Home From Home........

Whilst keeping our own home in Plymouth Devon, (if I could manage the technology you would now be hearing strains of "Land of Hope and Glory") my "family" home is located just outside of Los Alcazares on the South Eastern coast of Spain, situated next to the beautiful Mar Menor. Indeed, Los Alcazares will always hold a special place in my heart.  

This is  a place where my mother currently lives and is the place that my father loved so dearly and is where his ashes have been scattered.  So, whenever we have an opportunity to visit Mudge (the nickname of my mother and matriarch of the family), Dad is also there with us in spirit.

For the past 20 plus years, Mudge has fully embraced the Mediterranean lifestyle and made this lovely part of Spain her home. This is probably why she remains fighting fit and is looking younger than ever! She assures me she has just turned 38.... for the second time!

There is nothing like a visit home, especially when a son goes to see his mother.  No matter how old you are, you are assured of being fed, watered, looked after and in general thoroughly spoilt. Above all, our beautiful family home is always the place where I can relax and escape, albeit briefly, from the real world!

Los Alcazares itself is a small costal spa town and former fishing village which is situated on the western side of the Mar Menor (which means little sea), which is Europe's largest saltwater lagoon with a surface area of some 20 square kilometres.

The name Los Alcazares comes from the Arabic "Al Khazar", meaning palace or house of nobles. Anyway to me it means home, a peaceful sanctuary and a world away from the frantic lifestyle that is modern-day Dubai.

The town itself is a complete juxtaposition. To the North and around the small airport of San Javier, it has been completely over-developed and is full of bucket and spade tourism. This may be great for the local economy but is not what I am looking for when I visit home.  However, the southern half of town has remained traditionally old-school Spanish, everything is traditional and in keeping and is a joy to visit. The two seem to co-exist, joined by the common bond created by the beautiful Mar Menor and its clean sandy beaches.

For me there is nothing better than taking a short drive to the Los Narejos promenade for early morning breakfast. We then stroll along the beautiful promenade next to the shimmering Mar Menor until we reach the Hotel Balneario La Encarnacion.

Built in 1904, this listed traditional Spanish Hotel is still family run. You can take breakfast next to the sea but if you prefer, and I do, you can sit and relax in the beautiful central courtyard, which takes you a world away and gives you a real taste of old-school Spain.

Breakfast at La Encarnacion always consists of a glass of fresh orange juice, cafe con leche (milky coffee) and of course toast with fresh tomatoes topped with a sprinkling of virgin olive oil and  a dash of salt. What a treat and a great way to start the day!

20 minutes drive to the south of Los Alcazares is the port city and naval base of Cartegna. A visit to Cartegna always brings a mixture of sadness, happiness and reflection. Cartegna is where my father spent his last days battling that terrible evil cancer. Surely the bravest person I know and he battled right to the end.

Yet a visit to Cartegna also brings such happy memories. Most visits actually start in a little bay some 5 minutes drive along the coast, called Mares Braves. This is my absolute favorite place and a hidden Gem.

From the vantage point on top of the cliffs you have a panoramic view of Cartegna town, its port and marina and the surrounding fortifications.

The bay itself has a small beach and seems to be a great favourite of the locals. Just alongside the beach is our destination, the Restaurant Mares Braves.Nothing fancy here, no Michelin Stars, just a good honest lunch comprising cold beers, a mixture of Iberico pork with manchego cheese, bocherones (Mrs C's favourite), frittata and of course, what we really came for, their magnificent grilled sardines which are the speciality of the house. We have tried everything to recreate the taste ourselves but we can never manage it.

Content, after a superb yet inexpensive lunch, I always allow myself a quiet moment of reflection to think about Dad. In fact I think about him everyday and miss him so much.  This is the first time I have ever written down and shared these feelings and I have found the process to be extremely cathartic.  What I firmly believe is that if my children feel the same way about me when I am no longer here, I know that I will have succeeded as a father.

Following lunch at Mares Braves, a quick car ride takes us in to Cartegna itself. First order of the day is to take a stroll along the quayside and marina. Moving past the Audatorioy Palacio de Congresos El Batel (The opera house) and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, we cross the main road to the Park Plaza de Los Heroes de Cavity adjacent to the splendid Town Hall.

