23 lundi: Nager 1km (PU)
24 mardi: Nager 4km (PU)
25 mercredi: Cycle 60km (Le Touvet)
26 jeudi: CàP 16km (La Bastille)
27 vendredi: Nager 1.5km (PU)
28 samedi: Cycle 158km (Vercors)
29 dimanche: Nager 1km (St. Martin D'Heres), CàP 5km (DU)
En totale: Nager 7.5km, Cycle 218km, CàP 21km
lundi, juin 30, 2008
dimanche, juin 29, 2008
les douleurs de la mort
I'm in the last stages of Ironman training. Starting Monday, I will be sliding stomach first into the taper period, where doubts and pounds will start building up at a fairly constant pace.
These last few weeks of Ironman training have always been the most challenging, when the volume of activity in all three sports reaches its peak. When the number of hours spent training equals to the number of hours spent sleeping.
On any given week, I am swimming about 4km, cycling 250km and running 50km. I'm doing static exercises (no gym here) to build muscle mass, doing intervals to build speed, and drinking beer to carbo-load. I'm eating not to survive, but to recover. I'm sleeping not for relaxation, but for the ability to wake up at the next sunrise and push myself to the limit once again.
Its at this period of Ironman training when pain is at its peak. It's constant. I go to sleep with tired legs and wake up with aching muscles. I grunt when I walk up stairs and moan when I try to get down on the floor. It seems the only pain-free peace I have is sitting on the toilet. Some days I never want to get up.
Everything hurts.
But still, the training must go on.
Granted that this year I have clocked less mileage than in previous years', but what I lack in quantity, I try to make up for it in quality.
Last Friday I woke up at 0730 to do the Ironman Nice bike ride. 180km. 2200m of climbing. 15 to 25 kmh wind gusts. After already logging in 300km the previous 2 days. If everything felt fine, I would've been brutal. But, alas, I'm in the heat of Ironman training. Did everything feel fine? If by "fine" you mean "everything hurts," then yes, everything felt fine.
I started the ride off slowly, mostly because I was in too much pain to go any other speed. I got into my painstakingly slow groove and pedalled down the Promenade des Anglais. 10 minutes turned into 30. 30 into an hour. My mind wandered about. I went in and out, into the here and there, the this and that. I thought of things and stuff and such and such. And soon enough I got to Gourdon, THE climb for the ride.
I was relaxed and decided to push a little harder, to get up the col and prove to myself that I'm in Ironman shape. I focused my mind, honed in my eyes, shifted my gears and pushed.
Ooh. Ouch. Ugh.
Within 15 seconds I realized that my plan wasn't going to work out so well. Screw this, I muttered. I backed off the gears, sat up and slowly spun myself up the hills. Frustration began to seep into the weak corners of my brain. The fluid of doubt started coursing through my veins.
Why do I do this, I thought to myself. I want to be strong, I want to be fast, I want to be better than me. But I'm not. I'm not. As I pedalled further, I sunk myself deeper into the downward spiral of despair. I doubted my ability, wondered if I'd ever feel like I could move faster than a snails pace. I bowed my head in sadness and looked down at the ground just as an escargot passed me by.
It was about this point that two other riders rolled by.
They were Swedish, and they were just going a little faster than me so I mustered up everything I had, picked up the pace, and held on. I needed motivation. I needed company. I needed anything.
Between them, I learned, they had finished 12 Ironman races, and was in Nice as well like me not to race, but to support their friends who were participating in Sunday's race. As we rode together, we struck up a conversation of all things triathlon: the ghosts of races past and ghosts of races future. Of training and traveling and balancing life on the pinpoint of sanity.
"You're training for Ironman Zurich?" they said after I shared the info. "That's right around the corner. You must be in pretty good shape."
I chuckled slightly. "I might be in good shape", I said. "But it's really difficult to tell. Everything hurts. Always. I'm always in pain."
One of them smiled a triathlete grin - the cheek to cheek gaze of somebody who has been down that road, who knows the feeling. "I miss that", he said. "I miss waking up in pain."
We talked on a bit further, but my mind revolved around those comments. I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. About the enjoyment of pain.
And somewhere down the road it started making sense. I suddenly realized the gift I've been given. The gift to feel. To know I'm alive. To sense in every moment of every hour that I've pushed myself to the limit.
