tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292705452024-03-19T23:34:19.115-07:00RAJEEV esCHARgot!As fast as a snailRajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-26203876993156648952022-05-02T16:37:00.004-07:002022-05-26T12:15:15.707-07:00'The incredible, wildlife-filled experience of swimming off Alcatraz Island' <div style="text-align: center;">Article in the Mercury News:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'<span face=""Droid Serif", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -1.08px;">The incredible, wildlife-filled experience of swimming off Alcatraz Island' </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Droid Serif", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -1.08px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Covering the experiences of local swimmers in the Bay Area. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/04/20/the-incredible-wildlife-filled-experience-of-swimming-off-alcatraz-island/" target="_blank">https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/04/20/the-incredible-wildlife-filled-experience-of-swimming-off-alcatraz-island/</a><br /></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div>I had a nice quick chat and exchanged a few messages with John Metcalf of the Mercury News for the above article. I've always loved swimming - and swimming in the Bay and around Northern California is just brilliant. It was during the conversation with John that I realized how tough it is to explain the exhilirating feeling of swimming in the Bay. Words betray you - there is fear (of the known and the unknown), apprehension, hypothermia, excitement, euphoria...as Philip Hoare writes in his book - <b>'<span style="color: red;">RISING</span>TIDE<span style="color: red;">FALLING</span>STAR'</b> - "Every swim is a little death. But it is also a reminder that you are alive." (Bit dramatic...but it does get the point across.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I just re-read John's article after I got back from a 3 week trip to Bombay. With the temp hovering around 32C -33C (88F - 90F) and 80% humidity - it felt like 102F! The pool swims were warm - warm water and warmer ambient air temps - ugh! Felt like swimming in a sauna! It was absolutely fantastic to be back in the water in Santa Cruz - cold and calm 52F - brilliant feeling.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNjcME8KQ2ueP0hjGgUVdpzgLr76rAnp4s4EddBfqOiBfhmCI2w03wXuctJd5H8B50tw3HOhJ9bpktvJ4UGXGFj4QXQFroaSIm18U85n_uCosiaBTMqAFOskGPz5n6AwbdxIur8vwsU7c18clMdXk1b1YcdQBwbSPazTguMowk_cSKHlaw/s640/image0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNjcME8KQ2ueP0hjGgUVdpzgLr76rAnp4s4EddBfqOiBfhmCI2w03wXuctJd5H8B50tw3HOhJ9bpktvJ4UGXGFj4QXQFroaSIm18U85n_uCosiaBTMqAFOskGPz5n6AwbdxIur8vwsU7c18clMdXk1b1YcdQBwbSPazTguMowk_cSKHlaw/s320/image0.png" width="148" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As you enter the cold waters - there is a freeze burn, your face and other exposed areas (arms, fingers, toes) are screaming at you. Ah! That sweet, sweet pain! Your breathing is hurried and your heart races. About two minutes in it starts to feel comfortable - the breathing is calmer, the blood has receded from the surface of exposed skin and gone to the core. The freeze burn has dulled to a tingling numbness and the rhythmic strokes splash out a steady beat. You can see the sun rays dissapearing into the deep, there is a sense of calm. The feel of cold salty water - there is a freshness to it. You have managed to control that deep fear of the unknown and are comfortable enough to crack a smile through frozen lips. You are in a happy place....until you brush up against a clump of drifting seaweed! Whoa! Every sense is awake now. It takes a few seconds to relax and get back into the zone. There is wonder in that unpredictability and the ocean never lets you forget! </div><div><br /></div><div>A quote from John's article. </div><div>"<span face=""Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16.5px; letter-spacing: -0.165px;">Environmental conditions can change in an instant. Rajeev Char, a Sunnyvale swimmer with the </span><a href="https://ashanet.org/team-asha/" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px dotted var(--primary); border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.165px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">nonprofit Team Asha</a><span face=""Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16.5px; letter-spacing: -0.165px;">, had to abort a swim last year after getting fogged out. “I could see a mere glow of sunlight over my left shoulder. But out front of us, the city was completely blanketed out in fog and behind us, Alcatraz, too, was blanketed out.”</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Every swim in open water is different. I swim around the Santa Cruz wharf almost every Sunday and I can tell you - it is never the same. The weather, water conditions, tides, wild life, the time of the year, water temp, the people you swim with, all play a part in your experience. Every swim is special and is savored. I always take time to stop and take in the sights - float on my back for a bit and just relax - just feel the movement of the water - those waves may have traveled a long distance, enjoy them for a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another quote from the article.</div><div><span face=""Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16.5px; letter-spacing: -0.165px;">“I was halfway across and a shadow just zipped right underneath me, and that was terrifying. It zipped underneath me again and it was like, ‘I’m getting out of the water because I don’t want to be somebody’s buffet breakfast,'” says Gary Emich, a Pacifica retiree who’s swum from Alcatraz to San Francisco, Marin, Treasure Island and other landing points a staggering 1,065 times. “Right about then, a little sea-lion pup breached in front of me – it was just being playful and having a good time.”</span> </div><div><br /></div><div>Indeed, like San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz is also known for its frolicking Sea Lions and Seals - like inquisitive Labradors, they sometimes buzz swimmers. They are wild creatures and we are just visiting their domain, it is best to steer clear and swim wide of their feeding zones. The thought that they (and sharks, Jelly-fish, etc., as well) are out there is never far from my mind when I swim. Probably what Hoare meant when he wrote, 'that little death that makes you feel alive'. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXix5ia70Mkg8DUPEqsPGcT_1hO8Z8kqnDCHOYCJaw-JpctUnjNRu0L7OPJWquOlcc8n5CwgWzjuij8sDCWAOXO1vd4uYpxg0goBhbtFmBj2bagDAlGdgzqW_jhw059vvZNDHp3zkqwu63nWLVeWAloRH3fgor8Q_7epN0oLCq-HRw72P-Q/s757/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="757" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXix5ia70Mkg8DUPEqsPGcT_1hO8Z8kqnDCHOYCJaw-JpctUnjNRu0L7OPJWquOlcc8n5CwgWzjuij8sDCWAOXO1vd4uYpxg0goBhbtFmBj2bagDAlGdgzqW_jhw059vvZNDHp3zkqwu63nWLVeWAloRH3fgor8Q_7epN0oLCq-HRw72P-Q/s320/image0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Cruz Wharf - swimming past the Sea Lions. (Photo Credit: Michael Peck)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I have always been passionate about open water swimming - and be it in the open seas, lakes, rivers, we at <a href="https://ta.ashanet.org/siliconvalley/marathon/runnernet/public.php?2022TASVT1021" target="_blank">Team Asha</a> hope to help others fall in love with this activity and pursue it with utmost safety and conditioning. </div><div><br /></div><div>As Philip Hoare writes in his above mentioned book:</div><div>"The ubiquity of the sea - from this grey estuary in which I swim, to the great open oceans - is itself interplanetary, connecting us to the stars, not really part of our world at all. It doesn't begin until it begins, and then it never seems to end. It writes itself in the clouds and the currents, a permanently changing script, inscribing and erasing its own history, held down by air and gravity in a tacit agreement between land and sky, filling the space inbetween. It's a nothingness full of life, home to ninety percent of the earth's biomass, providing sixty per cent of the oxygen we breathe. It is our life-support system, our greater womb. It is forever breaking its own boundaries, always giving and always taking. It is the embodiment of all our paradoxes. Without it we couldn't live, within it we would die. The sea doesn't care." </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG3fo5c53qkc-d72bX75bTaHGmiNqO4VEDZyPoKcM0apOPOVH7yOS8V59RiPsbivYo8omL4KUnNMt_05eYlPsCJAIXNCTjpAXZneG0u68Nbe-v5HpM5vpfiWG-lv8otBVL9YxPulGI2RnRC6bhoGVyyrUTwblj2-Gfz-HZoon9MQlLBfdz1Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG3fo5c53qkc-d72bX75bTaHGmiNqO4VEDZyPoKcM0apOPOVH7yOS8V59RiPsbivYo8omL4KUnNMt_05eYlPsCJAIXNCTjpAXZneG0u68Nbe-v5HpM5vpfiWG-lv8otBVL9YxPulGI2RnRC6bhoGVyyrUTwblj2-Gfz-HZoon9MQlLBfdz1Q" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The world is dark, beautiful, deadly, dazzling, and fragile.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Being able to swim in these waters is indeed a blessing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy & safe swimming! </div></div></div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-37300506907273687912022-03-24T14:40:00.002-07:002022-03-24T14:52:27.847-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"> <b>A look back at 2021.</b></p><p>As the COVID tide ebbed and flowed - some events went back to normal (whatever 'normal' is!) - Team Asha continued to train and encourage athletes to embrace Open Water Swimming (OWS) & triathlons. Keeping safety in mind we kayaked and Stand Up Paddleboarded (SUP) with the swimmers at Gull Park and Santa Cruz. We had swimmers participate in Alcatraz crossing, Donner Lake, Lake Tahoe, Bridge to Bridge (Golden Gate to Bay Bridge) swims. Team Asha also had a few more first time Ironman 140.6 finishers and a bunch of 70.3 and Olympic triathlon finishers. Absolutely wonderful to see our athletes getting stronger on the bike, run and more comfortable in open water. </p><p>I decided to stepped away from running Chicago Marathon in 2021 (it was cancelled in 2020) - a race I had run 15 years in row (2005 to 2019). Going forward, I'll look for local races to run. </p><p>That said, I did enjoy my swims. Did 7 swims in the San Francisco Bay and swam the Santa Cruz Wharf on Sunday's whenever I could get there (28 times around the S.C. Wharf in 2021). I also did a 6 mile swim in San Diego (La Jolla Cove). Absolutely nothing better than swimming in the cold Pacific waters. 2021 was the first time I took my SUP to Santa Cruz. Felt great to paddleboard around the lumpy sea waters with the sea lions going 'wharf! wharf!' at us.</p><p>I continue the search for my biking muse...(I'll look harder for her in 2022), have kept my running at a maintenance mode. 2021 ended with: </p><p>584 miles running (a heel injury kept me out for 3 months).</p><p>245 miles biking </p><p>216 miles of swimming (~380,000 yards. That is more than the previous 3 years combined!) </p><p><b>Here are some of the fun swims of 2021: </b></p><p><b>3/17/21 - Alcatraz (With Pacific Swim Co.)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod95H2p2duPu1CjxbL-YO1wVT0mmVXq4-IlX1b_C6sJImMi461FDked6wED-5UUC6r73atifKpYyuOcoS0FjF65o5gwObr10wuokFm2nLeUHv8y_cvPAk-BqEFFqrdrcizSLmJ8CIlCYMK8WOpL5LvHnXzwzOQHqWwLr69rhRbypmsHsUeA/s1025/IMG_2113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod95H2p2duPu1CjxbL-YO1wVT0mmVXq4-IlX1b_C6sJImMi461FDked6wED-5UUC6r73atifKpYyuOcoS0FjF65o5gwObr10wuokFm2nLeUHv8y_cvPAk-BqEFFqrdrcizSLmJ8CIlCYMK8WOpL5LvHnXzwzOQHqWwLr69rhRbypmsHsUeA/w258-h320/IMG_2113.jpg" title="Alcatraz # 12" width="258" /></a></div><br /><p><b>4/16/21 - Tiburon Coast (With Pacific Swim Co.)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGwsDs1g83JtpXS5nsJ1NAPZuz_RmS8F5jg9X03J4JlbKOeRbBbnrhaFSQX-vev3a86FLJHh5kbpf62IsRL8YWHJUyzbkulWqhW5Akmoxt7JwgXV1mJZdK1B7e2oAamqGkIN31rSZsN07jdUIkOcPvGQhXs62kItq9FZAHGRQygz6v4lX9Q/s1213/IMG_2108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGwsDs1g83JtpXS5nsJ1NAPZuz_RmS8F5jg9X03J4JlbKOeRbBbnrhaFSQX-vev3a86FLJHh5kbpf62IsRL8YWHJUyzbkulWqhW5Akmoxt7JwgXV1mJZdK1B7e2oAamqGkIN31rSZsN07jdUIkOcPvGQhXs62kItq9FZAHGRQygz6v4lX9Q/w218-h320/IMG_2108.jpg" title="Tiburon Coast Swim." width="218" /></a></div><br /><p><b>5/01/21 - Alcatraz (With Odyssey Swim)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIn-I73djeybZRVx1tkErcfJ4IySm7g_WLH2s3fVPzDrXMW5OVMz_dXDTTlLKYkBcr0_UjuNuZ48gs4v9o43QwnA1hw7P_slwuG0ZX66Gmpqe5DU_-MeePEGBoRLCh-nwnoQ49PdpS_zqvyXdU98hrpg7F4i0I4BmmmTJHcfCOHj8y2aU8w/s1025/IMG_2112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIn-I73djeybZRVx1tkErcfJ4IySm7g_WLH2s3fVPzDrXMW5OVMz_dXDTTlLKYkBcr0_UjuNuZ48gs4v9o43QwnA1hw7P_slwuG0ZX66Gmpqe5DU_-MeePEGBoRLCh-nwnoQ49PdpS_zqvyXdU98hrpg7F4i0I4BmmmTJHcfCOHj8y2aU8w/w258-h320/IMG_2112.jpg" title="Alcatraz # 13" width="258" /></a></div><br /><p><b>6/11/21 - Alcatraz #14 (With Pacific Swim Co.)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0hzp39Z3MnVjJFaU0S1CLNKNOS3y-J9omlr79BoLSTL9QeqpVOA0vEfi0amdbyXYPCdt4yX4dNZdnJBJCKPPVv1Mv16_wgzVpIevZ9pFHS-33vnsVKdcCPQtRutjUfDtiR_NbOyeLAo8JPuy2UhpVXjVAYoz_23mbVz7t7GJRLiIkdrS2A/s1342/IMG_2111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0hzp39Z3MnVjJFaU0S1CLNKNOS3y-J9omlr79BoLSTL9QeqpVOA0vEfi0amdbyXYPCdt4yX4dNZdnJBJCKPPVv1Mv16_wgzVpIevZ9pFHS-33vnsVKdcCPQtRutjUfDtiR_NbOyeLAo8JPuy2UhpVXjVAYoz_23mbVz7t7GJRLiIkdrS2A/w192-h320/IMG_2111.jpg" title="Alcatraz #14" width="192" /></a></div><br /><p><b>6/14/21 - Alcatraz (aborted about half way due to thick fog)</b></p><p><b>7/25/21 - Donner Lake 2.4 mile</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOwxUzhULK-IZQtZFudaJffxMODbCR1JAJ37CgFUxq8ic9kgwi2TuJJ8uSrgAHZsabgMPPmhIf_DYARkZp2ajDmRtv2CHORj0XpGwhrLT4Os0WI9F86qALvzkdop5p6kmKAEGz8ULBvMeMDvJ7h2nePUtpuLTuYAqNWGrbzIhWFCBf2sL3A/s940/IMG_2110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOwxUzhULK-IZQtZFudaJffxMODbCR1JAJ37CgFUxq8ic9kgwi2TuJJ8uSrgAHZsabgMPPmhIf_DYARkZp2ajDmRtv2CHORj0XpGwhrLT4Os0WI9F86qALvzkdop5p6kmKAEGz8ULBvMeMDvJ7h2nePUtpuLTuYAqNWGrbzIhWFCBf2sL3A/w282-h320/IMG_2110.jpg" title="Donner Lake Swim" width="282" /></a></div><br /><p><b>9/08/21 - <a href="https://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2021/09/attempted-circumnavigation-swim-of.html" target="_blank">Swim around Angel Island</a> </b></p><p><b>9/26/21 - <a href="https://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2021/10/La%20Jolla%20Cove%206%20mile%20swim.html" target="_blank">6 mile swim at La Jolla Cove (San Diego)</a></b></p><p>Let's hope we all stay healthy and happy in 2022. </p><p>Happy swimming everyone! I leave you with a poem by Amos Russel Wells.</p><h1 class="title-overlay" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: "Bree Serif", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Cup of Ocean</span></h1><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="author-overlay" style="font-family: "Open Sans";">by Amos Russel Wells</span></p><div style="text-align: center;">What does the cup of ocean hold?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glory of purple and glint of gold;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tenderest greens and heavenly blue,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shot with the sunlight through and through;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wayward ripples that idly roam.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tumbling breakers with gallant foam;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sands and pebbles that chase and slide;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mystic currents that softly glide;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mighty spell of the ages old,</div><div style="text-align: center;">This does the cup of ocean hold.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What does the cup of ocean hear</div><div style="text-align: center;">To the lips of land folk everywhere?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Danger's ominous, ghostly breath,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Battered forms of an awful death;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Howling tempests and bitter sleet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crash of the sea steeds' terrible feet;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ships a-quiver with fearful shock,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anguish heaped on a savage rock;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Loss and turmoil and fatal snare,</div><div style="text-align: center;">This does the cup of ocean bear.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look ye well to the ocean's cup,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ye who gladly on beauty sup.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tarry long at the treacherous brink,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gaze within e'er ye bend and drink.</div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="author-overlay" style="font-family: "Open Sans";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div><p style="background-color: #e3e3e3; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15.2px; margin: 15px 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><p></p></div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-78535195466658934732021-09-27T11:54:00.002-07:002021-10-08T13:23:04.301-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.lj10milerelay.com/#lj10milerelay" target="_blank">La Jolla Cove 10 Mile Relay</a></b> </p><p style="text-align: center;">(My solo 6 mile swim)</p><div style="text-align: justify;">While searching for some open water swims around the west coast (so we could just drive rather than fly) I came across the La Jolla Cove 10 mile relay in San Diego (SD). They had an option to swim 10 miles solo as well. So I emailed the organizers and asked them to let me know when the registration opens up. Given that I was already slated for a <a href="https://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2021/09/attempted-circumnavigation-swim-of.html" target="_blank">5 mile swim around Angel Island</a> - I figured I could swim about 6-7 miles and we could use the trip to SD to meet some friends who had moved there. Basically a fun swim in a new place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The drive was an uneventful 8.5 hours! The Hybrid car meant we could drive straight through with no need for a gas stop! 468 miles on a tank of gas and still some left! After a wonderful couple of days with friends I was all set for a long swim on Sunday Sep 26th.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Event day: September 26th </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Where</b>: La Jolla Shores Beach </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Weather:</b> Sunday was an overcast but calm day. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Water temp</b>: 61F-63F</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Fuel:</b> Gu gel & Gatorade, about 150/180 calories/hr.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Gear</b>: Sleeveless wetsuit.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It turned out to be a huge event - there were 133 relay teams (up to 5 swimmers per team) and 20 solo swimmers, a total of 652 swimmers! The event section of the beach was crowded with teams, supporters, and volunteers. The rest of the beach was also getting crowded with weekend beachgoers. At 6:30AM the parking lot was almost full! We managed to get one of the last few spots and I rushed to get into the bathroom line. All swimmers had to have a beach volunteer, so Renuka was to take care of my swim feeds and make sure all my loops were counted. We tried to get one of the many groups to let her share their picnic tent, but luckily since it was an overcast and cool day, she did not need the shade. We set up our chair and icebox and I started suiting up.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMoSKcQEjdlIGwDoEiLQoJvkSUAyi55THNO93bvm-nBvv46cozUO_OTcqJKVRYlqYfJt2Lbd-N2wPz5D0X6nacCtYOSu32MnKw-6MwGhTYUQWzU2uDMJc6AeIN2bM_ph5YDaw/s2016/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMoSKcQEjdlIGwDoEiLQoJvkSUAyi55THNO93bvm-nBvv46cozUO_OTcqJKVRYlqYfJt2Lbd-N2wPz5D0X6nacCtYOSu32MnKw-6MwGhTYUQWzU2uDMJc6AeIN2bM_ph5YDaw/s320/image0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The teams set up.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPZ4pmAGIhdU2hMAGSX963rT0-M2KqdQTYEMcXlTybAzUbsLTVaKCICWJKNz-3-spwp_UrwUW5i9weD7eBh2THEv49pfyWka4Uw2x54anqcigjOeXB4AV0bWLSPkINdwEmo2p/s1792/image0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPZ4pmAGIhdU2hMAGSX963rT0-M2KqdQTYEMcXlTybAzUbsLTVaKCICWJKNz-3-spwp_UrwUW5i9weD7eBh2THEv49pfyWka4Uw2x54anqcigjOeXB4AV0bWLSPkINdwEmo2p/w185-h400/image0.png" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swim loops (Coros watch)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The swim was set up as one mile triangle loops with all swimmers having to exit the water and run up the beach through a timing chute and back in for the next loop. As this was primarily a relay event, it made sense to have everyone (including the solo swimmers) follow the same protocol. This was similar to the 10K swim I had done in LA almost a decade ago (<a href="https://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2012/08/optimissport-distance-swim-challenge_19.html" target="_blank">OptimisSport - Distance Swim Challenge</a>) - although that entailed swimming along the coast and exiting at different beaches. The good thing here was it was looping back to the same beach - logistically much easier for the support crew.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did not hear the swim start - but apparently it started at 7:00AM sharp! I was a bit confused as one of the buoys was still being towed into place - one of the organizers said to me 'unless you swim faster than that water scooter towing the buoy, you should be good to start - the buoy will be in place before you get there - GO!' I chuckled and ran in. Tandy showed up to cheer me on and I was glad to see her - that also meant that Renuka would not be alone for the duration of the swim.</div><div> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxyWFXzMKsai2JoFGSKL0OWdXb2N27NS3vc_xRYgA_eewQNKxZxX4Xr1nUhV7mMVehD6pGRJ2Yvusrk6blkssY6N1HNqLJkopCuyJPDb_kX8xYw5UUhuQVSawEDXaXbjk3aVZ/s2016/image1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxyWFXzMKsai2JoFGSKL0OWdXb2N27NS3vc_xRYgA_eewQNKxZxX4Xr1nUhV7mMVehD6pGRJ2Yvusrk6blkssY6N1HNqLJkopCuyJPDb_kX8xYw5UUhuQVSawEDXaXbjk3aVZ/w300-h400/image1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait! Did they start!?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">For the first loop I was pretty much alone as I started about 3 mins after everyone. I felt pretty good, the water was a bit warmer than in Northern California and the ocean was calm. Loop 2 (mile 2) I took in some Gatorade and proceeded to mile 3. For a brief moment the sun broke through and the clarity of the water was brilliant - I could see some big fish idling around and the water was still nice and calm. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Other than a few upwellings of some really cold water, the water temp was good 62F-63F. By mile 5 my wetsuit started cutting into my back and that was a bit painful (once the skin splits, the wetsuit friction and salt water makes it a continuously irritating burn). After the first loop there were plenty of swimmers around. It was nice to see the different styles, stroke rates as they powered by. Since it is a fun event, swimmers were allowed to wear flippers, snorkels, whatever one wanted. There were a bunch of SCUBA divers as well, we could see their bubbles rising up every now and then. At one point there was this huge pod or murmuration of birds that came through - all in a line just a few feet about the water - quite a spectacular sight! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkD1d-CYx8a_EQOfNBf7c1bVxvCo0m_KMbvCIlLth9_OpSFX35ZOg4WYb-bY80TY_Zf-hM12wENKCNYTeGaKelDIMc8c1_YPj5bkgVdv_Ca2ni3ntoEy2dvMgEH6SH81KWBar/s640/IMG_1806.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkD1d-CYx8a_EQOfNBf7c1bVxvCo0m_KMbvCIlLth9_OpSFX35ZOg4WYb-bY80TY_Zf-hM12wENKCNYTeGaKelDIMc8c1_YPj5bkgVdv_Ca2ni3ntoEy2dvMgEH6SH81KWBar/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looping through the timing chute.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Unlike the swims in San Francisco Bay, there is no tide/current assist here. You actually swim the distance. Mile 6 was tough, I could feel my arms. Given that we were to drive back right after the swim I decided to stop at 6 and not go for the 7th mile. I let the organizers know and after a quick shower at the beach - we headed back home for another 8.5 hours in the car. All in all a wonderful trip and a great event, well organized and super friendly volunteers. I'll be back next year to do the full 10 miles :) maybe we will have a few relay teams in as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>I finished the 6 miles in 4:07:29 (<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/554d30aae4b01e5092f0638d/t/61535890077fab0ae35937d2/1632852113035/2021+Category.pdf" target="_blank">the official time</a>) - check out the last name on the list :)</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbv1gj9MEs1wz6B1D7VDOfwQ3ctCAa02w-fKoUrkx8liqjukuY7IkdPggwIS9wJH5mhcb1uEfq_xk4FAGAfwiMr4fCa-oiS2EEWZISbpYqUWEivsjrjMjVgrKKSQAdq1BuakL/s640/A9DB0BA2-2CC6-442D-ABE8-D9073841EE21.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="640" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbv1gj9MEs1wz6B1D7VDOfwQ3ctCAa02w-fKoUrkx8liqjukuY7IkdPggwIS9wJH5mhcb1uEfq_xk4FAGAfwiMr4fCa-oiS2EEWZISbpYqUWEivsjrjMjVgrKKSQAdq1BuakL/w200-h183/A9DB0BA2-2CC6-442D-ABE8-D9073841EE21.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swim cap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div><div></div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com1La Jolla Shores, San Diego, CA 92037, USA32.8577055 -117.25291454.5474716638211561 -152.4091645 61.167939336178847 -82.0966645tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-66985415378337715982021-09-09T15:32:00.012-07:002021-09-16T11:29:17.347-07:00Attempted circumnavigation swim of Angel Island (San Francisco Bay).<p style="text-align: center;">Under the watchful eyes of Pacific Open Water Swim Co. </p><div style="text-align: center;">September 8th 2021</div><div style="text-align: center;">~5 miles, water temp 63F-65F (17C/18C) </div><div style="text-align: center;">I was wearing a sleeveless wetsuit, two swim caps, tinted Aqua Sphere goggles and ear plugs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">liberal application of Body Glide and Vaseline. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ITJcM8Eyh3hiaKbPQPqAUWz_BKUAk0n5m3qBQVKvT1aFzUSbbj30NXReZcGE6QHsbOaAy58qPE5kYuNFCC5COrqH1wjdlafQgosjuUlsbi31mdRCALIe8kpdnRBsd7-FK1e0/s1378/image3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ITJcM8Eyh3hiaKbPQPqAUWz_BKUAk0n5m3qBQVKvT1aFzUSbbj30NXReZcGE6QHsbOaAy58qPE5kYuNFCC5COrqH1wjdlafQgosjuUlsbi31mdRCALIe8kpdnRBsd7-FK1e0/w385-h640/image3.jpeg" width="385" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swim map (Coros watch app).</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The meeting time was set for 5:45AM - there was a bit of delay and we finally made our way to Angel Island and started the swim at 6:50AM. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Swimmer drop was at Point Campbell, the west end of China Cove and I headed east for a clockwise swim around the island. It started off well - the water was choppy but not too cold. I was heading east directly into the rising sun. The views were stunning - the sun's orange glitter path was really mesmerizing. You could see the shimmering shades of orange and yellow underwater.