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Heists are not a victimless crime

20th October 202520th October 2025 funtime65

The roguish instinct in us is to smile at aristocratic misfortune but this is why heists are not a victimless crime.

Not that we’re suddenly siding with the elites but on the back of the Louvre robbery we’re reflecting on an attack on all art lovers.

Because make no mistake the assault will not just cost the museum but you and me too.

With ever-greater security checks, lines and higher cover costs and special exhibitions.

With entry to the Louvre costing us €22 and €31 for a combined ticket and guided tour.

Moaning Lisa

We all saw, of course, the dramatised reenactments of the seven-minute robbery of the priceless royal jewels.

And the hordes of visitors shepherded out of the iconic Parisian pyramidical building.

Many of whom could have saved up and waited years for their trip to Paris.

And the chance to see the Lady with the enigmatic smile.

An arm and a leg

And there are other draws, the one-armed Milo de Venus and Jacques-Louis David’s The Coronation of Napoleon.

And the Galerie d’Apollon with that collection of French Crown Jewels.

Art galleries are, naturellement, one of the great leisure activities available to us all.

With many free to the public.

Where you can see the great masters and art from your own country.

Contrast that with sports, music concerts or theatre experiences.

With the average cost of a ticket up the road in the Parc des Princes to see European champions Paris Saint-Germain £185.

The art of the matter

So while we enjoy an oul Las Vegas Oceans Eleven heist flick.

If you’re a tourist who loves their Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, Raphael Rooms in the Vatican or Louvre.

Just think again if someone comes up to you in the bar and offers a jewel from the Louvre for your amour’s finger.

That the cost and stress might come back at you because heists are not a victimless crime.

Countries

Art, the herald angel sing

25th December 202425th December 2024 funtime65

Art, the herald angel sing.. this is how our great painters are interpreted to have captured our Christmas Tree scene.

From Banksy through Dali, Rembrandt, Monet, Munch, Picasso, Pollock and Van Gogh to Warhol.

And many other great artists in the pantheon too.

All of them reminding us through modern mastery and technology that every Christmas is unique.

And how great art keeps our stories alive and enriches us all and pictures can be understood in any language.

Banksy to Dali

It will surprise us all too how many of these artists we know.

And have embraced too on our travels.

The ubiquitousness of Bristol’s favourite son (we think) means wherever we go, near or far, we get to see the world through his eyes.

In truth, we can see these artists in most of our towns and cities.

My own native city long promoting Salvador Dali’s Christ on the Cross as the apex of its art collection.

Dress up your trees

Amsterdam and Paris (and Rome) have long been centres for art.

And, of course, we wouldn’t dream of visiting the canal city without going to the Rijksmuseum or the Vincent Gogh Museum.

While in this humble art-lover’s view you can keep your Mona Lisa we’re all about the Monet in Paris.

And Munch in Norway makes us Scream for joy.

Now if you’re into your alternative Christmases then the New World brings new interpretations in Pollock and Warhol.

Both of which you’ll find at MOMA in New York and Warhol in his own homestead of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The baubles of your life

Your tree, of course, is yours and you’ll have it dressed up with all the baubles of your life.

But for your downtime after dinner… check how others do it.

Art, the herald angel sing

America, Countries, Sport

Au Revoir Paris, Hey Los Angeles

11th August 202411th August 2024 funtime65

Au Revoir Paris, Hey Los Angeles and we’ll be guaranteed a Coliseum of noise in 2028 for a Games of gladiatorial combat.

I’ve seen first hand how the LA Memorial Coliseum channels the Olympic spirit with its mock classical style.

And for those who fall into the lazy stereotype of sneering at America’s recreations of the Old World.

It’s worth pointing out that the old cities of the Modern Games have dispensed with their old stadia for modern palaces.

Which is probably not the main reason why the Games are returning to America.

Three cheers

LA has real Olympic heritage with the LA Memorial Coliseum becoming the first stadium to stage three Games.

Following the successes of 1932 and 1984.

Of course, for Fiftysomethings the Coliseum holds iconic memories from 1984.

Of South Africa Brit Zola Budd clipping America’s darling Mary Decker Slaney and her lying crumpled on the track.

Fun and Games

Carl Lewis emulating Jesse Owens by winning four athletes golds at the one Games.

And Sebastian Coe holding off Steve Cram to retain his Olympic 1500m title and Daley Thompson defending his Decathlon crown.

We shouldn’t though have been surprised with the 1932 Games breaking new ground.

With the first Olympic photo-finish when Eddie Tolan held off Ralph Metcalfe to win 100m gold.

And became the first non-European to become the world’s fastest man.