If there is a bright side of pain, I suppose that this is it. It is the constant reminder - every second of every day - that I am in shape. That I am doing exactly what I want to do. That I have set my goals and am achieving my dreams.
If there is a bright side of pain, it is the continuous reminder that I am proud of me. I guess they were right - why would I ever want to let this feeling go?
These last few weeks of Ironman training have always been the most challenging, when the volume of activity in all three sports reaches its peak. When the number of hours spent training equals to the number of hours spent sleeping.
On any given week, I am swimming about 4km, cycling 250km and running 50km. I'm doing static exercises (no gym here) to build muscle mass, doing intervals to build speed, and drinking beer to carbo-load. I'm eating not to survive, but to recover. I'm sleeping not for relaxation, but for the ability to wake up at the next sunrise and push myself to the limit once again.
Its at this period of Ironman training when pain is at its peak. It's constant. I go to sleep with tired legs and wake up with aching muscles. I grunt when I walk up stairs and moan when I try to get down on the floor. It seems the only pain-free peace I have is sitting on the toilet. Some days I never want to get up.
Everything hurts.
But still, the training must go on.
Granted that this year I have clocked less mileage than in previous years', but what I lack in quantity, I try to make up for it in quality.
Last Friday I woke up at 0730 to do the Ironman Nice bike ride. 180km. 2200m of climbing. 15 to 25 kmh wind gusts. After already logging in 300km the previous 2 days. If everything felt fine, I would've been brutal. But, alas, I'm in the heat of Ironman training. Did everything feel fine? If by "fine" you mean "everything hurts," then yes, everything felt fine.
I started the ride off slowly, mostly because I was in too much pain to go any other speed. I got into my painstakingly slow groove and pedalled down the Promenade des Anglais. 10 minutes turned into 30. 30 into an hour. My mind wandered about. I went in and out, into the here and there, the this and that. I thought of things and stuff and such and such. And soon enough I got to Gourdon, THE climb for the ride.
I was relaxed and decided to push a little harder, to get up the col and prove to myself that I'm in Ironman shape. I focused my mind, honed in my eyes, shifted my gears and pushed.
Ooh. Ouch. Ugh.
Within 15 seconds I realized that my plan wasn't going to work out so well. Screw this, I muttered. I backed off the gears, sat up and slowly spun myself up the hills. Frustration began to seep into the weak corners of my brain. The fluid of doubt started coursing through my veins.
Why do I do this, I thought to myself. I want to be strong, I want to be fast, I want to be better than me. But I'm not. I'm not. As I pedalled further, I sunk myself deeper into the downward spiral of despair. I doubted my ability, wondered if I'd ever feel like I could move faster than a snails pace. I bowed my head in sadness and looked down at the ground just as an escargot passed me by.
It was about this point that two other riders rolled by.
They were Swedish, and they were just going a little faster than me so I mustered up everything I had, picked up the pace, and held on. I needed motivation. I needed company. I needed anything.
Between them, I learned, they had finished 12 Ironman races, and was in Nice as well like me not to race, but to support their friends who were participating in Sunday's race. As we rode together, we struck up a conversation of all things triathlon: the ghosts of races past and ghosts of races future. Of training and traveling and balancing life on the pinpoint of sanity.
"You're training for Ironman Zurich?" they said after I shared the info. "That's right around the corner. You must be in pretty good shape."
I chuckled slightly. "I might be in good shape", I said. "But it's really difficult to tell. Everything hurts. Always. I'm always in pain."
One of them smiled a triathlete grin - the cheek to cheek gaze of somebody who has been down that road, who knows the feeling. "I miss that", he said. "I miss waking up in pain."
We talked on a bit further, but my mind revolved around those comments. I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. About the enjoyment of pain.
And somewhere down the road it started making sense. I suddenly realized the gift I've been given. The gift to feel. To know I'm alive. To sense in every moment of every hour that I've pushed myself to the limit.
If there is a bright side of pain, I suppose that this is it. It is the constant reminder - every second of every day - that I am in shape. That I am doing exactly what I want to do. That I have set my goals and am achieving my dreams.
If there is a bright side of pain, it is the continuous reminder that I am proud of me. I guess they were right - why would I ever want to let this feeling go?
vendredi, juin 27, 2008
emballage
Packing up time.
