www.italia.it/en Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Countries, Europe, Ireland, Pilgrimage

Sono Spartacus and Failte Ireland

17th August 202017th August 2020 funtime65

What a joyless and jealous species we can be.

A hard-working man takes his family on holiday abroad and breaks no laws.

And is shamed into giving up his job, his passion, his skill and his livelihood.

I am talking here about Failte Ireland Chairman Michael Cawley.

The Francigena Way

About whom Ireland’s Tourism Minister Catherine Martin (no, me neither) said…

She was ‘disappointed to learn that the chair of Failte Ireland was holidaying in Italy.’

Before going on: ‘While Italy is on the green list, meaning that people who return from there do not have to restrict their movements…

‘The government has called on people to avoid all non-essential travel.’

And still more: ‘Many of our citizens and residents have followed the guidelines at some personal and financial cost to themselves.’

Before sticking the knife right in: ‘I rang Mr Cawley this morning and he has offered his resignation which I have accepted.

‘I wish to thank Mr Cawley for his service as chair of Failte Ireland.

So Michael Cawley broke no laws nor in fact did anything unethical or any harm to anybody.

Other than those naysayers who do not like the idea of somebody else having what they don’t.

While a Government purporting to represent its people leaves its own Travel industry up the creek without a paddle and facing a complete collapse.

So the message here is support your local travel agent.

Your Top Flight, your TUI, your Sunway, your Francigena Ways and go to Italy I have, and did again, and will do in the future.

And if anyone wants to shame you Michael about going on holiday to Italy, do what I’d do and tell them Vaffanculo.

Countries, Europe, Ireland, Music, Sport, UK

Rainy Days and Songdays – Austria you to me are everything

3rd August 20203rd August 2020 funtime65

I could move a mountain when my hand is in your hand – The Real Thing

Whether The Real Thing had the Alps in mind I don’t know but they know the band all right in Soll… and Austria you to me are everything.

Songs often jump up and hook us randomly in the places we hear them the most.

And You To Me Are Everything rocked out every night at the Whisky Muhle.

I skied some of those mountains… yeah, right!

Where Alex Johnson, the singer, belts out rock classics, while the locals pour Jagermeisters down his gullet.

And he announces every night that You To Me Are Everything is the best song of all time.

And Alex does the ‘best song of all time’ justice, and a bunch of others with his ‘Candy’ well worth a mention.

I even forgave him saying that Paolo Nutini had ripped it off REM.

I’ll be in one of those huts

All this, and did I say that they have a game where you hammer a nail into a block of plywood with the acute end?

Which funnily enough you won’t see in the pubs of Glasgow, Liverpool or Dublin.

We travelled to Soll with ski specialists Top Flight and I have hiked up the hills with them too since.

And that’ll be the beer then

Top Flight, who also with good reason call themselves the Italy specialists, are suffering like so many in Travel.

And they had to make the heartbreaking decision to let some staff go last week.

Which I know from dealing with them would have been the last thing they would have wanted.

It may seem like all uphill right now while downhill doesn’t seem too appealing either.

And the locals are real friendly

But skiing proves that we can ride the bumps and come out still standing at the end of it all.

And there’s a Jagermaester at the end of it all at the end of it all and a rocking music set. It’s apres-ski and it’s everything.

*Everything – The Real Life Story which chronicles the career of the first all-black British band to reach No.1 in the UK charts screens on BBC Four on Friday at 9pm.

Asia, Europe, Flying, UK

Flyday Friday – Flight to the Promised Land

10th July 202010th July 2020 funtime65

God’s people had spent years in exile, facing down plague and pestilence to get to the Promised Land.

Sound familiar.

But they got there… and so will we.

Pegasus www.flypgs.com are resuming flights from Wednesday (three times a week) from London Stansted to Tel Aviv via Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.

From €244.99 one-way or on the Pegasus mobile app.

And like the Chosen People I have waited for this.

G force

From the moment I was invited by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.co.uk/on a Jordan http://uk.visitjordan.com/mobile/Home.aspx and Israel two-week cultural trip.

And herein a lesson to us all. I altruistically opted for the alternative Jordan trip rather than leave my workmates to cover me for another week.

It did allow me to empathise with Moses when he reached Mount Nebo and looked over The Promised Land but was forbidden to enter because of a row with God.

I’ve been trying to get on God’s good side praying furiously in lockdown… I don’t want to give HIM any reason to block me.

Auld Greeky

And this one you’ll get if you’re from Edinburgh or are a fan of the Scottish capital.

The city was known as Auld Reeky on account of the smell which came up from the lochs, or lakes, across from the Old Town.

Which was dredged and made into today’s Princes Street Gardens with bridges put over the new land to the newly-built New Town.

Athens of the North

And the architecture inspired the name Athens of the North.

And why am I telling you this?

Because Edinburgh Airport is resuming flights again to Greece https://athensattica.com and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/dresdens-renaissance-martin-luther/europe/my-greek-odyssey/.

And France https://www.google.ie/amp/s/about-france.com/mobi/index-amp.htm, and Italy http://www.italia.it/en/home.html.

And here’s how I see it… The Boat D’Azur and The Lourdes prayer. And https://www.google.ie/amp/s/jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/04/11/padova-city-of-frescoes/amp/, Small roads lead to Rome and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/04/see-rome-on-e50/.

What a difference a year makes

I’m reminded that this time last year I was being entertained by Etihad www.etihad.com on board one of their planes in Dublin Airport,

And although none of us knew then what was coming down the tracks I was struck by how adaptable and innovative Etihad were.