Outwith the Coliseum the 1932 Games introduced an Olympic Village for the first time.

Oh Diana

To wander around the Coliseum, albeit for a concert, is to feel like you’re walking in the footsteps of athletics heroes and heroines.

Sweetest hangover: With Diana in the Coliseum

New names will be inscribed into the plaques in the Coliseum in 2028 to accompany those heroes of 1932 and 1984.

Now a behemoth like the LA Coliseum doesn’t stand around looking pretty until an Olympics rolls around.

And entertainers beyond the world of sport clamour to add their names to the Coliseum Hall of Fame.

With few bigger than Diana Ross who wowed a specially invited audience to see her perform at IPW, the American travel fair.

Four years is a long time but I’m planning on Coming Out to LA in 2028.

And flying Aer Lingus with pre-clearance from €260.70.

And so as we say a fond Au Revoir Paris, Hey Los Angeles… let the Games begin.

Countries, Europe, Sport

Le Tour di Firenze Grand Depart

29th June 202429th June 2024 funtime65

It’s the most poplar (bear with us here) cycling event in the world and this year all eyes are on Le Grand Tour di Firenze Grand Depart.

Firenze is as synonymous for its poplar trees as it is its Duomo and Boy David.

And they are at their full height as the Tour de France cyclists ride through the streets and up the peaks of Tuscany.

It seems something of an oversight that this Renaissance City, and Il Bel Paese, have been overlooked over the 110 years of Le Tour for Le Depart.

Before squillions of Euro won them the prestigious opening stage of Le Tour.

Gino, Il Giro and Le Tour

Italy, of course, has its own famous Tour, Il Giro, and pedallers too.

It is ten years though since an Italian, Vincenzo Nibali, reached L’Arc de Triomphe in jeune or giallo.

Following in the tread marks of the likes of Ottavio Bottechia, Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali and Marco Pantani.

You can learn for yourself all about these Renaissance riders for yourself at the Gino Bartali Cycling Museum in Firenze.

But as a taster our amici at Britain’s Channel 4, who have been bringing us extensive coverage for 40 years, have filled us in.

War hero

Gino, or ‘Ginetaccio’ as he is known in these parts won three Giri and two Tours in the 30s and 40s.

But as well as his exploits on two wheels he had crossbar crossover too for what he did in the War.

Gino, as most elite cyclists are, was very much his own uomo.

And that meant him taking a brave stance in 1938 when not dedicating his Tour de France victory to Il Duce.

He was to show even greater courage in 1943 when he defied the German occupiers in northern Italy.

Bartali took the Cardinal of Firenze, Archbishop Elia Dalla Costa, up on his invitation to join a secret network offering protection and safe passage to Jews and other vulnerable people.

As a courier with the famous cyclist, carrying photographs and counterfeit identity documents to and from a secret printing press.

All hidden in the frame and handlebars of his bike.

Bartali also hid his Jewish friend Giacomo Goldenberg, and Goldenberg’s family.

On the road again

Like all true heroes, Bartali played down his feats of derring-do and in later life, saying “I’m just a cyclist.”

Thankfully Bartali’s successors on Le Tour di Firenze Grand Depart only have to worry now about getting to Rimini in Emilia-Romagna.

And beyond to Cesenatico, Bologna, Piacenza and Torino en route to Paris in three weeks.

We will be following them from the safe distance of home… and seeing if an eighth Italian can win Le Tour.

But if you are lucky enough to be in the vicinity of a Tour leg and can get there early to see the cycling fans set up picnic tables at designated spots, it’s quite a sight.

Countries, Europe

Meghan an Insta impact on Buck House

25th March 202425th March 2024 funtime65

And as if we could ever get away from her… a poll to remind us of how a young American back in the day was already Meghan an Insta impact on Buck House.

With the revelation (small beer in today’s world of big royal reveals) that London is the most Instagrammable city in the world.

Because there was a world BC (Before Catherine) in which Meghan was queen which she know doubt would want to be.

And any hagiography about her had to include a picture of her as a young tourist outside Buckingham Palace dreaming and plotting of nabbing a royal.

All of which peregrinations is my way in today to celebrating London as the Insta destination of kings, queens, Z-list American actresses and us little people.

London calling

Experts at NZCasinoClub analysed numerous city break-related hashtags for European capitals, including #[city], #[city]travel, and #[city]tourism.

With the number combined to create an overall total per city to discover the most Instagrammable European destinations.

London scores 163,530,000 Instagram hashtags with over 2,000 years of history and famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben to get your selfie in front of, although we prefer the Tower.

Paris lights

Of course the NZCasinoClub survey is something of a tale of two cities with Paris coming in just behind.