Bye bye to useless maps, lecture notes, boulloire, pots and pans, cutlery, ikea rug, and like 1547 other random pieces of knick-knacks which I managed to hoard over the course of the year.
Its amazing, this incredible stash of Europe visited or yet to visit, fragments of daily life, and memories waiting to be categorized: impossible to sort them into jetter and garder. I don't even know where to start and where to end; try it, if you had to to chop away the finger you deem to be the most useless, which would it be?
In a conundrum? That's how I feel now. Biodegradable/plastic/paper/metal seems so much more straightforward and simple.
-
Do we pick things up along the way or do we leave pieces of ourselves behind?
-
Then it has gotten so hot over here in Grenoble over the past two weeks. I feel like I'm wrapped in bubble wrap, living in my own greenhouse.
Even in the shade and in my room, I am not spared. I am sitting here steaming at midnight. The heat just creeps everywhere and enters every possible bodily crevice. Its crazy that they have heaters in buildings for winter but nothing for ventilation in summer. That is why the French are so connected with the environment: they feel it very intimately, nothing artificial and man-made to shelter them from the harsh conditions. Mad.
Thankfully and no wonder they do not have classes in summer. It would be suicidal. Imagine sitting in an oven and watching Korean soap dramas. The results would be ugly.
But then again its a good excuse to go outdoors, to go for a dip in the lake, to go picnicking in the park, to laze in the sun. All in the shade, of course.
Bye bye to useless maps, lecture notes, boulloire, pots and pans, cutlery, ikea rug, and like 1547 other random pieces of knick-knacks which I managed to hoard over the course of the year.
Its amazing, this incredible stash of Europe visited or yet to visit, fragments of daily life, and memories waiting to be categorized: impossible to sort them into jetter and garder. I don't even know where to start and where to end; try it, if you had to to chop away the finger you deem to be the most useless, which would it be?
In a conundrum? That's how I feel now. Biodegradable/plastic/paper/metal seems so much more straightforward and simple.
-
Do we pick things up along the way or do we leave pieces of ourselves behind?
-
Then it has gotten so hot over here in Grenoble over the past two weeks. I feel like I'm wrapped in bubble wrap, living in my own greenhouse.
Even in the shade and in my room, I am not spared. I am sitting here steaming at midnight. The heat just creeps everywhere and enters every possible bodily crevice. Its crazy that they have heaters in buildings for winter but nothing for ventilation in summer. That is why the French are so connected with the environment: they feel it very intimately, nothing artificial and man-made to shelter them from the harsh conditions. Mad.
Thankfully and no wonder they do not have classes in summer. It would be suicidal. Imagine sitting in an oven and watching Korean soap dramas. The results would be ugly.
But then again its a good excuse to go outdoors, to go for a dip in the lake, to go picnicking in the park, to laze in the sun. All in the shade, of course.
mercredi, juin 25, 2008
ironman nice
So it was Ironman Nice once again. Came here as well in 2006 but somehow never managed to race in one of the best Ironman courses in the world. Even Jeff had a word with me there and he threatened to put me in for the race. Luckily I fended him off saying that I had just biked 250km from Gap plus I had no wetsuit. =D
ironman expo
tanning with letch..
and with the rest of the world
bikes stacked nicely after check in
even a foldable bike!!!
All along the route I met triathletes recce-ing the bike course and some would honk or shout out words of encouragement. Lovely. 2 days later I would be doing the same for them at the transition area. The next 100km passed by pretty quickly and soon I was in Nice with all the crazy traffic again.
Race day. It was la fête de la musique the night before and many of the revellers were still milling about the beaches. Went to the start with Colin and while he prepped for the race start, I went off to do my race crew duties at transition getting up close and personal with all the bling bikes. =P Its impossible to post all the photos here so here's a link to all the bike porn.
At the end of the day, Marcel Zamora scored a hat trick of IM Frances, whilst Martina Dogana claimed her first IM victory. And Colin finished comfortably with 30mins to spare! Hooray to all! =)
pro pen
and they're off!
first swimmer coming in
jaja: the crowd's favourite
the pros coming back and running into T2
there were just these 8 lonely bikes for a long time
this is what i call being prepared
morale booster
colin coming into T2
at the finish
In between all the eating, suntanning and babewatching I found time to do the bike loop 2 days before the race. Apparently the route had changed slightly since 2006 and I got kinda lost on the way out of Nice. But the route was well marked after that and I made the 60km to Le Bar sur Loup with relative ease, where I stopped for a sandwich lunch before the right turn to commence the 21km Gourdon climb.
ironman expo
tanning with letch..
and with the rest of the world
bikes stacked nicely after check in
even a foldable bike!!!All along the route I met triathletes recce-ing the bike course and some would honk or shout out words of encouragement. Lovely. 2 days later I would be doing the same for them at the transition area. The next 100km passed by pretty quickly and soon I was in Nice with all the crazy traffic again.