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-MHAD0Pt2FDkOe9z-A7xJqlpBjegzaaywKTqv7QVzLZExxcxK4I9FxZxcZO8-O8OpnmZa1tEfNmO46ne5mvxTEWTl5RoXu4xxoJ7Vo91Z2Mth01_i1FZS0U56n9ldmdYawh6/s1280/image0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-MHAD0Pt2FDkOe9z-A7xJqlpBjegzaaywKTqv7QVzLZExxcxK4I9FxZxcZO8-O8OpnmZa1tEfNmO46ne5mvxTEWTl5RoXu4xxoJ7Vo91Z2Mth01_i1FZS0U56n9ldmdYawh6/w400-h300/image0.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While I painted this based on one of Bryan's photographs from a Tahoe swim. The sunrise looked just as stunning here in the Bay.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I kept the sun dead straight ahead until we rounded Point Simpton and headed South/South East. There were patches of seaweed that brushed against me and shook me out of my tranquility. The Bay waters are wild and choppy and home to many creatures, I was happy it was only seaweed. Land sighting marks were difficult to find at times due to the waves - but I kept the sun to my left and got glimpses of the SalesForce tower every now and then. Bryan (the pilot) shouted out that I should aim for Alcatraz Island (heading south) and go wide of Point Blunt Rock. The next sighting point was the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, I think the idea was to move out of the eddies created by the Blunt Rock outcrop. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOd76P066nYXeDYujw3uwliNc5BOzIJgEArUb32MfT_maWxOqz7Q5KAi_ieyYK_0pyxBNHGsTxriQfsFe8JgB4syUOBo2Z_-6tvTrvZ8Tn3tW9ZVkwUYL2wdILs8nVRmfmkId/s640/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOd76P066nYXeDYujw3uwliNc5BOzIJgEArUb32MfT_maWxOqz7Q5KAi_ieyYK_0pyxBNHGsTxriQfsFe8JgB4syUOBo2Z_-6tvTrvZ8Tn3tW9ZVkwUYL2wdILs8nVRmfmkId/s16000/image0.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sighting direction (From your right to left) South to the city. Aiming for Alcatraz, sighting south tower of GGB, sighting the Sausalito houses. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I ended up swimming past the Green Buoy off Point Blunt and thought I may have gone too far into the shipping lane! But I knew I was in safe hands. A bit about the pilots on these open swims - they are amazing! Super multitaskers - they had to continuously monitor my progress, check in with the Coast Guard for ship/boat traffic, arrange my feeds and keep a track of the currents! Bryan was the sole pilot on this swim and this was my 5th swim in the Bay with him. Absolute Rockstar!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pilot signaled and asked me to aim for the houses on Sausalito (I was now heading West) - this was the final westward swim before turning into Racoon Strait. I made that right turn and thought I was heading west towards Sausalito. But for some reason I kept drifting right and swimming more northwest than west (not sure if it was the current pushing me or a stronger right arm pull). That drift cost me some time and Bryan asked me to aim for the rocks just before Perles Beach and go in as close as possible (shallow waters have milder currents). This was to get me out of the flood current that had kicked up a few gears. As I got close to the rocks - I got a bit nervous - I've been cut by sharp barnacled rocks before - so I tried to swim out a bit and away from the rocks! This is where an exasperated Bryan probably realized that I was not going to get out of that flood (he wanted me to go close to the shore - 10 feet from the rocks - as close as possible in order to make that right turn for the home stretch). So after a few more calls of 'swim to the rocks, swim!!'...he pulled the plug and asked me to get on the boat as I could not outswim the flood current. Ah well! :)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPDMydA7GORF3CoKdu3kXdDhsuMBELikEba9fD1rpUhmacX_818lxBrk-UjaDay4FNNvy7pQh3pw4B7W6qFq3ico2TkL3vIAFs45efihGK5X3znCYHYzRzIArN4eJ84yBzmvM/s1792/image1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPDMydA7GORF3CoKdu3kXdDhsuMBELikEba9fD1rpUhmacX_818lxBrk-UjaDay4FNNvy7pQh3pw4B7W6qFq3ico2TkL3vIAFs45efihGK5X3znCYHYzRzIArN4eJ84yBzmvM/w296-h640/image1.jpeg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another 100 yards and I'd have made the turn. But I kept moving away from the shore. That is the power of the flood current.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">He repositioned me to the west of Perles Beach and I made the final portion of the swim around Point Stuart and headed Northeast into Racoon Strait for the home stretch. All in all a 9,200 to 9,300 yard swim (about 5.2miles). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I enjoy swimming in the Bay and even after being repositioned I was happy to jump in and finish the remaining 3,300 yards to get an almost full loop around the island. :) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0LdqV-FWY5jq8YS5bvqPE4tYc607E5xTxSo_iGV4vYSfoJgTRXmaf0T0Ihm9rdKW83iQguFq-IquiI3laG5yG3i0TPuqiqd9u2O2ouxWP4E7YOb20m74TYsszGNdA36uUSqj/s1792/image2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0LdqV-FWY5jq8YS5bvqPE4tYc607E5xTxSo_iGV4vYSfoJgTRXmaf0T0Ihm9rdKW83iQguFq-IquiI3laG5yG3i0TPuqiqd9u2O2ouxWP4E7YOb20m74TYsszGNdA36uUSqj/w296-h640/image2.jpeg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timing. <br />The yellow circled 500 yard section was where I was on the boat being repositioned.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Feed stops were every 45 mins. That worked out well. The first feed included a gel and my Gatorade drink. The only problem was that the feed was handed out to me in a paddle net and by the time I finished the gel and sipping the drink I had drifted 15-20 yards away from the boat. Swimming back with a bottle in my hand to put it back in the net was a bit challenging. The next feed was the typical bottle tied to a rope - it was easier to drink, drop the bottle in the water and swim - Bryan pulled the bottle back in - that worked much better. Total calorie intake was about 350 total about 150/170 per hour.(sports drink + one Gu Gel).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What went well:</b> </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">1) I had bandaged all the hotspots to stop friction burns. My training swims had given me an idea as to where I'd get wetsuit friction rash. Being a runner, taping hotspots that become blisters is a common experience that helps across sports.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) Knowing that the swim would be about 3 hours long, my longest training swim was about 2.5 hours. That worked out well. I was not fatigued at the end.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) Swimming throughout the year in Santa Cruz made me well acclimated to the cold water.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) Having done a lot of open water swims all year made me comfortable with the chop and wave action of the bay. I had done 4 prior Bay swims with Pacific Open Water Swim Co this year. 3 Alcatraz crossings and a 90 mins swim along the coast of Tiburon. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">5) Sighting was generally fine as long as I had the sun as reference during the rough spots and then it being a clear day all the other sighting points were clearly visible. Bryan pointing the way at other times.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6) We went clockwise around Angel Island - which worked for me as the boat was on my left most of the way - I breathe on the left.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7) Heart Rate was pretty steady as I kept the effort at a reasonable level.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8) I've racked up about 150+ miles of swimming this year (pool and open water). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Things I could improve on:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1) Need to work on getting faster. 1:45/100 yards to 1:50/100 yards in open water. Longer pull buoy sessions add more paddle work. Strengthen arms and refine my pull. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) I need to ask more questions prior to the swim start. Maybe carry a printout of the map for a more visual depiction of what to expect. Where to expect the tide/current to switch. What sections need to be faster, wider, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) Need to understand the currents movement at the start. I knew that low tide was at 7:12am - so had I started at 6:30am I may have made the westward swim section just before the flood stepped up a gear. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) Work on feeding during training. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">5) Need to do a blind swim test to check how prominent my right drift has become. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">6) Figure out how to combat saltwater tongue. I've heard of coating it with coconut oil - may give it a shot on the next 3+ hour swim in the Bay. A day later and the tongue is still sore. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes:</u></b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The above pace is not really indicative of my actual swim pace. Most Bay swims are 'current assisted' or as they say - you 'ride the tide'. So they will be much much faster than normal. And on the other hand, if you mistime the tide you can get stuck against the flood current (or ebb current) and end up swimming in one place or even pushed backwards.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Definitions and a <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_tides/welcome.html" target="_blank">wonderful tutorial from NOAA</a>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tides: Tides are the rise and fall of water levels. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Current: Currents are horizontal flow of water. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are some visuals on the tides/currents in the Bay.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://maps.tidetech.org/?_ga=2.146974064.692136594.1631214397-1545423549.1631214397&workspace=public&layer=tidal_currents_san_francisco&baseLayer=Topographic" target="_blank">Tidemap from Tidetech</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAqXVGNqUU8" target="_blank">Youtube visual of currents in the Bay</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you imagine the San Francisco Bay as a big lake that drains out and fill up every ~6 hours - as the tide goes out (ebbs) you get a strong ebb current (where the water is leaving the Bay and heading out under the Golden Gate Bridge into the Pacific). As the tide comes in (flood) there is a very strong flood current coming in from the Pacific into the SF Bay. These are almost like rivers flowing in and out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the San Francisco Bay, ebb currents are stronger than flood currents because of the river water flowing into the bay. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Eddies and counter currents: Around the islands (Angel, Alcatraz, Treasure etc.) and the coast there are counter currents and back-eddies and swirling eddies that are caused by shallower water, obstructions to water flow (natural or human made). As flowing water hits an obstacle such as an island, pier, underwater mounds or an outcropping it diverts the flow and causes counter currents that flow in the opposite direction of the main current or causing eddies where the water swirls around in circles. Typically, the main currents are stronger in deeper water than in shallow waters near the shores. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2012/08/open-water-swim-safety.html">Swim Safety tips: Never swim alone in the bay and know the area you plan to swim in. </a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0Immigration Station, Tiburon, CA 94920, USA37.8693332 -122.426396737.842226278294817 -122.46072897539062 37.896440121705183 -122.39206442460937tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-13501654763950305452020-06-16T13:40:00.017-07:002023-09-30T16:34:43.397-07:00Gull Park, Foster City CA - Swimming <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.fostercity.org/parksrec/page/gull-park" target="_blank">Gull Park in Foster City</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">(Updated on September 30th, 2023)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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Over the years Team Asha Triathlon has introduced swimmers to Open Water Swimming (OWS) at Gull Park. It is a great place to start out on your open water experience.</div>
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<b>Advantages</b>: With the closed channel, calm waters and plenty of sighting markers to choose from, this is a great place for first timers to get comfortable and learn the basics of OWS. The zero visibility underwater is also an advantage as it helps new swimmers re-calibrate their equilibrium and gradually overcome the feeling of nausea (or sea sickness). Water is tested on a weekly basis.</div>
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<b>Disadvantages</b>: The water looks, well, 'Murky' - with the occasional blob of goose poop floating around (it could be vegan or may be vegan<i>ish - </i>I don't know, I haven't tried it). But it's all good and relatively safe (see updated paragraph below in bold). In the main channel you have to be careful and look out for <u><i>kayaks and boats</i></u>. Having a swim buoy (orange/yellow) and a bright colored swim cap will help make you more visible to the boats/kayaks. </div>
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<b>Word of Caution:</b> The lagoon is shallow and in some areas close to the shore, if your stop and stand, you could cut your feet on the abrasive (shell strewn) bottom. Further, don't "hug" the shore as you may stub your finger on a parked boat or the pier.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekday swimming</b>: Gull Park is near a school and surrounded by residences. Some residents do not like swimmers changing on the road/sidewalk (close to the school or houses). They have called the police citing indecency. So be respectful and change into your wetsuit at the beach, or wear a swim parka until you get to the beach.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Lagoon also has fish</b> - you may, at times, touch a few while swimming - may be a bit disconcerting - but it is pretty harmless. Here is a quote from the City's page. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="AvenirNextLTW01-Regular, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 17px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span face="AvenirNextLTW01-Regular, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 17px; text-align: justify;">Non-commercial fishing is allowed in Foster City, and a state fishing license is required.</span><span face="AvenirNextLTW01-Regular, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 17px; text-align: justify;"> <b><u>The Foster City Lagoon contains Halibut and a large population of bait-fish</u></b>.</span><span face="AvenirNextLTW01-Regular, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 17px; text-align: justify;">"</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.fostercity.org/parksrec/page/water-activities" target="_blank">Lagoon maintenance:</a> </div>
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The lagoon is maintained by Foster City and is frequently drained/flushed as rain water from the streets drain into the lagoon during the (rare) wet season. We typically do not swim for a few days after a heavy downpour as the drainage of water into the lagoon could have increased the bad bacteria levels. Be safe rather than sorry - avoid the lagoon during the rainy season. Aquatic Park in San Francisco or Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz are better places to swim during the rains. </div>
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Lagoon water is tested once a week - San Mateo County has an interactive map that shows you if the water is good for swimming or not. Waters are tested on Monday and the updates show up a day or two later on the sites below. </div>
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<a href="https://gis.smcgov.org/Html5Viewer/?viewer=beach" target="_blank">Interactive map</a>. Just shrink the map to see the entire area covered by San Mateo County testing. 'Green dot' means good to swim, 'Red dot' means avoid swimming.</div>
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<a href="https://www.smchealth.org/beaches" target="_blank">Water quality webpage</a>: The link to the interactive map (above) is on this page. </div>
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The rather unnatural blueish green color of the lagoon is because the city dumps 100s of gallons of non-toxic blue dye into the lagoon in summer to help stop the growth of algae. <a href="https://patch.com/california/fostercity/foster-city-lagoon-dyes-to-be-blue" target="_blank">Here is an article about it</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><u>October 2022 update:</u></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>That said, in October 2022, I exchanged emails with the wonderful Foster City (FC) folks about the poor water quality reports from San Mateo County testing and various media sources at their various beaches (including Gull) and they were very prompt in responding. FC folks said that the bad reports from Heal the Bay's annual 'Beach Bummers' list and other media are misleading and are not an accurate portrait of Foster City's Lagoon System. As per FC - the risk of swimming in the lagoon is the same as it was last year or the years before - but they would leave it up to the swimmers to decide based on their own comfort levels. The City has taken measures and continues to work towards improving the lagoon system. <a href="https://www.fostercity.org/citymanager/page/healthy-waters-healthy-parks" target="_blank">Here is more information on that</a>. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Swim distances:</b> </div>
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I've used Google Earth to map some of the more common swims we do at Gull Park. Here are some photographs and specific notes below each one.</div>
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A swim from the beach to the 'Yellow house' and back is about 400 yards. Always stop before crossing the main channel and look out for boats and kayaks. The main channel is the water body in front of the Yellow house - the turn around point. Sighting tips - the yellow house bang in front of the beach (they may repaint it some other color someday - so don't hold me to that 'Yellow House'). On the way back aim for the big trees right behind the beach.</div>
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This 200 yard swim is within the enclosed area near the beach - a good session for sighting and turning in open water. Sighting tips: There are always boats parked there - you can make a triangle based on them.<br />
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Right side bridge and back is about 1600 yards. Good for Olympic and Half Ironman distance training. We typically have the swimmers stay close to the shore (stay right going to the bridge and right on the way back). This keeps them off the center of the main channel which has kayak and boat traffic. Keep an eye out for oncoming swimmers as they may not be keeping the same traffic rules as you.<br />
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Left side bridge and back - about 3200 yards. Good for longer swims and for the full Ironman distance swims as well. Again, stay close to the shoreline (not too close) and avoid swimming in the middle of the channel. Traffic rules are NOT followed by all swimmers so keep an eye out for oncoming swimmers. </div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Other swim areas close by: </u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Coyote Point Park, San Mateo, CA </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is a <a href="https://dylan.tweney.com/coyote-point-swimming-notes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link to Dylan Tweney's write up about swimming at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo, CA</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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<a href="http://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2012/08/open-water-swim-safety.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here is a prior post on Open Water Swim safety.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com1Foster City, CA, USA37.5585465 -122.27107889.248312663821153 -157.4273288 65.868780336178844 -87.1148288tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-51715329623452051862020-05-19T16:47:00.004-07:002020-08-10T14:04:37.009-07:002020 - A time to revisit my running<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u>A quest for a quicker Half Marathon</u></b>: </div>
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2020: I was scheduled for Ironman Hawaii 70.3 in May, Santa Cruz 70.3 in September and Chicago 26.2 in October....but the Bats and the Pangolins had other ideas.<br />
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All races have been postponed or cancelled. All swimming pools closed. We (Team Asha Triathlon) decided against biking outdoors during the height of COVID-19, primarily to reduce the likelihood of having to make a hospital visit in case of an accident. Given that our season has been shifted to a virtual environment I decided to work on my running. The goal is to get (safely) to a 1:40:00 (One Hour: Forty min) Half Marathon (13.1 miles) by July 31st. My previous best was a 1:41:& change - fifteen years ago (2005) and I wanted to see if I could roll back the years. So far, so good. April (95 miles) and May (84 miles as on the 19th) have been loading up months with 4 runs a week. My routine is:<br />
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<b>Monday</b>: 6-8 miler 8:00 to 8:20 min/mile pace. (Midday/Noon run.)<br />
<b>Tuesday</b>: 4-6 miles 5K pace (7:30 to 7:45 min/mil).(Midday/Noon run.)<br />
<b>Wednesday</b>: 30 min Spin session and 20-25 min strength and core workout.<br />
<b>Thursday</b>: 5-7 miles mild elevation and step climbing @ landfill heap. (Midday/Noon run.)<br />
<b>Friday</b>: Rest with a 20-25 mins strength and core session.<br />
<b>Saturday</b>: Long run 10 to 20 miles at 8:15-8:30 min/mile. (Late morning run.)<br />
<b>Sunday</b>: 60 min Spin session.<br />
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The midday runs are - well - because I prefer the heat and I am not a morning person (hence a late riser). Running in the afternoon helps me acclimatize faster to our summer temperatures and forces me to pay attention to my hydration. Plus, with the social distancing guidelines the roads and trails are empty at noon - so no need for SCUBA gear as extra protection during my runs.<br />
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<b>Strength & Core</b>: The deal is to keep a moderate core and strength training routine going (nothing excessive). I have a routine that I put together for the triathlon program about a year ago that is a quick 20 to 30 min session (2 sets). I do that 2 to 3 times a week. Strength & core training is absolutely essential for balance, good posture and general well being.<br />
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<b>Spin & Biking</b>: The spin sessions or riding outside is also essential for runners as it helps in toning and strengthening the quads and is a great non-impact form of active recovery.<br />
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<b>Swimming</b>: Once the pools open - I'll be adding swim sessions as well. Great workout for the upper body and also a great non-impact active recovery specially when you are concentrating on your runs. And swimming is my version of meditation.<br />
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So far in May - I have managed to run three half marathons - keeping my Heart Rate (HR) under 160bmp, maintaining a regular cadence (174-180 spm) and gently increasing my pace after the 6 mile mark. The idea is to slowly build into a sustained sub 8:00 min/mile by mid June and then push for a quicker Tuesday speed workout.<br />
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The three 13 milers this month were on<br />
May 2nd: 10:00AM - 61F - 75% humidity (that humidity messed with my long luscious hair).<br />
May 9th: 9:10AM - 60F - 60% humidity.<br />
May 16th: 10:40AM - 65F - 56% humidity.<br />
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I've put together a sheet with the details of my three 13 milers (a photograph below). All details from Strava and my Coros watch. I'll add to this as my quest unfolds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Analyzing my three 13 milers in May (Strava details).<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Update on June 16th 2020</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On May 28th I pulled my hamstring - so this quest, like my hamstring, has been iced!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">:) </span></td></tr>
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-49742258680048358692017-12-31T13:17:00.001-08:002020-05-19T14:08:09.313-07:002017 - A look back.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u><b>2017 - A look back.</b></u></div>
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2017 was a wonderful year for a lot of us. Team Asha Triathlon program had a record number of new triathletes and all of them successfully completed their first triathlons (Oakland and Marin). Almost all of them have found a new love for open water swimming and triathlons. Further to that Sumit Jain and Shashi Dakuri completed their first Ironman Triathlon in Canada. It is great to see all these athletes enjoy the sport and reach new heights.<br />
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Asha Triathletes after Marin County Triathlon</div>
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<b>My year: </b></div>
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<u>Total training miles for the year:</u><br />
<b>Swim</b>: ~90 miles (158,409 Yards)<br />
<b>Bike</b>: 1,817 miles<br />
<b>Run</b>: 728 miles<br />
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The year started with my 6th running of the Napa Valley Marathon and it was a good primer for Ironman Canada training. Napa was a good run, cold and wet at the start. Yup it was raining. I felt good and ran a relaxed and easy race.<br />
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Sitting in the shuttle prior to Napa start.</div>
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The Team Asha Spring Run is always a fun event - great place to meet all our past and future runners. It was a well conducted and well represented event.<br />
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Given that Wildflower Tri was cancelled, Stan, Shashi, Sumit and I participated in the Auburn Half distance tri as part of our Ironman Canada training. Stan and I had done Auburn back in 2008 and I remember the bike course to be really hilly. Great training for Canada. Auburn did not disappoint, it was a warm day on a tough course. All of us did well and were cheered on by our Team Asha folks - thanks Karthik, Surya and Renuka.<br />