This was a great opportunity for some street photography along the way and a chance to walk-off lunch and exercise both my legs and the Fuji. The XT20 and XF27mm were in stealth travel mode and as always they delivered some very pleasing images.

Cartegna is such a very photogenic town and I wished we could have stayed longer. However, it was getting hot and the cold beers consumed over lunch were kicking in and all roads seemed to be leading to a well earned afternoon siesta.

The lovely thing about being back in Spain and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is that it enables you to catch up on the things that matter.   Indeed, Mrs C. did some stealth photography of her own with the Fuji and caught me unawares, studying my favorite read, the Fujilove monthly magazine!

Now Mrs C, the love of my life and wife of 31 years ( she claims to have been a child bride!), is notoriously camera shy.  However, I did manage to persuade her to try a bit of modeling so that I could put in to practice what I had been reading in the most recent issue of Fujilove magazine.

However, I guess I pushed my luck too far and my model stopped co-operating!

Three days with Mudge was just what we needed to de-stress and recharge the batteries before transiting through a grey and bleak Gatwick en route back to Dubai.

You know, those Mediterranean folk seem to have their priorities in order and have developed a way of life which is both uncomplicated yet fulfilling. As I start to consider what I will do if I am ever able to retire, (at this point I am not holding my breath!) I think three to four months a year next to the beautiful Mar Menor should be positioned firmly at the top of my list of priorities! 

Ramadan Kareem.........

The observance of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered as the holiest month of the year for Muslims.It was originally the month in which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) on the night of the Laylat Al Qadr, on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Ramadan lasts for one complete lunar cycle, usually 29 or 30 days and Ramadan officially starts when a moon-sighting committee in Makkah, Saudi Arabia (considered to be the holiest city in Islam) makes an official announcement.

Once Ramadan is declared adult muslims are required to fast from dawn until dusk, everyday throughout Ramadan. Whilst non-muslims are not expected to fast, good etiquette, good manners and common sense dictate that one should be mindful of others and be respectful in the way one dresses and acts during this time.

Fasting commences each morning before sunrise, when one takes "Suhour", the pre-fast meal. Muslims break their fast at sunset, before the Maghreb Prayers. Dates are traditionally taken as the first food along with water or a sweet juice and the subsequent fast-breaking meal is called Iftar.

Given this is my 30th Ramadan since working with and living in the Middle East, I thought it was high time that I experienced, up close and personal, the firing of the Iftar cannon, which signals to all, the breaking of the fast.

So en famille we headed to the Madinat Jumeirah where a group of families had already gathered, under the shadow of the burj Al Arab, to observe the ceremony and subsequently break their fast.This really was a family event and the troop of soldiers who were tasked with undertaking the ceremony were extremely kind and welcoming to all and encouraged pictures to to be taken.

The attending soldiers looked extremely proud to be participating in this ceremony and looked splendid decked out in their uniforms and striking red and white Keffiyeh (also known as Ghutra or Schemagh).My best mate Seth and I were quick off the mark and with Mrs. C operating the Fuji (XPro2 and 56mm F1.2), we got the shot we wanted.

I was determined to try and record the exact moment the cannon fired. I had spent ages planning my shot, picking the right vantage point, using manual focus and focus peaking to ensure all bases covered and switching to continuous drive to ensure I didn't miss the shot. Well, a camera is only as good as its operator and in my defense, no-one had told me the word for "Fire" in Arabic. So once the sergeant at arms shouted something in Arabic, which presumably meant fire, I was caught unawares. Even though I pressed the shutter, I missed the shot. In fact, the cannon was so loud and un-expected that I literally jumped out of my skin and almost dropped the Fuji. Once my heart-rate returned to normal, my ears stopped ringing, the smoke cleared and the dust settled, I was able to have a quick chimp at the images. In the interest of full transparency I have set out the before and after images below.

The before shot.....

And after.........the one that got away!