And it will serve them well as they set out their plans for flying to more than 50 destinations worldwide.

Now with flexible fares and the opportunity to change the date of your flight for free if you need to.

Well, well, well

I’ve already told you about their Wellness Ambassadors at every point of your journey. And a wellness kit.

All’s well then!

MEET YOU IN THE SKIES

America, Asia, Caribbean, Countries, Culture, Europe, UK

Top of the shops – my five best around the world

30th June 20201st July 2020 funtime65

My Dear Old Mum washed her hands of me… and not for the first time (or last) when we went shopping in New York.

I had bought The Scary One a pink Guess handbag in Macy’s and Mum told me in no uncertain terms Sarah wouldn’t go for it.

It’s still in her wardrobe a dozen years later which is something, seeing most things are usually chucked out after 12 months.

So with clothes shops here in the UK reopening here’s a trawl around the world of some favourite clothes shops.

It’s now or never

Lansky Bros, Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee: And what else would you expect in Elvis’s home city but button-doen shirts.

Lansky does a range called ‘Clothier to the King’ and this is no idle boast.

The Lanskys did clothe the King when he was a wannabe prince off to his Prom.

Then onto the Ed Sullivan Show, on screen for Jailhouse Rock while his last suit was a Lansky too.

And visit https://www.lanskybros.com, https://www.deep-south-usa.com and The King of Kings.

All clothes lead to Rome

Dan John Roma, Via del Corso, Rome: Si, Milan gets all the cred for its fashion but the Via del Corso knows its threads too.

So when in Rome, and because la donna wants new clothes and when la donna wants la donna gets, I followed suit.

And bought myself a red shirt with a white colour.

We won’t go into how some pink underwear turned that collar rosé when we got back.

Visit https://www.rome.net , http://www.italia.it/en/home.html and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/04/see-rome-on-e50/ and Small roads lead to Rome.

Sweet Barbados

Cave Shepherd, Bridgetown, Barbados: An Old Bridgetown old institution and where you want to come for some old Barbados elegance to take home.

For herself.

Cave Shepherds are spread throughout the island.

And if you’re staying on the Platinum Coast and don’t venture beyond (not guilty) you’ll find them there too.

And you’ll even get a 💋 from Rihanna My kiss with Rihanna www.visitbarbados.org.

Al-Fayed’s old pad

Harrods London: And just like Macy’s in New York when you’re in London you have to visit Harrod’s.

The first thing that struck me about Harrods when I lived down there and visited was the memorial to Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed.

Now since Mohamed Al-Fayed sold the world’s most famous store to the Qataris it now resides in his home.

Buy the cheapest thing in the food court (not the caviar) so that you can get your Harrods bag to put your Tesco shopping in.

Visit https://www.harrods.com/en-gb, www.visitlondon.com and The London life.

How bazaar!

The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul: The original shopping malls.

And these have the authentic spices of the East, proper Turkish Delight and dress-up stores where you can make like a Sultan.

As well as the beat shopping alley. Why best? Because cats sprawl out on the tables in the Midday Sun.

See https://visit.istanbul, www.turkishairlines.com.

Where is your favourite store? Let us know and we’ll share.

MEET YOU IN THE SHOP

Countries, Culture, Europe

My Italian stage

1st May 20201st May 2020 funtime65

What did you do during the Coronavirus War of 2020, Daddy? Well, I returned to my career as an Italian heartthrob actor obviously.

While Thomas Trabacchi kept house, home and sanity together in North Berwick, south of Edinburgh.

And Thomas rockin’ the Bandana look in North Berwick

My thanks to one of my oldest friends and Italian-Scot per excellenza Cello for flagging up Thomas (er, me).

And his hit television series Thou Shalt Not Kill – Non Uccidere opposite former Miss Italy Miriam Leone who plays Detective Valeria Furio.

My leading lady

Non Uccidere is set in Turin in Piedmont which is often overshadowed by its big neighbour Milan.

But Turin https://www.turismotorino.org/en has its delights too…

Yes there are the grand squares Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo .

While the biggest attraction (away from the ‘Grand Old Lady’, the football aristocrats Juventus) is the Shroud of Turin.

Shrouded in history

Which is kept in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist.

Built during 1491-1498 and designed by Guarino Guarini the Chapel of the Holy Shroud was added in 1668-1694.

If it’s John the Baptist history and curios you want then why not get out to where John baptised Jesus.

And on the banks of the Jordan

Which is either inland in Jordan or on the banks on the Israel side. You choose in your G Adventures trip www.gadventures.co.uk and www.gadventures.ie… www.visitjordan.com.

Turin too is home to the National Cinema Club http://www.museocinema.it/en which brings us back to my starring part in Non Uccidere.

Where I have some raunchy scenes with Inspector Valeria Ferro (you’ll know better than me how to access Italian TV series).

My leading Sadie

It’s a price that Mrs M is more than prepared to pay for getting me the rest of the time.

Turin and Italy ‘Il Bel Paese’ http://www.italia.it/en/home.html is slowly coming through its lockdown.

And on Monday parks, factories and construction sites will reopen.

We look forward, of course, to when we can get back out to Italy.

Il Bel Paese

With our favourite holiday providers www.topflight.ie, the Italian specialists, and FrancigenaWays www.FrancigenaWays.com.

And our special places Small roads lead to Rome and Rome on €50 and https://www.google.ie/amp/s/jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/15/padova-city-of-frescoes/amp/.

And Turin where I am something of a celebrity.

FORZA ITALIA