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All in all it was turning out to be a pretty decent training year with loads of hill training on the bike. Ironman Canada has a hilly bike course so we did plan and ride a lot of hills. Over a 100K feet of climbing (as per Strava). That is a lot for me. We did a lot of hill repeats - replicating the course. Going up Page Mill twice in a ride; Once at the start and once around the 90 mile mark. Or alternating the hills with Page Mill, Old LaHonda and Kings Mountain. Between January and July I did Old La Honda 19 times, Page Mill 9 times, Kings Mountain and Mt Hamilton 1 each. This was probably the hardest I've trained since 2007! <br />
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For the final push I joined Stan, Shashi and Sumit for Stan's special Super Brick training session (a bike 30 miles /run 8 miles , bike 15/run 5, bike 15/run 7 session) and actually felt good! So I had no excuses, I even bought a new bike this year (my previous ride was a Lemond I bought in 2002).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new bike</td></tr>
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Around June I had a bad day on the bike - it was during the longest ride - I just imploded and it took me almost 2 days to recover! I still have no idea what happened. But that was a huge setback. After that I tried switching my diet from all Gels to <a href="http://www.vespapower.com/" target="_blank">VESPA</a> + gels (a favorite of a lot of Ultra runners). VESPA is supposed to work on a fat burning system 'Fat as fuel' (as opposed to an influx of sugars from Gels). After a few tries I managed to reduce the amount of gels (eGels) during training. But during Ironman Canada - I don't think the diet change worked. I was pretty much out of it by the time I got off the bike and after that it was just a long tired trudge to the finish line. It was my slowest Ironman finish. The race started off pretty well - the swim is in the gorgeous Alta lake. What a setting!<br />
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Lake Alta</div>
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The bike ride has two long climbs. About a 10 mile climb in the beginning and a 10 mile climb back into Whistler at around mile 90. Brutal! I was doing fine till the about mile 80. The climb back into Whistler just knocked the wind out of me. Once I started the run (a walk really) I had decided that no matter what I had to finish. I had dropped out of Ironman Lake Tahoe at around mile 8 or 9 on the run and did not want to repeat that. My stomach was in full bloom and after frequent porta visits I pushed on slowly to the finish. This was my 13th Ironman start and 11th finish (and my slowest finish). I think I am done with the full distance for now.<br />
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<b>Food Intake</b>: Crank sports drink, eGel, VESPA Jr. (VESPA every 2 hours, eGel every 60 mins, sports drink ~300cals over 2 hours.) <br />
Issues remain the same: Bloating, GI distress and a light headed feeling after about 8-9 hours.<br />
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Sumit, Shashi, Rajeev Shankar and Stan had a much better time and all of them finished strong. Huge congratulations to Sumit and Shashi for finishing their first Full Ironman! Rock Stars! Big Thank you for all those that came to cheer us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team CovFeFe Cheering Squad.</td></tr>
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The finishers</div>
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I followed up the year with Santa Cruz 70.3 (Half Ironman) - Had a near miss the weekend before the race. Labor Day weekend, I crashed while riding my bike and luckily did not break anything (me or the bike) - Just a sore shoulder. But 10 miles later a car clipped by back wheel - again I was lucky - the driver did not stop but my wheel was bent out of shape. I just skidded into the hedges and thanked my lucky stars! Got a new back wheel and the next week I was up and ready for Santa Cruz 70.3. I love racing in Santa Cruz - beautiful water, fantastic bike course (Highway 1) and a run along the coast. Pure beauty. Due to heavy morning fog the 1.2 mile swim was reduced to about 800 yards. I had a fun race. Met up with Pavan Singh after years! And we ran a few miles together. Was great catching up!<br />
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Come October it is Chicago. This was my 13th year of running Chicago marathon. My sister had signed up too so we ran it together. Chicago is always fun as I get to meet the family.<br />
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Perfect weather in Chicago</div>
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Downtown Chicago</div>
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Sumit, Rochan and I signed up with Odyessy Swim Club and swam Alcatraz. My 10th time doing the Alcatraz swim. Towards the end we all got caught in the incoming tide - it was like being stuck on a treadmill - we finally got a short 75-100 yard boat ride to be re-positioned - the power of the tide was just amazing! Big Congrats to Rochan and Sumit for their first Alcatraz swim. Looking forward to many more Open Water swims with them. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scalps!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Year In Medals</td></tr>
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In November, while on a visit to India, my nephew Ranjit and I ran the IIT Bombay 10k and ended up 3rd in my age group! LOL!<br />
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Now for some rest and relaxation.<br />
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-9074340475636145982016-10-29T20:55:00.001-07:002016-11-01T19:13:30.635-07:00Grand Canyon Rim to Rim backpacking trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oct 21st to Oct 25th</div>
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A great site for <a href="http://www.rimtorim.org/hike-it/" target="_blank">Grand Canyon hike details</a><br />
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<b>The lead up.</b><br />
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Prakash started the ball rolling and about 15 folks jumped in and said yes. After everyone figured out their personal time commitments we were down to 9 of us who were sure and were in for the training and the hike. We started doing some PG&E trail hikes (at Rancho San Antanio). Slowly adding some weight to our packs and having everyone break in their new hiking boots and getting used to the hiking poles. The 10 committed folks were: Renuka, Mittal, Ravali, Neha, Prakash, Sumit, Shashidhar, Balu and yours truly. Everyone was getting the required training and 5 of us were also running Chicago marathon so that too was helping us get ready.<br />
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<b>Training Backpacking trip: Desolation Wilderness. Sep 24th/25th.</b><br />
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Renuka, Neha, Mittal, Ravali, Balu, Sumit, Shashi and Rajeev</div>
We looked around for a decent backpacking trip to help folks get used to carrying their fully loaded packs and to be able to set up tents, cook food and be ready to pursue natures call in nature. 8 of us packed into two cars and drove up to Loon Lake trail head (Eldorado National Forest - just south/west of Lake Tahoe). We started the hike around 10AM slogged the 7 miles to Rockbound Lake. The trail is rocky and has a bit of elevation - we start at around 6,400 feet and topped out around 6,800 feet. The walk in was a bit tiring as all of us were getting used to the backpacks and the various chaffing and heat exhaustion chipping in. The trail goes up the east shore of Loon Lake then turns right, past Spider Lake, Buck Island Lake and then hits Rockbound Lake in Desolation Wilderness. The only water source is at the Pleasant Campground at the north east edge of Loon Lake. Access to the lake along the way will take you off the trail. So we had plenty of water with us for the entire 7 miles. We got to Rockbound Lake at around 5:00PM and Shashi, Sumit and I went looking for a decent campsite. <br />
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The trail</div>
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We pitched our tents near the west end of the lake - seemed like the best spot - easy water access yet far enough from the water and well protected from the wind. We started the evening with the refilling of our water bottles from the lake (using a filter of course) and everyone pitched in. We all settled in for a relaxed evening of a few sips of whiskey, some yummy freeze dried backpacking food and some beautiful star gazing. Energy levels were up and everyone relaxed. We packed all the food and other scented stuff into the bear boxes we were carrying and all the left over stuff (garbage etc.) was hung up high on a tree. <br />
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Photo credit Sumit Jain</div>
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The weather was pretty good - not too cold at all, but around midnight the winds picked up and it was howling all night. Absolutely wonderful to hear it whispering then screaming through the trees. Next morning we all were up and ready to leave by 9:30. Mittal and I took a quick dip in the frigid waters of Rockbound Lake. Nice and refreshing. The trip back was quick as everyone seemed much more at ease with their packs. We got back in under 5 hours. All in all a wonderful experience for everyone.<br />
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Filtering water</div>
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A night time selfie</div>
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The Gang</div>
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Rockbound Lake</div>
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The Trail</div>
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Loon Lake</div>
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Loon Lake</div>
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Chicago Marathon - Sumit, Neha, Ravali, Shashi and I ran the Chicago Marathon on Oct 9th. unfortunately Neha sprained her ankle pretty badly and was pretty much out for the Grand Canyon trip...that was a bummer. She did however complete her first marathon!<br />
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Before the start: Photograph by Condor Bob </div>
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<b>Grand Canyon (GC):</b></div>
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Stan had joined the GC trip as we had an extra permit. With Neha out, it was 9 of us heading out. Ravali, Renuka, Mittal, Shashi, Sumit, Balu, Stan, Prakash and I. We flew into Vegas picked up our van and drove to the South Rim, picking up last minute stuff at the REI in Henderson (Gas canisters, matches etc.), we had reservations at Maswick Lodge. After a quick dinner we all packed our backpacks - leaving unnecessary stuff in the van. We were ready by 6:30AM and had a shuttle drop us off to the North Rim (a four and a half hour drive). Our shuttle driver was Bob George better known as Condor Bob. He is a biologist with the Park Services and has been doing research on the California Condors for the past 6 years. We had a long conversation with him about various topics, his breadth of knowledge was fantastic and he kept the 4 hour journey interesting (even though it was tough at times to hear him over the incessant argument going on in the back seats about some inane tech issue...techies!!). He is also an ultra runner, Ironman triathlete, avid sailor. More about him here:<br />
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.grandcanyonnews.com/news/2015/sep/15/tracking-grand-canyons-condors/&source=gmail&ust=1477879217956000&usg=AFQjCNFK5mEcFPJ_KTnIPaWK-tQcf92lOA" href="http://www.grandcanyonnews.com/news/2015/sep/15/tracking-grand-canyons-condors/" target="_blank">http://www.grandcanyonnews.com<wbr></wbr>/news/2015/sep/15/tracking-gra<wbr></wbr>nd-canyons-condors/</a></div>
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He also mentioned GC artists Bruce Aiken who lived in the canyon for decades - Bruce's paintings are incredible...here is his website: <br />
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.bruceaiken.com/grand-canyon&source=gmail&ust=1477879217956000&usg=AFQjCNHYjpDJdXid3WFLjQIjkqPCNM5dFg" href="http://www.bruceaiken.com/grand-canyon" target="_blank">http://www.bruceaiken.com/gran<wbr></wbr>d-canyon</a> </div>
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and more about him: </div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://arizonaexperience.org/people/featured-artist-bruce-aiken&source=gmail&ust=1477879217956000&usg=AFQjCNHv4ikH5ghwF4mkmirJW8JWhT9Rbw" href="http://arizonaexperience.org/people/featured-artist-bruce-aiken" target="_blank">http://arizonaexperience.org/p<wbr></wbr>eople/featured-artist-bruce-ai<wbr></wbr>ken</a> </div>
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Bob also mentioned another artist, Serena Supplee, here is her website: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://serenasupplee.com/originals/orig-gc/&source=gmail&ust=1477879217957000&usg=AFQjCNHKZZmOrRWecLQw1m-CpYxqLJ3u9A" href="http://serenasupplee.com/originals/orig-gc/" target="_blank">http://serenasupplee.com/origi<wbr></wbr>nals/orig-gc/</a></div>
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Back to the trip :) <br />
<b>Day 1 - 7 miles (North Kaibab trail to Cottonwood Campsite)</b><br />
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We started the hike down at 12:30PM - I was, as usual, trying to rush everyone out as quickly as possible knowing that it would be a hard long hike. And it was! Renuka, Prakash, Mittal and I stayed together most of the way as the others moved on quickly. We slowed down as all of us were tiring and finally made it into Cottonwood Camp Ground at around 6:45PM - the last mile and a half was walked in the dark, not something that I enjoyed. Renuka and I were tired - Mittal was doing really well and it was wonderful of her to stay back with us. She almost stepped on a rattle snake! We waited for it to cross the trail and then continued on. With Stan coming back a mile and a half to help with our backpacks it was a real god sent. We limped into the campsite - I was out of energy and only after setting up our tent and packing away the foods and scented stuff into the critter box did I settle in for some whiskey and food. Ravali had already set up the food and was helping everyone get fed. Shashi had conveniently burnt his hand and thus was of no help to anyone! ;) After dinner a few of us walked down the trail a bit to look up at the brilliant night sky. Absolutely serene!<br />
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A pensive moment - Photo Credit Prakash Jalan</div>
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Photo Credit Prakash Jalan</div>
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The Rattle Snake (My iPhone)</div>
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<b>Day 2 - 7 miles (Cotton Wood to Bright Angel) </b><br />
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After
a nice cool night we were up and ready for a slightly easier Day 2 - 7
miles, mostly flat and along the bottom of the canyon. Renuka and I
decided to skip the detour to Ribbon Falls which was about an additional
2 miles. We took our time walking to Phantom Ranch and stopped along
the way to enjoy the canyon. It was a warm day but we managed to get out
off the open areas and into the narrow canyon before the sun got too
hot. This is a spectacularly beautiful part of the hike. Nearly 2 billion years of rock layers rising up on either side of us. After the star gazing last night, the sheer age put things in perspective...again. We got to the cafe at Phantom Ranch and sat and had a cold beer and
waited for the others to come in. Shashi, Balu, Stan and Ravali came
in just before 4 and we walked on to the Bright Angel campsite. There
are two group sites and the better one was taken - so we settled into
the lesser site, pitched our tents and went to the river for a quick dip in
the cool waters. Mittal, Prakash and Sumit came in just after dark. All
of them had had a great time at Ribbon Falls. The Camp Ranger swung by
to give us some updates and he said thunderstorms are expected so be
prepared. We all settled in after agreeing to be up and out by 5:30AM to
beat the heat and have plenty of time for the 9 miles out of the
canyon. We had booked two mules and had to pack the tents and drop them
off by 5:30AM so we could all head out. Well, that was what was decided...</div>
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<b>Day 3: 9 miles out of the canyon. (Bright Angel to South Rim via Bright Angel trail.)</b></div>
The night was fitful - We had decided not to open our sleeping bags as it was pretty warm. But by midnight it got a bit chilly so we opened one sleeping bag. Then I think some critter tried to get into Stan's backpack at 3:00AM so all that drama woke me up. At 4:00AM the heavens opened up and a thunderstorm passed over us. That was it, I was up and started packing for the morning. As soon as it stopped we were out and packed and ready to roll by 5:15AM. I tried to push the others to get going and start packing, but that was a lost cause. We finally got Renuka, Shashi and Stan to start off at 6:10AM - Prakash, Sumit and I went and dropped the two 30 lbs bags off for the mules and picked up our 'to go' lunch from Phantom Ranch. We finally got going at 7:00AM. Ravali, Balu, Sumit, Mittal, Prakash and I were together most of the way. We caught up with the others at Indian Gardens which is about half way up. There Renuka stayed with us as Stan, Shashi and Balu decided to go on faster. The rest of us trudged up those last 4.5 miles of 12%+ grade. There are water stops every 1.5 miles and the altitude goes up a 1000 feet between them. We were really tired, it was a slow unforgiving (but gorgeous) climb out. Everyone did really well - egging each other on - singing songs and sticking together. We made sure everyone drank water and kept up with the electrolytes, salty snacks and gels. We finally made it up at 3:50PM - what a wonderful trip - what a fantastic group of friends. This is a tough tough hike, specially with a backpack on. So train hard and be prepared. By late evening I was completely drained, the lack of sleep and the completion of the trip just caught up with me and I was a complete gone case :) - curled up and went to bed early.<br />
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Huge thank you to Prakash, Shashi for all the arrangements, absolutely seamless trip - and thank you to Stan for helping out like he always does. Thank you to Prakash, Mittal for being with Renuka and us through day 1. Thank you to Shashi and Stan for the help early on day 3 and Shashi for all the driving. And thank you to Balu, Sumit and Ravali for all the help along the way. Wonderful team!<br />
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At the top of the South Rim</div>
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The shoes that did the job - Desolation/Chicago Marathon/GC</div>
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At the BnB in Flagstaff After the hike<br />
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A whiteboard rendition of the Grand Canyon<br /></div>
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-65065310758351953412016-07-08T21:33:00.004-07:002016-07-08T21:33:48.141-07:00EsCHARgot with Escargot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EsCHARgot with Escargot! (<span class="st"><em>Montmartre, Paris May 2016)</em></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-8424000035742134542016-02-28T15:50:00.000-08:002016-02-28T22:21:20.761-08:00Illustrating a kids book (for ages 3-5)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Let me shamelessly start the post with a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bobo-sees-Atoms-Jabba-Story/dp/0997244100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456699768&sr=8-1&keywords=bobo+and+Jabba" target="_blank"><u><b>Buy it here</b></u></a>"</span></span></span>comment - Link below.<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bobo-sees-Atoms-Jabba-Story/dp/0997244100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456699768&sr=8-1&keywords=bobo+and+Jabba" target="_blank">Bobo and Jabba Volume 1 - 'Bobo sees Atoms'</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
In August 2015 Praveen Krishnan approached me about helping him with creating a kids book based on science. He had the concept thought out and was looking for someone to help illustrate the book. Having been subjected to my frequent whiteboarding doodles on Facebook he thought I could be the illustrator! The jury is out - you folks let me know if it is any good.<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://blog.reedsy.com/my-first-childrens-book-a-reedsy-success-story" target="_blank">Here is Praveen's blog about the experience</a>.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
It all started with a 'let us just do it on the whiteboard and have the book out quickly'...when something is that easy you know there is a problem :). We set up the book, I added in all the whiteboard sketches and Praveen had it looked at by an editor.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHJrnyjdiQd3LLaSr0ulTcdZhNSzlkui-xf-tlZRuE6a7XDYwymeFJ25oIScePnro7NkYGiIS-MPryuNsQ9Ggag9pDYPvV3bGugZkf5ANOCdftWu6uHA_8uX9R1BtmNrjyI9e/s1600/IMG_5652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHJrnyjdiQd3LLaSr0ulTcdZhNSzlkui-xf-tlZRuE6a7XDYwymeFJ25oIScePnro7NkYGiIS-MPryuNsQ9Ggag9pDYPvV3bGugZkf5ANOCdftWu6uHA_8uX9R1BtmNrjyI9e/s320/IMG_5652.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First attempt (Whiteboard)</span></div>
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<br /><br />The comment was...it needs more colour :). Well the whiteboard was out, no way would I be able to fill in colour for 30+ sketches on a whiteboard. I bought a Samsung tablet and literally went back to the drawing board. I redid the sketches on an App and sent them on. The next update from the editor was that there was not enough movement in the sketches. Kids love to see movement in their books...so back I went - redid a bunch of sketches. The final (did I say final!) product was sent to another editor to help check and arrange the pages for printing. The verdict...the size and dpi was not correct for printing!! It had to be high-res art files 300 dpi in CMYK, TIFF or JPG - the standard for printing. I, unfortunately, had done the sketches at 72dpi and .png - a web standard. Darn! The app I was using did not have the option for a higher resolution.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>
Fourth time is the charm! I bought a new App 'ArtFlow' and redid the entire lot at the required resolution and size. We finally got the book out in Feb 2016. Interesting process - I have a new found respect for cartoonists and sketchbook artists now. It is a lot of work!<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #282828; line-height: 22.4px; white-space: pre-line;">
</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXv8irYg5VtxcBVszzal9lqtv74S4LO2yGV8zfVfTvfSklYOrhOajv9XIcyRLwlUZV37mOhicvITacCjKMgd-SRhTTh8ciykeALxSk2x82wkhvuATBD_BGPh_VUaQjt4nOq4x/s1600/no20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXv8irYg5VtxcBVszzal9lqtv74S4LO2yGV8zfVfTvfSklYOrhOajv9XIcyRLwlUZV37mOhicvITacCjKMgd-SRhTTh8ciykeALxSk2x82wkhvuATBD_BGPh_VUaQjt4nOq4x/s320/no20.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The final product</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-size: large; line-height: 22.4px; white-space: pre-line;">Hope you and your young ones enjoy the book. We had fun in the process of making it. </span></div>
<span style="color: #282828; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; white-space: pre-line;"><br />
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-55731636768483102015-11-24T18:04:00.001-08:002015-11-24T18:10:48.872-08:00October / November 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If it is October it must be Chicago...<br />
Ran my 11th straight Chicago marathon - perfect weather - 54F clear skies. <br />
<br />
Chicago Marathon # 11 (2005-2015)<br />
Chicago Marathon Miles: 288.20<br />
Chicago Marathon hours: 50:48:46 <br />
Flying miles: ~40,612 (SFO/ORD/SFO)<br />
Flight time: ~88 hours<br />
<br />
In November a bunch of us Team Asha athletes participated in <a href="http://www.finishlineproduction.com/" target="_blank">Finish Line Production</a>'s Santa Cruz Aquathalon - a swim around the Santa Cruz pier followed by a 7.5 mile run. Fun event - with big breakers at the start and finish. All our swimmers finished the swim. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Team Asha </div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Moss" target="_blank">With Julie Moss</a></div>
<br /></div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-80987884337974979442015-09-20T00:30:00.000-07:002015-10-06T10:54:25.258-07:00Ironman Lake Tahoe - September 20, 2015 (DNF)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With the DNF (Did Not Finish) at Ironman Lake Tahoe my ironman record goes to
10 – 2. </div>
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The two DNFs coming in 2012 (Ironman CDA) and 2015 (Ironman
Lake Tahoe). While CDA was a DNF due to major GI issues the Tahoe one was more of a mixed
bag. Not too hard to pinpoint the underlying reason – lack of motivation.</div>
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I had signed up for Ironman Tahoe back in early 2014 - but swithched to the half in July as I had not been training too well. 2014 IMLT was cancelled due to smoke from forest fires. I, assuming that I would train better, upgraded to the full IMLT in 2015.<br />
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Actual training kicked off in June and the months of June
and July were fine. August had big holes due to visits and trips – I was
under-trained for sure – but given that I was only looking for a 17 hour finish
I assumed I could wing it...and there was the problem. As with a subprime CDO scheme
where you make some brave assumptions of steady cashflow (while knowing the
underlying assets are dodgy…you still hope the risk is spread wide enough to
survive) – I too made assumptions on my performance when the underlying asset
(me) was, well, dodgy!</div>
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<br /></div>
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The day began well enough – morning temp was about 2C (~36F)
at 4:15AM – and it was about 5C (~41F) by swim start. The water was a nice warm
61F. Still and clear. With the new swim start (as opposed to the mass start) Stan and I
placed ourselves in the 1hr 20 – 1hr 30min group and had an uneventful start and a
rather pleasant swim. Was out of the water in 1hr 20 mins. Lake Tahoe is by far
my favourite place to swim – having swum in seas off Bombay, Muscat, Maui, Los
Angeles, San Francisco and in lakes all over the world – Lake Tahoe and the
clarity of its water is just out of this world. Some day, when I grow up, I'll do the 11 mile swim across the breath of Tahoe.</div>
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Took some time in transition for layering up, leg warmers,
arm warmers, jacket and made my way to the 2 loop 112 mile ride on my trusted
Rocinante. The day was cold with no wind (47F) – perfect for riding. Team Asha
volunteers, captained by Shashidhar Dakuri, were manning the Route 28 section and
it was great to see them. Nizam Dakuri was seen driving his chariot along his
dominion marshaling the troops and cheering us on. I stopped at mile 13 to
drop off my warm gear with Venkat who was volunteering there (he said ‘looks
like you are wearing your ski gear today’ :)).
