RECENTLY…
Discovering Bergamo
Ireland West Airport (to most of us, it’s still ‘Knock’) is a national treasure.
At 3 pm on Monday of last week – wrapping up a short break – we were still in Italy; by 6.30 pm that evening we were driving towards Tulsk.
I appreciate that’s not revelatory, and that most passengers who fly in and out of Knock have made similar observations at one time or another – but it’s an irresistible calculation to make when singing the praises of this most convenient of airports.
(We departed Bergamo Airport in Northern Italy at 3.15 pm on the Monday, arrived in Knock at about 5.30 pm, were in our car in less than 20 minutes, and before you could say ‘Bergamo to Ballaghaderreen’ we were on the road home).
I can’t be the only person who sometimes thinks one should just fly to any destination provided by Knock!
Our stay in Bergamo had begun the previous Thursday. A city with a population of about 120,000, Bergamo is in the Lombardy region. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Milan, and less than three hours from Venice.
Bergamo has an ‘old city’ and a modern town. The old town (Città Alta) is embedded high in the mountains, looking down on its successor, separated from the modern urban centre by walled structures.
This ‘Upper Town’ can be accessed by vehicle or on foot, but a popular option for tourists is to get there via a funicular, a railway-type carriage that’s operated by cable and which ascends and descends several times a day.
I’d recommend Bergamo to any readers thinking of planning a weekend break in Italy. The ‘Lower Town’ – Città Bassa – is very charming, and spotlessly clean! Packed with welcoming cafes, restaurants and shops, Città Bassa is an ideal location in which to while away a few relaxing afternoons.
Highlight of our trip however was the old district. The journey up on the funicular (cable car) saves time (and energy), and there’s the bonus of spectacular views as you venture into the heart of the hill. On arrival, you step into a beautiful central area called Piazza Vecchi, which boasts spectacular architecture, with quaint buildings, old churches, and a tapestry of shops, cafes, art galleries, bars and restaurants. This ‘old town’ is steeped in history, stretching back to the medieval era.
During our stay, the atmosphere was lovely, with large crowds mingling (despite it being off-season) in warm weather. We had hoped to do a day trip to nearby Lake Garda, but a two-day train strike put paid to those plans. That wasn’t a big deal; there’s plenty to see and do over the course of a few days’ break in beautiful Bergamo.
SUNDAY
Pearses prevail
Padraig Pearses were worthy winners of today’s County (Senior) final, played in storm-ravaged Dr Hyde Park. Pearses are masters of game management. We wish them every success in the Connacht campaign.
It was a disappointing day for Roscommon Gaels, who produced a great late surge before falling just short. The Gaels have many exciting young players, and the future is bright for the club.
MONDAY
Newspaper lists
Readers of the Saturday and Sunday papers over the years will be familiar with their obsession with ‘lists’. I blame the Sunday Times. Now they’re all at it.
‘This weekend, see our exclusive ‘Ireland’s 50 Wealthiest People’ list’. Or ‘100 places to visit this summer’. Or ’50 rising stars in the arts world’. Or ‘Ireland’s top 20 golf courses’. ‘Top 50 places to eat’.
Browsing yesterday’s Sunday Business Post, I saw a new one (for me): ‘Revealed – The Legal 100: The who’s who of Ireland’s best lawyers’.
This, the front page blurb indicated, was to be found in the paper’s ‘free’ magazine; (yes, 100 free lawyers!). 32 pages on ‘The Legal 100: the most influential people on Ireland’s legal scene’.
I wondered if this is taking these lists a step too far. Perhaps I’m wrong; maybe two farmers at Castlerea Mart are arguing over numbers 39 and 62 as we speak.
Anyways, enough of these musings. I’m off to complete my exclusive (provisional) lists for next week’s Roscommon People… ‘Roscommon’s most annoying GAA fans at matches’… ‘Roscommon’s top 20 pub bores’… ‘Revealed: Roscommon’s worst drivers’.
I might add that if any of our competition in the local or national media ‘borrows’ my idea(s), I will not be impressed. Our lawyers are watching; and if they’re not, I have up to 100 more to call on.
TUESDAY
Music to our ears
This morning, I think I saw a young person walking in Roscommon Town without wearing earPods/airPods/earbuds.
I may be mistaken, as sightings of these tiny white devices in the ears of the masses are now as common as extreme weather warnings or annoying TV reality shows.
No doubt these pods, which allow you to listen to music, answer calls, liaise with Siri, etc. have been around for a while, but I’ve really only noticed the phenomenon in recent months, and will presumably acquire my own in a few years’ time (as part of my long-running ‘Catching up with modern technology’ series).
Apart from enjoying Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé – not to mention Daniel O’Donnell – I presume an added advantage is that you can ignore someone on the street by pretending you didn’t hear their greeting?
WEDNESDAY
Standing in the crowd in Paddy Joe Burke’s famous barber shop – believe me, it was standing room only today – I browsed (yet again) at all the memorabilia the great man has pinned to the walls over the years.
While there are newspaper cuttings, photographs and idiosyncratic of all types, I focussed in particular on some of the slogans, what with this being the end of an era (Paddy Joe has retired after 52 years).
They read (as one would expect) like Paddy Joe’s personal life tips.
‘Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today’.
‘You only live once… but if you do it right, once is enough’.
‘Today is going to be the best day ever’.
‘Life is a gift; never forget to enjoy it’.
It was a unique place, one that became embedded in our hearts. I’m sure some of those slogans lifted a few people over the years.