Race day. It was la fête de la musique the night before and many of the revellers were still milling about the beaches. Went to the start with Colin and while he prepped for the race start, I went off to do my race crew duties at transition getting up close and personal with all the bling bikes. =P Its impossible to post all the photos here so here's a link to all the bike porn.
At the end of the day, Marcel Zamora scored a hat trick of IM Frances, whilst Martina Dogana claimed her first IM victory. And Colin finished comfortably with 30mins to spare! Hooray to all! =)
pro pen
and they're off!
first swimmer coming in
jaja: the crowd's favourite
the pros coming back and running into T2
there were just these 8 lonely bikes for a long time
this is what i call being prepared
morale booster
colin coming into T2
at the finishSo with the finish of Ironman Nice ended my looong bike/run weekend - 420km on the saddle and 60km of running in 5 days! Took the TGV back the next day, and got to take one of those newfangled multi-seat configuration TERs on the way back from Lyon. =)
mardi, juin 24, 2008
route napoleon
Grenoble to Nice. 345km. 2700m of climbing. 3 days.
In the footsteps of France's greatest leader, not to mention one of the world's greatest megalomaniacs, on his return from exile in Elba.
This is le Route Napoleon.
At least that was the initial plan. However due to bad weather on my scheduled start day I had to take a train down to Gap the next day instead of cycling down for the first stage. Anyway with at least another 250km to go and with the Ironman Nice bike route also in mind, this was not a time to be calculative.
Reached Gap a little past noon and the sun was already scorching hot. The weather had changed 180 degrees just from a day ago and summer seemed to already be in full swing. Not wanting to waste any time steaming in the heat, I changed to my bike clothes and headed off on the autoroute N85.
Gap to Digne is basically a long descend, not bad for a warm up, but the blustery Mediterranean winds and the lack of cloud cover made it quite a difficult ride. Not being able to get aero due to my backpack made things worse: there were some portions where I was crawling along at 30kmh in spite of negative gradient!
So anyway I reached Digne with a ride time of about three and a half hours. Promptly went off to the plan d'eau, which is a man made artificial lake. Boy was it great to plunge into the cool water after a scorching hot ride!
.jpg)
leaving Gap on the N85. The eagle is the sign of the route Napoleon
sisteron
.jpg)
digne will be hosting stage 19 of this year's TdF
.jpg)
at the plan d'eau
The second day was going to be a long day with 6 cols to climb. I started early as I wanted to cover as much as possible while avoiding the torrid afternoon heat.
I started climbing almost as soon as I left Digne, then I had a good part of rolling hills before I met the first col of the day while heading into Castellane. Castellane is located in a valley so I had to climb another col just to leave the village! The climbs were long but luckily the gradients were all pretty gentle and so I was able to make it through most of the ride without much trouble. And so it went up down up down all the way until I hit the region of Alpes Maritimes, where the mountainous landscape of the Alps began to change to the more docile beaches of the Côte d'Azur. Then I began the long winding descend down to Grasse, then to Nice.
98km+151km=249km. Mission accomplished.
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advertisement for the route
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first col for the day
.jpg)
another col
.jpg)
yet another one
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finally in the alpes maritimes
.jpg)
the winding descend on cliffside roads
.jpg)
grasse
In the footsteps of France's greatest leader, not to mention one of the world's greatest megalomaniacs, on his return from exile in Elba.
This is le Route Napoleon.
At least that was the initial plan. However due to bad weather on my scheduled start day I had to take a train down to Gap the next day instead of cycling down for the first stage. Anyway with at least another 250km to go and with the Ironman Nice bike route also in mind, this was not a time to be calculative.Reached Gap a little past noon and the sun was already scorching hot. The weather had changed 180 degrees just from a day ago and summer seemed to already be in full swing. Not wanting to waste any time steaming in the heat, I changed to my bike clothes and headed off on the autoroute N85.