Lap one was fine and I was feeling pretty good – sticking with the 1 bottle of
e-Fuel and one eGel every hour/hour and a half. Stopped and refilled the
bottles at all aid stations and I had plenty of time to make the cut offs. Lap
two was a bit different – the sun came out and there was a bit of a cross wind
and as it started warming up (81F). I started to feel the fatigue. As I was
spinning up Brockway summit I decided to stop and walk once I hit the 7,000
feet mark – that was a clear indication that my energy levels were low and my
legs were pretty much done. That walk prompted me to walk up dollar point as
well (I don’t ever remember walking my bike up hills before – this was probably
fatigue and just lack of motivation to ride on) – by then my head was hanging low
and the focus was on making it to the run with something in the tank. I felt
terrible and I probably looked even worse. But somehow push it to T2. Amit was
there (apparently they were expecting me there much earlier – I have that
subprime glow). It was awesome to see Deepa, her dad, Sumit, Prasad, Venkat,
Amit, Shashi along the course.</div>
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<br /></div>
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T2 was a bit quicker – had a layer of sunblock plastered on by
one of the volunteers and I started off – all I needed was a 15min/mile and I
would be home in time. I kept the pace for the first 3 miles – then I slowed –
my stomach wanted to play a bigger part as well – so I placated it with a <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Pepto-Bismol tablet. I saw Chakri coming in
from his ride and shouted out – he made the cut off and went on to finish
really strong. Amazing guy and a strong athlete. I found a walking buddy and we
kept the pace up for a few miles – I lost a her during one of the Porta Potty
breaks and as the sun set the temp dropped pretty quickly. This was about where the mind was writing cheques that the body could not cash. At mile six I
considered stopping as I was really slowing down and had a throbbing headache but decided to push on to the
turn around to see if I get a physical turnaround. I met Doug and Stan they
were on their way back and doing really well. Made it to the 9.7 mile
turnaround and on the way back I decided to dropout at the next water-stop. Met Chakri
and he was looking good – as we passed I mumbled something about stopping. Mile
11 or 12 I got to the aid-station and informed them that I wanted to stop. No government bailout for this subprime mess...more like Lehman Brothers it was time to pull the plug. Gave
them my timing chip and they wrapped me in an bunch of blankets and I sipped on
some chicken broth. As there was another runner who was not doing too well, I got a ride
back to the Olympic Village at Squaw Valley in an ambulance with her.The aid station and EMT folks were fantastic.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I sat in the medical
tent for about 20 mins – more chicken broth, blankets and questions. Again the volunteers there were absolutely great. Then I
made my way out – Shashi, Sumit and Prasad were there – everyone was wondering
where I was. Called Renuka to let her know all was well. The wonderful Asha
folks got me more broth and helped me pick my bike and gear and dropped me to
the hotel room. Later Prasad came by with burger and fries! Amazing! Laukik,
who finished his grueling 70.3 (half Ironman) was there to help drive me back –
awesome folks! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Laukik, Rajeev
Shankar and Tandy finished the 70.3 and Doug, Stan and Chakri finished the full
Ironman. Perfect day for a race – the weather was great and the fact that we
had almost 20 Asha volunteers there made the race that much more special.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Negatives:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Not enough training and a late start to the season.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lack of motivation for the full distance. The bike training rides were a chore.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Altitude does cause problems for me. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Positives:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fuel:</div>
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e-Gels – one every hour (150 cals)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
e-Fuel – one bottle every hour and a half (300 cals)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bananas later in the ride. </div>
Both worked well - bit of GI issues towards the end of the bike and during the run but nothing out of the ordinary.
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Crank's eFuel works well for me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Post race recovery was quick and complete. </span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">No post race DNF blues. Actually I'm pretty much done with the ironman distance races (for now).</span><br />
</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
</div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-28559798384205157342015-06-15T23:47:00.003-07:002015-06-16T20:40:39.300-07:00Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Munich, Fussen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dates: May 15-May 31st 2015.</div>
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<b>Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Munich and Fussen.</b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplqs2rEsmJXmZbaa6fgWaWcOgCSAqUjDsK-XrRFtuNkHqFYDL2FBtINqmCBbtQPNLNlcsvFiOIuRetfloXW6Zx3QMepWUHmTWUq3LWbth6SLhuEmOQLrdXb2sl0phJ6c5PyPx/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplqs2rEsmJXmZbaa6fgWaWcOgCSAqUjDsK-XrRFtuNkHqFYDL2FBtINqmCBbtQPNLNlcsvFiOIuRetfloXW6Zx3QMepWUHmTWUq3LWbth6SLhuEmOQLrdXb2sl0phJ6c5PyPx/s320/IMG_5193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The whiteboard planning</div>
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Airline - Out bound: United: SFO - Frankfurt - Budapest. </div>
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Inbound: Air Canada: Munich - Toronto - SFO. </div>
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Travel in Europe: Trains - Budapest to Vienna. Vienna to Prague and Prague to Munich. We booked our tickets in the US and had them mailed to us. Booked via the RailEurope site:<br />
<a href="http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/" target="_blank">http://www.raileurope.com/<wbr></wbr>train-tickets/</a> </div>
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For the shorter trips were booked while in Europe: Vienna to Bratislava by bus - buy it on the day. Buses run very hour.</div>
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Munich to Dachau and Fussen are covered under the Bayern Pass. This is a 24 hour pass that works on all transport in Bavaria (Buses, U Bahn included).</div>
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One of the things we had decided on this trip was to skip all the museums - we had done a bunch of that in Italy and Spain so we decided to take in the cities and enjoy the local restaurants and watering holes.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSNsoy70G2Eqw3WFqomurKipHtXr5ZSbCVti_oJV6QBiqrSTTe_R0XFEd4j-3mSjTSt8XVd33m_JI0NHjtOs6JZgmJ6emeUN0gQbEAa0iHoI-nSE9rn2aw0CwPPQbSh5gCGKg/s1600/IMG_5195_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSNsoy70G2Eqw3WFqomurKipHtXr5ZSbCVti_oJV6QBiqrSTTe_R0XFEd4j-3mSjTSt8XVd33m_JI0NHjtOs6JZgmJ6emeUN0gQbEAa0iHoI-nSE9rn2aw0CwPPQbSh5gCGKg/s320/IMG_5195_2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Heading out</div>
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We landed in Budapest and our BnB was a block from the Parliament building (3 min walk to the Danube). Perfect little place - quiet and clean. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmPwMqcFcxna56Ykj5vzaqifY9oIehRr7sprFS7hyBEMKLf1v6bYemRzPN-YxGqmniKzm8HkXtgdvoRN1plwooUYAzLYRooQn5XCic5pnlWyXwlDDYSAdKB0aFGyctVafoZ3N/s1600/IMG_5278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmPwMqcFcxna56Ykj5vzaqifY9oIehRr7sprFS7hyBEMKLf1v6bYemRzPN-YxGqmniKzm8HkXtgdvoRN1plwooUYAzLYRooQn5XCic5pnlWyXwlDDYSAdKB0aFGyctVafoZ3N/s320/IMG_5278.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Road we were on. </div>
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Shoes on the Danube to honor the Jews who were killed by fascists during WWII</div>
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The Tram next to our BnB</div>
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After getting tips about local eateries from our host - we walked across the Chain Bridge and to the Buda Castle on the opposite bank. It was a gorgeous evening and the place was deserted. We strolled around taking in the great views of Pest (Budapest is the combination of the two cities "Buda" and "Pest" split by the Danube).</div>
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Chain Bridge and Pest Skyline</div>
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View of the Parliament and the Danube</div>
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Chain Bridge </div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turul" target="_blank">Turul</a> - Sacred Magyar bird</div>
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The Parliament building</div>
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Video of <a href="https://youtu.be/rUQGjfngVZc" target="_blank">Budapest from Buda Hills looking onto Pest.</a><br />
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Day 1: We got the morning tour of the castle - reading the details from Rick Steves self guided walking tours in his books. We stopped at the oldest coffee house in Budapest, Ruszwurm, which opened in 1827. It is on a small street with a view of the Matthias Church on the Buda Castle hill. We then strolled across and wandered the city. Had dinner at Hungaricum - a local hot spot. It was good. </div>
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Palace Guard</div>
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The Raven sent by Matthias' mother with the royal ring.</div>
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(<a href="https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/mtys-corvinus-the-last-hungarian-king" target="_blank">Mátyás Corvinus</a>)</div>
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View of Matthias Church</div>
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Matthais Church</div>
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Day 2: We went to the hot springs - 'Széchenyi<b> </b>Baths' the largest thermal bath in Budapest. Spent the morning lazing around in the warm waters. They have a lap pool and I tried to get a swim in but was stopped as I did not have a swim cap! So I ended up drinking beer and lazing in the thermal bath. Had lunch out there and walked around the gardens and little castle area there. Got back late afternoon - had dinner at a recommended spot 'Krispiac Bisztro' and then went for an evening cruise on the Danube.</div>
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One of the oldest underground metros in Europe to the City Park, Zoo and Bath<br />
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Video of <a href="https://youtu.be/vtfI2DSA3X8" target="_blank">Széchenyi<b> </b>Baths</a> <br />
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Széchenyi<b> </b>Baths</div>
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Széchenyi<b> </b>Baths</div>
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Széchenyi<b> </b>Baths</div>
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Dinner</div>
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City Park</div>
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Day 3: We wandered around the city - went to the Jewish quarter and took a tour of the Synagogue - our first visit to a synagogue. The stories and photographs of the decimation of the Jewish population 70 years ago was heart wrenching - and the population has still not recovered. The photographs and history are both full of sadness and hope. Our guide talked about the political situation in Hungary (not too good) and about the slow rise in covert antisemitism. It made for an interesting conversation. After visiting a few 'Ruin Bars' We walked into a live concert in the park - a group called '<a href="https://youtu.be/qju0sZbxjmQ" target="_blank">Republic</a>' was playing - pretty cool stuff. On the way back to the BnB we picked up a bottle of wine and spent the evening on the banks of the Danube.<br />
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Parliament building at night</div>
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Buda Castle </div>
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Ruin Bar</div>
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Ruin Bar</div>
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Ruin Bar</div>
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Synagog</div>
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Silver Tree Memorial - with our guide </div>
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Silver Tree Memorial - a gift from Tony Curtis</div>
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While relaxing on the banks of the Danube this floats by <a href="https://youtu.be/eGE-vfPWSic" target="_blank">Bollywood on the Danube</a></div>
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Next stop Vienna:</div>
Got in at noon and spent an hour wandering around looking for our hotel. After checking in we walked around the city - took the U to the Opera House and Stephansplatz area - walked around. Eurovision song contest was going on right outside out hotel - so we hung around there - had a few drinks and mingled with the fans for a while. Later we ended up at a place called 'The Pub' for some drinks and dinner.</div>
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Rathaus </div>
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Day 2: We took the bus to Bratislava - spent the day wandering
around the quaint little town. Walked to the castle area. On the way
back we stopped off at the Schönbrunn Palace and then met an old school
friend for dinner in Vienna. Had a wonderful meal at Do & Co
in Stephansplatz.<br />
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bratislava</div>
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Video of the <a href="https://youtu.be/ulHZsFBTj8Q" target="_blank">Schönbrunn Palace gardens</a></div>
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Dinner at Do & Co- Vienna</div>
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View of Bratislava from the Castle</div>
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Bratislava</div>
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Schönbrunn Palace</div>
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Schönbrunn Palace gardens</div>
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Next stop Prague:</div>
After figuring out the Tram system we made it to the BnB (Old Town) - Alex showed us in and helped us with some tips on where to eat (non touristy) and what not to miss. Since it was late afternoon we walked across the Charles bridge (really packed with tourists) and walked up to the Prague Castle area - gorgeous views of the city - and since the castle was closed we had the entire hill to ourselves. Sauntered back - stopped by 'The Beer Museum' (a bar) and tasted a bunch of beers.<br />
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Prague </div>
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Road to the Castle</div>
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At the Castle in Prague</div>
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Views from the Castle</div>
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Views from the Castle</div>
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Day 2: Walked to the Castle and did the tour - some prior guest at the BnB had left tickets for the next guest (Yay!) so we waltzed into the Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. Checked out the famous stained glass window by Alphonse Mucha. Visited all the other exhibits that the free tickets offered. After lunch we visited the Mucha Museum in the New Town. A small (and expensive) place - they have a 20 min movie on his life which was pretty interesting. On the way back we stopped by to see the famous astronomical clock do it's thing on the hour.<br />
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Video of <a href="https://youtu.be/OphiDCg4mf0" target="_blank">Prague from the Castle Hill </a></div>
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St. Vitus Cathedral</div>
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St. Vitus Cathedral</div>
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Mucha's Stained glass window</div>
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Mucha's Stained glass window</div>
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Naked Man statue at The Prague Castle</div>
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View of Prague</div>
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Mucha Museum </div>
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Day 3: No real agenda - I wanted to see 'The Slav Epic' - a collection of large paintings by Mucha - we walked to the museum but the exhibit was closed till August. So we made our way to the Jewish town and New Town. Checked out the huge Wenceslas Square (visited a Bata shop after years!). Saw the Municipal House (Opera house). We visited the big market - it was not really all that great. Lots of shops selling trinkets but nothing special. Once again crossed the Vltava river to take the funicular up to the top of Petřín Hill to the lookout tower for some more awesome views of the city.</div>
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Wenceslas Square</div>
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Wenceslas Square</div>
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Next Stop Munich:</div>
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The train ride was weird - the Czechs suddenly announced that the train would go up to Pilsen (Plzeň) and then all Munich bound passengers were to take a bus for 120Km to another station in Germany and continue on to Munich. Major confusion in Pilsen - we did not know where the buses were. Finally someone came by and we had a double decker all to ourselves for 120 Km! </div>
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Got in at 3:30PM - struggled to figure out the darn U-Bahn ticket methodology. Apparently you have to punch the strip twice per person...confusing as hell. Made it to the BnB (University area), Lucas gave us a quick run down on what was near and we took off to explore the beer halls! Had a Schweinhaxen (slow cooked pork knuckle) at Augustiner (A recommendation from Muneer). It then started pouring so we all moved inside and ended up sharing a table with some locals and had a great time discussing various topics (they don't like the Greeks - and I'm sure the feeling is mutual ;)) - several beers later we headed home after a great evening.<br />
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Train on the German side</div>
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Train on the German side</div>
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<span class="st">Marienplatz</span></div>
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Schweinhaxen</div>
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Day 2: Took the train to Dachau - even after reading about all the history, the place shakes you to the core. Spent all morning wandering the camp at Dachau. On the way back we visited the Nymphenburg Palace and finally made our way back to the beer halls. Hofbräuhaus was our stop - love the concept of just sharing tables and having conversations with locals and tourists. Had another great evening lubricated with liter beer mugs.<br />
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The Dachau gate "Work will set you free."</div>
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Camp beds </div>
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Nymphenburg Palace</div>
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Nymphenburg Palace</div>
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Nymphenburg Palace</div>
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Nymphenburg Palace</div>
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Nymphenburg Palace </div>
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At Hofbräuhaus</div>
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Day 3: My nephew, Lokoo, had just landed in Munich so we met up and spent the day with him catching up and beer hall hopping. Had an absolutely wonderful time.<br />
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Next stop Fussen:</div>
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A tiny gem of a place 2 hours south of Munich. We decided to spend two nights there instead of doing a day trip. Loved it. We checked into our hotel (Hotel Jakob - a nice family run place) and they told us not to visit the castles that evening as it would be crowded but go early the next morning. But since we had time after lunch we decided to just walk to Hohenschwangau - about a 4K walk. Once we got there we noticed that there were no lines at the ticket booth - so we picked up tickets and visited both the castles. Cute places - the views from Mary's Bridge (Marien Brücke) were spectacular - we rued the fact that we did not pack the fancy camera - and the iPhone could not do justice to the scenery. We finished seeing the two castles (Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau) that same evening. Later in the evening we walked along the Lech River - taking in the picturesque views with the milky blue glacial river waters. Stunning place. <br />
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Fussen</div>
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Fussen</div>
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Hohenschwangau</div>
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Neuschwanstein</div>
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Neuschwanstein</div>
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Neuschwanstein</div>
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Neuschwanstein</div>
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Neuschwanstein</div>
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Neuschwanstein from Hohenschwangau</div>
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Day 2: Having done the main attractions the day before we have absolutely no agenda for day 2 - so we decided on a long hike to the lakes. After some beer and a light lunch I jumped into the Altasee lake for a quick dip. We then sauntered back and took a dip in the Obersee lake - sat and chatted with some German tourists. An absolutely refreshing and relaxing day. After a nice 7 mile hike we headed back to the small town and wandered the back streets.<br />
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On the hike</div>
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Lunch prior to a dip in Altasee</div>
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A quick dip in some cold water</div>
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Lech river</div>
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Checking out of our hotel</div>
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Trying to sketch </div>
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Left Fussen at 12:00Pm and got to Munich late afternoon - we had booked a room near the airport...and the airport is way out of the city! Spent the evening around the hotel and after an early night - we were ready to draw the curtains on another wonderful trip. </div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-10469678024496250122015-06-02T22:42:00.000-07:002015-06-02T22:42:03.732-07:00With Friends Over The Years.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With friends in Italy 2013</div>
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With Obama in Barcelona 2013 </div>
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With Schoner Naci in Bratislava 2015</div>
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With a Napoleonic soldier in Bratislava 2015</div>
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Listening to a kid in Fussen, Germany 2015</div>
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With Mr Tequila in Cancun, 2014</div>
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With Ronnie in Budapest, 2015</div>
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With a painter in Budapest, 2015 - (on the <span style="font-weight: normal;">Danube Promenade)</span></div>
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Hanging with a friend Budapest, 2015</div>
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With <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imre_Nagy" target="_blank">Imre Nagy</a> overlooking the Parliament in Budapest, 2015</div>
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With <a href="http://www.vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?webpage=ST&record=hubp086" target="_blank">Sándor Károlyi</a> in Budapest, 2015</div>
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With <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attila_J%C3%B3zsef" target="_blank">Attila József</a> in Budapest, 2015- overlooking the Danube.</div>
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<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=LECJ1pLeC_8C&pg=PT18&lpg=PT18&dq=On+the+Danube+-+Attila+Jozsef+poems&source=bl&ots=EASFFgiLiA&sig=DCsyvhqlYDwvvO7QcsoDyhWqFJ4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=z5JuVf37LMbjoASYjoDYBQ&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=On%20the%20Danube%20-%20Attila%20Jozsef%20poems&f=false" target="_blank">Here are some of his poems</a></div>
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-83613604869874398312014-10-15T20:59:00.001-07:002014-10-16T14:47:30.362-07:00Chicago Marathon 2014 (Chicago # 10)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It all started back in 2005 when Team Asha made Chicago Marathon one of our main races. That year 80+ of us flew to Chicago to run the race and we all had a great time out there. Since my sister is in Chicago I decided that this was a great way to make an annual trip there to meet them all. <br />
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With the rise in popularity of the race, getting into 2014 was going to be a toss up as the organizers made Chicago into a lottery. I did write to them asking them to consider folks like me (frequent runners) and give us some loyalty slots. Their reply was that they had not decided yet on any policy for 2014. Luckily they did include a grandfather clause and gave folks that had run the race 5 times in the last 10 years a guaranteed entry. I was in for the 10th year.<br />
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2014 marked my 10th consecutive running of Chicago Marathon - given that it was a low training year I decided to, once again, walk/run the marathon and have fun along the way. As with last year, I stopped and took photographs along the way.<br />
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List of my Chicago finishes - about 44 and a half hours on the roads of Chicago over 10 years and about 37,000 miles flown back and forth!<br />
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2005: 3:59:12<br />
2006: 4:02:04<br />
2007: 4:00:14 - heat wave<br />
2008: 3:49:57<br />
2009: 3:44:07<br />
2010: 6:29:51 <br />
2011: 5:32:00 <br />
2012: 3:29:42 <br />
2013: 4:33:49<br />
2014: 4:58:59 <br />
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This year 20 of us flew in from California - bunch of us were staying at the Congress Plaza. Saturday was spent getting our bibs, walking around the Expo and getting an early dinner. Mittal had brought snacks for us, so we met in her room to eat some poha and sweets. Later in the evening 10 of us decided to have dinner at Congress Plaza. The meal was not great but the banter was fun and the attitude of the restaurant staff added to the ambiance ;)<br />
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As usual there was the speculation of possible rain on race day...but we dodged that bullet. It turned out to be a perfect race day.<br />
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Team Asha at the Expo</div>
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Expo - signing the wall</div>
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The morning was clear and cold. My sister and a few of her running buddies were volunteering at the 2nd waterstop - so she was up and out of the room at 4:10AM (Thank you for volunteering again Nandini!). </div>
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I finally rolled out of bed at 5:45 and took the stairs down in order to skip the elevator crowd (our room was on the 5th floor). <br />
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Running down the stairs.</div>
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Clear bright morning - bit chilly for me though - 48F</div>
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On the way to the corral</div>
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The 'security check' - thanks to the Boston Marathon bombers - still rankles me as it is a loss of innocence.</div>
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The race Alert system (for running weather conditions). This started after the 2007 heat wave and race cancellation - yup, perfect day for a run.</div>
