Hotel Amitie Bounty, Mbour, Senegal

I stayed at the Hotel Amitie Bounty on the beach in Mbour for a few days. Any person who makes it to the end of this review and wants to find it should note it is a few blocks north of the 'Safari Club'  (not as currently shown on 'google maps'), and pronounced 'BOONty' which is important to know as you will have to ask people the way. Rooms were about 15000CFA. I do not think they have a computer or smartphone (and so no wifi), so you may have to ring to avoid the (admittedly somewhat unlikely) possibility they are booked out. I think I was the only guest and the large number of staff welcomed me as one of the family, particularly when I bought them drinks. Some may find the level of attention  disturbing. The enclosure and the small property is beautifully decorated in an odd African Buddhist style, though more than a little tired. The area by the pirogue-laden beach has tables and sunloungers, and is closed with a fence from the children swimming in the smooth sea. Mbour is a working fishing town, but they could perhaps clean up the beach a little. In the evening they played music from the radio (though omitting to switch the channel when presenters just talked), and I believe sometimes there are parties. The food was nice, though the fish was a bit dry and could have been marinated more, but at only 2500CFA with beer at 1000CFA this was the cheapest I found; though one had to wait for the nice lady to nip to the market to get whatever you wanted cooked. There was no liquid milk for the coffee, at 50CFA, though eventually I bought some myself.

The room was large, the bathroom only partly separated from the living area -- which would be unlikely to suit couples not still very much in love. Such a couple might nevertheless have been concerned about the lack of toilet seat, toilet paper, the low shower water pressure, indeed, no water at all or electricity on several occasions,- and the unsweptness under the bed and the lack of change of sheets and very hard pillows. The door frame had been defeated on an earlier entry attempt and repaired with a short piece of plasterboard over the bolt, which would not have deterred an excitable terrier; indeed I myself forced it once by accident, not noticing it was locked. The shutters could not be pulled shut as the wood had swollen (assuming they had fitted in the first place). The handle of the locks on the fly shields were missing and the inner lock on the glass pane would not have lasted an abrupt push. Though it was quite high up. I did not sleep much as I fancied myself in some horror where the friendly locals turn into flesh eating zombies at night. After weeks on one's own arguing with Africans about prices, change, or just trying to avoid being followed, one can become a little unhinged. I did in fact get most of my change back from these people, other than 1000CFA for change for a bottle of water when I arrived and the same from a waitress, who I suppose might have thought I had left it with her to buy a drink for herself (though I had previously explained, in impeccable French, that it is normally polite to make a least a little small talk with someone if you wanted them to buy you a drink, which I would have thought would be the custom in Africa too, but what do I know?) But despite its challenges I quite liked this hotel and will drop in again in the (admittedly unlikely) event I ever return to Senegal.

Residence Les Calanques, Dakar

Plage Virage.

I did stay about a week at the Calanques Apartments, Dakar, in November 2017. The assistant manager, Mame, was kind enough to pick me up from the airport nearby (this was the old airport which closed three weeks later) at about 2.30am with a sign with my name on it. The cab was battered and the lights in the car park flickered erratically; he informed me there was a general power cut, and indeed in the apartment there was no power at all except for the torch function on my mobile phone, though with no way to recharge it or use the aircon or modem. I was wondering if this was closer to the Congo than I had expected. Nevertheless I unwound the mosquito net and collapsed onto the bed. The pickup and the early check-in were charged the next day at 40k CFA and they provided a local Sim card and credits for 5k CFA. After some further hours of flashing the power was restored and worked fine with modem and aircon for the rest of the stay. I had been upgraded to a large 'studio' on the ground floor of a modern block with a separate large, well equipped kitchen lacking only a table and including a fridge which worked (if plugged into one of the outlets which worked). A decent supermarket was 5 minutes walk. There was no sound from the airport but some banging during the day from construction a few buildings away. The place was ten minutes walk from the beach at Plage Virage, with half a dozen restaurants, two beach bars and reasonably pleasant hawkers. A taxi to Almadies, which has some more restaurants and beach bars, was 1000CFA (£1.35) though one could just walk, or jump on a bus for 120CFA. A taxi to the Beaux Marrachiers bus depot was 3000CFA and to the center of town supposed to be 2000CFA though one could wander up the road to the airport and take the no. 8 bus from there for 200CFA (but this is extremely tiring, takes hours and I would not recommend it). This was quite a nice though not particularly cheap apartment, though I would have preferred some fans rather than the aircon, but I am not sure how many people will stay in this area with the new airport closer to the resort at Saly.