Gap to Digne is basically a long descend, not bad for a warm up, but the blustery Mediterranean winds and the lack of cloud cover made it quite a difficult ride. Not being able to get aero due to my backpack made things worse: there were some portions where I was crawling along at 30kmh in spite of negative gradient!
So anyway I reached Digne with a ride time of about three and a half hours. Promptly went off to the plan d'eau, which is a man made artificial lake. Boy was it great to plunge into the cool water after a scorching hot ride!
.jpg)
leaving Gap on the N85. The eagle is the sign of the route Napoleon
sisteron.jpg)
digne will be hosting stage 19 of this year's TdF.jpg)
at the plan d'eau The second day was going to be a long day with 6 cols to climb. I started early as I wanted to cover as much as possible while avoiding the torrid afternoon heat.
I started climbing almost as soon as I left Digne, then I had a good part of rolling hills before I met the first col of the day while heading into Castellane. Castellane is located in a valley so I had to climb another col just to leave the village! The climbs were long but luckily the gradients were all pretty gentle and so I was able to make it through most of the ride without much trouble. And so it went up down up down all the way until I hit the region of Alpes Maritimes, where the mountainous landscape of the Alps began to change to the more docile beaches of the Côte d'Azur. Then I began the long winding descend down to Grasse, then to Nice.
98km+151km=249km. Mission accomplished.
.jpg)
advertisement for the route.jpg)
first col for the day.jpg)
another col.jpg)
yet another one.jpg)
finally in the alpes maritimes.jpg)
the winding descend on cliffside roads.jpg)
grasseOn the cycle when I passed locals they often yelled out courage or bonne route. I wonder if their ancestors did the same to Napoleon and his army.. =P
lundi, juin 23, 2008
mes entraînements du semaine W-2
16 lundi: Nager 1.5km (PU)
17 mardi: CàP 11km (Gières)
18 mercredi: Cycle 98km (Gap - Digne)
19 jeudi: Cycle 151km (Digne - Nice)
20 vendredi: Cycle 180km (Ironman Nice)
21 samedi: CàP 21km (Promenade des Anglais)
22 dimanche: CàP 30km (Ironman Nice)
En totale: Nager 1.5km, Cycle 429km, CàP 62km
Longest bike/run week. Now I need to do some serious swim training before its time to taper!
17 mardi: CàP 11km (Gières)
18 mercredi: Cycle 98km (Gap - Digne)
19 jeudi: Cycle 151km (Digne - Nice)
20 vendredi: Cycle 180km (Ironman Nice)
21 samedi: CàP 21km (Promenade des Anglais)
22 dimanche: CàP 30km (Ironman Nice)
En totale: Nager 1.5km, Cycle 429km, CàP 62km
Longest bike/run week. Now I need to do some serious swim training before its time to taper!
mercredi, juin 18, 2008
bikepacking
bike + backpacking = bikepacking
Headed to Nice with a knapsack on my back tomorrow. Its a 342km journey so I'll have to break it up into 2 portions, from Gap to Digne Les Bains, and then onwards to Nice the day after.
Apparently this journey (in the reverse direction) was taken by Napoleon on his return from Elba. Interesting.
Anyway Ironman Nice's going to be held this Sunday; other than cycling down the Route Napoleon, I'll also be cycling the Ironman bike leg, swimming at Digne and Nice, (hopefully) running 30km along the Mediterranean coast, and helping out as a volunteer for the race.
Eat.Sleep.Swim.Bike.Run. Life is that simple. Really! =)
Headed to Nice with a knapsack on my back tomorrow. Its a 342km journey so I'll have to break it up into 2 portions, from Gap to Digne Les Bains, and then onwards to Nice the day after.
Apparently this journey (in the reverse direction) was taken by Napoleon on his return from Elba. Interesting.
Anyway Ironman Nice's going to be held this Sunday; other than cycling down the Route Napoleon, I'll also be cycling the Ironman bike leg, swimming at Digne and Nice, (hopefully) running 30km along the Mediterranean coast, and helping out as a volunteer for the race.
Eat.Sleep.Swim.Bike.Run. Life is that simple. Really! =)
dimanche, juin 15, 2008
dauphiné libéré
In France, there is never a lack of cyclosporting events.