Adopting my usual positive attitude and rather then saying I missed the shot, I would rather label it as "A learning experience"!  However, we really did have a wonderful time. We then broke our fast with a succulent local date and a glass of sweet juice before heading off for our Iftar meal, armed with yet another wonderful memory of our time in the Middle East.

Au Bord De La Mer.....

Collioure is one of those picturesque French seaside towns, with a large dash of Catalan culture, whose picture would not look out of place on the top of a chocolate box. Boasting picturesque scenery, beautiful light, being a haven for artists and only 45 minutes bus ride from Perpignan, I felt this was an ideal opportunity to give the Fuji a workout, whilst also enjoying some of the local sights, sounds and delicacies.

So, when the day came for our Collioure day trip, the skies were dark, the clouds were angry and the rain was coming down sideways!  However, we are British and "needs must when the devil drives".  So with a Dunkerque spirit we puffed out our chests in a manner that would have made Churchill proud and pushed on to La Gare De Perpignan to meet our bus, (what a bargain, a return trip only 2 Euros!)......whilst getting soaked in the process!

Thankfully, after the pleasant 45 minute bus ride and with thanks to a moderate offshore breeze, by the time we arrived things were still a bit gloomy but were definitely improving.

The old town of Collioure is built around a small harbour and beach and for the visiting tourist it provides that interesting mix of fantastic scenery, culture, great food, as well of course as an opportunity to swim and take some rays, although not on the day of our visit!

Indeed, Collioure is credited as being the birthplace of "Fauvism", created when both Henri Matisse and André Derain arrived there in 1905. As a result, we made a beeline for the Modern Art Museum only to be once again disappointed as the principal collections were all in storage in favor of displaying works from current artists. With my hard earned cash remaining firmly in my pocket the beautiful surrounding gardens did provide a photo-opportunity.

As I headed back in to the town you get a great perspective across the bay with the Royal Castle of Collioure dominating the Seafront at the southern end of the Harbour and the Church of Notre Dame St Agnes with its distinctive bell tower which, during medieval time, was once a lighthouse.

I am particularly proud of the above image. Subsequent to the visit I was approached by the Dorotheum Auction House in Vienna and I agreed to allow them to publish this image in one of their catalogues. The image is very similar to a painting by Paul Signac, the French neo-impressionist, and was used as a comparison in their catalogue.

The old town itself is quite delightful. Full of color and vibrancy. It was good to visit out of season as I have been in the height of the summer when it is "standing room only"!

First stop a noisette in one of the sea-front cafes.

Whilst sitting on a small terrace and sipping on our coffee and before the arrival of the lunchtime crowd,  it provided and ideal  opportunity to take a shot of the Church of Notre Dame St. Agnes.

Then, with the old cobbled streets still relatively empty, the girls took the opportunity for some seaside retail therapy which left me free for some street photography. Despite clearly being a tourist town, it is good to see that normal day to day life still exists.

Next stop lunch. We found a lovely restaurant which was able to serve a mixture of tapas; Iberico pork, patatas bravas, grilled calamari in a spicy tomato sauce and of course, Bocharones, small anchovies in olive oil, for which Collioure is famed. All of this washed down with a bottle of the local Collioure Red and yours truly was very happy and rapidly switching the Fuji to autofocus mode!

With a need to walk off the calories and dare I say clear the head, we headed on to the end of the breakwater.From this exposed and bracing vantage point I managed to take a few pictures of the town and also of La Tante Sarah, who was in an extremely "relaxed" mood 😀🍷

On the way back through the town we came across one of those wonderful shops,  selling the local nougat, where everything you touch had at least a thousand calories but tasted delicious!

Of course, Mrs C was "In like Flynn" and in true Middle Eastern fashion was soon haggling over both quantity and price, before sealing the deal.

As the afternoon drew to a close and the light finally began to improve, we came across a group of children practicing their artistic skills. Who knows, perhaps one of these may prove to be one of the new breed of Fauvists!

As we sat quietly on our bus en route to Perpignan, sampling our freshly purchased nougat and reflecting upon the sights and sounds of Collioure, you can be sure that we were already planning a return visit to this beautiful seaside town,  which should be firmly placed on everyone's South of France bucket list!     

