So people, this will be my last op for a couple of weeks after I move on Sunday and have to wait for a new phone line, etc, I've decided to write an op on my native city. This will be my 10th move and I wouldn't dream of living anywhere else, so heres the low-down on the South West's funkiest city.

Bristol is accessible by every mode of transport, bus, coach, train and even the airport. That's not to say the city transport is any good, it was recently voted the worst in the country (I've written an op on this by the way! So be prepared to wait if you want to explore it by bus, there is plenty of parking around though, especially in the centre.

The Shopper:
Plenty of that, every Christmas the town is invaded by hordes of Welsh shoppers looking for a bargain. We have 2 main shopping areas, Broadmead in the centre of Bristol which has the shops you would expect to see on the High St, clothes, books, music stores, etc. Then there is Cribbs Causeway, a massive shopping mall to the north of Bristol, many buses go there and there is loads of parking. Again a lot of the high street stores. But some designer stores as well. Cribbs Causeway also features huge outlets of Asda/WalMart, Toys 'R'Us (Done an op on that as well!), Argos etc. There is also an eating park and cinema.

The Tourist/Sightseer
Loads for you, absolutely loads! Parts of Bristol date back to the 11th Century but there is little evidence of this left. The magnificent Cathedral in the Centre dates back to before the 13th century and is fully open to the public, you can just wander round, takes in all the different rooms to the Cathedral, the Norman Chapter is worth taking a look at. And its where I shall be in November when I graduate!
St Mary Redcliffe is again another massive church, even mentioned by Elizabeth 1 as the 'fairest, most godliest church in the whole land', although it is doubted she was ever here! On open days they allow you to go into the vaults where slaves were chained to the walls before being moved.
Brandons Hill, a large open space in the centre of Bristol with a large folly that you can climb and the view across the whole of Bristol is fantastic.
The @Bristol complex, rather new to Bristol, it features the @Bristol centre, the IMAX cinema, and the Wild Walk. Great for the young and old, the IMAX is one of the largest in the country and provides a 3D experience, the centre is very scientific, you can learn to build a bridge, learn all about the bits of your body, take in the Night Sky experience or make your own TV programme. Not having been in the Wild Walk I cant comment but it looks very exotic from outside with all its tropical plants.
You can also take a trip round the Harbour, passing the Industrial Museum, Bristol Bridge which has been there for centuries, and passing the old docks. Did I mention that John Cabot sailed from here to Newfoundland in 1497?
Bristol is also full of little treasures, too numerous to mention here, the Wills Building, the Suspension Bridge, the first Iron ship the SS Great Britain, the hidden away little churches, your best bet is to grab one of the tour buses from the centre.
And musnt forget Bristol Zoo, and its new underground penguin sanctuary, and the new lion cub. (all animals are endangered species and bred to go to other zoos and safari parks)

Well after all that you'd need some grub, again there is so much to choose from, right in the shopping centre there is the usual Pizza Hut and burger outlets. But moving away from the Centre there is much more. Morrocan, Italian, Lebanese, Australian, Vietnamese, its all here! I can particularly recommend Melbournes on Park St, Henry Africa's Hothouse on Whiteladies Rd and La Campagniola on Zetland Rd. If you aren't sure what you want ask someone to point you in the direction of Gloucester Rd, every 3rd shop is a restaurant! And if you just want a drink there are many,many pubs and bars around, try and avoid the Centre at 2am on a Saturday night, its not particularly pretty.

So if you want to visit a city with the majority of the attractions within a small area, do a bit of shopping, go out for a good meal then go clubbing (there are lots of hotels in the centre), Bristol is the place to be! Take a gander at www.thisisbristol.com for updated details

So goodbye for a while people, hope you enjoy this op and you lot are so lucky, its my birthday today and I'm writing this. Not because everyone forgot and I got no cards or presents you understand...........