The City of Lights has 141,283,300 Instagram hashtags.

Et naturellement the Eiffel Tower is a must-have selfie while if you want to dodge the traffic you can try for a piccie round L’Arc de Triomphe.

Now, we’ll let the researchers do the heavy lifting here with their table underneath.

Others in the frame

Only to flag up that our favourites Amsterdam, Rome and Prague all figure.

And, of course, we’ve jumped up at the opportunity to be photographed in the Rembrandt Night Watch, on the Spanish Steps and on the King Charles V Bridge.

But we must of course mention that Ankara features in third, Berlin in fourth and Madrid in 5th.

A victory here for the capital of Turkey over Istanbul and that in itself marks it out as somewhere special.

Ankara, we are told boasts a vast selection of parks, mosques, museums, and performing arts venues dotted around the city and the annual International Ankara Music Festival.

While of all its charms, the researchers flag up Berlin’s visual masterpieces that are a beautiful background for a photo opportunity.

With Kripo’s Yellow Fist outside Friedrichshain station high on that list.

While in Madrid we’re encouraged to get our photies taken outside the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral.

All of which our favourite ‘non-working royal’ (most of us who are non-working, are er, unemployed) would have on her list of self-promotion.

Which all started out when she was Meghan an Insta impact on Buck House.

City sights

Bridge of highs: On the King Charles Bridge in Prague

And that list for you…

Rank

City

Number of Instagram Hashtags

1

London

163,530,000

2

Paris

141,283,300

3

Ankara

56,000,600

4

Berlin

53,776,700

5

Madrid

49,639,000

6

Amsterdam

36,359,100

7

Baku

34,930,200

8

Rome

30,237,600

9

Prague

18,871,400

10

Vienna

16,456,700

Countries, Europe, Food

A tale of deux sittings London and Paris

28th February 2024 funtime65

It’s the best of times… well, you know the rest, it’s a tale of deux sittings London and Paris.

But what Le Dickens, the French will be choking on their consomme as les rosbifs have only pipped them in a poll of top European foodie cities.

Dutch lifestyle magazine Dailybase analysed Tripadvisor data to uncover the number of 5-star reviews for eateries in 193 European cities.

And the Big Smoke came out on top with 2,906 5-star reviews for restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs.

Paris has 2,898, ahead of Barcelona 1,475, Rome 1,407 and Athens 1,403.

London calling

Dailybase flags up London’s traditional pub culture where you’ll find homemade pies and roast dinners.

As well as a host of Michelin Star restaurants to tantalise your tastebuds, making it the perfect destination for your next city break.

And I still get drawn back to Punch and Judy in Covent Garden where we got my post-university American odyssey underway with a long-gone pal.

Seine choice

Foodies are obviously drawn to French pavement cafes and to their specialities in Paris.

Such as escargot and entrecôte, a premium cut of steak to relish with chips in top-rated French bistros.

Although maybe stay away from the expensive Left Bank.

Ramblas rambler

Barcelona boasts terrific tapas, and those moreish patatas bravas, cubes of potato in a spicy tomato sauce.

And as well as the classic rice dish, paella.

And a shout-out here to My Fucking Restaurant, an Aussie high-end eaterie on Las Ramblas.

Eternal sitting

Rome ranks fourth, with 1,407 reviews awarding the Italian capital city 5-stars for its food and drink joints.

Dailybase recommends traditional pasta carbonara and cacio e pepe, two simple yet flavourful spaghetti dishes.

While we’ve got our own fave trattoria by the Pantheon.

Greece is the word

Just behind in fifth is Athens where you have to dig into the savoury souvlaki.

Which are skewers of flavourful meat grilled over an open fire, alongside the minced lamb dish moussaka.

We’ll pass over the Athens bistro where we got stuck in a lift for half an hour and had to get hoiked out by firemen.

And instead point you in the direction of the Athens Riviera for the last word in veggie and salad.

So, really it’s more than a tale of deux sittings London and Paris.

Because central to a city’s delights is its food.

Countries, Culture, Europe

Leave royals in fairytales

6th May 2023 funtime65

An insight on the jamboree that is the Coronation of Charles Windsor in Britain by a German grandee beloved in these parts… leave royals in fairytales.

Of course Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, was more diplomatic.

But he did concede that in his home country people viewed far-off royal spectacles as fairytale or Hollywood.

Germany, like many of the 159 republics in the world, has emerged from monarchies.

While keeping and showcasing palaces for tourists who love a fairytale.

Gold Swan

Neuschwanstein in Bavaria falls into that category.