Into The Bullring..........

During a recent visit to Europe I transited via Birmingham Airport and to break up the journey, I spent the evening and half a day in central Birmingham, at a Premier Inn located at the famous Bullring shopping district.  Goodness, there am I taking a holiday from the shopping capital of the world only to stay in another mall? However, I found the whole photographic experience very different compared to the sights, sounds, light and fragrances of the Middle East.

So a murkey day in rainy Birmingham was going to be a challenge. As the girls went off to do some retail therapy they left me to my own devices. So me and the Fuji decided to head off and try and grab some interesting shots.

First off I was looking out the window and saw the tram directly beneath us. Whilst we have a metro in Dubai, it is up in the air as opposed to something which integrates in to the daily hustle and bustle of life.

It was such fun walking the streets in the UK.  The people, architecture  and textures were so different.

I took the picture below as I particularly liked the idea of a flower seller in a concrete jungle.

I also decided that I needed to locate the famous Bull and take a couple of photos of my own.

Having photographed said Bull from anterior and posterior it was mission accomplished and as the rain came lashing down, (I now remember why I like living in the Middle East so much), I headed back indoors to see how the UK Mall experience, from a photography perspective, differed from my regular friday outings at The Dubai Mall.

Actually I was pleasantly surprised. Since I now carry my camera everywhere (the benefit of the wonderful Fuji X Series system of cameras and lenses) I have become more acutely aware of my surroundings and it did not take long to find a few interesting subjects.

I then came across this wonderful barbers shop. It was a bit of a juxtaposition in that it was really trendy and modern yet in an "old school" and traditional sort of way.I really liked the scene and especially the lighting.

I also came across this really interesting Lebanese Restaurant, Le Comptoir Libanais. When I walked in it was so vibrant and I was immediately greeted by a charming young lady, who only happened to have grown up in Abu Dhabi. What a small world! She was delightful and let me take a few shots of her and the restaurant.

Then, as I was really getting in to my photographic stride, the lights went out! Story of my life.   The whole mall was plunged in to darkness as someone, somewhere, had clearly pulled the wrong plug out of the wrong socket.

So, security marched us all outside and as we were standing around in the freezing cold I noticed a group of restaurant employees all standing together having a cigarette break.  I just loved the scene and contrast between them and their surroundings. The flip screen and silent shutter of the Fuji meant I could take this shot without anyone being the wiser.

So I headed back to our hotel, pleased with my first opportunity to try out some street photography in the UK and looking forward to a return visit and to exploring the parts of central Birmingham that I missed due to the good old British Weather!

Gone Walkabout in Perpignan.....

Located in and capital of Département 66 of the Pyrénées-Orientales region of Southern France, the city of Perpignan is definitely a forgotten gem.  Located about 1 hours bus ride from the Mediterranean and close to the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, Perpignan has everything; great food, culture, you can swim in summer and your can ski in winter and of course you benefit from that wonderful French lifestyle, with a twist of Catalan influence thrown in for good measure.

Perpignan's roots and influence go way back in history and indeed during the 13th and 14th Centuries Perpignan was the capital of the former province and county of Rousillion, at which time it was the continental capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca. I have to preface this Blog by saying that my recent visit to this normally sunny part of the world resulted in 4 days of rain! However, living in the Desert as we do, experiencing some weather is actually quite fun and refreshing and means that rather than concentrating purely on eating and drinking, we made full use of the cultural facilities.

For me the real centre of Perpignan is the Grand Cafe De La Poste.This is my favorite breakfast haunt and is very centrally located in the Place De Verdun next to the famous Castillet.

Each morning I make sure I arrive by 8.00 a.m. so that I can bask in the aroma of freshly baked croissant, which simply melts in your mouth, accompanied by a noisette, (a short expresso like coffee) which gives you that essential fortifying "jolt" to help you start the day.

Service is brisk and friendly and incredibly you only have to be served by the head waiter once, for him to remember your order when you return the next day. A true professional with a cheeky smile!

