Bristol

We went to Bristol at the beginning of September 2013, combining the ITI Translation Workshop with meeting up with some friends we hadn't seen in ages. I didn't know much about the place, but one of our friends is a very serious amateur photographer who certainly made the place look good.

We arrived to a beautiful sunset at the airport, followed by several days of very nice food.

Our hotel was near the planetarium, science museum and aquarium, and there was an art event on with lots of themed statues of Gromit (of Wallace and Gromit). And feral seagulls who were after your lunch.

One of the microbrewery pubs also served German sugar-free cola.

We also got to see Bristol Temple Meads Station, by the inimitable Brunel.

And of course, we went to the aquarium! And found more Gromits.

David flew back before me, as I was attending the ITI AGM, and I had a wander around the shopping area afterwards. Shops open on a Sunday! The novelty!

 Hmm. Not sure about M&M scented candles, especially if they're called "Nutty Lemon" and "Tarty Pear". And WH Smith had some amazing Hello Kitty stationery!

 And even though I thought they had disappeared, Bristol has a HMV!

We went on a boat tour, which was excellent, and had some great food. Bristol is definitely on our to-go-back-to list. Utterly charming, with the understandable exception of Saturday night.