Bristol

Bristol, you are so very hip and edgy and fantastically different to how I remembered you, with your tired and gloomy 1950s and 1960s concrete buildings. But perhaps these depressing buildings provided a blank canvas for Bristol’s street artists? A space to make a political statement or throw some colour and creativity at the hulking greyness. Our hunt for Bristol’s street art took us from the revitalized Harbourside, through the old city with its mix of modern bars and cafes and old pubs and back again.  We discovered a fantastic Asian market that sold Pokemon sodas and around the corner was a Pokemon trading card establishment which was a shrine to all things Pokemon. We found a gaming shop which held Pokemon duels and DnD campaigns. The girls were already sold on Bristol after a delicious lunch of ramen noodles and pork ribs, but with these Pokemon delights, they were in love. We enjoyed how old rubbed alongside new in Bristol, but maybe that’s how our day unfolded. From the elegant design of the SS Great Britain steamship, which we climbed aboard to discover what it would be like to voyage by sea to Australia in the closing days of the 1800s, to geeky gaming stores. Trying to decipher Banksy’s “Grim Reaper” on display in the M-Shed to learning about life in Bristol during WWII one floor below. From the happy busker playing jazzy tunes on his electric guitar along the harbour to the upbeat swing band jamming in a timeworn pub. We’ll definitely be back, whether to play DnD or explore the vintage clothing stores or party at the roller disco. There’s lots more to discover!