boat trip to see the Mermaid; not sure what the fuss is about there! Oh and then a climb up the tallest tower EVER. Well in Copenhagen. However, I forgot I am petrified of heights. I spent the majority of the climb clinging to the side of the tower whilst everyone laughed. Every step was a battle of wills as to whom in the oncoming direction was gonna leave the rail as I clinged to it. Not a chance I was letting go. PETRIFIED.
Onto the Tuborg factory. As an Everton supporter I resent handing over cash to the Carlsberg establishment, however the promise of warmth and two beers and not separating from the team has me sold.
This picture is the team minus Susan with the 'famous' Carlsberg Elephant. I've never seen them before but apparently they're famous.
Following this we met back up with Susan at magical Tivoli. AMAZING is the only way to describe this place. http://www.tivoli.dk/composite-3351.htm
The website really doesn't do it justice, but google image it. It had a mini Taj Mahal, a mini Kremlin, real reindeers, a Father Christmas ( I was convinced he was the real deal!). Everything had lights on; we drank Glug to our hearts content and felt like we had been transported to a cross between Never Never Land, Lapland and the Coca Cola Christmas advert. I think at one point I thought I was Tinkerbell.
The next highlight had to be watching Rob and Susan sh*t themselves on a death defying ride involving rotating planes on mechanical arms swing round and great heights. Had to be there to witness the pure horror on Robs face!
Onwards and upwards to the Absolute Vodka Ice Bar. Whats cooler than being cool? ICE COLD! And f*ck me sideways was it cold. Drinks were good though.
Next up night out - YIIIIIIEEESSSSS!!!!
Meatpacking district; cool. Free cocktails as it was it's birthday or something. We learnt the Danes are very friendly towards English and got talking to a few who lived in Sweden and offered us places to stay if we should ever want to visit them?! Then onto another bar - this one not a cocktail bar - see picture. Thankfully I noticed that before I order my mojito. After a mammoth trek we found a bar recommended but it turned out it was Rn'b; not one for throwing out our best shapes to so headed back into town to Rose McGees for some serious cheese, Q dancing on stages, pulling each other across the dance floor with imaginary ropes, the whole lot. We are too cool. I know.
McDonalds. Bed. However, hotel is in the red light district, count the 'ladies of the night' game. No fewer than 16. Very wrapped up ladies though, they are familiar to the temperatures around these parts!!
Sunday; Palace. Long story short, I got bored, I got shouted at by the lady - I was just looking in the drawer of the box incase they had missed something, free labour - whats the problem?? The jewels were cool but if I can't try them on then whats the point. Mahoosive storm, nightmare on the train (again) but back in Halmstad.
So audit, done. Thursday night, drinks. What a night: karaoke- none of us sang thank goodness, but a lady said I had a good voice and I should get up as I know the words; it ain't hard love, it's karaoke, the words are on the screen!! The same lady burnt her hair on the candle whilst telling me this. I think she may have been a tad tipsy. Not to be deterred by the shutting of the pub, we headed to the local bowling alley. Not cool? Oh how wrong. It's a nightclub with a bowling alley inside it. Awesome. Dancing whilst going to throw the bowling ball, this was fun. As the only three on the dancefloor, we had rule of the Dj. Turns out they like Swedish House Mafia in Sweden too. This is good news.
Friday: Hometime. Train back to Copenhagen. Rob got uber stressed over the SAS checking in system to the point he had a tantrum. This boiled down to the fact he couldn't use the luggage tag, idiot. After his little outburst, the remainder of the journey was ok.
Good trip all round.
Lessons learnt:
1. Pay attention on train journeys to significant monuments such as bridges
2. Remember you are scared of heights prior to agreeing to climb tall buildings
3. You are not Tinkerbell
4. Don't touch things in museums, they don't like it
5. Rob can't use sticky labels
Trip Theme Tune: Rihanna & Calvin Harris - We Found Love
November 2011. Early-ish Sunday morning flight to Copenhagen, started by Starbucks in Manchester airport; skinny latte with sugar free hazlenut extra hot pllllease.
Stumbling block one: the train from Copenhagen to Halmstad. Just because a seat is empty doesn't mean its not booked. There is no way of telling it's booked, you just sit in it and hope that somebody doesn't come to tell you you have to move as in fact they have booked that seat. They could learn a lot from the Virgin Pendolino system: Reserved/Vacant. Just put a note on it or something. The second thing about this train: Keep your eyes open on the train and pay attention as everyone will ask about the bloody bridge; when replying what bridge you on about people think your mental. That bridge is massive. It goes across the sea and connects two countries, yet I managed to miss it (3 times I might add before seeing it on the fourth go!!). They're pretty proud of that bridge....
So Halmstad is pretty. It's cool. Nice eating and drinking establishments; typically scandinavian. it's near Christmas, all the lights are up but no trashy different coloured lights. Everyone has a white star in the window of their homes and white lights only. Very elegant and cool.
Ooh, we get a pool car in Halmstad. Each team member has a turn at driving. Funny points to note: Susan broke the handle of the seat, then couldn't park it, then stalled and started in gear. Rob nearly had a coronary whilst Paul was driving, I won best driver award.