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Got into the corral early.</div>
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The huddled masses.</div>
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The 'before' photograph.</div>
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Folks stretching - nervous energy</div>
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A team from Denmark - They were having a good time.<br />
<br />
Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/mYtgPdx6bYg" target="_blank">Singing of the National Anthem</a><br />
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</div>
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Getting to the start - it only took 3 minutes</div>
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Stopped to take a photograph</div>
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The signs - the cheering!</div>
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Nandu at the waterstop</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
With my favourite waterstop volunteer</div>
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For some reason, this caught my eye!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A running selfie with Mr Cat in the Hat</div>
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Slippery, slick waterstops</div>
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Her sign cracked me up - had to stop to take a photograph! Funny stuff!</div>
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Reflections and runners.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
:) Mile 18</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I guess you could get paper cuts</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Mile 20 :) got a chuckle out of me.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Signs (non running) </div>
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Chinatown</div>
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Chinatown</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Chinatown</div>
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Mile 25 :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdYwUDtZloWC8xqOEnRbXi_uaS1ciKxVR2aSx-ZqHWCs-_DZqwv-a0vWA4-EWs9EXHKgeyx3S6Gk-A_clAz9acSHCTnv1O1QQRYxjgQlzlD4asoAFo0VgECFsK0p4z6qNyjY3/s1600/IMG_4687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdYwUDtZloWC8xqOEnRbXi_uaS1ciKxVR2aSx-ZqHWCs-_DZqwv-a0vWA4-EWs9EXHKgeyx3S6Gk-A_clAz9acSHCTnv1O1QQRYxjgQlzlD4asoAFo0VgECFsK0p4z6qNyjY3/s1600/IMG_4687.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After the finish.</div>
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<br /></div>
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All the Team Asha runners had a great race and everyone finished healthy, happy and a lot of them got PRs (Personal Records). Again, the crowds did not disappoint - they were out in the millions and the music and cheering was awesome. I stopped to have just about everything that was offered along the course. </div>
</div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-33394249254484334222014-08-26T14:22:00.002-07:002014-10-22T19:37:12.985-07:00Kenya Safari August 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u><b>Kenya Trip – August 13<sup>th</sup> to August 23</b></u></div>
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We have been planning a trip to Africa for ever…I mean FOREVER! When we were in Muscat (some 17 years ago) we almost made it to Africa, but had to change plans – (we went to Kerala instead ;)). </div>
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After our Spain trip in November 2013 – Renuka, Chandrika, Muneer and I decided we should do a safari in Africa. So in Feb 2014, I kick started the process and there began a chain of emails that numbered well past 150! We settled on Kenya and Muneer and Chandrika’s friend Pancham helped us set the itinerary for the trip.<br />
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Over the last month (July/August) we pondered over the issue of terror attacks in Kenya (Nairobi and Mombasa) and the Ebola outbreak in western Africa (Kenya is in the east, so we were not very concerned....until....on the morning of our travel we wake up to read <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28769678" target="_blank">BBC head lines</a>,
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<span class="date">"<b>13 August 2014</b></span><b>
<span class="time-text">Last updated at </span><span class="time">12:48 ET</span>
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<b>Ebola outbreak: Kenya at high risk, warn WHO"</b></div>
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After checking all the various travel and government sites, we decided not to over-think the issue and to just go for it.</div>
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<u><b>The trip:</b></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhha-ygimLv0mg4RLkhfUIsvAkOiOCFF9v_bWxDkOUtD-EC6knAdRrzADbY2o9m_MoPKLpkZDXjkU4AmTltRx57pobNnit7-iGcmSPOOByUiQ8necxtMf0AslimZwD2IlYtXRL6/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhha-ygimLv0mg4RLkhfUIsvAkOiOCFF9v_bWxDkOUtD-EC6knAdRrzADbY2o9m_MoPKLpkZDXjkU4AmTltRx57pobNnit7-iGcmSPOOByUiQ8necxtMf0AslimZwD2IlYtXRL6/s1600/image.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><b>Trip Details and some tips:</b></u></div>
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Best time to go and see the 'Migration' is June, July and early August. We missed the migration - but if you do plan on going for it, plan on spending some extended period of time around the Mara river waiting for the Wildebeest to take the plunge. <br />
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<li>We flew Emirates – SFO >> Dubai >> Nairobi >> Dubai >> SFO </li>
<li>Visas are on arrival at the airport US$50.00 (Cash) Per head (they accept GBP and EUR as well).</li>
<li>Yellow Fever Vaccines are not needed if you are a resident of USA, UK.</li>
<li> We booked our trip through Catalyst Travels Limited (Ravi Chandarana: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:asstmgr_tours@catalysttravels.com">asstmgr_tours@catalysttravels.com</a>).</li>
<li>Our itinerary was: Two nights in Nairobi, Two nights in Masai Mara, One night at Lake Nakuru, Aberdare and Amboseli.</li>
<li> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner was included once we left Nairobi</li>
<li>Carry bug spray. You will need it.</li>
<li> Tip to tour driver is recommended to around $5.00 to $7.00 per head/per day, paid at the end of the trip (if you are paying in US$, make sure the note series is dated post 2000. The banks there do not accept US$ notes with pre 2000 series years). Tips to hotel staff was around 100 to 200 shillings ($1.25 to $2.25).</li>
<li>Drinks are not included, so carry a credit card or cash for additional spending on drinks and gifts. </li>
<li> Drink bottled water, carry purell, Lip balm, a scarf as the roads to and in the park are off road and dusty. If you like to have a few drinks in the evening – buy a couple of bottles at a super market in Nairobi (it will be much much cheaper than buying them at the hotel bars). Thank you Pancham and Madhav for these tips. </li>
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<u><b>The actual itinerary:</b></u></div>
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<b>August 13<sup>th</sup></b> – SFO to Dubai. We stayed two nights in Dubai, met Chandrika and Muneer at the Airport and we all flew into Nairobi on August 16<sup>th</sup>. </div>
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<b>August 16<sup>th</sup> </b>we arrived in Nairobi at 7:10PM – stayed at West house Hotel. This is a really nice boutique hotel which sits at the border of <span class="usercontent">Karura forest</span>. We stayed there 16tha and 17<sup>th</sup> night.</div>
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<b>August 18<sup>th</sup></b> we drove 300Km to Masaai Mara Game Reserve, about a 5:30 hour drive. We stayed at <a href="http://www.sarovahotels.com/maracamp/index.aspx">Mara Sarova Game Camp</a>. Lovely place, nice tented rooms and good dining, bar and pool areas.</div>
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<b>August 19<sup>th</sup></b> we were in Masaai Mara all day – carried a picnic lunch and had lunch in the Mara; Zebras and wildebeest grazing around us. Very cool!!</div>
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<b>August 20<sup>th</sup></b> we drove 300 Km to Nakuru National Park, about 4:30 hour drive. We stayed at the <a href="http://www.sarovahotels.com/lionhill/index.aspx">Lion Hill Lodge</a>. This is part of the Savora chain. Again, a lovely place.</div>
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<b>August 21<sup>st</sup></b> we drove 220Km to Aberdare National Park, about a 3:30 hour drive. We stayed at the famous <a href="http://www.aberdaresafarihotels.co.ke/treetops/">Treetop Hotel</a>. The rooms are very basic – but the place has an awesome vantage point where you can sit and watch Rhinos, elephants, Cape Buffalos, wart hogs and other animals come to the watering hole.</div>
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<b>August 22<sup>nd</sup></b> we drove 420Km to Amboseli National Park, about a 6-7 hour drive. This is along the Mombasa highway (which is also the main port) so there is a heck of a lot of truck traffic on a 2 lane road. We stayed at <a href="http://www.oltukailodge.com/">Ol Tukai Lodge</a>. Stunning place. Elephants right outside the property. Plenty of mosquitoes, so carry your bug spray. Pants and socks are recommended. Amboseli is warmer than the rest of the places. </div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>August 23<sup>rd</sup></b> we left Amboseli at 2:00PM to head to the airport – 250 Km approx 4 hour drive.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyXJNxB3RwBka-etnAQHyXl6RYOFT5yt_QtdIVe3JXFjYw9eLJ9JgPQurx3SgBJr6Oe854XKFKOfDwLdCXzb81_eroNXEBZC_Rsas0gt1KupiR6RuCL_DCZc7M5LZTd2mC_cP/s1600/photo(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyXJNxB3RwBka-etnAQHyXl6RYOFT5yt_QtdIVe3JXFjYw9eLJ9JgPQurx3SgBJr6Oe854XKFKOfDwLdCXzb81_eroNXEBZC_Rsas0gt1KupiR6RuCL_DCZc7M5LZTd2mC_cP/s1600/photo(12).JPG" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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Getting into Nairobi was interesting - after filling out 4 forms for the immigration - they just tossed the papers aside and after a quick finger printing we were given 3 month visas for $50.00 a head. We spent a day in Nairobi...this can be avoided as there really is nothing much to see. We visited the David Scheldricks center (500 schillings/head) where they take care of orphaned elephants.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh4z9czHIQAX8wz3bV54kxNR6YF7gDoqucMDybCG97YuYk1rwnoO3qlAWJ9cS_rezjM4SHlXjakGd8R3c1lYXN1q_oordaR5-4FTeragZ7ksH9xx7Fc_EwFdRedTInBB0CA9s/s1600/IMG_4316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh4z9czHIQAX8wz3bV54kxNR6YF7gDoqucMDybCG97YuYk1rwnoO3qlAWJ9cS_rezjM4SHlXjakGd8R3c1lYXN1q_oordaR5-4FTeragZ7ksH9xx7Fc_EwFdRedTInBB0CA9s/s1600/IMG_4316.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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David Scheldricks Center.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1t2oesPmkKsrMx4A95QrtK2uLsnzxI7DnA2xx1W2jdJ8jdguVwNl5YqHssX6L_0FaumBtOs9Fcwx6j7ZnjAD4clgUVnUBn3Is3QF7viJKRP9qqNLNEWIaqMaV_eyRVFLhJTg/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1t2oesPmkKsrMx4A95QrtK2uLsnzxI7DnA2xx1W2jdJ8jdguVwNl5YqHssX6L_0FaumBtOs9Fcwx6j7ZnjAD4clgUVnUBn3Is3QF7viJKRP9qqNLNEWIaqMaV_eyRVFLhJTg/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Giraffe Center</div>
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You could see the baby elephants up close and even touch them as they wandered around the enclosure. We also visited the Giraffe Center (1200 schillings/head)- this is where you can feed the giraffes. Unless you are traveling with kids...this place can be avoided.<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Masaai Mara - August 18th</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We reached Masaai Mara just before lunch - but, before entering the park we stopped at a Masaai Village to get the whole Masaai welcome and learn about their traditions. After a $30.00/per head 'tip' we were given the Masaai welcome and Jack (who spoke English) explained the various traditions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u><b>Video:<a href="http://youtu.be/UYA4hG0cedg" target="_blank"> of the welcome dance</a></b></u></span><br />
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Muneer and yourstruly with the Masaai men - just outside the village.</div>
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Jack (with the 'clubs' shawl), Masaai man with a lion hat and Muneer trying to blow the horn. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Masaai welcome dance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The women were asked to come out and give us a welcome dance (similar to what the men did for us outside). It took a while for them to come out...they had chores to do and kids to take care off...this was a serious imposition on their time...and they showed it :). It was interesting to see them line up (rather lack luster) and eke out a halfhearted welcome singsong. We then went into a hut to check out the living conditions - it was a small, dark hut...full of smoke. Apparently that home had a kid born recently so all the women of the village were helping out with the cooking and other chores. With our eyes stinging from the smoke and barely adjusting to the darkness we got out. The place was no different from some of the huts I've been to in India. Men are allowed more than one wife and the going rate is 10 cattle for a wife. The woman, once married, has to build the house with no help from anyone. Each wife gets her own home. They do most of the work in the village - from gathering firewood to cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids. The men take the cattle grazing into the Mara after 6:00PM and return before 6:00AM. New rules have curtailed their rights to hunt or kill lions...except in protection of their herd. They hard sell trinkets, and almost forced us to buy the 'fire starting' equipment. At the park gate they stop just short of asking for money. There seems to be an underling poverty which is hidden under the guise of tradition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We got to the hotel in time for lunch and after a resting for a bit were off into the Mara for our first Safari. It was jaw dropping - Wildebeest, Zebras, Giraffe, Impalas, Cape Buffaloes, Lioness...incredible!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u><b>Video (Giraffes/Wildebeest):</b></u> <a href="http://youtu.be/IjFrTrDPaog" target="_blank">Masaai Mara</a> </span></div>
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Zebra and the acacia tree</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day two was even more brilliant. We had opted for an all day safari - so the hotel packed us picnic lunches. With our guide/driver, Benson, getting us to each spot and ticking off the 'Big Five' we had a great day. Constantly on the radio - each driver radios the others when they see a big cat. We did get to see a lioness chase two cheetahs - absolutely brilliant. We drove along the Mara river - Hippos, crocodiles lazing along the edges. We had lunch overlooking the Mara...spectacular views...what a great day. We got back to the hotel by 6:30PM and had a great time with some other tourists singing at the bar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/bH5w-5ORIms" target="_blank">Cheetas (Masaai Mara)</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>Video:</b> <b>L<a href="http://youtu.be/9OhPBrp4rHQ" target="_blank">ioness (Masaai Mara)</a> </b></span></div>
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Giraffes</div>
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Cheetah</div>
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Zebra</div>
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Lioness</div>
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Cheetah</div>
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Cheetah, looking for the lioness</div>
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Cheetahs</div>
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Lioness chasing cheetahs</div>
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Hippos - Mara river</div>
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Hippos</div>
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Cape Buffaloes</div>
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Picnic lunch (Baboon in the background)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Lions resting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We left for Nakuru at 8:00AM - Got to Nakuru in time for lunch - at 4:00PM we went in search for Rhinos...about half a mile from our hotel we were told that there was a leopard - we hung around for 20 mins before we saw it stalking a Waterbuck and baby...what a thing of beauty - we saw the leopard cross the road...5 feet from us!! We then went and saw a bunch of Rhinos - what an amazing country! Although Nakuru is known for its flamingos - there were none. This was due to the lake being too full...this happens every few years. Although we were disappointed it was fine as, if there was one thing we could miss out on seeing in Kenya, flamingos was it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/sqgXL4sBdU8" target="_blank">Rhinos at Nakuru</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/Vmp9NBmepec" target="_blank">Leopard at Nakuru</a> </b> </span></div>
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Waterbuck being stalked</div>
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Leopard</div>
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Stalking leopard</div>
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Leopard</div>
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Cape Buffalo</div>
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Rhinos</div>
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Rhino</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Baboon</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Next morning we made our way to Aberdare - had lunch at Outspan and then headed to Treetops hotel to see the animals come to the watering hole. Treetops is an interesting place, we sit in the hotel and the animals come to us. Our room was within touching distance of the elephants walking by! Fantastic place. Elephants, wart hogs, cape buffaloes, rhino dueling it out for space at the watering hole...while we sat sipping gin and tonic and taking photographs!</span><br />
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Elephants and Cape Buffaloes squaring off at the water hole</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We headed to our last stop Amboseli the next morning. This was a long drive and Amboseli area was a lot warmer than the higher plains we were in thus far. The road leading up to Amboseli is on the main Mombasa road and Mombasa being the main port, there was a heck of a lot of traffic on the two lane highway. We got to Amboseli by late evening - did a quick drive through the park - plenty of elephants, zebras. As hot and dry the place was, there was a huge marsh in the middle which is a magnet for all animals - 100s of elephants. We got to the hotel at 6:30PM - dinner, drinks and freshened up. We took our chairs close to the fence (the hotel is enclosed in electrified fence) to star gaze and hear the animals. We had an early safari the next day - 6:30AM - and got back in time for breakfast. relaxed till lunch and then headed to the airport at 2:00PM.</span><br />
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Elephants with Kilimanjaro in the background</div>
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Amboseli Elephants</div>
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Hyena and zebras in the background</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Us, leaving the hotel on the way to the airport.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm17nj9tQTS6rvubGhaT24LGZfUr3PfLxDIXG3WclJfMvpKskYdVIrxZ2_Xzp1epGHW-VCrnioWMJ446Jk3R18ttzFMxTOJ4Xk8DRuV9gCX61d8FzICWKWqiLJmcMinFm_vBcS/s1600/IMG_4471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm17nj9tQTS6rvubGhaT24LGZfUr3PfLxDIXG3WclJfMvpKskYdVIrxZ2_Xzp1epGHW-VCrnioWMJ446Jk3R18ttzFMxTOJ4Xk8DRuV9gCX61d8FzICWKWqiLJmcMinFm_vBcS/s1600/IMG_4471.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amboseli at dusk</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An unforgettable experience! Definitely a trip to be made with good friends. This vacation is up there...at the top of the best trips thus far. Thank you for stopping by and I apologize for any grammar, spelling issues. :) </span></div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-84122935654295519412014-08-07T16:12:00.000-07:002014-08-07T16:12:41.222-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Podium finish...(almost)</div>
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<br /></div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-62190764288079838202014-07-25T12:15:00.000-07:002014-07-25T12:15:14.509-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Backing off on racing - 2014</div>
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After not a lot of thought (I was halfway there anyway) I
decided to tone down my training and back off from races this year. I just
could not get myself motivated enough to do Full Vineman or Ironman Tahoe – I could
have just pulled through and finished, but decided that I just don’t want to
end up with a 16+ hour Ironman. I’d rather wait for the motivation to come back
and do it with some proper training and passion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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With my mom visiting us, I took a month off from coaching
and just enjoyed some time with her. I can’t remember ever taking a month off
from Saturday runs…and for a change it was nice to just relax over the summer weekends.
We had a trip down to L.A. to see the fireworks on the July 4<sup>th</sup>
weekend and spent some time celebrating various things with friends and just
enjoyed the easy paced weekends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With travel on our minds – we intend to make a few trips next
summer and I am looking forward to those short weekend trips and longer travel
vacations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the rest of the year, I’ll be sticking to short rides,
swims and runs – still undecided on my 10<sup>th</sup> Chicago marathon…but I
may just go there and have fun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
</div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-1646393613712379432014-07-20T17:13:00.008-07:002022-08-22T10:11:42.054-07:00My Alcatraz swims:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>My Alcatraz swims:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>
2001</b> - 00:54:19<br /><b>
2002</b> - 00:56:42<br /><b>
2003</b> - 01:01:45<br /><b>
2009 </b>- 00:51:55<br /><b>
2009 </b>- unofficial swim from Alcatraz with Doug & Tandy<br /><b>
2011 </b>- unofficial swim <u>to and back</u> from Alcatraz with Chakri, Mouli and Murali Krishna<br /><a href="https://onyourmarkevents.com/results/results.asp-id=3224.html" target="_blank"><b>2014</b></a> - 00:58:02 - Run (54:25) - with Karissa Johnson (7/20/14)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/20150816_Alcatraz_Challenge_Aquathlon_and_Swim.htm?Fuseaction=Results&Bib=&Firstname=Rajeev&Lastname=Char" target="_blank"><b>2015</b></a> - 01:15:42 - With Shashi (8/16/15)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>2017 </b>- 01:16:00 with Sumit & Rochan - got caught in the current near the beach (10/22/17)<br /><b>
2019 </b>- 00:51:44 Odyssey swim with Maneesh, Ranjit, Suryakanth, Yuvraj & Sumit (9/21/19)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>2021 </b>- 00:46:34 Pacific Open Water Co. 3/17/21</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>2021 </b>- 00:39:54 Odyssey Swim - With Maneesh and Deepak BH (5/1/21) PR</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>2021 </b>- 00:40:53 Pacific Open Water Co. 6/11/21 - with Sumit. <b>NO WETSUIT SWIM</b>.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><a href="https://alcatrazescapefromtherock.itsyourrace.com/Results.aspx?id=8140&y=2022&eid=113691&g=A&amin=55&amax=59" target="_blank">2022</a></b> - 01:02:54 Enviro Sports duathlon (Run 55:35) - First in age group! (8/20/22)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Alcatraz XXXIV Escape from the Rock - Duathlon (2014)</b><br /><br />A return to Alcatraz swim after 3 years!<br /><br />Just finished my 8th Alcatraz swim:<br />
Still as slow as I was 13 years ago :)<br />
Cool, overcast morning with light wind. While the water was a bit choppy at the start, it was not too bad...in fact, the water was awesome and not too cold at all - had to change direction to counter the tide towards the end and probably spent 4-5 mins swinging left of the Aquatic Park entrance. Felt strong and relaxed. The 7 mile run was good too, 00:54:25 about a 7:45 min/mile pace.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQzHTKPXT5H5L_Neg5hi5MZzmyOVOgqaGjMBuZ4JTrN0OinQrSoHYHNhINnM6ecuzhO0GMQkKLzgDBOGUrtTgqnpKcU3Qr5B9ZZzPopnOiPUCMAkWekjTHlu71_PVrF3LwKuE/s1600/Alcatraz_Jul202014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQzHTKPXT5H5L_Neg5hi5MZzmyOVOgqaGjMBuZ4JTrN0OinQrSoHYHNhINnM6ecuzhO0GMQkKLzgDBOGUrtTgqnpKcU3Qr5B9ZZzPopnOiPUCMAkWekjTHlu71_PVrF3LwKuE/s1600/Alcatraz_Jul202014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ZlaeJ1_lYSG5w3PYhX50FehtilvvYp3w1NVqGV0zy_b4YzD_FESxxBXUoegvVn_j1jMsGuK7kui5JFWujB0v4m8kAqg-fxviB1VHnVkVG20IkinjlEVlsRHi9oTntBXUXRS/s1600/Alcatraz_july20201Run+(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ZlaeJ1_lYSG5w3PYhX50FehtilvvYp3w1NVqGV0zy_b4YzD_FESxxBXUoegvVn_j1jMsGuK7kui5JFWujB0v4m8kAqg-fxviB1VHnVkVG20IkinjlEVlsRHi9oTntBXUXRS/s1600/Alcatraz_july20201Run+(4).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(volunteer horsing around at the turnaround point - Fort Point)</div>
<br />
Left home at 4:40AM back at 10:40 - nice morning. Given the lack of training in July I was out like a light in the afternoon.<br />
<a href="http://onyourmarkevents.com/results.asp?id=3224" target="_blank">Results:</a> <br />
<br />
Felt good to be back!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-78282679560722037872014-01-25T16:47:00.000-08:002014-01-27T23:45:22.873-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2013 - looking back, 2014 looking forward...<br />
<br />
2013 was an interesting year...we spent about a month in Europe (over two trips; Italy and Spain). After a relatively busy 2012 I had decided to skip any serious training in 2013. '13 did begin with an attempt at running the Rouge to Orleans 126 miler (which I dropped out at mile 95 due to an injury)...after that I my training did not really pick up much. Did not participate in any triathlons (first time in close to 20 years) - ran a few marathons with Team Asha runners (Maui, Morgan Hill, Chicago) and generally enjoyed the time off from training. <br />
<br />
I tried to start my 2014 season in December - but the 6:00AM swims at near freezing temps nailed me with a case of acute sinusitis (age is catching up!!)... that set me back. So far the year has started slowly - few slow runs and a bike ride or two. Still need to have my first swim of 2014...and it is almost Feb!!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmHLSyVXGjz5vtGuNZpOpgP-mt1DHJETEwhkxLH7FNorjoPB2vY16t1zJOrUkD2sFbDSq1Hpw3WGU3Ru3bCU_q6WU0Kr0qKw1O1rFHhRx6WSb2L5D9FgHvApFBVRgt9BAgLGg/s1600/IMG_3807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmHLSyVXGjz5vtGuNZpOpgP-mt1DHJETEwhkxLH7FNorjoPB2vY16t1zJOrUkD2sFbDSq1Hpw3WGU3Ru3bCU_q6WU0Kr0qKw1O1rFHhRx6WSb2L5D9FgHvApFBVRgt9BAgLGg/s1600/IMG_3807.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(A 'slow' start to the 2014 season)</div>
<br />
On the cards for 2014 is: Big Sur Marathon, Wildflower triathlon, Ironman Tahoe and Chicago Marathon. It should be an interesting year. 'Focus' is the key word :).</div>
Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-69768101675761541552013-11-30T22:40:00.000-08:002014-01-30T22:59:24.179-08:00Spain and Portugal - November 14th to 30th, 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Madrid, your Royal Palace, Prado and Jamon. <br /> Sofia, Thyssen and Puerta Del Sol...<br /> Barcelona, oh! That Sagrada Familia!!<br /> Oh Gaudi, you are with gaudy...so familia'...<br /> Montserrat was awesomely great,<br /> The choir was certainly worth the wait. <br /> Granada's Alhambra was a revelation. <br /> Flamenco...added the Arab, Spanish, Indian relation...<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> Sevilla! You fair city...<br /> Alcazar you little beauty. <br /> Cordoba - the light during dark ages,<br /> Your arches now adopted by new sages. <br /> Cadiz, a sleepy little town..<br /> With gardens, blue seas, and no reason to frown. <br /> Lisbon your <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fado" target="_blank">Fado</a>, like blues, so enchanting...<br /> Looking at your bridge, cable car...I'm San Francisco reminiscing. <br /> How many people coming back from holiday can say...<br /> 'I'm heading back to the San Francisco Bay'</span></span> </div>
<br />
<u><b>Good websites:</b></u> <br />
Train tickets: <a href="http://petrabax.com/renfe/">http://petrabax.com/renfe/</a><br />
Tickets can be purchased in the US and they send you the pdf. Print and carry them with you. We bought most of the long distance train tickets before leaving the US.