With the castle on a hill so dazzling Walt Disney that he copied it for Disney Castle.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria had a thing for swans as well as other pecadilloes and he put that stamp on everything around the New Swan Castle.

And most importantly in his bedstead.

But alas he was unable to avail of it all, dying before it was all finished.

And we imagine his passing was a thing of over-the-top theatrical and balletic beauty, a la a dying swan.

Of course, Neuschwanstein is far from the only once-royal palace which still draws the visitors…

More than 61 million people have visited since 1869.

And more than 1.3 million people visit annually, with as many as 6,000 per day in the summer.

Including this refugee from the Munich Beerfest who worked off his hangover by excitedly running up the hill.

Very Versailles

Versailles was the jewel in the French crown but once the people of France decided that it should be used for the state rather than some bling for their king it became a much-visited tourist spot.

While its own people can enjoy the great works of art and settings with free exhibitions and displays.

And so until October 31st, you can enjoy the musical gardens and the Great Musical Waters in the gardens and groves.

Every Saturday evening from 10 June to 23 September, Friday 14 July and Tuesday 15 August, discover the Gardens in the evening.

With the The Night Fountains Show.

While the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery in the Small Stables is also free to you and me from 12.30pm to 6.30pm every Saturday and Sunday.

Your carriage awaits

Now if you’ve been looking through your fingers at the UK royal show today.

You’ll have witnessed the slowest vehicle in London, the royal carriage.

Guess what though… in Paris you can get up close and personal for free.

Located in the the Great Stables , the Gallery of Coaches is open every weekend afternoons from 12.30pm to 6.30pm.

Of course all of this is run by us, and not by royal decree, or when we say us it’s really the French people.

Viva La Revolution

And a reminder of who is in charge is brought home to you in the Royal Tennis court, the birthplace of French democracy.

All of which is linked to an important episode of the Revolution. Every weekend from May to October from 12:30pm to 6:30pm (last admission at 17:45).

Of course, it will be likely a long, long time before it’s Game, Set and Match for the British monarch, if at all.

But for the day that’s in it wouldn’t it be better to leave royals in fairytales and enjoy your favourite Disney film.

Countries, Europe, UK

Dear Green Places

13th October 202213th October 2022 funtime65

When St Mungo witnessed what would become my home city he hailed it Glasgow, but what of the other Dear Green Places?

It’s not recorded why Mungo didn’t venture eastwards to Edinburgh, perhaps Glaswegians were more in need of saving.

But he’d have found an even greener place.

And it had a name already, Edwin’s Fort, after King Edwin of Northumberland.

Some would say it’s still populated by Geordies… on the stag do’s.

Green Paree

Green as they are, alas, our cities aren’t as verdant as our friends around Europe.

And some researchers even believe England’s green and pleasant land is merde compared to France’s vert.

Paris for Fiftysomethings and above was oft-called Gay Paree before its meaning changed and maybe now it should be called Green Paree .

A study by Drinking Straw analysed the number of parks, gardens, wildlife areas, forests, playgrounds and bodies of water compared to the size of the population.

To see which areas have the most green spaces per 100,000 people.

Paris is the greenest of any capital, with 325 total green spaces made up of 171 parks, 127 gardens, one wildlife area, 16 playgrounds and ten bodies of water.

Their Lux in

When accounting for population, it has 7.62 parks and 5.66 gardens per 100,000 people.

Little Luxembourg City comes in second with 13 green spaces despite its smaller population, comprised of eight parks, one garden and four playgrounds.

There were 8.51 parks per 100,000 people, the highest of any city in the study.

Rare oul’ limes

And our own fave capital, Dublin takes third on the list.

With 66 green spaces comprised of 34 parks, 15 gardens, seven nature and wildlife areas, three playgrounds, one forest and six bodies of water.

The study found it to have 6.47 parks and 2.86 gardens per 100,000 people when population was accounted for.

London’s falling

Princes among princes: Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh

My own nearest city, Edinburgh, comes in 17th with a total of 31 green spaces when adjusting for population.

The Big Smoke London comes in 24^th place with 356 in total, but when taking into account the city’s population it falls out of the top ten.

The final straw

So who are Drinking Straw?

Well, they are a distributor, wholesaler, and supplier of drinking straws in Europe, offering flexible, eco-friendly and plastic-free wholesale stock.

And they are right to keep on at us.

And they are ably supported by our airlines, cruises and hotels and the Mother Turtles, my old friend Ingrid out in the Maldives.

It’s the final straw what’s been happening all around us.

Let’s hang onto our Dear Green Places before we lose them altogether.