Today, the Dauphiné Libéré came to town. The Libéré is an annual 8-stage road race in the Dauphiné region in France, and is considered to be a important lead up to the Tour de France (TdF) later in July. In fact, most of the TdF winners have won the Libéré at one point or another in their careers.
So anyway after spending 7 days in the grand cols in France, the peloton finally arrived in Grenoble for the finish. And I (with like the rest of the Grenoblois) was there to welcome them.
the lead three coming in
ZOOM!
Can't wait for the Tour to come! Allez! Allez! Allez!
Today, the Dauphiné Libéré came to town. The Libéré is an annual 8-stage road race in the Dauphiné region in France, and is considered to be a important lead up to the Tour de France (TdF) later in July. In fact, most of the TdF winners have won the Libéré at one point or another in their careers.
So anyway after spending 7 days in the grand cols in France, the peloton finally arrived in Grenoble for the finish. And I (with like the rest of the Grenoblois) was there to welcome them.
Team CSC had won the previous stage, and so I was hoping that its form would continue until Grenoble. But alas it was not to be and Valverde from Caisse d'Espagrne took the win, and the yellow jersey overall.
the lead three coming in
ZOOM!There was nothing much to do after the race so I headed over to the team area. Because of my Cervélo and my jersey, there were quite a few people who thought that I was also a CSC rider! Many just snapped away at my P2C, but one even asked me if he could have my bottle (which was also CSC) as a souvenir. The cheek of him! =P
Anyway the (real) riders were all very nice and I managed to get autographs of the entire team on my jersey. Now, that's is one thing which I am not in a hurry to wash! In addition, I got a couple of bottles and caps as well. Nice!
Just too bad that there were no spare Zipps or P3Cs to give away.
Anyway the (real) riders were all very nice and I managed to get autographs of the entire team on my jersey. Now, that's is one thing which I am not in a hurry to wash! In addition, I got a couple of bottles and caps as well. Nice!
Just too bad that there were no spare Zipps or P3Cs to give away.
menacing looking truck
the motherlode
the motherlodeCan't wait for the Tour to come! Allez! Allez! Allez!
mes entraînements du semaine W-3
12 jeudi: Nager 4km (PU)
13 vendredi: Cycle 60km (Le Touvet), CàP 10km (DU)
14 samedi: Cycle 134km (Vercors)
15 dimanche: Nager 1.5km (PU), CàP 21km (Grenoble-Meylan)
En totale: Nager 5.5km, Cycle 194km, CàP 31km
13 vendredi: Cycle 60km (Le Touvet), CàP 10km (DU)
14 samedi: Cycle 134km (Vercors)
15 dimanche: Nager 1.5km (PU), CàP 21km (Grenoble-Meylan)
En totale: Nager 5.5km, Cycle 194km, CàP 31km
jeudi, juin 12, 2008
my big fat greek getaway
The Hellenic Republic. Unofficially called Greece. Host to one of the first advanced civilizations in Europe. Birthplace of democracy, the Olympic games, and of course many important mathematical principles.
So, how could I possibly not visit it?
Caught my flight to Athens from Paris at the rather ungodly hour of 0630, and I only touched down 4 hours later, making it my longest budget flight yet.
Headed almost immediately out for lunch and to sightsee after dropping my bag off at the hostel. I didn't intend (or have the means anyway) to spend much time in the capital so I had to go off on my own everything-about-Athens-one-day-tour.
Athens
the Acropolis
Parthenon
columns at the ancient agora
temple of athena nike
Then I went to the Olympic stadiums, all 3 of them! First up were the archaeological ruins of the first Olympic stadium. It was really huge, and looked like a horse racing track rather than a running track. But then again, people probably raced around in chariots in those days. Then it was the 1896 Olympic stadium, the beginning of the modern Olympic games. A century later, in 2004, it was used for the 2004 Athens summer Olympic games as well. Which brings us to Marussi, the site of the 2004 Olympic village. Kinda similar to the one constructed for Sydney 2000, it was huge and spacious with many beautiful stadia. But because there was no event being held at the time of my visit, it was practically a ghost town. Tant pis.
