Two days in Cambridge and London

Hi!

How are you? Last Monday and Tuesday I went in Cambridge to visit the lab’s team where I’ll do my internship in the following months and see some possible accommodation and the Maccabees’s concert.

How to combine business with pleasure…

I visited Cambridge the first time ten years ago, so I didn’t remember a lot. This time I arrived in Parker’s Piece and the sight of the green surrounded by historic buildings left me astonished. I visited the city center, that isn’t so big, but certainly very quaint and charming. 

 

And in the sunset I arrived on the river Cam. In the evening I went to the Maccabees’s concert, then a beer in a pub. The second day I did a tour with a punt on the river from where you can see all the gardens and the 

historic buildings of colleges, and pass under some beautiful bridges.

 

After a funny Japanese lunch in Yo! Sushi where dishes passed on a conveyor belt, I took a train for London, and in only 50 minutes I arrived in King’s Cross. Then I took a walk in Camden and passed the night in Soho in club Escape until the time to go to airport.

Two amazing days. 

The Maccabees live in Cambridge (19th March 2012)

Hello,

I’d like to talk about this concert that took place in Corn Exchange in Cambridge last Monday.

Yes, I came from Italy to see it, but I had some others important reasons to go to Cambridge… but now talk about the concert.

I had a seat on the balcony so I saw them from far away...but the music had great acoustics.

They started with Child, the song that opens also their last album Given To The Wild, it was absolutely a great choice that involved immediately the public. They continued with songs from all their three albums with a perfect continuity between the songs: the more animated rhythm of songs like X-Ray and Pelican alternating to a more introspective sound of songs like Forever I've Known. But I think the most interesting aspect was the great instrumental performance alternated to the vocals parts. They don’t play at all like a quiet and shy band, rather in the instrumental parts comes out their most unexpected wild soul. I think a live is absolutely the best way to appreciate their duplicity of introvert and in the same time wild band. Absolutely a very great concert! Obviously this is just my humble and partial opinion.

The Maccabees

Hi guys! It’s a lot of time that I don’t post, but I haven’t done any travel, and I was quite insecure about the topics of my blog and how to organize it. In this days I have thought to divide my blog in different topics for example: travel, shopping, music-books-cinema-television, my science, and anything else. 

So I decide to start to write about The Maccabees. They are a young indie-rock band from Brighton and I discovered them by accident just about a month ago, but they’re on the scene from the 2005 when their first single X-ray (I like it a lot) came out, but I will not talk about their biography because you can find it on their site or Wikipedia. 

I have seen a lot of times the spot of new tv series Gettysburg of Scott brothers, and every time I thought: -But who sings this song? I like it! -. And When I discovered The Maccabees I discovered also that the song of the spot was theirs, and it’s No kind words from the album Wall of arms (2009). But the most interesting thing I think it’s their new video Pelican from their last album Given to the Wild (2012). I think the song is a sixties-contemporary masterpiece. The video is a work of art directed by David Wilson, an English artist and movie director, where many objects of our common life are cut in two halves.

I also like a lot their new album Given to the Wild, it’s my new obsession. I like all the instrumental parts and their equilibrium with the voice. I like all songs, the maximum level for me is reached in Pelican that has all the features of a perfect single and Forever I’ve Known that is more introspective.  

The only flaw for me is Feel to Follow because I don’t like the voice in the initial part, but this is only my taste.

So I think they are a very interesting and promising band, and also their two previous albums Colour it in (2007) and Wall of Arms (2009) deserve to be heard!

And Maccabees see you in London on June 6^th!

Here some interesting link about The Maccabees: 

The Maccabees web site

Pelican video 

My experience with iPhone 4 32GB.

Hi!

Now are eight months that I have an iPhone  4, so I think to be ready for review it.

I have the iPhone 4 with 32 GB (Apple iPhone), I have a vodafone contract and I had to pay 49€ when I bought it, while for the 16 GB there wasn’t an initial payment. Now I think to have done the right choice because using the iPod and downloading apps is space consuming so you have already 10GB full and you didn’t even notice it…

(The pic is taken from http://www.apple.com/iphone/, thanks. This is a pic of the new withe iPhone 4, but I have the black one).

