Warsaw: The (Newly Opened) 2nd Metro Line

Was walking about near Swiętokrzyska in Warsaw city centre today, and couldn't help but notice that after the long wait, the city's 2nd metro line is now well and truly open:

Got to say that from what I quickly saw today, the 2nd metro line looks great inside:

And of course, outside, I had to get a shot of one of the distinct yellowy-green 2nd line entrances with the Palace of Culture in the background:

Canterbury Dane John Gardens: World Music from the Early 2000s

Here's a few shots from one of the World Music events held in the Dane John Gardens in Canterbury, Kent, from the early 2000s.  If my memory serves me well, the band above were from Brazil, but, for me, the most interesting act that I probably saw was the one below with an African harp player and British guitarist:

Of course, this festival was always colourful (I went to it about 3-4 times in the early 2000s) as shown by the Indian dancers below:

And it included all kinds of entertainment such as the balancing act below:

So glad I've still got these pictures as I'd almost completely forgotten about the World Music event in the Dane John Gardens.  Wonder if it still takes now, as I really enjoyed it when I was living in Canterbury in the early 2000s.

Faversham, Kent

Visited Faversham a few times while living in Canterbury in the late 1990s/early 2000s.  Really love the Town Hall building on stilts in Faversham (above).

Went to Faversham once for a guided tour of the Shepherd Neame brewery (below):

As a lover of Real Ale, this trip was a dream and I especially enjoyed drinking the fresh beer inside the brewery at the end of the guided tour.

Not 100% sure if the scene below is from Faversham, but I assume it is:

However, no matter where it is from, it caught my imagination (e.g. almost as a setting from a Dickens novel).

The Go-Betweens: Early 2000s Manchester Academy 3 Gig

Couple of adaptations of the same shot of Robert Forster (great shirt) from a Go-Betweens gig at Manchester Academy 3 (the top place in the university building) from the early 2000s when the band had reformed.

Nice surprise halfway through the gig when Robert Forster asked if anyone was from Bury, Lancashire, and then revealed that the band's female bassist originated from Bury.

Don't remember too much from this gig, the only time I've seen The Go-Betweens, but can remember them doing my two favourite tunes: 'Was There Anything I Could Do' and 'Too Much of One Thing'.

Warsaw Uprising Museum: The Catholic Priest's Vestments

When I visited the Warsaw Uprising Museum last summer, this was one of the images that stood out most for me.

It just reinforced what quite a few Poles had told me about Catholic priests having literally fought in the Uprising against the Nazis.  Given this, it's not surprising that Catholicism is still (to some degree) associated with national identity in Poland.

Def Leppard Concert Poster in Warsaw

Saw the Def Leppard concert poster above while out and about in Warsaw yesterday.  May well go to this gig, as I haven't seen Def Leppard since 1986 when I caught them at Castle Donington with Motorhead; The Scorpions; and Ozzy Osbourne.  Before this, I'd seen them on the 'On Through the Night'; 'High 'n' Dry'; and 'Pyromania' tours at Manchester Apollo in the early 1980s.  Just think it's a good idea to catch up with such bands as Def Leppard live before it's too late.

Probably won't go to see Judas Priest in Lódż.  Last saw Judas Priest in 2004 in Prague where they were excellent, and, previous to this, I'd seen them on the 'Point of Entry'; 'Defenders of the Faith'; and 'Ram It Down' tours during the 1980s at Manchester Apollo.

Warsaw: Koło Woods, Early Spring 2015

 
Above is one of the numerous entrances into Koło Woods, while below, there is one of the magical paths through the Woods:

People generally go through the Woods to just walk the dog or get a bit of fresh air, but, on several occasions, I've seen people reading books or magazines in the shelters like the one below:

Below, the table in one of the shelters has been customised into some kind of cooking place:

While the bars below offer the opportunity to do a few press-ups and pull-ups:

Still, I can't really guess what the structure below has been designed for:

Just seems like Koło Woods offers people a quick retreat and respite from the stress of it all.