Onto the Tuborg factory. As an Everton supporter I resent handing over cash to the Carlsberg establishment, however the promise of warmth and two beers and not separating from the team has me sold.
This picture is the team minus Susan with the 'famous' Carlsberg Elephant. I've never seen them before but apparently they're famous.
Following this we met back up with Susan at magical Tivoli. AMAZING is the only way to describe this place. http://www.tivoli.dk/composite-3351.htm
The next highlight had to be watching Rob and Susan sh*t themselves on a death defying ride involving rotating planes on mechanical arms swing round and great heights. Had to be there to witness the pure horror on Robs face!
Next up night out - YIIIIIIEEESSSSS!!!!
Meatpacking district; cool. Free cocktails as it was it's birthday or something. We learnt the Danes are very friendly towards English and got talking to a few who lived in Sweden and offered us places to stay if we should ever want to visit them?! Then onto another bar - this one not a cocktail bar - see picture. Thankfully I noticed that before I order my mojito. After a mammoth trek we found a bar recommended but it turned out it was Rn'b; not one for throwing out our best shapes to so headed back into town to Rose McGees for some serious cheese, Q dancing on stages, pulling each other across the dance floor with imaginary ropes, the whole lot. We are too cool. I know. McDonalds. Bed. However, hotel is in the red light district, count the 'ladies of the night' game. No fewer than 16. Very wrapped up ladies though, they are familiar to the temperatures around these parts!!
Sunday; Palace. Long story short, I got bored, I got shouted at by the lady - I was just looking in the drawer of the box incase they had missed something, free labour - whats the problem?? The jewels were cool but if I can't try them on then whats the point. Mahoosive storm, nightmare on the train (again) but back in Halmstad.
So audit, done. Thursday night, drinks. What a night: karaoke- none of us sang thank goodness, but a lady said I had a good voice and I should get up as I know the words; it ain't hard love, it's karaoke, the words are on the screen!! The same lady burnt her hair on the candle whilst telling me this. I think she may have been a tad tipsy. Not to be deterred by the shutting of the pub, we headed to the local bowling alley. Not cool? Oh how wrong. It's a nightclub with a bowling alley inside it. Awesome. Dancing whilst going to throw the bowling ball, this was fun. As the only three on the dancefloor, we had rule of the Dj. Turns out they like Swedish House Mafia in Sweden too. This is good news.
Friday: Hometime. Train back to Copenhagen. Rob got uber stressed over the SAS checking in system to the point he had a tantrum. This boiled down to the fact he couldn't use the luggage tag, idiot. After his little outburst, the remainder of the journey was ok.
Good trip all round.
Lessons learnt:
1. Pay attention on train journeys to significant monuments such as bridges
2. Remember you are scared of heights prior to agreeing to climb tall buildings
3. You are not Tinkerbell
4. Don't touch things in museums, they don't like it
5. Rob can't use sticky labels
Trip Theme Tune: Rihanna & Calvin Harris - We Found Love
Poland - Home of Bison Grass Vodka!
October 2011. First trip away with the new job. Early start for a Sunday. I don't remember the last time I saw 5-30 on a Sunday morning. Meet Paul and Vicky in Starbucks Liverpool airport. Slightly nervous. Easyjet flight - great, no assigned seat; newbie gets the middle. So tired, cannot go to sleep on the flight; not because I'm not tired, because socially, sat between two people whom are chatting this is unacceptable. Note to self: Easyjet bacon butties are crap. And burn your hands. Don't get one again ever.
3 hour drive from Krakow to Sandomierz. Poland looks exactly like I imagined; poor. Its full of grave yards, churches and is very agricultural. Not much to note. I fell asleep. Sandomierz is tiny, yet manages to cram in half a dozen churches, and you never see anybody around. First week flew by, nothing much to note except for the food was awful. Egg or pickle with everything. Krakow for the weekend!!
So we arrived in Krakow on the Friday and after a pretty poor attempt, ended up in an Irish pub. Not before going into a quite local bar where we got stared at a lot and had the strangest picture on the wall. Quite an early night but the drive was tiring.
Saturday morning started off with breakfast in the hotel. Hotel Unicus - smart! Restaurant was is the basement which was like a cavern; lots of exposed brickwork, this please Paul. We went for a wonder around Krakow, down to the Palace and onto the Jewish quarter. It was pretty, but the whole city was covered in about an hour so we headed for a coffee and then to a few shops. Krakow has a cool square, one of the best I've seen with St Marys Basilik in the corner. Went for lunch to a Mexican, it had lampshades made of desperado bottles and the waiter and a toy gun but the food was crap.
Bored and pretty cold we headed to a bar for our first drink. The vodka is so cheap it would be rude not to. Poland still has smoking rooms so that's a little odd and it's hard to imagine smoking in bars at home now.
The evening we went to Bar Barok to sample the cocktails, thought the light pink one tasted as I imagine sweaty feet would. Minging!! This was Bar Barok; it had a nightclub downstairs where we partied the night away to old school dance and met a guy called Conrad. He dressed and danced like Carlton ofफ Fresh Prince but was white. Bad combination.