Wacken festival, August 2017

In mud we trust.

 We attended the Wacken 2017 music festival, in cowfields an hour's drive north of Hamburg. Beer was disappointing, being 'Becks' at €4/0.4l, but after a while I decided the 'Wacken Mead' at €5/0.4l was much tastier, stronger, and better value, or even the 'mead bier', particularly as it was not especially warm. Organisation is quite civilised. First, you can park the car next to your tent and it is not far to walk from there to the stages. A friendly tractor driver is available if you get stuck (after signing a disclaimer in some foreign language). Second, both the main listening areas have several stages alongside playing alternately, so it is usually only a five minute wait for someone to start. Unfortunately, it was not allowed to take a comfy camping chair into the arenas. There was a nice medieval village with many food selections and even a Celtic music stage. However, I swear the ground in the arena was muddy before the gates even opened. Pits were pathetic compared to 'Download' in England, and the crowd older. A wide selection of metal music was played, though without the standard headliners. I think one could certainly make this event a regular fixture, rather than a pilgrimage.

Petul, Katzenbruchestr., Essen, Germany

This place had a strange telephone for the reception, which did speak English, but the studio itself was quite nice, though narrow. My stay was most memorable for the vault-like door, and the shower, which had many complex nozzles. It took a lot of time with cold water spurting to figure out how all the controls worked. I had to use the strange telephone again to find the wifi code as well. I also think it could be clearer whether one is expected to park along the side or at the front of the residence, as it is not very clear (at least to somewhat not from Germany) whether there are any restrictions on the street. Obviously there was no restaurant, but local facilities included a then-closed Lidl supermarket next door and a suitable kebab shop round the corner.

Iron Witch at the Black Heart 19 August 2017

I saw "Iron Witch" at the Black Heart, Camden, on 19 August. This was a very heavy band and I could not hear any themes they may have had very well. I would say, on a scale of 1 to 100 with Guns and Roses at 5 and nothing but very loud amplifier feedback with bass at 100, they might be rated 95. However, I would rate the beer, Camden Pale Ale, very good.

Opium Lord at the Black Heart

A Wandering Opium Lord. 

I and a few dozen other people attended this gig at the Black Heart on 8 July, 2017. The first band This Ends Here had quite interesting changes of pace and theme but I thought seemed very much as though they were reading sheet music and needed more practice to get into the flow. The second band Grey Widow were very fuzzy and heavy in a simple and slow way with mildly innovative squeaky vocals. I am not sure if they played more than one very long track. The third band Opium Lord came up with some fine riffs that occasionally progressed into something a little bizarre, and at other times maintained the line. Their vocalist was of the shouty school, and wandered in a curiously masterful way in front of the platform.

Garsoniere Victor Seaview, Constanta, Romania

I stayed in this studio "Garsoniere Victor Seaview" in Constanta for a few nights. The room is quite large, with TV, wifi and aircon, though the kitchen and the bathroom are very small. I was on the ground floor, so there wasn't any 'seaview'. It is close to the beach, though a deserted section of it -- which may be good or bad -- and a small 24 hr supermarket is nearby. The proprietor was very friendly and did not object to me checking in after midnight (due the trains missing their connections). It is rather a long walk to either the resort at Mamaia or central Constanta, though some restaurants can be found 10 minutes stroll up to the main road.

Hotel Sir Gard de Nord, Bucarest

View of gas station roof and station.

