It will be Australia Day soon…26th January. I am leaving for Italy tomorrow so I won’t be here to enjoy the festivities, one of which is the annual cockroach races at the Story Bridge Hotel.
The Story Bridge Hotel is in the shadow of the Story Bridge and has been holding cockroach races for 31 years…an event not to be missed if you are in Brisbane on 26th January. Train up your cockroaches and be there.
I will soon be back in gorgeous Bagni di Lucca and some delicious cold weather. I will be stopping over in Hong Kong and Helsinki on the way and I will post photos from these 2 great cities.
Cockroach races! I’d love to see more about this! I remember the huge sleek ones we had in Sydney. Great racing machines I imagine. Safe trip! Ciao catinitaly
By: Catherine on January 15, 2013
at 8:58 am
I have not actually been to the cockroach races, but I have seen them on TV…and toad races. It is all good fun.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 15, 2013
at 10:13 am
Ahhh, missed having lunch with you. Sorry. So busy redecorating the big house to get it on the market. Painting like a mad woman. Making curtains etc. etc. Next time you are here, I may be living elsewhere. 😉
P.S. No cockroaches here. LOL.
By: Liz Golding on January 15, 2013
at 9:12 am
Good luck with your house…and I am glad you have no cockroaches.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 15, 2013
at 10:13 am
You will be in Italy I will be here at Kangaroo Point so will be able to give you some feedback about Australia day but maybe not about cockroaches- this has been such a hot month bet they are awful big things this year.
By: dianne Cant on January 15, 2013
at 9:38 am
You could just about see those races from your place. Have fun!
By: Debra Kolkka on January 15, 2013
at 10:14 am
Have a nice trip… the cockroach affair is not for me… 😉
By: maru on January 15, 2013
at 11:28 am
I’m not sure I would like to be handling them, but it could be fun to watch.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 15, 2013
at 11:56 am
Be sure to hunt down my new home in Bagni !
Ciao and safe traveling !
By: Richard the terrible on January 15, 2013
at 12:00 pm
I will go to the house again, and if I get nowhere I will try an agent…and I will have a glass of vino rosso for you at the bar.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 15, 2013
at 12:06 pm
Have a great trip! I will see you in Bagni.
By: mulino dominillo on January 15, 2013
at 12:06 pm
I look forward to a coffee at Il Monaco.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 15, 2013
at 12:26 pm
Deb, safe travels, lets Skype when u settle in bagni, am booked for April.
By: Cherry on January 15, 2013
at 12:17 pm
I will let you know when I arrive. I should be in BdL by the afternoon of 21st Jan.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 15, 2013
at 12:27 pm
Now that is one event I wouldn’t mind missing. Safe travels.
By: Karen on January 15, 2013
at 12:54 pm
I’m nit squeamish at all about cockroaches. I think it would be fun.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:16 am
Have a good trip Debra
By: Pam Proctor on January 15, 2013
at 12:55 pm
Thank you, I’m sure it will be an adventure.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:16 am
Have a safe trip …. and I look forward to more reports from Bagni!
By: aFrankAngle on January 15, 2013
at 1:26 pm
Thank you, I can’t wait to get to lovely Bagni di Lucca.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:18 am
Cockroach races! Happy Australia day (in advance) and Bon Voyage.
By: Just Add Attitude on January 15, 2013
at 4:08 pm
Thank you, I am sorry to miss Australia Day, but the heat was really getting to me.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:17 am
Have a safe trip. Hopefully this year we can meet in Bar Italia for a glass of Prosecco.
By: hitchedinitaly on January 15, 2013
at 4:38 pm
I will be in the village from 21st January until the end of May. I hope we can catch up.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:26 am
Hmmm. Cockroach races. How big are these cockroaches? Can you saddle them? 😉 I saw lots of monster cockroaches when I lived in Japan. Even so, I think I might go and watch cockroach races once, just to say I had done it!
By: Diane C on January 15, 2013
at 4:42 pm
Cockroaches can be quite big. I really will have to see a cockroach race at least once in my life.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:19 am
Safe travels, Debra and we’ll be anxious to enjoy the journey with you. I’m wondering if you’ve ever calculated how many miles you’ve traveled so far. It has to be astronomical!
By: Karen Overton on January 15, 2013
at 6:49 pm
I haven’t thought about adding up the kilometres, it should be interesting.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:20 am
Your travel schedule makes me head spin. Seems you’ve just left and you’re coming back…where do you spend more time now, on balance? Are you considering Italian citizenship? Wow.
By: The Daily Cure on January 15, 2013
at 7:23 pm
I spend about 6 months in Australia and Italy. I am not sure that I would qualify for Italian citizenship, but it would certainly save the bother of getting visas when I am in Italy more than 3 months at a time.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:22 am
Safe journey Debra. x
By: francescamuir on January 15, 2013
at 10:08 pm
Thank you, I hope to see you in Italy one day soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:23 am
Enjoy the journey over and see you in Italy!
By: Jane on January 15, 2013
at 11:08 pm
I look forward to it.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:23 am
Awesome event! Sorry you will miss it — but Italy, clearly is worth it! Safe travels. Cheers, Steph
By: stephglaser on January 16, 2013
at 6:00 am
It does seem a shame to miss the cockroach races, but Bagni di Lucca calls.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:24 am
Safe travels Debra-can’t wait to hear more from Bagni di Lucca.
By: paninigirl on January 16, 2013
at 3:00 pm
I am very keen to get back to Bagni di Lucca and keep working on our house in the mountains.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 4:25 am
I will celebrate for you here in Abu Dhabi…the hotel where I’m staying is hosting Australia Day on the 25th. I’ll drink one in honor of you! LOL!
By: Our Kitchen Inventions on January 18, 2013
at 4:19 pm
How curious they would celebrate Australia day!
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 3:12 am
Ha ha, the things we Australians do 🙂 I haven’t ever seen cockroach races, but I have had the joy(?) of being at a tavern when cane toad races were underway. Happy and safe travels to Italy!
By: twoblackdoggies on January 18, 2013
at 9:48 pm
I haven’t been either, but I’m sure it is a lot of fun.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2013
at 3:14 am
You should catch how they train the cockroaches for the race. 😆
By: rommel on January 26, 2013
at 5:05 am
I’m not sure that cockroaches have very large brains. I think they are just put in narrow lanes and the trainers hope they go forward at speed.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 26, 2013
at 7:12 am