The differences between the iPhone 4 and 3G/3GS are the faster internet connection,  more capacity (with the model 32GB), the possibility to do HD videos, 2 cameras: one on the front useful for the video call with FaceTime and Skype, one on the back with 5 megapixel and LED flash, the Retina display: the highest resolution phone screen.

Like the previous models there are iPod, iTunes, YouTube, App store, Google Maps, the Weather (by yahoo), Safari, mail, world colck, alarm, stopwatch, timer, calculator (with scientific calculator if you rotate the iphone horizontally), compass, voice memos, message, phone, calendar, photos, notes and contacts. 

Before the Iphone 4 I had a Motorola razor v3 (Motorola) that wasn’t a smart phone so for me to take an iPhone 4 was a great change. 

The possibility to use Safari and mail by phone I think is the greatest difference from the previous  non-smart phones. I think the connection by wifi or 3G is very useful expecially if I’m away and I haven’t my computer. The only limitation is the impossibility to see some flash sites, but I think it isn’t a big problem.

Also I like a lot the possibility to do videocalls by FaceTime, the only limit is the fact that the service is limited to iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.  So if you wanna make video calls with other computers you can download Skype app and use it. Maybe for the video calls between two iphone with a wifi connection the best is FaceTime (here you can have more details about this topic: webnews).

But I think Skype can be a good alternative, expecially in the case that one of the two subjects hasn’t an iPhone.

When I went to Lisbon I forgot my camera at home so I have done all my photos using iPhone’s camera…so you can see here and in my previous posts their quality. And you can use your photos as wallpaper.  But I expect for the iPhone 5 that the front camera will have the same resolution of the back one, and the possibility to have also a front LED flash.

 I consider very useful Google Maps, albeit when you are in car isn’t very easy drive and in the same time pay attention to the itineray on the phone, so maybe the possibility to have a voice that guides you would be better, but however you can download other  sat Nav apps.

Then there are iTunes and App Store, I use more frequently the last one, and there are so many apps about everything and many of them are free, that I think you’ll be spoiled for choice.

I use frequently also the iPod, and I like a lot the possibility to be immediatly connect to a call if someone is calling you. With the normal alarm of the phone you can’t use one of your iPod’s song as alarm and I think it’s a pity, because I’d like to be awakened by for exemple a Guns N’ Roses’s song, however you can download clock and alarm apps with this possibility.

Also YouTube is very nice because you can search  videos, see featured, the most viewed, and put videos in your favourites, plus the possibility to leave comments and to read the info as using YouTube by computer. Also the high resolution of the display makes viewing more enjoyable.

The battery I think is very powerful because with a normal use, mine last about  four or five days, I have only some small useful actions as: use a mid display brightness, deactivate wifi, 3G, notifications and location services if I’m not using them, use airplane mode when I don’t want to be traceable like during the night. I have notice that the actions that consume more battery is using internet and youtube. I have donwloaded a free app (Battery Life Pro) that shows all the details about the battery power and its use.

In conclusion I am satisfied to have this phone, I like its immediacy and all the features, I think that Apple could improve again its following iPhone models, but however I consider iPhone 4 a great phone.

Cowboy boots, Camperos and Police boots.

Hi guys!

Today I wanna talk about cowboy boots, camperos and police boots.

Do you like Western fashion?

I like it a lot, especially I like western boots  in the mix of different fashion attitudes as combined with  a romantic dress.

But also a pair of simple skinny jeans takes more grit and temperament with camperos or cowboy boots.

Cowboy boots, camperos and police boots are a must have that returns every year, in fact many fashion magazine show every season some starlets with a casual outfit completed by some fashion cowboy boots. 

But must be also carefull with this strong boots and try to match them with clothes paying attention to not  use also strong clothes otherwise we can run the risk to exaggerate.

So I think the best way to wear them is to mix the Western fashion, with a more casual and simple fashion.

Some months ago I found a website (http://www.kikkiline.it/) of a shoes shop that is in Riccione and it has a great stock of boots and shoes.  I like a lot the simple line of their camperos so I decided to go there and try some of their boots. 

The shop is located in via Dante in Riccione, it isn’t very big but there is a very great choice of boots and shoes.  The woman who manages the shop is very kind and helpful and I told her that I had seen their website and that I was interested in some of their boots.  I tried many boots, and were all very comfortable and fashion, especially I think they would be perfect with street wear.

So I bought some camperos that I think are a passpartou.

