An Idiot Abroad- not so dumb afterall

It’s very rare to find a travel program that is prepared to show the poverty and chaos surrounding a famous landmark as well as airing the unsavoury reactions of its host.

However, this is a unique travel program. The host, Karl Pilkington didn’t have romantic notions of the Taj Mahal or childhood dreams to walk on the Great Wall of China. He was perfectly happy to stay in the comfort of his white, middle class suburbia, until he was forced by his close friends Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to open his eyes and live a little.

Karl becomes their victim, their toy, and their source of amusement as they send him around the world in search of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The romance of travel is well and truly removed by this show yet at the same time the essence of each experience that is captured by super high definition video resonates with the viewer.

In typical British fashion, Karl whinges and complains about everything. When standing in front of the pyramids of Giza, he comments "...a little tornado innit. You don't see that in the brochure. Shitty old nappy whizzing through the air. They tend to leave that out."



At the Great Wall of China, "They say it goes on for miles. Well, so does the M-6.”

While his statements may seem politically incorrect, they are simply unfiltered comments in reaction to the wonders of the world as processed by an untainted mind, coloured with simple amazement, confusion, and the visual comprehension of the illogical and sometimes absurd realities of the modern world.

An Idiot abroad is a remarkable look at the cultures and customs of humanity through the eyes of an uncultured, yet brilliant ‘everyman’.

An Idiot Abroad- The Seven Wonders of the World. Season 1, Sky1

Viva Las Fallas

This years winner- Da Vinci

The charming romantic town of Valencia, on Spain's east coast turns into something of an Armageddon battleground over the four day festival known as Las Fallas.


The festival, in celebration of Saint Joseph, started as ceremony of light fires to welcome Spring, and has turned into a week long, city wide celebration of anything to do with fire.


It starts in the morning at 7:30am, with La Despertà ("the wake-up call"). Brass bands will appear from nowhere and begin to march down every street playing lively music. Close behind them are the fallers, throwing large firecrackers in the street as they wake up the town.


At 2pm, the Mascleta starts, which is a barrage of fireworks and firecrackers that have an audible rhythm, ending with a 100decibel crescendo that rattles every bone in your body.


At midnight, the traditional fireworks begin, and the city sky is lit up for 20 minutes. The party really starts now as young and old people flock to the streets, drinks in hand and dance and party until the sun comes up.


Then it starts all over again the next morning...

At the same time, every day what seems like half of Valencia dresses up in beautiful traditional clothes and parades through the city, with the women offering a flower to the virgin at the end of the parade.


But the best part is visiting all the amazing sculptures, known as the fallas, which have been created over the whole year by each community, and they are funded by the community. While most have political undertones, some are simply just beautiful. 


Then the festival comes to an end with la cremada- the burning! After one year of hand work, and sometimes up to a million euros invested into these magnificent sculptures, they stand just four days in the city before being burnt to a crisp on the final night.

A dramatic end to a dramatic party.

It would be interesting to know how much loss of productivity occurs in Valencia during this time, 'cos the locals sure know how to party!