The day trip tickets to Cordoba and Cadiz (from Seville) were purchased
on the day we traveled.<br />
All BnB: <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/">www.airbnb.com</a><br />
Again, as in Italy, we had great experiences with our BnB bookings. They were all well located and really nice places with friendly hosts. <br />
We only carried backpacks with us...no check in luggage.<br />
<br />
(More tips on my previous post on <a href="http://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2013/05/italy-may-8th-to-20th-2013-so-2013-is.html" target="_blank">Italy</a>) <br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>The pros and cons</b> <b>of a winter trip</b></u>:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Cons</b></u>: November is cold and could be wet. It did rain while
we were in Madrid and Barcelona. Some sites close a bit earlier in winter.
Shorter days so less daylight for outdoor sites.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Pros</b></u>: Low tourist season so plenty of time to see all the
sites. No long lines. No need to buy City Passes as the lines at all the
museums and sites were very short. Although cold, the weather was nice for
walking in Southern Spain. Just layer up and you will be comfy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plenty of good deals for traveling – airfares and hotels/BnBs
were cheaper. Restaurants were not crowded and we got some great service and
food. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DJ_4cdCMp-tTen5DXi-O8YmduJ426VWb0VBhWbEmuUoFDl-8MFQYy_eO99DWit5y_oAHgzd_5a5gpYzPEe_lLAQXOkTVNaAq42EzvtcctL8HSYJ4LmibmsJWHJbB7kXKmsYJ/s1600/1463894_10151774387315894_701113023_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DJ_4cdCMp-tTen5DXi-O8YmduJ426VWb0VBhWbEmuUoFDl-8MFQYy_eO99DWit5y_oAHgzd_5a5gpYzPEe_lLAQXOkTVNaAq42EzvtcctL8HSYJ4LmibmsJWHJbB7kXKmsYJ/s320/1463894_10151774387315894_701113023_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The five stooges </div>
<br />
<br />
<b>The Trip:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Given that our company had a forced shutdown for the Thanksgiving week, we had started looking for places to visit. After researching New Zealand for a November trip...found that too expensive and saw some rather decent airfares for Spain. We worked our itinerary; going from Madrid to Seville to Granada to Barcelona then on to Lisbon and back. It was then that Balu mentioned that he too was going to Spain and Chandrika and Muneer would be joining him there. They were doing the exact opposite trip...we reworked our schedule to match their trip so we all could be together. Switched the trip to Madrid to Barcelona to Granada to Seville to Lisbon.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As a kid I remember reading about Cordoba and the great Moorish Caliphate in Spain. I was really excited that we would finally get to see it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Day 1: Landed in Madrid and took the Yellow Bus 'Airport Express' to the main train station 'Atocha'. IT WAS COLD!! 5C!! We were welcomed with piles of trash! Madrid was in the midst of a garbage strike! Horrible! The BnB was about a 10 min walk away...having printed out the directions we started following Google maps...bad idea...it took us the long way. Anyway after a good 40 min walk we reached the BnB a few minutes early. Miguel got there at 11:30AM sharp! Showed us in, a cute and clean place, well located. It was walking distance to everything...30 mins to the Royal Palace and 15 mins to the Prado and Thyssen museums.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw7mKvbvfnK6vmpnH_M4d1aoKIMB9mjxXUgptveqx6lfCuh28AvRFuuQKZK2WLfo9RsHicpCTVJMCU1ZV9xuoERlBPs3dHq6eKAFa4K-WM-M-HUUtGAqWEIG7Ip_9W0Jqwn57/s1600/IMG_3108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw7mKvbvfnK6vmpnH_M4d1aoKIMB9mjxXUgptveqx6lfCuh28AvRFuuQKZK2WLfo9RsHicpCTVJMCU1ZV9xuoERlBPs3dHq6eKAFa4K-WM-M-HUUtGAqWEIG7Ip_9W0Jqwn57/s320/IMG_3108.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BnB in Madrid</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The early morning and the long flight got to us, so decided to sleep in for a few hours and head out later in the evening. 6:00pm headed out to Plaza Mayor, which was about 10 mins from our BnB. Walked around and went into the <a href="http://www.mercadodesanmiguel.es/">Mercado De San Miguel</a> for a bite. Walked around this market, tasted some wines and sampled the jamon (Cured Ham). We strolled around to Puerta Del Sol and called it a night.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUCOI-QVbhyphenhyphenOaVWn0uFqUgI9OkUX6Y4gjEnAI6h5F-whrqiLXnQ4Zka-CY0cG8CPaZbmFgb3WibqWdZf9KgJaZ1NNxIxWIamu32ykw4rk2txAoZUxj6p2dQSGdkwG7ny-RfNJ/s1600/IMG_3097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUCOI-QVbhyphenhyphenOaVWn0uFqUgI9OkUX6Y4gjEnAI6h5F-whrqiLXnQ4Zka-CY0cG8CPaZbmFgb3WibqWdZf9KgJaZ1NNxIxWIamu32ykw4rk2txAoZUxj6p2dQSGdkwG7ny-RfNJ/s320/IMG_3097.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plaza Mayor</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iJNfNY5m1z1CfGJAU1bXYJvtyHppzfh59vUDh_emw7FKcsTozqkKId6hL9nSeaPMX0Eqaz7GCZNOzlKaqM6kCFIYq0CTJGBzanZ1Rfpk_6M99OGDig599MLF8Vm1bXJ95nl7/s1600/IMG_3105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iJNfNY5m1z1CfGJAU1bXYJvtyHppzfh59vUDh_emw7FKcsTozqkKId6hL9nSeaPMX0Eqaz7GCZNOzlKaqM6kCFIYq0CTJGBzanZ1Rfpk_6M99OGDig599MLF8Vm1bXJ95nl7/s320/IMG_3105.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At Mercado de San Miguel</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Day 2: Headed to the Royal Palace - another cold morning. Bit overcast. No lines! Got our tickets for the palace and spent a few hours taking in the various rooms, art and opulence! We checked out the Armory room as well, well documented collection of all the various arms and full armors dating back to the 15th century. Walked across to the Almudena Cathedral. The views of the palace from the top were great. No photography allowed inside the Palace or the Royal Armory...hence no photographs (sad!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_buZPpVNrXj8QpQyxKN5Rk6_lB0J3wBmseOMn1C9X6CSulqkfDVLTfKStiv0zofNb94AS4X75OXdSvnzce36_pIALIFeXq-z3FLBPMpjt1jtam_yqLmRI7aavROQykdHdy3W/s1600/IMG_0861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_buZPpVNrXj8QpQyxKN5Rk6_lB0J3wBmseOMn1C9X6CSulqkfDVLTfKStiv0zofNb94AS4X75OXdSvnzce36_pIALIFeXq-z3FLBPMpjt1jtam_yqLmRI7aavROQykdHdy3W/s320/IMG_0861.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Almudena Cathedral</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KX426K7zXmNJ8gFXL27eW8jYe_FqOmbY41hsueK0RaC_Q8eCG7qha6eUVI021drGhPVCgGvJDAbIpuOGSbtqBubDxFbWZNbBFQ4Xk7nswQ5tGt0tSnbD7fOrKaDPRcemUKnG/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KX426K7zXmNJ8gFXL27eW8jYe_FqOmbY41hsueK0RaC_Q8eCG7qha6eUVI021drGhPVCgGvJDAbIpuOGSbtqBubDxFbWZNbBFQ4Xk7nswQ5tGt0tSnbD7fOrKaDPRcemUKnG/s320/IMG_3118.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Royal Palace from the Cathedral</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVTQlXux392Pja8uCpFIIWbLhcip2MY5Bno869motR93Mzukvdvj8D1JYNjcZA-il_M-qwidOuGvvlM0FgliuvD11PG2tBBOKvJa4cxNLJoPFsqkQRasphTkRzrlVZou4cSlf/s1600/IMG_3140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVTQlXux392Pja8uCpFIIWbLhcip2MY5Bno869motR93Mzukvdvj8D1JYNjcZA-il_M-qwidOuGvvlM0FgliuvD11PG2tBBOKvJa4cxNLJoPFsqkQRasphTkRzrlVZou4cSlf/s320/IMG_3140.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Almudena Cathedral </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Onto the Prado Museum across town (25/30 min walk)...where we spent the next five and a half hours. The museum is brilliant! The collection of Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Titian, Rubens is a feast! After coming out we tried to see if we could get into the Thyssen (called a museum featuring the minor works of major artists and major works of minor artists)...but were a too late. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WvKEHW76t4V_oMLWR8a-H5NpHFBZl2Ve4hccExTWA0JyihSCRJO4xEjne9oS1isdePPrz5ghv_9N8iBMQhsjoFbZj8QjZMV5loCfj7KCd_BsHko4hc23660uFJtF1YPA63kO/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WvKEHW76t4V_oMLWR8a-H5NpHFBZl2Ve4hccExTWA0JyihSCRJO4xEjne9oS1isdePPrz5ghv_9N8iBMQhsjoFbZj8QjZMV5loCfj7KCd_BsHko4hc23660uFJtF1YPA63kO/s320/IMG_3176.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Velazquez 'Apollo at the forge of Vulcan'</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUOrV75YpwDcM2ceo4MnaI07ZhfYXOCzlAsXW_MOXEqLdanBegpie1npKsZYdDzdZfxCGIwLRRblePOo6S650ftk2ZInK0B2XKZ1k5tHDJbQPOOwpP9BAZbAT_SBvuu0Rz3_6/s1600/IMG_3177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUOrV75YpwDcM2ceo4MnaI07ZhfYXOCzlAsXW_MOXEqLdanBegpie1npKsZYdDzdZfxCGIwLRRblePOo6S650ftk2ZInK0B2XKZ1k5tHDJbQPOOwpP9BAZbAT_SBvuu0Rz3_6/s320/IMG_3177.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">Camillo Torregiani's 'Isabella II veiled' in marble, a wet drapery technique.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
So we walked back towards the Mercado De San Miguel and stopped in for
dinner at a cave like basement restaurant (cannot remember the name of
the place) but the food and wine was good. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_xDZEsXQBcXzB2CzHrHhIHq329w0VbB2fUO4ASX6ImK80pUBiH2miEN3lVg5oin2DIiCxLMLDefuIG45aUAJMaHL_QQTlW5JBly4c42CCcJCg3K0JXF9CJgiFxo1KOywaPD9/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_xDZEsXQBcXzB2CzHrHhIHq329w0VbB2fUO4ASX6ImK80pUBiH2miEN3lVg5oin2DIiCxLMLDefuIG45aUAJMaHL_QQTlW5JBly4c42CCcJCg3K0JXF9CJgiFxo1KOywaPD9/s320/IMG_3190.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Day 3: Walked to the Reina Sofia Museum - bit of an odd ball museum - not our kind of art...lots of rooms with weird 'art' like a bunch of tiles in the center of the room! A room full of parrots (in cages). Some random 'Modern Art'. The top draw was Picasso's Guernica. Got bored and left to see the Thyssen. Lots of good impressionist work and works of lesser known artists. Definitely worth a visit (after seeing the Prado). Had an early train to Barcelona the next morning so we picked up some wine and ham and headed home for an early, light dinner.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikobuUu7rWdXkxzZ8AdKLKEvjhoyf-rO93GEP-TwrVfBxF1u-Z71IG1uAoBiAD34lWf3zAJ7xxyP8OE7fjPcIFaDLTRRjkPJO7j91uoIN8bpJ8bJXph8Lbz7gOLOrn0iaIovC-/s1600/IMG_3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikobuUu7rWdXkxzZ8AdKLKEvjhoyf-rO93GEP-TwrVfBxF1u-Z71IG1uAoBiAD34lWf3zAJ7xxyP8OE7fjPcIFaDLTRRjkPJO7j91uoIN8bpJ8bJXph8Lbz7gOLOrn0iaIovC-/s320/IMG_3214.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A couple at the Thyssen Museum</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Reginald Marsh 'The Battery' - Thyssen</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Day 4: Got to Atocha station (it was drizzling) and after a quick security check we figured out that our train was cancelled due to a strike...luckily they put us on the next one, all of a 20 min delay. A nice smooth ride to Barcelona and we were there by 10:30AM. Walked to the BnB and met Chandrika, Muneer and Balu.</div>
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Left the house at noon and walked the Ramblas to the waterfront...it was raining 'gatos y perros'!! We walked to the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's monstrosity that is still decades away from being finished. The inside is huge, but the roof leaks! Buckets placed in places to collect the drips...so much for modern construction! I was shivering! We all were drenched and it was cold & windy. Took a taxi back home and after warming up headed out for dinner to <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187497-d782944-Reviews-Cerveceria_Catalana-Barcelona_Catalonia.html" target="_blank">Cerveceria Catalana</a>...the place was packed! After hanging out at the bar for half an hour we got a table. The food was good. We then headed to a bar called <a href="http://obamabcn.com/es/">Bar Obama</a>. Had a great evening!</div>
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Casa Mila</div>
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Inside Sagrada Familia</div>
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Day 5: Left home at 9:00AM and got to <a href="http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/tour/montserrat-spain.html" target="_blank">Montserrat</a> which is about an hour from Barcelona. Montserrat is a mountain range and there is a Benedictine Abbey nestled amongst the mountains. We took the cable car to the monastery and made it just in time for the <a href="http://youtu.be/a5mcQ8LiWns" target="_blank">Montserrat boy's choir</a> (one of the oldest in Europe). The entire setting is beautiful and the choir was great. We took a short walk to the top of the mountain and made it back to Barcelona in time for dinner. Dinner was at <a href="http://www.restalo.es/">Restaurant Sensi</a>.</div>
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Montserrat</div>
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The virgin of Montserrat</div>
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The Benedictine church</div>
<br />
<u><b>Andalusia</b></u><br />
DAY 6: <span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"><b>Captivating Andalusia</b>! The highlight of the trip! It was here that Islamic Spain lit the lamp of enlightenment that ultimately led to the renaissance in Europe. Europe was still in the dark ages while the grand Caliphate of Cordoba and later, the last bastion of Moorish Spain, Granada, were at the pinnacle of poetry and scientific knowledge.</span><br />
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"><br />History, they say, is written by the victors...the snippet (below) talks of the near obliteration of Moorish history in Spain. </span><br />
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"><br /></span>
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">"Never was
the Annihilation of a people more complete than that of the
Morisco-Spaniards. Where are they? Ask the shores of the Barbary and its
desert places [...] They have not even left a distinct name behind them,
though for nearly eight centuries they were a distinct people [...] A few
broken monuments are all that remain to bear witness to their power and
dominion, as solitary rocks, left far in the interior, bear testimony to
the extent of some vast inundation. Such is the Alhambra [...] an elegant
memento of a brave, intelligent, and graceful people, who conquered,
ruled, flourished, and passed away." - Tales of the Alhambra -
Washington Irving.</span><br />
<br />
-----------------------------wikipedia quote------------------<br />
Legend has it that as the royal party moved south toward exile, they
reached a rocky prominence which gave a last view of the city. Muhammad
XII [Boabdil] reined in his horse and, surveying for the last time the Alhambra and the green valley that spread below, burst into tears. When his mother approached him she said :<br />
<dl><dd><b>"Thou dost weep like a woman for what thou couldst not defend as a man."</b></dd></dl>
<dl><dd>ابك اليوم بكاء النساء على ملك لم تحفظه حفظ الرجال</dd></dl>
---------------------------end quote---------------------------- <br />
[] added by me.<br />
<br />
Got to the airport to head to <b>Granada</b> only to find out that Vueling had overbooked the flight. After much back and forth we managed to get ourselves on Iberia and made it to Granada at 2:00pm...lost about 3 hours...not too bad. Spent the evening walking up to Albaysin and watched the sunset. The views of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra" target="_blank">Alhambra</a> were great. Sat and listened to the <a href="http://youtu.be/dhYtRmCi7jQ" target="_blank">gypsies playing the guitar and singing</a> as the sun set over the Sierra Nevadas and then headed to see a Flamenco show/dinner at Albaycin. The dance performance was powerful - the music, an amazing mix of Arabic and Spanish influences. </div>
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Alhambra from Albaycin. <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">[A
view of Alhambra from the Albaycin, with the snow capped Sierra Nevada
shimmering in the background. From the 'Hall of Ambassadors' room in
Alhambra you can see Albaycin.</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"Ill
fated the man who lost all this!" exclaimed Charles V, as he looked
forth from this window upon the enchanting scenery it commands" (From
Tales of Alhambra - Washington Irving)"]</span></span> </div>
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Day 7: Alhambra! Balu had done all the bookings (Flamenco and the Alhambra) and it was all perfectly planned out. Alhambra was brilliant! Spent a few hours walking the gardens and seeing the castle/fort and then made it to our appointed time to see the Nasrid Palace. Wow! The intricacies in the lattice work and the fountains and reflecting pools were incredible...reminiscent of Mughal architecture... <br />
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Headed back to Albaycin and had dinner at El Balcon de San Nicola's...an awesome place overlooking the Alhambra, all lit up at night.<br />
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(Dinner at El Balcon. Photograph by Chandrika)</div>
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Court of Lions (Alhambra)</div>
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Palacio de Generalife</div>
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Reflecting pool - Alhumbra</div>
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Fine stone work for lattice windows.</div>
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Arabesques around the windows and doors at Alhumbra.</div>
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Day 8: Took the train to Sevilla. At the BnB we were given a quick 'things to do and places to eat' tour by the host. Rushed out to see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alc%C3%A1zar_of_Seville" target="_blank">Alcazar</a> that afternoon. A mini Alhambra with a lot of the colours still preserved in the walls. Tried to see the Plaza De Espania but it was closed. Went to one of the recommended restaurants for dinner. Oxtail stew was a hit!</div>
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Alcazar (Seville)</div>
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Alcazar</div>
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Alcazar</div>
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Alcazar</div>
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Courtyard of the Maidens - Alcazar</div>
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Dome of the Ambassadors Room - Alcazar in Seville</div>
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Alcazar</div>
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Day 9: Took the train to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3rdoba,_Andalusia">Cordoba</a> - due to some special mass the opening was postponed to 11:30AM. Walked around town, crossed the old roman bridge and then headed back to the Mesquita (Mosque-Cathedral). It is beautifully preserved site with a massive and beautiful cathedral carved out in the center of the old mosque. This was the center of Islam in all its glory & learning during 800-1200AD and the 800+ slender pillars with their red and white double arches seem to signify infinity. The splendor of the construction passed the ultimate test, in that, the Reconquistas did not destroy the mosque. Instead, they built their cathedral into the architecture - imbibing the Islamic influence and creating a Christian cathedral that is a confluence of Islamic & Christian architecture.<br />
Rick Steves book was very handy resource and we followed his 'self guided tour'.<br />
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Mezquita - Cordoba</div>
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Cathedral ceiling</div>
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Additions to the Cathedral - Choir chairs</div>
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View of the Mosque-Cathedral from Cordoba streets</div>
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Got back to Sevilla by late afternoon - had a quick tour of the Grand
Cathedral of Sevilla (the largest in the world) and got some great views of the city from the top of the Giralda. We then went across
town to see the bull fighting ring, had a quick tour and then walked to
the Plaza d'Espania. It was late evening and the place was all lit
up...the fountain, coloured tiles, bridges over the small moat was
beautiful. After another good meal we headed home. Chandrika and Muneer
were heading back to UK the next morning. <br />
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Day 10: Cadiz. Balu, Renuka and I headed to the sleepy port of Cadiz in the south of Spain. Cadiz is one of the oldest continuously used ports in Europe. We walked the waterfront and visited the Cadiz Garden which has trees from all over the world. Apparently Columbus brought back these trees from his various voyages. Visited the tower (Torre Tavira) and had some great views of the city. Also got to see the city through the camera obscura (a reflected view of the city on a screen). Pretty cool! </div>
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Cadiz from Torre Tavira</div>
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Trees from around the world - Cadiz gardens</div>
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Cathedral in Cadiz</div>
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Day 11: Balu left for Madrid and Renuka and I checked into a new BnB in the old city of Sevilla. Spent the day walking the city and saw the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza Macarena (Our Lady of Hope Macarena). It was a lazy day enjoying the city...had a late dinner and then called it a day. We were off to Lisbon the next morning.<br />
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Plaza Espania</div>
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Isabella II Bridge</div>
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View from Giralda, Sevilla</div>
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Sevilla Cathedral</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Bull Fighting ring</span></span></div>
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Day 12: <u><b>LISBON:</b></u> Train to Madrid and then a flight to Lisbon. The train was on time and EasyJet was on time too. Made our way to the BnB by the Metro (surprisingly easy) and got there around 7:00pm. Zita (our host) was there to greet us. What a superb place...tastefully done and very comfortable. It was smack in the middle of the happening part of Lisbon, Baxia Chiado. Zita gave us a 20 min 'what to see and do and places to eat'. Since Balu was coming in later that evening we decided to stay local and went to a bar just below our BnB. <br />
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Day 13: Walked to the seafront and made our way to the tourist info department. They recommended that we take the famous 'No. 28 tram' to the St Georges Castle which overlooks the city. We took the tram up and walked back down - there were some great views of the city and the famous Alfama district. Next, we headed to the famous pastry shop in Belem...which we were told had the best pastries. Trammed our way there and ordered some stuff...it was...well...a disappointment. Made our way back to the city and headed out to dinner and a lovely <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYewE2HOJl4" target="_blank">Fado</a> evening at a local bar. Bit more about Fado <a href="http://theplaceoflonging.com/2010/04/15/tudo-isto-e-fado/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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Lisbon - Barrio Alto</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Alfama in the background</span></span><br />
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Tram 28 - Lisbon</div>
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Day 14: Took the train to Sintra (a hill station about 40 minutes from Lisbon). Went up to the castle at Pena. Nice place with some spectacular views. Got back to the city and had dinner at Restautante Salgadeiras, a rather overpriced place with excellent service. They got us a reservation at O Faia (the restaurant below our apartment for a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejaUUBqtr0" target="_blank">Fado</a> session).<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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Sintra - a suburb of Lisbon</div>
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Castle in Pena</div>
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Day 15: Checked out of the BnB and made our way across the bay to see the giant Christ the King statue, a replica of the 'Christ the redeemer' statue in Rio. Got some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge replica (April 25th Bridge) and made our way back to town. We took the train to our hotel - left our bags and then headed back to the city. Walked around, had a very poor dinner at a touristy spot....horrible food! Skip these tourist traps...they are never good. Made our way back to the hotel for an early night as Renuka and I had a 5:00AM flight back to San Francisco and Balu was continuing on his four month travels to India and East Asia.<br />
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25th of April bridge</div>
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The Funicular in Lisbon</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Christ the King</span></span></div>
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What a wonderful trip! Andalusia is just so beautiful...As Jim Morrison sings in 'Spanish Caravan' - 'Andalusia with fields full of grain...I want to see you again and again...' Definitely going back to see Alhambra once more...maybe in a few years.<br />
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<u><b>TIP:</b></u> If anyone is going to make this trip I would suggest doing it the other way, that is, Madrid to Cordoba to Sevilla to Granada and then Barcelona (if needed). Barcelona can be avoided as it really is not a good fit for the Andalusia experience. I'd replace Barcelona with a trip to Toledo from Madrid. The reason I suggest the reverse trip from what we did is; Because Granada was the last bastion of the Moors in Spain it has the best to offer - The Alhambra is the gorgeous icing on the Moorish-Catholic cake. <br />
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Suggested reading and viewing:<br />
1) The Tales of Alhambra - Washington Irving<br />
2) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Xnc8ijkrA">When the Moors Ruled Europe</a> (YouTube)<br />
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3) Concise history of Spain - William D Phillips, Jr & Carla Rahn Phillips<br />
4) Rick Steves Spain.<br />
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One of the things I take away from this trip is the length.
