Cheers for heads up on yesterday's problems with the Big Dipper. Might have to conquer the dodgems instead. Get into Blackpool at 1.
@VisitLancashire hooray!
Pendolino cranking into warp speed.
@StayBlackpool good news...hopefully it holds!
Need some trivia on the train. Got any weird/stupid/fascinating facts about Blackpool? Will RT the best.
RT @MattTempest: RAF plane crashed into main station during WW2 with lots of casualties/witnesses, but covered up to keep up morale.
RT @mrdavidwhitley: Blackpool is the capital city of Ireland. No, really - Dublin means Blackpool in Irish.
Will be getting in close to lunchtime. Any suggestions for grub? Want cheap, cheerful and traditional.
good lunch tips from @visitBlackpool and @stayblackpool... Any others?
surely not?! RT @danielbower Did you know that the old Intercity trains used to go faster than Pendalinos. FACT.
is it? RT @maixiu: the best ice-cream in Blackpool is in a cafe called Ashurst's on Red Bank Road in Bispham.
@karenbryan defo traditional (and cheap)!
First sight of Blackpool tower across the Lancs countryside.
RT @StayBlackpool: @benjilanyado its a tradition when visiting Blackpool that the first person to spot the Tower gets a £1
RT @joolsholland67: how about Raffles Tea Rooms on Hornby Rd or Chesters Tea Rooms on Church St, Yorkshire Fisheries for chippy tea!
RT @trixie: @benjilanyado No it's at Bonds Ice Cream factory in Elswick. But downtown Blackpool try Notrianni's down South Shore way
Ta-da! Blackpool is positively balmy. Was grey all the way, but here the sun's out. A microclimate?
flic.krSmart chaps in Chester's Tea Rooms. Here thanks to @joolsholland67's tip, 5 minutes ago.
flic.krTopside Lancashire beef with stonking English mustard in a sandwich. Nose running.
RT @katemate123 take tram to Starr Gate and go for wander on the beach down there - sand streches for miles & so peacful!
Anyone? RT @markfrary: So find out for me. Is it officially Blackpudlians or Sandgrown'uns?
RT @helenpower: for the pleasure beach Big One obviously but also Grand National and Wild Mouse - both quite old and ricketty scary.
RT @cliffc100: If you are going to do the tower trip and your only there for the day i would go now you may even get to see the circus
Request for confirmation: will they let a grown(ish) man on the donkeys?
A very friendly man, despite his insistance that I'm going to hell.
flic.krThe entrance to the Tower.
flic.krGah. Only a coupla feet short!
flic.krThe Tower Ballroom. One of the most captivating places I've ever visited. Truly amazing.
flic.krThe famous Wurlitzer organ (in the background)
flic.krA gloriously light-footed couple of queens waltz across the dancefloor.
flic.krOff to the top of the tower, to send a postcard, as tipped by @OnTheFyldeSide
View from the top of the Tower.
flic.krAaaaagh. My feet bravely straddling the Walk of Death. 380ft drop.
flic.krRight...starting to collate tips for the evening...Traditional Pubs? Shows? Cabaret?
shouts for Funnygirls from @onthefyldeside @swedishtwit & @maixiu do i need a ticket or can i turn up?
The tram to Starr Gate.
flic.krRT @duchessofgrange: recommend The Pump & Truncheon. It's a locals pub, inhabited by market traders and sea front stall owners.
Beautiful beach and dune at Starr Gate. Great tip from @katemate123
flic.krShoes and socks removed. Shadow-boxing. Psyching myself up for the Big One. I shall defeat it. Oh yes. I shall defeat it.
Made it! Now, to regale my tales of derring-do to the market traders in the Pump & Truncheon.
The Pump & Truncheon, great tip from @duchessofgrange. Drinking a pint of Lytham Gold brewed in the Blackpool Fyld.
flic.krOops. Planned dinner venue (Yorkshire Fisheries) is closed. Any last-minute suggestions in the centre of town?
tip from @redders32 also closed! But they've sent me onwards...
@trixie arg...too late. Just ordered at another place. Off to funnygirls next. Gulp. Any suggestions for a nightcap?
Turns out third best is more than ok. About to lay into a plate of fresh scampi at AJ's birtro.
And next...off to Funnygirls. Not sure what to expect. When I told the waitress she laughed at me. Bodes well.
Perfect. Stay tuned. RT @otherwayworks: @benjilanyado That's a transvestite show bar, you do realise that?!
previous pic is of my new friends...i walked in and they bought me a drink. Bravo people of Blackpool.
This is the compère, Zoe. My new friends tell me he's a plasterer by day.
flic.krtwitpic.com - Zoe keeps a careful eye on the bar staff.
The transvestite opera begins. This lady/man is singing Barcelona by Queen.
flic.krZoe keeps a careful eye on the bar staff.
flic.krUp next, a Michael Jackson tribute. With transvestites.
flic.krWhoa! It morphed into an Adams Family medley! With a transvestite that looks scarily like Angelica Houston!
flic.krThis is definitely the best north-western transvestite cabaret I've seen this week.
And finally, transvestite flamenco. Why not? An excellently surreal end to an excellent TwiTrip. Thanks to all.
http://flic.kr/p/6PdV7u
by benjilanyado via Twitpic at 8/12/2009 9:15:59 PM