Countries, Europe, Food & Wine

Let us eat cake chez Antoinette

5th October 20225th October 2022 funtime65

She’d make Liz Truss look like Robin Hood, so here’s a thing… let us eat cake chez Antoinette.

Marie Antoinette is remembered, of course, as one of the most unfiltered leaders anywhere across history.

For pronouncing that the poor should forget about bread queues and instead feast on macarons like the French court.

Only that she almost certainly didn’t say anything of the kind and was the victim of wicked propaganda on account of being German.

All of which you can find out for yourself by immersing yourself in all things Antoinette at Versailles.

And all courtesy of Airelles Château de Versailles Le Grand Hotel which has six brand-new guest experiences.

Slice of Marie Antoinette

We’ll of course let their concierges do the heavy work and take you through them all.

But we will give you just a slice with their Marie Antoinette Day.

Your day at her beloved Château de Versailles outside Paris will start when your butler prepares a shower or bath.

Before waking guests up gently with citrus milk, the Queen’s favourite drink, as part of a “Queen’s Wake Up” ritual.

You dormez vous, the bed is scented with Airelles’ signature perfume.

Breakfast overlooking The Orangerie, guests will head to the Domaine de Trianon where they can enjoy MA’s beloved English Gardens.

Ease your muscles with some deep relaxation at the Valmont Spa at La Grand Controlle.

Merci Macaron

A French macaron: And another one after that

Before enjoying a macaron-filled Marie Antoinette Afternoon Tea with MA’s favourite drink – hot chocolate with orange blossom.

Before or after afternoon tea, guests can enjoy the highlight of the day with a dress-up experience.

Channel your inner MA trying on period costumes with a hair and make-up artist.

It’s all an experience that definitely passes the sniff teat.

And that’s exactly what the Marie Antoinette-inspired fragrance workshop does.

The sniff test

Bow for a belle: Dress up like Marie Antoinette

Make perfume infused with roses from the Versailles gardens.

During this memorable session, uncover the secrets of Marie-Antoinette’s favourite perfume and recreate some of the unique creams and lotions used at Court.

So there we are… let’s forget the cost-of-living cake and let us eat cake Chez Antoinette. Price from €2,000.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Athens an epic city break

3rd September 20223rd September 2022 funtime65

Any city where the cabbie asks you how much you want to pay has a jump start on others… yes, it’s Athens an epic city break.

But don’t just take my word for it (well do) but the Post Office’s annual City Costs Barometer makes Athens your alpha city.

The beta, gamma, delta and epsilon (I knew Greek would serve me well one day) are outliers Lisbon, Krakow, Riga and Budapest.

The Post Office took a dozen common holiday purchases.

From a travel card and entrance to a museum to a cup of coffee and two nights in a three-star hotel.

And Athens came out on top at £207.18.

Metaxi

Spoiled and ruined at the Acropolis in Athens

Now famously the Greeks bankrupt themselves partly because they supposedly saw underground fares as optional.

I don’t know about the veracity of that having enjoyed the services of my old Athenian pal George’s driving.

And Athens’ peculiar taxi service.

Where they’ll quote a fare of €15 or €10 or whatever you’ve got to get up from your downtown hotel to the Acropolis.

And then if you get the right return driver it could be €10 to get back to your hotel.

Or as my own chilled cabbie put it pay if you can.

Dublin’s fare city

T’wouldn’t catch on in Dublin though where the latest incomers bag a licence.

And then take you halfway around the city just to ramp up the fare.

That and the think of a number drink fares around Temple Bar put Dublin down at 17 on the list at £436.12.

Just behind Pricey Paris at £423.42.

And only ahead of Copenhagen (£455.75), Venice (£456.92) and Amsterdam (£592.79).

Some local knowledge is, of course, helpful which is what you get over 13 years living and working in the Irish capital.

Some personal favourites

We’re pleased to see, of course, that some personal favourites make the top ten.

With Prague at £248.50 which leaves plenty in your pocket for Pilsner.

And Rome at £347.17, although we can show you some short cuts around La Citta Eterna.

The top 20

Athens – £207.18
Lisbon – £218.03
Krakow – £218.55
Riga – £220.32
Budapest – £220.95
Prague – £248.50
Madrid – £298.81
Berlin – £316.97
Dubrovnik – £318.30
Rome – £347.17
Barcelona – £384.80
Bruges – £389.05
Florence – £397.87
Vienna – £401.64
Stockholm – £421.16
Paris – £423.42
Dublin – £436.12
Copenhagen – £455.75
Venice – £456.92
Amsterdam – £592.79

So that’s the alpha to the omega from your local post office.

And if you didn’t know it before then here’s confirmation what we already know about Athens an epic city break.