I’d say I would have been happier with a 12 day trip as opposed to 15. By the time we landed in Lisbon, I was ready to head home...I don't know how folks travel for months on end.<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
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Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com1Spain40.463667000000008 -3.749220000000036614.545175000000008 -45.057814000000036 66.382159 37.559373999999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-23391091744587539792013-10-17T19:32:00.002-07:002013-10-17T20:51:19.878-07:00Chicago Marathon - Oct 13, 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
My 9th running of Chicago marathon and since this was my year off...there was no pressure of a time goal in mind. I was out to have fun.<br />
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Race morning was perfect!<br />
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Our room was on the 10th floor - knowing that there would be an endless wait for the elevator, I took the stairs:<br />
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My sister and niece, who were volunteering at water-stop # 2 (mile 3.5) left the room at 3:30AM. I rolled out of the room at 6:45 and strolled into Corral B which was right across from our hotel.<br />
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When the sound system kept switching off during the national anthem - the entire crowd was singing...first time I've heard a crowd of 30,000 singing...it was superb! The jets that were supposed to fly over, missed us :) I guess they flew over the lake instead! We did not get to see them.<br />
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The start was quick...<br />
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Then I asked myself, 'what is the hurry?'...and slowed down and just enjoyed the 1.7 million strong crowd that turns out to cheers us on. I made it a point to stop and take photographs of signs that the supporters were cheering us on with (some pretty funny ones), here are a few:<br />
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Sister and niece at the aid station:<br />
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I finished in 4:33:49 (<a href="http://results.chicagomarathon.com/2013/?content=detail&fpid=search&pid=search&idp=999999107FA30900000FE353&lang=EN_CAP&event=MAR">results</a>)- which was more than an hour slower than last year :))<br />
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</div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-79626229164511156332013-09-23T20:10:00.000-07:002013-09-27T19:55:39.555-07:00Maui Marathon 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaWd2ZpaW-5FhCineSz7yaR5wTAwHXvjLaoBcKbFBhgZUQ11-_1_ZvhG_0Ns4VPgs-wgSGpEjhuTe9e1KdLPF9m7M7nsGEIeii6xYEFm32VgN9nLiZohyVpA8YJ4owzth-2Fb/s1600/IMG_2915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaWd2ZpaW-5FhCineSz7yaR5wTAwHXvjLaoBcKbFBhgZUQ11-_1_ZvhG_0Ns4VPgs-wgSGpEjhuTe9e1KdLPF9m7M7nsGEIeii6xYEFm32VgN9nLiZohyVpA8YJ4owzth-2Fb/s400/IMG_2915.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Prologue:<br />
The facts: Team Asha has run Maui many times before, and by all accounts we knew it would be warm and humid. The first thing we did was to research the race conditions. We had to factor in heat and humidity training and ensure that all the runners were well conditioned for the terrain and conditions. Those long, warm runs at Oracle Trail and all those reminders about hydration sure paid off.<br />
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MAUI:<br />
We settled into our apt on Friday evening...WOW! What a view! We had an ocean facing apt on the 4th floor (Paki Maui)...with an amazing view of the blue pacific! Great selection by Minali!<br />
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On Saturday we drove along the beautiful 'Road to Hana' - it was raining and the verdant forest was beautifully juxtaposed against the ink-blue pacific waters...gorgeous!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-n5jL13GsZmYKxDWEba6UbkjHOkQ0I0plHMdRwXXFNrG6jot_ZAhuJ4DrdsKteLh6LXfVOLcCsUi55wtMrmumxRRZCeAm8ZY_djNQZOXRSMhOpDhHhdxLmGUVtWQTlkb7Zh6/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-n5jL13GsZmYKxDWEba6UbkjHOkQ0I0plHMdRwXXFNrG6jot_ZAhuJ4DrdsKteLh6LXfVOLcCsUi55wtMrmumxRRZCeAm8ZY_djNQZOXRSMhOpDhHhdxLmGUVtWQTlkb7Zh6/s400/IMG_2898.JPG" /></a></div><br />
For dinner we had a light Italian 'carb' meal and headed home for an early night.<br />
<br />
Sunday:<br />
Team Maui was Minali Patel (1st marathon), Jigesh Patel, Pooja Jadhav (2nd marathon), Pravin Shankar (multiple marathons) and Sweeper in chief yours truly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhKSPkN9W1W4mlaXCgTAwyflsM4q3aNZE4yDLWphOpo6038l7dF98enP8IaFpqb-rt9Be9qkQkPf3ggr-qwWEEr2-T3sV1_inJwyESawYrRdbKFBX5qnyC6UjfyEx9WnXyYDU/s1600/IMG_2901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhKSPkN9W1W4mlaXCgTAwyflsM4q3aNZE4yDLWphOpo6038l7dF98enP8IaFpqb-rt9Be9qkQkPf3ggr-qwWEEr2-T3sV1_inJwyESawYrRdbKFBX5qnyC6UjfyEx9WnXyYDU/s400/IMG_2901.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Pravin's wife, 7 month old daughter and Megha Chawla were our cheering squad. Megha, who was on a holiday in Maui took a day off to come and cheer us along the course!! True Asha spirit. Give back to our runners for everything you have received from the program. It was awesome to see her along the course.<br />
<br />
We were up at 2:00AM - breakfast was cooked and we headed out to the bus pick-up at 3:30AM. Met up with Pravin and we got to the start by 4:40AM. This a relatively small race with a large international presence. After a lively warmup led by a dance team from Japan, we were off at 5:30AM. Pravin took off at the start and disappeared at a blistering pace. Pooja started off at an amazing pace and kept it going well past the 18 mile mark. We then settled into a easy pace and she finished strong. The super thing about our runners was that they offered to help other suffering runners along the way!! That is how strong they were! This course is probably next in coastal beauty to Big Sur. Jigesh and Minali also finished strong - in fact, Minali wanted to sprint the last mile :)) - It was just awesome to see all of them finish. The smiles were infectious. Huge congrats to Minali for finishing her first marathon!<br />
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The first 7 miles are inland and along the sugarcane fields, after that the race runs along the coast. It does get warm and the humidity is 'in your face' even at 5:30AM. This is a race where you cannot afford to to mess up your hydration or electrolyte intake. Ensure that you sip at every aid station and carry your fuelbelt with you. You may need to try salt tablets during your training runs, to fine tune ythe quantity you need to imbibe....just to see if it agrees with you and does not cause GI distress. Get some sleep before the race and ensure you eat will and hydrate before and after the run.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fBxx47metrJz4TXDGRcOXgBTcJKpO6YkVgoiYLITKJjv09GAzNHjIxhr45utkeKqa_DSmtMALnOO347eSSPAYLGpma8WnwrdvLy-r463mYk-JYf-gW2vaZYARTudP1bkz-Qq/s1600/IMG_2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fBxx47metrJz4TXDGRcOXgBTcJKpO6YkVgoiYLITKJjv09GAzNHjIxhr45utkeKqa_DSmtMALnOO347eSSPAYLGpma8WnwrdvLy-r463mYk-JYf-gW2vaZYARTudP1bkz-Qq/s400/IMG_2908.JPG" /></a></div><br />
After getting massages we picked up something to eat and headed back to our apt for a shower and some celebration. The recovery was so good that we all went out for a nice meal in the evening and signed up for snorkeling on Monday!<br />
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Monday: We were up at 6:00AM - everyone was fine, we headed out to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molokini">Molokini crater</a> for some amazing snorkeling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pRBx_s6ponoHFJa1hQfHKlPswM__AQ4DFZLdYbszYWPhnSw-hD1yF24cEY96yB08df6uMjZfPcoET2jD_RwnhOQYr3ccScBaTz_0ZVKwt-m8C1uBG2hPomLabeRQDsVIk2yJ/s1600/P9230019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pRBx_s6ponoHFJa1hQfHKlPswM__AQ4DFZLdYbszYWPhnSw-hD1yF24cEY96yB08df6uMjZfPcoET2jD_RwnhOQYr3ccScBaTz_0ZVKwt-m8C1uBG2hPomLabeRQDsVIk2yJ/s400/P9230019.JPG" /></a></div><br />
After an hour in the water, we all went to Makena Bay - 'Turtle town' off the coast - in deep ocean water and swam with the majestic turtles for little over an hour...it was an experience of a lifetime.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbbpyqppXjUi5proQQ2QYprWrqIYLQ0g81Sl2Q7ketl7QykCmkgeP3x73TKhmshTjT8YqvtPNrYSD5mn89QpsPC78PO-daEQ2CXp_ZVMy9ryDgjllP_NE674juGqRpX67H6ox/s1600/P9230099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbbpyqppXjUi5proQQ2QYprWrqIYLQ0g81Sl2Q7ketl7QykCmkgeP3x73TKhmshTjT8YqvtPNrYSD5mn89QpsPC78PO-daEQ2CXp_ZVMy9ryDgjllP_NE674juGqRpX67H6ox/s400/P9230099.JPG" /></a></div>We took a few short videos too:<br />
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1) <a href="http://youtu.be/9YZiDBAiYBE">Swimming with turtles 1</a><br />
2) <a href="http://youtu.be/f0G14UIDnts">Swimming with turtles 2</a><br />
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Pravin and family drove to Haleakalā (house of the sun) peak (a sleeping volcano crater) to soak in the beautiful views.<br />
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All our runners showed the classic fitness attribute, that fitness is not about how fast you run, but how fast you recover from a run.<br />
<br />
I love running with new runners, meeting different Asha runners over the years and making new friends - Our Maui group was fun and we did a heck of a lot in 3 days...including - running a marathon!<br />
Would I run Maui again? Yes, in a heartbeat.<br />
Would I recommend Maui Marathon to others? In a heartbeat.<br />
<br />
The race was well organized, with plenty of water stops. Enthusiastic volunteers and well manned roads and crossings. It is a warm and humid marathon, so train accordingly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPJP57YXwGwDaCGAX3a-uzuBLUvzoFg3g_Vw75x7i9nyVbioWIdlGX0jbf_kOsHnXSWF2TGBUNYdau3UKxlBLH1cSz3fqfplksqG_42I1edRudhnvVud56thz6WXRTaeNPr0m/s1600/IMG_2928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPJP57YXwGwDaCGAX3a-uzuBLUvzoFg3g_Vw75x7i9nyVbioWIdlGX0jbf_kOsHnXSWF2TGBUNYdau3UKxlBLH1cSz3fqfplksqG_42I1edRudhnvVud56thz6WXRTaeNPr0m/s400/IMG_2928.jpg" /></a><i><i><strike><strike></strike></strike></i></i></div><br />
</div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-87169786934965872142013-05-09T22:24:00.000-07:002013-06-01T23:43:46.563-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>ITALY May 8th to 20th 2013</b></div><br />
So, 2013 is my year off from racing and we finally made it to Europe. For years we had been discussing a holiday which did not involve a race...and we finally narrowed it down to Italy. Our trip was, fly into Venice take the train to Florence (day trip to Sienna by bus), take the train to Naples (Day trips to Capri and Pompaii), take the train to Rome and fly out of Rome.<br />
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Venice 2 days one night.<br />
Florence 3 days four nights<br />
Naples 2.5 days two nights<br />
Rome 3 days four nights<br />
<br />
<b>Few details:</b><br />
1) We flew US Air.<br />
2) Did all the BnB Bookings on <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/">Airbnb</a>. Worked out really well.<br />
3) Booked all our train tickets between the Italian cities from the US through the <a href="http://www.trenitalia.com/">TrenItalia</a> site. (www.trenitalia.com) click on the UK flag (top right of the screen) for English language. You need to create an account and after that it is pretty simple.<br />
<br />
<b>Things to do:</b><br />
1) Inform your Credit Card Company/Debit Card (Bank) about your trip details.<br />
2) Get a Europe telephone plan/Data plan for the trip.<br />
3) Get the Rick Steves book on Italy - electronic version. We down loaded it on our kindle. Excellent resource.<br />
4) Down load all the Rick Steves podcasts for the various museums and other attractions. They are pretty good.<br />
5) Get printout of all directions.<br />
6) Be Prepared to walk 8-10 miles a day in Florence and Rome.<br />
7) Buy an Italian/English translation book.<br />
8) Get an Italian/US plug-point for your chargers and carry all your chargers.<br />
9) Buy a money belt and carry cash. We figured, if you eat out for both, lunch and dinner - it will be ~€35.00 for two per meal with wine. So about €70 a day. We had lunch out and dinner at home.<br />
10) Buy the Florence Pass (€50/head) and Rome Pass (€34/head) - it may seem expensive, but it saved a lot of time. Specially in Florence. The Florence Pass covers almost all the museums and is valid for 72 hours from first use. Rome Pass covers two attractions and then you get discounts for others and is valid for 3 days including the day you first use it...so, if you use the Rome pass in the evening you lost that entire day, your pass will be valid for the next two days only.<br />
11) We carried thin towels with us, some BnBs had old looking towels - we used ours instead. Bed linen was clean everywhere we stayed.<br />
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<b>The trip:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Venice:</b> BnB was nice. Clean and relatively quiet. The room was at San Silvestro Square which was a 2 min walk from the Rialto bridge and about 10 mins from San Marco square.<br />
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We landed in at 9:30AM. We took the Alilaguna boat to Rilato bridge. The trip took about an hour and 20 mins but was a great introduction to the grand canal. We had a 10 min walk to San Silvestro Square. Demitri was at the room to meet us.<br />
After settling in, we walked to San Marco square and then along the water front. It was HOT so we came back and slept for a few hours. In the evening we walked to the train station - 30 min walk through the maze of small alleys. From there we walked back to Rilato and stopped for dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants. Lots of Bangladesh waiters! After a decent dinner we strolled to San Marco Square and listened to the live bands playing. Sat there for a few hours. Beautiful evening. We crashed at 12:30am.<br />
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Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/ZwE4pcjlr8s">Venice Evening</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ywcKSxhdxx-wuKSehjCKjEBQE4AaJDbMm_5-yrZ6aXgV9LUSoGbmAkble_Ap_wmIqYFiDQSb5EMkmAjvhaYAeU1QTDzWEXz2S7-B5rvMoVC4rM4SoU8CGJV_fPI6D9qJk7O9/s1600/IMG_1557.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ywcKSxhdxx-wuKSehjCKjEBQE4AaJDbMm_5-yrZ6aXgV9LUSoGbmAkble_Ap_wmIqYFiDQSb5EMkmAjvhaYAeU1QTDzWEXz2S7-B5rvMoVC4rM4SoU8CGJV_fPI6D9qJk7O9/s320/IMG_1557.JPG" /></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Venice</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxodcWJIcbmTWm1yLzJTayIzbwtzB3255ucITKbRdXxIdSwCEhWgA_S57U5G8o9jSf1pwTSXqNAkWqAAdFg8BmVPXvZmhUOn7JVOJf_SgGlMkAN35HmVjH4rq_eAzcNgtcFhV/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxodcWJIcbmTWm1yLzJTayIzbwtzB3255ucITKbRdXxIdSwCEhWgA_S57U5G8o9jSf1pwTSXqNAkWqAAdFg8BmVPXvZmhUOn7JVOJf_SgGlMkAN35HmVjH4rq_eAzcNgtcFhV/s320/IMG_1510.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Dinner in Venice</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_v-NdnBi41grsA7Rg3aWYHaaNge7vJ_3OcalaSAiAhOvZSnSBfKxiPIOO7K9T9-tzuLUZiE2S7bMVdyUYyH7xikrCuzT027OuxO2uZgEZ1kLsIM92U_42va8IIbbYpEOwWdH/s1600/IMG_2351.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_v-NdnBi41grsA7Rg3aWYHaaNge7vJ_3OcalaSAiAhOvZSnSBfKxiPIOO7K9T9-tzuLUZiE2S7bMVdyUYyH7xikrCuzT027OuxO2uZgEZ1kLsIM92U_42va8IIbbYpEOwWdH/s320/IMG_2351.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Venice at night</div><br />
May 10th. Dimitri made breakfast for us and we then walked to San Marco Square and went up the tower - excellent views of Venice. We walked through the Duomo of San Marco and slowly made our way back to Rilato for a quick lunch and then picked up our bags and took the Vapporetti to the station. Our train for Florence was on time.<br />
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Reached <b>Florence</b> at 6:30pm. It was raining. We bought our bus tickets at the station newspaper shop and caught the number 22 bus to Maragliano and San Jacobin St, it was PACKED!! We had no idea where the bus was, luckily there was an English speaking Italian on the bus, he told us where to get off. Could not find the place so called Flavio. Debora came out of the house to show us the place. We were right there. Flavio and Debora welcomed us into their lovely place and after showing us where everything was they suggested we go to the local pizza place, San Jacobino pizza, for dinner. AWESOME pizza. Packed with locals, the house wine and pizza were delicious.<br />
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May 11th. After a fitful night's sleep we were up at 7:00AM. Flavio and Debora had left for their trip. We made some coffee and headed to the station to buy our tickets to Sienna on the 12th. We walked across to the tourist information office (The TI Office is across the road from the station) and bought our Florence passes which were €50.00 each, but did not have any waiting time at the museums. We walked along the Arno river and just waltzed into the Uffize museum. After 3+ hours we strolled out - fascinated. We had a quick bite at a roadside tavern and walked to the Museum Veccio. The Florence Card works for almost all museums in the city and includes free city transport for 72 hours from activation. We walked up the Veccio tower 210 steps for a super view of Florence. We the walked to the Duomo, the crowning dome that defines Florence, and walked up the tower...410 steps for an even more awesome view of the city. We could see the viewing gallery on top of the Duomo. Unfortunately the Duomo museum had closed. We walked to the Academia and again waltzed past the lines due the Florence card. Wandered around and saw the star attraction 'David'. The unfinished Michelangelo (or so most people think) statues were super. The profusion of Medici sanctioned art depicting Mary and baby Jesus were just fantastic and overwhelming.<br />
At 6:40pm we were done! We strolled back to the pizza place and polished off two pizzas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8vlYYGNuz78VKI1ZkYe0VEDUnO18NVu_k2yrikV6BaLAm4HBIWGxa3_ae3uPC1n1ugLD6KvANBkw4MporlCDS7Fu9dhH57WhEJ8erU_ZbswxRPQiP7NMxxYUXDXSc4l9-wxV/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8vlYYGNuz78VKI1ZkYe0VEDUnO18NVu_k2yrikV6BaLAm4HBIWGxa3_ae3uPC1n1ugLD6KvANBkw4MporlCDS7Fu9dhH57WhEJ8erU_ZbswxRPQiP7NMxxYUXDXSc4l9-wxV/s320/IMG_2391.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Florence Skyline</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1-bYwJ33uWstceoMcoeoBl8VELEUUtF2JPNxyJsw_LNB3Mi4Gx4rmlXMWJNzmozkCB6MYJllumF0DuKHDsZfuFo76SkLVaCWkfRU-2pAR06eBKxI1mr_5JrkZGm5p48XS_3o/s1600/IMG_2401.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1-bYwJ33uWstceoMcoeoBl8VELEUUtF2JPNxyJsw_LNB3Mi4Gx4rmlXMWJNzmozkCB6MYJllumF0DuKHDsZfuFo76SkLVaCWkfRU-2pAR06eBKxI1mr_5JrkZGm5p48XS_3o/s320/IMG_2401.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Replica of David - outside the Uffizi</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaji3a7EzDmFkVcPSx1qlFzpF4HRVD9JEr1atMoM5x5dm1yTRKJmigag0jiKFqWu80IuGBeWiMYHmO_I5xq1COqvtuxLHwvTG3Y47d_Ku3_8QCVdbHtTFKkfRpxdukh-Hadc31/s1600/IMG_2402.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaji3a7EzDmFkVcPSx1qlFzpF4HRVD9JEr1atMoM5x5dm1yTRKJmigag0jiKFqWu80IuGBeWiMYHmO_I5xq1COqvtuxLHwvTG3Y47d_Ku3_8QCVdbHtTFKkfRpxdukh-Hadc31/s320/IMG_2402.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Fountain of Neptune - Out side the Uffizi</div><br />
