Tuesday 29 December 2009

A Popular Singer

I understand that the local dance halls are invariably sold out when this lady tops the bill.

Thursday 24 December 2009

More Food! More Wine!

Ah, the visual and gastronomic delights of fresh, home-made pasta.

Yet another pre-Christmas family lunch, and it looks like there's about a bottle a head and that's just for starters.
The pleasures of the Italian table are indeed manifold.

Sunday 20 December 2009

You're only old twice

Down to the Big City by the Sea for a tough match against Bari, only to hear whilst on the train that the match had been postponed because of ice on the terraces. At Genoa? Bathed in Mediterranean sunshine? Another local council weapons grade cock up. Haven't they heard of salt? Only in Italy.
So what to do? Off to a trattoria for a perfectly awful meal, followed by a couple of Camparis at this bar with its sadly festive tree and not much else.
Back to the station. This is Genoa Brignole. Isn't it impressive? This one is for Wilko.
Then boozing on the journey back. Marvellous. Neither of these are Ron, sadly. Far too young.

Thursday 17 December 2009

Sign of the Times

This sign, now on its last legs, is still extant (and still being ignored) at the entrance to an alley in a local village. Doesn't look much like the HuziSuzi MFS50X9 MoFokka Firebreatha favoured by today's local youths.

Wednesday 9 December 2009

Genoa Frenzy

A busy Sunday boozing in the wonderful port of Genoa was only slightly spoilt by the result of the match, Genoa 2 - Parma 2, we wuz robbed by the bastard in the black (although now it is the bastard in fluorescent lime green, like some motorway worker but with more sponsor decals).
This is one of my young friends, a bonkers Genoa fan, he works on a cargo ship, five months on and two months off. And he certainly makes the most of his two months off, I can tell you. He eats and drinks for Italy, look at him go.
Genoa is such a wonderful city, full of dodgy bars and stunning architecture. It is quite my favourite place on earth. Just look at this terrible shot of a 50s/60s Campari poster from God-knows-when, that I managed to blur in the stairwell of some bar.
And it wasn't there for museum effect, it has been there since the dawn of time because no one has ever been bothered to take it down. And she's quite fit of course which is a help. The words say "drink life baby!" which sound pretty good to me and that's why I drink Campari at every available opportunity. Having done so, this is where I ended up. Will Ron never learn?