Olympic ruins
1896 version
back to the future
aspiring Olympians
vélodrome
main stadium
breaking the tape
olympus in the background
anastatios and palatinos
guestbook at the peak!
beginning the descend
figures in the fog
sitting pretty on the top of the world
just like in 300
Byzantine castle
Of course, no visit to Greece would be complete without visiting its islands. Hence, I headed out to the Saronic islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra (closest to Athens) on my last day in Greece. Nothing much to write about them as I feel that words alone will do injustice to all their beauty and natural splendour, but all I can say is that the sun, topless beaches, ipod music from café del mar and beer all make for a very heady combination!
So, how could I possibly not visit it?
Caught my flight to Athens from Paris at the rather ungodly hour of 0630, and I only touched down 4 hours later, making it my longest budget flight yet.
Headed almost immediately out for lunch and to sightsee after dropping my bag off at the hostel. I didn't intend (or have the means anyway) to spend much time in the capital so I had to go off on my own everything-about-Athens-one-day-tour.
Athens
First up was the Acropolis. Undoubtedly THE most well known tourist attraction in Athens, or Greece for that matter, it was constructed around 460BC as a fortified city, and most of it is still standing till today. Chief of all the buildings is the Parthenon, which stands proud and tall at the very top. Then there are the multitude of other smaller buildings dedicated to other aspects of early Greek civilization.
the Acropolis
Parthenon
columns at the ancient agora
temple of athena nike
Olympic ruins
1896 version
back to the future
aspiring Olympians
vélodrome
main stadium
breaking the tapeZeus' throne
Then I went on a home visit. Specifically, I went to visit Zeus and the other 11 Greek gods, all 2912m up Mount Olympus. Started the climb at 730, accompanied by two older Greek hikers. They were super funny and we managed to reach refuge A, somewhat two-thirds of the way, just a little shy of 3 hours.
Then things started to get really nasty. Leaving the affable duo back at the refuge, I went on my way up. As I broke though the tree cover, soft earth gave way to loose rocks and the mountain really began to rise for the second part of the climb. To make matters worse, it got really foggy as I reached cloud level. Just imagine trying to roller blade uphill in the dark and you'll get what I mean.
But it was all worth it when I got to the top. Didn't make it to the highest peak Mytikas at 2918m because it was too wet and dangerous, so I had to settle for second best with Skolio coming at a close 2912m.
Then things started to get really nasty. Leaving the affable duo back at the refuge, I went on my way up. As I broke though the tree cover, soft earth gave way to loose rocks and the mountain really began to rise for the second part of the climb. To make matters worse, it got really foggy as I reached cloud level. Just imagine trying to roller blade uphill in the dark and you'll get what I mean.
But it was all worth it when I got to the top. Didn't make it to the highest peak Mytikas at 2918m because it was too wet and dangerous, so I had to settle for second best with Skolio coming at a close 2912m.
So anyway I didn't manage to see Zeus, or anything supernatural for that matter. What I got, however, was rather heavenly views of the Hellenic mountain range.
olympus in the background
anastatios and palatinos
guestbook at the peak!
beginning the descend
figures in the fog
sitting pretty on the top of the worldThis is Sparta
Then I went to Sparta as well, which come to think of it, was quite a disappointment. I originally wanted to go to Olympia, but it was too far so Sparta was it. There was nothing much to do in town, so I headed out to the next town to see some Byzantine era ruins, but they were closed. So I went back, but other than a giant statue of Leonidas, there was nothing much notable about modern Sparta. The only legacy it has from its ancient past would be its military base, which is the 2nd largest in Greece, but unfortunately it was not open to visitors.
just like in 300
Byzantine castleIsland hopping
traditional fishing boats at Aegina
sailing on the high seas
pristine beaches
how i spent 80% of the day
port of Hydra
sailing on the high seas
pristine beaches
how i spent 80% of the day
port of HydraSo now after having climbed high and dived deep in Greece, I'm now aching all over - from the sunburn, as well as sore muscles from running down Olympus with a group of crazy marathoners.
But its the best souvenir which I got from Greece. Not just any made-in-china beer opener or fridge magnet, but something invaluable and intimate. Something not sold over the counter.
Something called Pain. Joy. Wanderlust. Whatever.
I heart Greece. =)
But its the best souvenir which I got from Greece. Not just any made-in-china beer opener or fridge magnet, but something invaluable and intimate. Something not sold over the counter.
Something called Pain. Joy. Wanderlust. Whatever.
I heart Greece. =)
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