Not so fresh from Saturday night came Sunday morning. An excursion to Auschwitz. Obviously not enjoyable, but learnt an awful lot and it was difficult to truly imagine the horrors that took place. Definitely worth visiting and glad that I went. The pictures are the Auschwitz gate and the tower famous from Schindler's List.
One hot chocolate and kfc later, we were back on the monumental drive back to Sandomierz and the joys of the Basztowy hotel. The second week dragged; the joys of Sandomierz had been seen or had they??
The Wednesday was the last full day of audit, Thursday for the closing meeting so the FC had arranged for us and the finance team to go for a meal at the nice hotel. During the meal it was demanded that we tried the local vodka the polish way. This means neck a 50ml shot straight.
Now I like vodka, in fact I really like vodka. I don't like 50ml shots straight. I definitely don't like 3 or 4 shots of the stuff in the space of an hour. And neither did other members of the team. The vodka resulted in 2 out of 3 of us being sick and possibly one of the worst hangovers I have ever had.
SO...the original plan of Krakow night out Thursday before flying home. We were all far too hungover. So after an amazing Italian (his name was Antonio haha), we went for dessert and hot chocolate under blankets at a cafe on the square.
All was good with the world again, I had got through audit/trip 1 relatively unscathed and lived to tell the tale.
Lessons learnt:
1. Polish people know how to drink vodka, the English don't.
2. When a Polish person says one more drink, say no.
3. Don't buy Easyjet food.
4. Don't plan on doing much in Poland other than drinking.
Song of the trip: Haddaway - What is Love.
3 hour drive from Krakow to Sandomierz. Poland looks exactly like I imagined; poor. Its full of grave yards, churches and is very agricultural. Not much to note. I fell asleep. Sandomierz is tiny, yet manages to cram in half a dozen churches, and you never see anybody around. First week flew by, nothing much to note except for the food was awful. Egg or pickle with everything. Krakow for the weekend!!
So we arrived in Krakow on the Friday and after a pretty poor attempt, ended up in an Irish pub. Not before going into a quite local bar where we got stared at a lot and had the strangest picture on the wall. Quite an early night but the drive was tiring.
Saturday morning started off with breakfast in the hotel. Hotel Unicus - smart! Restaurant was is the basement which was like a cavern; lots of exposed brickwork, this please Paul. We went for a wonder around Krakow, down to the Palace and onto the Jewish quarter. It was pretty, but the whole city was covered in about an hour so we headed for a coffee and then to a few shops. Krakow has a cool square, one of the best I've seen with St Marys Basilik in the corner. Went for lunch to a Mexican, it had lampshades made of desperado bottles and the waiter and a toy gun but the food was crap.
Bored and pretty cold we headed to a bar for our first drink. The vodka is so cheap it would be rude not to. Poland still has smoking rooms so that's a little odd and it's hard to imagine smoking in bars at home now. The evening we went to Bar Barok to sample the cocktails, thought the light pink one tasted as I imagine sweaty feet would. Minging!! This was Bar Barok; it had a nightclub downstairs where we partied the night away to old school dance and met a guy called Conrad. He dressed and danced like Carlton ofफ Fresh Prince but was white. Bad combination.
Not so fresh from Saturday night came Sunday morning. An excursion to Auschwitz. Obviously not enjoyable, but learnt an awful lot and it was difficult to truly imagine the horrors that took place. Definitely worth visiting and glad that I went. The pictures are the Auschwitz gate and the tower famous from Schindler's List.
One hot chocolate and kfc later, we were back on the monumental drive back to Sandomierz and the joys of the Basztowy hotel. The second week dragged; the joys of Sandomierz had been seen or had they??
The Wednesday was the last full day of audit, Thursday for the closing meeting so the FC had arranged for us and the finance team to go for a meal at the nice hotel. During the meal it was demanded that we tried the local vodka the polish way. This means neck a 50ml shot straight.
Now I like vodka, in fact I really like vodka. I don't like 50ml shots straight. I definitely don't like 3 or 4 shots of the stuff in the space of an hour. And neither did other members of the team. The vodka resulted in 2 out of 3 of us being sick and possibly one of the worst hangovers I have ever had. SO...the original plan of Krakow night out Thursday before flying home. We were all far too hungover. So after an amazing Italian (his name was Antonio haha), we went for dessert and hot chocolate under blankets at a cafe on the square.
All was good with the world again, I had got through audit/trip 1 relatively unscathed and lived to tell the tale.
Lessons learnt:
1. Polish people know how to drink vodka, the English don't.
2. When a Polish person says one more drink, say no.
3. Don't buy Easyjet food.
4. Don't plan on doing much in Poland other than drinking.
Song of the trip: Haddaway - What is Love.
The Start...
So, i'm starting a blog to keep an 'online scrapbook' of my travels through work. Due to my stupidity, many silly things happen along the way as well as cool things, yet my head cannot keep record of them, so best to write them down for future and pen and paper is so old school, and well, i'd misplace it...
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