Cafe de la Poste has a real sense of permanence and community and is always vibrant with the local Perpignan crowd, whether at breakfast, lunch or dinner and especially when the Catalan Dragons Rugby Team (local to Perpignan) are playing at home, when it is standing room only.

With the rain coming down horizontally and resembling a scene from our U.K. home town of Plymouth, where it normally rains 400 days a year, our first stop is a visit to the Musée Hyacinthe-Rigaud, located in the centre of town at 21 Rue Mailly.

The Artiste Hyacinthe-Rigaud originated from Perpignan and it was only from visiting the Museum that I realized that Hyacinthe was a man and not a women. Oops, rookie error when pretending to know about the Perpignan art scene! Nevertheless the staff are super friendly, they provide a very interesting guide booklet in English and the whole atmosphere of the Musée is of creativity and tranquility.

It was a pity that they did not have small bar as a chilled glass of the local sweet Muscat wine would have completed the experience. Then again, we might not have proceeded past the bar so perhaps it was a good omission on the part of the Musée!

It is very difficult to record and accurately reflect the beauty of the contents, which comprises both Baroque and Modern Art Collections, but I have put together a small sample of what is on offer.

Then a short walk to the Cathedral Saint-Jean Baptiste, located in Rue De L'Horloge. This magnificent cathedral is built in the Catalan Gothic style. Construction began in 1324 by King Sanch of Mallorca and finally finished in the 15th Century. It is beautifully decorated and still fully functional. A place of reflection, sanctuary and no doubt refuge. It certainly was for us as by this time the rain had reached biblical proportions. Quite apt really!

Next stop a bracing 15 minute walk "uptown" to the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca. Again a good pair of walking shoes is first order of the day. Thank goodness the rain had paused as we reached the highest point in town as the Fuji and the 27 mm are not weather sealed. Come to think of it neither am I !

It doesn't take long to walk around the castle but as you move from room to room you get a sense of the splender and luxury in which the Royals of days gone by must have lived.

The climax of the tour is a climb to the top of the main tower (not for the feint of heart or those afraid of heights) and once at the top you are rewarded by some spectacular vistas of Perpignan and its environs.

Brimming with culture and new found knowledge of Perpignan the tastebuds were pining for a spot of lunch. So, best place to head for is Cafe Moka in the Place de La Republique. A Simple Gallopin (small beer) is always the best way to start, as you can have two or three of those and not feel too guilty, accompanied by a healthy Salade Du Maison with Iberico Pork..... yes I confess and frites, which were hot, salty and delicious!

Having finished lunch and suitably repleat, we stepped back in to Place de La Republique to spend time in the Saturday Market. I absolutely love this. All sorts of produce combined with the locals doing their usual batering. A photographer's dream.

Next stop the Hotel Pams. This is a mansion in the old quarter of Perpignan that was built between 1852 and 1872 by Pierre Bardou one of the founders of the JOB Cigarette paper company. The building was later transformed in to an elegant mansion by his son-in -law, Jules Pams, who was an amateur art lover. His tastes are clearly reflected in the elegant decor.

Today the Hôtel Pams is owned by the City of Perpignan. Its well worth a visit and perhaps gives the visitor a sense of what it was like, back in the day, if you were wealthy and lived in Perpignan.

At last the rain had stopped and we were able to have a relaxing walk along the waterway which runs through the heart of Perpignan.

Final visit for the afternoon is afternoon coffee on the terrace of the Galleries Lafayette. Actually it was extremely windy and yes, once again the rain was doing its best to soak me and the Fuji.  However, "needs must when the devil drives" and it is a great spot to take the signature shot of the Castillet and the Cathedral de Saint-Jean Baptiste, with the tower of the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca just visible in the distance.

What a fantastic way to spend a day. How to finish things off? Well first of all Team Chivers headed to a cheeky little wine bar in the old town. A couple of glasses of that delicious local Muscat and all was exceedingly well with the world.

This was followed by dinner at Gallinette, a Michelin starred restaurant located just a stones throw from our hotel.  A six course tasting menu ensued which was simply sublime and after a bottle of the local "Collioure" red I retired to our hotel a very happy man. Regrettably I once again had a focussing problem with the Fuji and so did not record dinner. Or was it a focussing problem with me........?