(The pic is taken from http://www.kikkiline.it/, thanks)

Yesterday I was back to visit the shop, I have found a pair of black police boots that I find very strong but also very versatile. I combine them yesterday night with a pair of shorts, but I think they would be nice also with a simple modern dress, so I’ll try this combination this night. 

(The pic is taken from http://www.kikkiline.it/, thanks)

Here I wanna leave you some other websites,  where you can find cowboy boots, camperos and police boots. 

http://www.allensboots.com/ 

http://store.cowtownboots.com/
http://www.bootcity.com/
http://www.sendra.it/
http://www.cowboyskisses.it/
http://www.paulbondboots.com/

Write me your experiences with this type of boots, give me your advises, I’ m very interested to know and discover something new.

The fourth day in Lisbon: Oceanário de Lisboa on monday 22nd august 2011.

The fourth day in Lisbon: Monday 22nd August 2011 at the Oceanário de Lisboa.
http://www.oceanario.pt/ 

After another crazy night in Bairro Alto and after having eaten a typical custard cake we arrived in the hotel in the early morning. So we woke up late and after a caramel macchiato of Restoradore’s Starbuks (http://www.starbucks.pt/pt-pt/) we decided to visit the Oceanário de Lisboa. We took the metro to the Oriente station so we arrived to the modern district where the Oceanário is. Before entering the exhibit we had a break in the coffee where I took the biggest cheese cake that I have ever seen.

Then we entred the turtles temporary exhibit after have putting lipgloss on our lips…ahahhaha, yes, I know, it’s funny to put lipgloss on lips only to see some turtles, so when we realised that it would be strange, we started a long laugh that infected also the guys that controlled the tickets on the entry.

In the temporary exhibit  we saw a big turtle that seemed almost 2 m large. There were also trasparent bridges from where you could see the fishes swim under your feet. Althought I had seen a person walk normally on the trasparent passages when I was on the edge I felt a difference of highness and I did a scream because I thought I was falling down in the water, it was so funny that  I have made laugh some people that were around me…ahahahahahahah.

Then we entered the permanent exhibit where there was a big fishpond with sharks, devil fish (my favourite fish), torpedoes, moon fish and many others.

Then we saw the room with otters and the room with penguins.

We saw also some anphibia like the small yellow and black frogs and salamandras. In front of the yellow an black frogs I noticed a very interesting guy that was visiting the Oceanário, I think he was with his grandmother and with a woman with two kids that might be his nephews… so if you are reading this blog please contact me…

We have seen also flourescent corals, and jellyfishes, that were very beautiful. But at this point I was a little bit distracted...you understand what I mean...

When we exited the Oceanário we catched the aerial railway next to the Oceanário on the river and we arrived near the commercial center Vasco de Gama that is very big, on three floors and we had dinner in it.
(http://www.centrovascodagama.pt/index.php)

We passed the night in Bairro Alto where we found an electronic club where we danced, then we went to the cuban club that was full of people, and then to the Fragil to end the night (http://www.luxfragil.com/). I didn’t expect so full of life  the Monday night in the Bairro Alto, I was very surprised. In Italy people seem to go out only in the weekend… So I love Lisbon, because you can go out everynight and is full of people and you can meet always different people and having fun.

The third day in Lisbon: Sunday 21st August 2011.

Olá!

On Sunday we catched the tram 28 in the square Martin Moniz to see the most popular districts of Lisbon.  It is been a very nice experiece to see the city through her allays on the tram. 

We arrived on the terrace, near the castle, that is on the river where we  found a very kind and talented paintress, and we bought some watercolors designs of the tram. 

 In this area there are also many art work shops, where we bought some special nakelaces.

We visited the castle from where you can see a beautiful and special landscape. We have seen the bridge, similar to the San Francisco Golden Bridge, and the Christ’s statue, similar to the Rio de Janeiro’s one.

The castle was very emotional, the garden seems come out from a fairy tale and there are ruines with some beautiful peackos. We entered the catle and we walked on the wall and visited the towers from where the sight of the city is special.

We had dinner in a small indian nepalese restaurant, found thanks to the Lonley Planet,  the food and the wine were good and the price cheap.

In the night we went to Bairro Alto where we drink some flame shots in the rock pub. Then we went to the club Fragil to end the night.