I arrived at this very inexpensive hotel in June 2017 and they offered me a clean room with its own bathroom above the gas station and not a bad view of the Gard de Nord, from where I could take a bus to the airport the next day. The location wass surprisingly pleasant and any rough types seem to have long been moved on. The air conditioning was not working (though it may be one has to ask for a control).

National History Museum, Bucarest, Romania.

This museum of haphazard history contains a selection of Roman and a few later medieval stones, combined with a reproduction of Trajan's column, which commemorates his defeat of the Dacians (who lived here before the Romans came). There is also an impressive collection of gold objects through the centuries, beginning with 3 fine helmets from about the 4th century BC. Puzzlingly, one can find hidden in a gallery with an entrance in the corner, and easily missed, an extensive and well contextualised exhibition of Romania in the first world war, with English translation. Obviously, to be a first class national history museum this has to all be put in to order and the gaps filled in! But not so bad as far as it goes.

Cafe del Mar, Mamaia, Romania

I dropped into the Cafe del Mar, an upscale beach bar and club on the Black Sea at Mamaia, Romania. The sofas were comfy and the beautiful people were lounging on the "sezlongs". A chilled mix played. Unfortunately the bass was largely provided by the neighbouring bar, accompanied by shouts from an adjoining volleyball court. Perhaps I am a little fussy. The cheapest beer was Ursus at 10 lei (£2) and cocktails about 23 lei (£4.40): about double the neighbouring bars, but still less than London. I could not see any particular reason to pay more to drink a second beer there, so went to a cheaper sunbed next door. But might be nice for some club activity late in the evening.

Sal Island, Cape Verde

In Africa!

Diverse animation.

I spent a little over a week at the Riu Touareg hotel on Sal island, Cape Verde. The hotel is surrounded by desert -- a half day tour round the island was pleasant, but enough. It stands on an endless, permanently red flagged beach (though someone who gets up earlier than me claimed to have seen a green flag between 8.30 and 9.30 one morning). The waves are powerful but not too cold, and fun for the brave to splash around in. The staff were wonderful and friendly, but too busy to chat much. The service at the (free) bars was the fastest I have ever experienced. The Asian-style restaurant could do with a little work, but the others were decent, and the fish was always excellent, as one might expect.  The resort stage is large and well-appointed, but the 'shows' were, though enthusiastic, generally a disappointment. But I quite liked the one about Africa.  Nightlife was splendid (for those who liked karaoke).  Considering the size of the resort I think they should up their game in the entertainment department and spend a lot more on musicians and singers. One person was seen being rude to a cat, but the rest were fine.

Table football

Grand Magus at the Underworld, 1 April 2017

The first band played a heavy rock and roll the next a heavy hard rock, i could not see much about them. Grand Magus put in some fine guitar licks and rousing choruses, marred by air conditioning unit that kept dripping. . The crowd continued the cries if hhammerof the North long after the band left the stage.  I do wonder though if theusic is not perhaps a little, well, simple. But as they said, a good turnout for a Sunday night.

Ghost vs Zombi at the Forum

Papa (Emeritus III).

I did see Zombi and Ghost at the Forum, London on 26 March 2017. Zombi are a two-piece without vocals who play what sounds like the introduction to a rock song, and then stop and play the introduction to another one. I did not see the point of this at all. I suspect they were chosen because of their name. Ghost were magnificent, even the weedier songs coming across with far more energy than on the record.

Annex of Abdallah, Stone Town, Zanzibar

I stayed 2 nights at the Annex of Abdallah, in Stone Town, Zanzibar, at USD 20 per night for a large grubby room with unfeasibly high double bed and ensuite. Reception was pleasant enough but they did not try to sell me the tours I would have agreed to go on.  Wifi and breakfast both present, but probably close to the definition of a cheap guesthouse.

Stone Town is the sort of place best visited in an afternoon from a cruise ship. By popular request, I add some pictures of Stone Town and its cats.

Guru Guru restaurant, Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar

I ate here a few times for lunch - food was quite good, the waiter very pleasant, though the curry was a little on the small side. Most notable is that they have nice, free sunbeds where you can lie after lunch, and doze with some beer!