So there you have it, there is definitely more to this beautiful sleepy town in the South of France than meets the eye. I hope I have inspired you to book those flights and sample the delights of Perpignan for yourself. ;-) 

Following the Light........

The whole of the region around Perpignan is famous for its excellent light and to this day continues to be a mecca for artists. So no excuses for not taking at least a few interesting photos as I continue to test out my new super-light travel kit, the Fuji XT20 combined with the 27mm F2.8 pancake lens.

One of the favorite locations for the art fraternity is the small town of Céret, located some 45 minutes bus-ride from Perpignan and nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenées, with the mighty Canigu dominating the back-drop.

The good thing about Department 66 of the Pyrénnees-Orientales is that public transport is a bargain. For a Euro you can take a bus anywhere in the Département and the buses are both comfortable and punctual. You also have the opportunity to enjoy the countryside and whatever the weather, it is simply breathtaking.

Céret is located in the canton of Vallespir-Albères and in the arrondissement of Céret. It is located on the River Tech and indeed, upon arrival at the outskirts of Céret, we were immediately greeted by the famous Pont Du Diable (The Devils Bridge).

Constructed between 1321 and 1341 and with a single span of some 45.5 meters, at its time of construction it was apparently the world's largest arch bridge in terms of span length. It is now closed to traffic and only used as a footbridge.  Irrespective of its claim to fame it gave me an opportunity to take a couple of interesting shots.

Immediately adjacent to the Pont Du Diable is the new modern road bridge and the "Pont Neuf" with its back-drop of the Pyrénées.

Our planned destination was The Musée D'Art Moderne De Céret. Indeed the town has always had a tradition of being a home for artists and scultpers, notably Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Aristide Maillol.

It is a pleasant but uphill walk to the Centre Ville where the Museum is situated so make sure you have comfortable walking shoes. However, when you arrive "Au Centre Ville" it is all you imagine this small French town to be, especially when the sun shines!

The Musée D'Art Moderne is located in the Boulevard Maréchal Joffre and my wikipedia research indicates that it was originally created by Pierre Brune and Frank Burty Haviland in 1950, with the personal support of their friends Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, who were both apparently involved in its creation.

Whilst we had a great time in the Museum, which is extremely calm and relaxed, much of the art from contemporary artists that we wanted to see was stored away and instead they were exhibiting collections by more current artists. I am sure that someone somewhere will call me a Phillistine but some of these modern Artists would appear to have extremely troubled minds! Nevertheless, there was much to see and I have set out a selection of my favourite exhibits below.

There is also a charming "Old Town" with lots of Art Galleries and Arts Shops as well as numerous restaurants which allowed us the opportunity for a refreshing Gallopin (small beer) and a light lunch.

Céret really is a gem of a place and as we wandered down the hill to our bus stop, eating a freshly made local ice cream, the serenity and beauty of this town made me contemplate why we have to return to the hustle and bustle of modern life?

Then the reality check; its the day job that pays for these wonderful diversions!

La Gare De Perpignan - Centre Du Monde.......

In 1965 the Catalan artist Salvador Dali painted his now famous "La Gare De Perpignan", currently displayed at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. It is a work of art which is considered to be an exceptional example of the surrealist movement and reflecting Dali's apparent obsession with immortality.

By the way the title image above is not the image of Dali's masterpiece, but a photo of the train station taken from the neighbouring bus station (so no copyright infringement...phew!). So far I am sounding like I know what I am talking about....thank goodness for Google ;-)

Indeed, it seems that Dali used to frequent Perpignan and its environs due to the excellent light and it is said that he used to gain inspiration by sitting in the station lobby, where in 1963 he apparently experienced a "vision of cosmogonic ecstasy" resulting in said master-piece. Well, suitably enthused about the prospect of good light and with expectations of a similar level of ecstasy, I set off from my hotel, armed with the XT20 and 27mm, hoping for at best an "ecstatic ephiphany" and at worst, a few interesting shots!

