Trips to Italy and elsewhere

[shewhomust]

I enjoyed the first series of The Trip: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon drive around the Lake District, being entertaining, admiring the scenery and eating at good restaurants, what's not to like? Well, plenty, of course. As Steve Coogan says in this interview: "I get a bit fed up when I hear actors saying, 'Get a load of me, being myself and laughing at myself. Aren't I cool and post-modern in my self-deprecation?'" Not to mention that said actors are not only in receipt of a very desirable freebie but being paid for it. Nonetheless, it worked - the series was funny and entertaining and the right degree of melancholy - and the scenery was terrific.

We are currently watching the new series The Trip to Italy. Again, I was uncertain - could they do it again, would I find Italy less appealing than the Lakes, or more enviable as a freebie? Again, it works. The pair have mellowed, but this doesn't destroy the humour (since I find the humour of discomfort distinctly uncomfortable, this may just be my opinion - but that's all I have) and once again, the scenery is stunning.

As it happens, the Guardian travel section had just devoted an issue to Italy, and I had already bookmarked an article on the Cinque Terre - somewhere that has long been on our list of places to visit without quite reaching the top of that list. The paths that had been destroyed by storms have now been reopened, it seems: I wonder whether my knees are up to the challenge of those hills? Two more articles offer Giorgio Locatelli's recommendations in Sicily and a piece about the wetlands of the Veneto (not, I think, the area we didn't really succeed in visiting, but north towards Trieste).

I seem to have hung on to an earlier article about Rene Redzepi's Copenhagen, too.

And since I'm gathering the travel recommendations here, lil_shepherd has been to Glasgow and has some great photos of the Riverside Museum - have I posted about that before? I remember reading about it in the Guardian. Over on FB mevennen recommended somewhere to stay in Glasgow - so it all comes together.

This is all in the misty distances of the future: but we are off to Fife next week.

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I really like the Cathedral House although they appeared slightly startled to have guests: I think this was because I rocked up at 9 a.m. But they recovered swiftly and gave me a free coffee.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

It's always good to have a recommendation!

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see that series. Wonder if it will get over here.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Are Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon known in the States?

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I hesitate to speak for anyone else, but I've never heard of them until I read your post. (But then I don't watch a lot of TV)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

And I found it! I can watch it while I'm on the exercise bike. Yay!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

That sounds perfect - well done!

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I loved The Trip

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

People seem either to love it or to hate it - and I can see how you might feel either way!