My first stop en-route was the Place De Catalogne, where to my delight I was formally introduced to the old master as he presided over all before him.

In fact he was my guide as he gazed directly long the Boulevard Wilson, a splendid if not slightly jaded reminder of how grand this area of Perpignan must have been back in the day, leading directly to his beloved Gare De Perpignan.

As I approached the station my excitement was further heightened as I literally stumbled across  further evidence of Dali's influence, finding a plaque engraved in the stone of the concourse in his honour. I would recognize that mustache anywhere!

I had finally reached my destination.  The station itself was originally opened in 1858 and whilst I fear it that its current state is not quite as described or envisaged by Dali, it does serve the Department Pyrénées- Orientales and Occitane Southern Fance extremely well.

First stop, I headed towards the station lobby for my much anticipated epiphany. Hmm, I wasn't really feeling it so no luck there, but I did manage a noisette (an expresso coffee) and a pain au chocolat, so all was not lost!

Suitably refreshed, although still feeling a little desperate,  I looked to the heavens for inspiration and my wishes were answered, with parts of the ceiling of the lobby having been decorated in the style of the great master, with swirls of yellows, creating enormous butterflies, or at least that is how I interpreted them. After all, art is all about one's personal interpretation isn't it?

Still somewhat deflated, and without any surreal spiritual or physical manifestations, I headed towards the boarding platform, contemplating wether this really was the centre of Dali's world and if so, his was definitely a world with which I remain unfamiliar.

Then voila!, I noticed the following words painted in large white letters across the Platform,  "Perpignan Centre Du Monde".  So it had to be true!

My journey had reached a successful conclusion.  Although I departed La Gare De Perpignan without my cosmogonic experience, I was happy in the knowledge that I had secured a few interesting photos and that I had made my small personal contribution to the history of the surrealist movement!

Stop Me and Buy One.....

Stop Me And Buy One is the nickname given by Shelagh, one of our dearest friends, to one of Dubai's oldest supermarkets and best known landmarks, Park and Shop.  

Located on the Al Wasl Road, it is actually a small development of shops called Al Safa Centre although, everybody knows it as Park and Shop

At this point a quick tip for Dubai Newbies. If you hail a cab and ask for Park and Shop and the taxi driver stares at you with a blank expression.... don't get in!  It means he has only been in Dubai a short while and you are likely to have a much longer and more expensive journey than you had anticipated!

In 1993, when we first arrived in Dubai, Park and Shop was literally on the edge of town, being located on the outskirts of Jumeirah, one of Dubai's plush residential districts. Indeed, we lived exactly opposite in the Sheikh Ahmed Villas. Back then we were separated from Park and Shop by large sand dunes and the boys from the shop used to help my wife by carrying her shopping bags over the dunes, back to the house. Now thats what I call customer service. Can you imagine, back in U.K., the bloke from Asda carrying your shopping home for you?

Today, our old villa is still there, the sand dunes have gone but the very happy memories of our early Dubai life remain

When you enter Park and Shop not much has changed over the years.  If you need something, Park and Shop has that uncanny knack of having it in stock and you are always assured of that personal touch.

The complex also houses my barbers of 25 years, the aptly named "Wafi Gents Saloon" and whilst newcomers might be a little wary to enter, once inside the service is snappy and the guys are really friendly.

They never ask me what I want, I just sit in the chair and they get on with it. What more does a gentleman want!

Finally, Baskin Robbins has been serving ice cream from this location for as long as we have been living in Dubai and indeed Abdul Aziz is still working behind the counter.He has seen our kids grow up and even after 25 years, he still greets you with the same enthusaisam. Thank goodness some things never change.

As this is the start of my my personal photo blog, you will forgive me for indulging myself with a few pictures and special memories of days gone by.

You see, life moves so fast when living in Dubai and it is only now that I have started to realize that if I don't start recording some of our family's history, it will just remain a memory.

You know, they keep threatening to re-develop Park and Shop and replace it with a new modern shopping complex. Well, we have plenty of those in Dubai and my sincere hope is that in this instance, progress grinds to a shuddering halt, the past remains the present and that Stop Me and Buy One goes on for another 25 years!