May 12: Got up to and checked our email for the first time since leaving the US. Well, our Rome booking had been cancelled because the 'host' was unwell!! I logged onto Airbnb and tried a place and sent out an email. We had tickets for Sienna so we had to leave the house by 8:15am. The bus station is like India. Total free for all. We managed to get on the Rapido bus to Sienna - an hour and twenty min trip. Once there we walked to the square and climbed to the top of the 'Torre del Mangia' tower. Sienna is not called 'little Florence' for nothing. If I have to see my photographs in a few months they will look the same. But Sienna is cute, we followed the intercity flag rivals and just walked around. The black and white cathedral was super! We stopped for lunch at the main square...finally got Wifi! And figured out that the booking we had sent out in the morning for Rome did not go through! Back to the grind. By 2:00 pm we were done with sienna. Wandered around till 4.00 pm and again had an Indian moment getting into the bus back to Florence.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYnJLYuE24xY7b9N9bF9F3sb1x0HQbpNbZrwNeBFfR15ECKMPe9gbaDj8qSIOzCYW_wTegmHR8zfaoSlSa5rFwvJepsxic3xTx3LVieS9AX6tYw8jCQFK34zqwOK2N-uHnsIa/s1600/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYnJLYuE24xY7b9N9bF9F3sb1x0HQbpNbZrwNeBFfR15ECKMPe9gbaDj8qSIOzCYW_wTegmHR8zfaoSlSa5rFwvJepsxic3xTx3LVieS9AX6tYw8jCQFK34zqwOK2N-uHnsIa/s320/IMG_1633.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Sienna skyline</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYwQzrPf97CiuoPv2HvLaPoznpdrjvM8DuT9aj-OrxsoXUqyxOogrvIpTT1fGRen3X_idNUt8NkNWhf89TNjWVwfJp-7TvwhEdam63-usMOw4Acx9pvfqKluq28zav-j43zXG/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYwQzrPf97CiuoPv2HvLaPoznpdrjvM8DuT9aj-OrxsoXUqyxOogrvIpTT1fGRen3X_idNUt8NkNWhf89TNjWVwfJp-7TvwhEdam63-usMOw4Acx9pvfqKluq28zav-j43zXG/s320/IMG_1647.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Sienna flag march</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZukJE_W-AqNGFR1D2yGSzZbGuhxzOhISFg-IjWMeJwzcreJI6wcRXYhSi2sOBQ0nVKfbAsELTbRbawpreULkiK_7Xac6LIzT4W4LjJqAMq-fq_ycECxvhgx7eabmgqxw7ML1d/s1600/IMG_2423.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZukJE_W-AqNGFR1D2yGSzZbGuhxzOhISFg-IjWMeJwzcreJI6wcRXYhSi2sOBQ0nVKfbAsELTbRbawpreULkiK_7Xac6LIzT4W4LjJqAMq-fq_ycECxvhgx7eabmgqxw7ML1d/s320/IMG_2423.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Sienna</div><br />
We got back to the BnB, called Flavio and asked if it was on to use the laptop. Looked for a place and sent in our booking. Then went back to the pizziaria San Jacopino's for dinner. Got back and Debora and Flavio were back from their trip. Had a glass of wine and discussed Italy/India, politics and finally called it a night at 10:30pm. 13th was to be a light day - no Pisa trip as we had to figure out the Rome BnB situation. <br />
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Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/69Ai5Y2C3ow">Florence from Pitti Palace.</a><br />
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Florence BnB was nice, clean and very comfy it also had a garden! Flavio and Deborah had left the house to us for 2 nights while they went to France. <br />
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May 13th.<br />
We got up at 8:00 and spent almost 3 hours looking for a BnB in Rome. After several declines we finally got one and we left the house at 10:40 for Pitti Palace which is across the Arno river. The place was about a 40 min walk and we crossed at the Pointe Vaccio bridge which is open only to pedestrians. We spent 3 hours walking along the gardens and checked in to the various museums at the Pitti (All covered by the Florence Card). We then walked across the bridge to check out the cathedral and the Duomo museum. We got back at 6:30PM and sat with Flavio and Debroa, who cooked a super dinner for us, and polished off a couple of bottles of wine while discussing topics from politics to religion to prices of land in Bombay, Florence and San Francisco. Flavio loves Bombay and has visited often for business (antiques). Flavio and Debora are wonderful hosts and awesome folks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA4VvGtft7fuN26CG4xjrnGKaqJM0p6-o4dTr0lcXTvY0hO3ucm4H6_Gik_sCkox0S0ytEVIVnjgiVUbTH0lb6WphOzdRDLI59Pte5ncZHavL7MKeNhs1HEwgY8QUWTUBoSx0/s1600/IMG_1694.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA4VvGtft7fuN26CG4xjrnGKaqJM0p6-o4dTr0lcXTvY0hO3ucm4H6_Gik_sCkox0S0ytEVIVnjgiVUbTH0lb6WphOzdRDLI59Pte5ncZHavL7MKeNhs1HEwgY8QUWTUBoSx0/s320/IMG_1694.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Michelangelo's unfinished <span class="st">Pietà</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKMC9nTWXAi4tTKWShefpP-EsZxvsMNL24TQlEB8SZaGZ_bvoHXvcM89pqUyJIw63RARVsf2bqaruA73yNv0pGUyIgOgXuJdprG8ltjFKZVUzQAZ8nQuuveX2nzLjVXG5m39V/s1600/IMG_1697.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKMC9nTWXAi4tTKWShefpP-EsZxvsMNL24TQlEB8SZaGZ_bvoHXvcM89pqUyJIw63RARVsf2bqaruA73yNv0pGUyIgOgXuJdprG8ltjFKZVUzQAZ8nQuuveX2nzLjVXG5m39V/s320/IMG_1697.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Donatello's Magdalene Penitent</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW0SEaunW3WH4uqJGRXSqTE_hn0ZpVoypwVVBBG8qxQFyqAQ5K7Ig4u2WISy8bO_JFkTwxSq8Z92zv7RWwaKBRuqRUbSRxjRp2u-K0QHdav8DopWAaKWTZ5g_FYdV4PfyC_YS/s1600/IMG_2450.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW0SEaunW3WH4uqJGRXSqTE_hn0ZpVoypwVVBBG8qxQFyqAQ5K7Ig4u2WISy8bO_JFkTwxSq8Z92zv7RWwaKBRuqRUbSRxjRp2u-K0QHdav8DopWAaKWTZ5g_FYdV4PfyC_YS/s320/IMG_2450.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Our hosts in Florence</div><br />
May 14th<br />
Got up at 8:00 and made our way to the station. The train was on time. We had a nice 2:30 hour ride to <b>Naples</b>. We were warned about Naples and that it was rough and dangerous. We got off at Napoli Centralle. Went to the tourist office (located in the station) and picked up a map, asked for train directions to Dante Square (Piazza Dante). On a whim we decided to walk to our BnB and the lady at the TI said it was a 30/40 min walk. Off we went. Naples felt, smelt and was as messy and crowded as Bombay. We stopped several times to ask for directions and finally we found our BnB. The roads were really narrow, almost like Venice. Elizebettet showed us our apartment and gave us a 15 min review on what to do in Capri and Pompaii. The BnB was very cool, split level and a private apartment. Given that Naples is where the Pizza was invented she told us to visit a small pizza place just below where we were staying. It was good stuff. Naples was a bit of a shock, graffiti, crowds and hot! We walked to the port and checked out our morning route and the time it would take. And were in bed at midnight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbLiVobP7bnUcDhqDxBUg75hYTPREEtOQrS7AVrVLdmG4CoMnzoVgRTkp8bpx3yUfQlgLRVR9VM1ox5Nico5eF7GR0tRum5hNtyq5bcFo4PXkTkNQrSWf8Qu2UT3mcGxRpatF/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbLiVobP7bnUcDhqDxBUg75hYTPREEtOQrS7AVrVLdmG4CoMnzoVgRTkp8bpx3yUfQlgLRVR9VM1ox5Nico5eF7GR0tRum5hNtyq5bcFo4PXkTkNQrSWf8Qu2UT3mcGxRpatF/s320/IMG_2452.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Naples BnB</div><br />
May 15th<br />
We got up early and caught the 8:05 ferry to Capri. Went straight to the Blue Grotto booking and we were the first folks there. The weather was perfect and once we made our way into the grotto the guide asked us to look back!!! WOW!! The blue was incredible! The place was really cool. We were back at the main port in an hour! Rick Steves book was spot on...arrive early and skip the crowds at the grotto. We then took the Funcicular to Capri and then the bus to Anacapri. From there we rode the chair lift to the top of Mount Solaro. The views were spectacular!! The clouds were just about rolling in. We then hiked down to Anacapri (40 minutes) and strolled around the little town. We made our way back to Capri by bus (which was packed) and floated around at the port. Tried the lemonchello, pretty nice. We met and talked with a wonderful girl, Carmelita, from Naples. She teaches Spanish in Capri. We chatted all the way back to Naples and exchanged emails to keep in touch. The hand movements and gestures in Naples is just awesome to watch. It was overcast by evening. Naples has a lot of police presence around...a heck of a lot, including military folks. They have made big strides in cleaning up the crime over the last few years. There were many young kids at the squares and all the commotion and cops did feel safe and good. The city is definitely on the up.<br />
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Video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iCT8f3T27g">Blue Grotto</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR1uN2hlkO-bzHZehGpQywaL4CfvH7vF1x2WRB5F9f7EYCkI1u_3-6f0-VctgwrynyoFBFYuY2LIIr5P336WxSOexwVrvMe3u2xFL7Mfrr4slRElBtPig3RtmYt4pNc6vIYNB/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR1uN2hlkO-bzHZehGpQywaL4CfvH7vF1x2WRB5F9f7EYCkI1u_3-6f0-VctgwrynyoFBFYuY2LIIr5P336WxSOexwVrvMe3u2xFL7Mfrr4slRElBtPig3RtmYt4pNc6vIYNB/s320/IMG_1764.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Capri</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMptrDpAKIscFF9Zj8KfBAWV48Oh65QFs9N3vWENGTfLyHKIAEgvdkeBmGfPo5cLYpB-7FcYivfuhgWejrRXHf0rxWjWezMAJV29lyUQDzozrDoGTlOzjT925nr_X5WLFJZqSP/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMptrDpAKIscFF9Zj8KfBAWV48Oh65QFs9N3vWENGTfLyHKIAEgvdkeBmGfPo5cLYpB-7FcYivfuhgWejrRXHf0rxWjWezMAJV29lyUQDzozrDoGTlOzjT925nr_X5WLFJZqSP/s320/IMG_2472.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Blue Grotto - Capri</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iCUjwwz6tIgwSRE4urtfgSFaz3iXkk5Cw_RCRJO4t0RNV7s-OAX7I2cwudwPtcnLXXJeM6cBTUq893qm03UDsth5TmJhxC8D2priO8s5dNSNP_9T5dDacP0c3hayRNoNEW61/s1600/IMG_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iCUjwwz6tIgwSRE4urtfgSFaz3iXkk5Cw_RCRJO4t0RNV7s-OAX7I2cwudwPtcnLXXJeM6cBTUq893qm03UDsth5TmJhxC8D2priO8s5dNSNP_9T5dDacP0c3hayRNoNEW61/s320/IMG_2487.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Capri</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB5bBYTFZ2fMyEFpZEluYBpgSGvqD6soB2iMaisJtAedzIbswQdGj8-VhXvIzOTr2STwYCzMgd0SWCR17H4V0948vw-YfCZszmux4XqWbaYyn9q2KbucF3K9NiX6M9BNtJorv/s1600/IMG_2494.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB5bBYTFZ2fMyEFpZEluYBpgSGvqD6soB2iMaisJtAedzIbswQdGj8-VhXvIzOTr2STwYCzMgd0SWCR17H4V0948vw-YfCZszmux4XqWbaYyn9q2KbucF3K9NiX6M9BNtJorv/s320/IMG_2494.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">With Carmelita at the Naples Port</div><br />
May 16th.<br />
We were up early. Packed up and walked to the bus station to get a bus to Pompaii. It was raining. Our <span class="st">€</span>4.00 umbrella from Florence was already on its last legs. The bus trip was 30 minutes. We could not get a guide so we bought one of those <span class="st">€</span>12.00 books (got it for <span class="st">€</span>7.00) and we just wandered around reading up on stuff. Pompaii is brutal...warm, unshaded and relentless ruins :). We finally called it a day a 2:30 and made our way back to Garibaldi Station (Napoli Centralle). We hung around the station area waiting for our 5:00PM train to <b>Rome</b> and had a nice comfy ride. The TrainItalia goes at 300kmph!! Pretty cool! In an hour we were in Rome! We found our way to the TI (it is on Platform 24, where the trains leave for Fiumicino Airport) and bought Rome Passes. We made our way to the Metro and Ambra's boyfriend let us into the apartment. We bought some bread, salami and called it a night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxWvfGNoA_QaMUjpYFM-0ilzIbycNxpHrAlZXDdCLW_gyf8_zTIGyYbvwCIv1x8zRDy8vZj4h5khoDCXhwwT5qi-hKnUa3YRO3NWPVNTT2yLmKXDIiJ77E_-xgAcxST8XFbSu/s1600/IMG_1803.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxWvfGNoA_QaMUjpYFM-0ilzIbycNxpHrAlZXDdCLW_gyf8_zTIGyYbvwCIv1x8zRDy8vZj4h5khoDCXhwwT5qi-hKnUa3YRO3NWPVNTT2yLmKXDIiJ77E_-xgAcxST8XFbSu/s320/IMG_1803.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pompaii </div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA9b3SyLYetLmPBiq9MctLQaRXHYeOf_Ht4D_DKrgh6h-rtY3w4zAbKLjyle4r-W8wBkQPYXU1iCOXEZ-vz21B3QjTfZNt3a6h1QBbugGf8XtmBYlMaheSxkZVxfd6uUzoVJk/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA9b3SyLYetLmPBiq9MctLQaRXHYeOf_Ht4D_DKrgh6h-rtY3w4zAbKLjyle4r-W8wBkQPYXU1iCOXEZ-vz21B3QjTfZNt3a6h1QBbugGf8XtmBYlMaheSxkZVxfd6uUzoVJk/s320/IMG_1807.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pompaii </div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4wy6TBu4topDdxNW5GdXR0LmLdZGDSt34o205pkpHtFkLDM8QYT1MX1OlWs0c4ooNRysj6Nz2bXhpvck9nCEgAAPlYjBKlrwh0hvPw9Vvl8cK6LuguI38tCwPauScCgzQDkE/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4wy6TBu4topDdxNW5GdXR0LmLdZGDSt34o205pkpHtFkLDM8QYT1MX1OlWs0c4ooNRysj6Nz2bXhpvck9nCEgAAPlYjBKlrwh0hvPw9Vvl8cK6LuguI38tCwPauScCgzQDkE/s320/IMG_1827.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pompaii </div><br />
May 17th.<br />
Got up at 7:30AM – it was pouring Romans and ruins! By 8:30 it had settled in to an overcast morning. 9:15AM we took the metro to St. Peters Square. We got into the line to visit the Vatican Museum. The line was long, wrapped around the Vatican wall but it was moving fast. Several guides came by selling their services for a guided tour and a guarantee of not having to stand in line. We almost took them up, but decided to go it alone and. We were inside within an hour. The museum was incredible! The highlight for me was the sculpture of ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laoco%C3%B6n_and_His_Sons">Laocoon and His Sons</a>’ – absolutely brilliant. We managed to skip the exit for the general public and got into the Sistine Chapel by following one of the guided tours. That saved us at least an hour of waiting in line outside. We took the long route to the Sistine, stopping along the way to see the profusion of art. I had downloaded the Rick Steves podcasts for the Sistine Chapel and once we made our way into the crowded center – we just stood there looking up at the masterpiece. The wall behind the alter 'The Last Judgement' was incredible too. The finer points of the explanation through the podcasts really helped us understand the panels and 'The Last Judgement' behind the alter. After the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel we made our way to the St Peter’s Cathedral – now that is something – a thing of immense beauty and scale! The Pieta by Michelangelo is a bit far and put behind bulletproof glass at a slight height – it is not the best vantage point, but the beauty of that sculpture is hard to miss. We were out at 4:00pm and wandered around the Square. Stopped for a quick coffee and walked into National Museum of Castle Sant’ Angelo which was built as Hadrian’s mausoleum. Nothing much to see there – we then crossed the Tiber and wandered around to the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and made it home after a stop at McDonalds for a break from Pizzas and Pasta...the guy at the counter in McDonalds says, ‘Take the chicken burger – it is ready’...only in Italy! Got back to the BnB and chilled out for the rest of the evening<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDTfsG1V5vWgqZ7eI-flxqPY4HGCXPuobdMCgIr94IjtVJt8tpkEa2KGUnUmbGsXB0OG6ezbLkuEcZOGt_3TsiVLzkZxpe98pBSlfXeLwsieSDiOJCx7Utx5fE9g77jfK8IhM/s1600/IMG_2509.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDTfsG1V5vWgqZ7eI-flxqPY4HGCXPuobdMCgIr94IjtVJt8tpkEa2KGUnUmbGsXB0OG6ezbLkuEcZOGt_3TsiVLzkZxpe98pBSlfXeLwsieSDiOJCx7Utx5fE9g77jfK8IhM/s320/IMG_2509.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="st">The statue of Laocoön and His Sons</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyBzthUxzwfChvJ63a5WXDqGJVCWoyFaQzCOhKycVdFsMlBy6CWVMTQRffJOahGs3lvS8_x2ul5anivmQm0wQdkBO84ZjErBBv2U2wY0Kx3h_m7tiFBsAZCt9G4Xc4wX7PTFb/s1600/IMG_2536.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyBzthUxzwfChvJ63a5WXDqGJVCWoyFaQzCOhKycVdFsMlBy6CWVMTQRffJOahGs3lvS8_x2ul5anivmQm0wQdkBO84ZjErBBv2U2wY0Kx3h_m7tiFBsAZCt9G4Xc4wX7PTFb/s320/IMG_2536.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Sistine Chapel</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLRWnIRH95Cai-287IKCHNfvW9XEw9R46hrjlJlNC3F0tpn4B9LgcyDSRZo06hn88BedPOJYzTPtrvKiw9ITLpAiLbZ4oTY6JBmRoz8l4C72Tk8YQAX7AKY_1ywNzJJK9iB2s/s1600/IMG_2552.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLRWnIRH95Cai-287IKCHNfvW9XEw9R46hrjlJlNC3F0tpn4B9LgcyDSRZo06hn88BedPOJYzTPtrvKiw9ITLpAiLbZ4oTY6JBmRoz8l4C72Tk8YQAX7AKY_1ywNzJJK9iB2s/s320/IMG_2552.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="st">St. Peter's Basilica</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6ftBpAvUiutBmvvQjwAhi51bH0LujswAYuxnnkdJ6Gov4hIdP4pEBUXgKHTwcyihZ4hXwQmTuWuDG2w-S0vVx_AKoQTrPRRia7p3g0UC1bLwy5EzSDERE6LOapOt2l0FCviV/s1600/IMG_2555.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6ftBpAvUiutBmvvQjwAhi51bH0LujswAYuxnnkdJ6Gov4hIdP4pEBUXgKHTwcyihZ4hXwQmTuWuDG2w-S0vVx_AKoQTrPRRia7p3g0UC1bLwy5EzSDERE6LOapOt2l0FCviV/s320/IMG_2555.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="st">Statue of St Peter at St. Peter's Basilica</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX0Gjm7PGyrmo8qwR_rNA7wiSK7-GljJ27hLuDghGIEJ9YpxxAcPNsSZo9VuOfoIBfhv9PBq3Ya0NKhc4hZwRfWxSWoaZwYD-eIWex5OxXS6o94lhnuVqtRilnuOboUfZZaeA/s1600/IMG_2567.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX0Gjm7PGyrmo8qwR_rNA7wiSK7-GljJ27hLuDghGIEJ9YpxxAcPNsSZo9VuOfoIBfhv9PBq3Ya0NKhc4hZwRfWxSWoaZwYD-eIWex5OxXS6o94lhnuVqtRilnuOboUfZZaeA/s320/IMG_2567.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Mosaic - "The Alter of the Lie"</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEXjk4T863-_XFtHfvNNDrMZMP6_3k6oFlEW12qBNZmXdde5k97ilzJJdxF2EnK7drmtcgLFDzO4yM217jJNQm_gL_xW5z8Iqjk_114WuS0-f2wWL5ykxDfzfJa_ZLa4jw2DD/s1600/IMG_2559.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEXjk4T863-_XFtHfvNNDrMZMP6_3k6oFlEW12qBNZmXdde5k97ilzJJdxF2EnK7drmtcgLFDzO4yM217jJNQm_gL_xW5z8Iqjk_114WuS0-f2wWL5ykxDfzfJa_ZLa4jw2DD/s320/IMG_2559.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">St. Peter's Basilica</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rHUhpA9JsOFyxzwGKzgRP1kcjumfID3luBnjuL0OiGUghJg-Z6ShvlBmTuRGCgMFS9OEA8TE_VSG-K7kpGiG0paQTzvF4qkdU0cr3IvJ2Bwx-MDHh5YLwGbz7T0NQmmA4oZQ/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rHUhpA9JsOFyxzwGKzgRP1kcjumfID3luBnjuL0OiGUghJg-Z6ShvlBmTuRGCgMFS9OEA8TE_VSG-K7kpGiG0paQTzvF4qkdU0cr3IvJ2Bwx-MDHh5YLwGbz7T0NQmmA4oZQ/s320/IMG_2629.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pantheon</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uXU_swiPypxPz0G-SxXS2L660AG5iDBe5i2iFul5_2KqCqv78RZcwAb-Xz0yJEjdrqBhN0fCCj4RnxRAocJJbVTGs5t6dKykWhhPGptPQkmooF7P-J65ygWWZlXQnxOqV-lb/s1600/IMG_2652.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uXU_swiPypxPz0G-SxXS2L660AG5iDBe5i2iFul5_2KqCqv78RZcwAb-Xz0yJEjdrqBhN0fCCj4RnxRAocJJbVTGs5t6dKykWhhPGptPQkmooF7P-J65ygWWZlXQnxOqV-lb/s320/IMG_2652.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Looking over <span class="st">Piazza del Popolo</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Trevi Fountain</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAB3JyZ3pFhEOh0kzs5RRRt79m8Xkhm1GAh7xYN0ndQWhG6-5CEo-njFM0MEKnhqeiQOUFGTD3-dxskqe2ub-a0Lnfa7__8nTn9RdBAyI95MaYHtk11tc6z9sjqkwUuZe6M1q/s1600/IMG_2595.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAB3JyZ3pFhEOh0kzs5RRRt79m8Xkhm1GAh7xYN0ndQWhG6-5CEo-njFM0MEKnhqeiQOUFGTD3-dxskqe2ub-a0Lnfa7__8nTn9RdBAyI95MaYHtk11tc6z9sjqkwUuZe6M1q/s320/IMG_2595.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">At the Colosseum</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp8XQ1kdca1Spzqd_6s-VV77iQW3i1Dy2gfYhq6kpN0hN3RJL3yDKuAoLGunagDGvxr9RhYr1lY0jsQQd5Il4s2FLj_bTcqicRu6dGZHp1ZTg0RkaSrGFgQF1JlScKAYuUNQo/s1600/IMG_2600.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp8XQ1kdca1Spzqd_6s-VV77iQW3i1Dy2gfYhq6kpN0hN3RJL3yDKuAoLGunagDGvxr9RhYr1lY0jsQQd5Il4s2FLj_bTcqicRu6dGZHp1ZTg0RkaSrGFgQF1JlScKAYuUNQo/s320/IMG_2600.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Colosseum pillar</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Colosseum</div><br />
May 18th.<br />
We left the house at 9:40 and took the train to the Colosseum. Since we had bought the Roma Pass - we skipped the lines and walked right in. Sweet! We spent a few hours walking around, again the Rick Steves podcast was perfect. Then we walked past The Arch of Constantine to the Roman Forum and spent a few hours tracing the steps taken by the Caesars and about a billion other tourists! Augustus’s Villa was closed, but we wandered around the gardens and then decided to take a long lunch. We walked along the streets until we found a place we liked and plonked ourselves for a good two hour lunch. Post lunch we walked to the Circus Maximus and spent an hour resting at Tiber Island (small island in the middle of the Tiber) watching folks fish. We then walked past the Spanish Steps (not sure why this is so famous!) and made our way to Piazza Navona and Bernini’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_Of_Four_Rivers">Fountain of Four Rivers</a> (Ganges is one of the statues). We walked on to the Pantheon – the dome that inspired the domes in Florence, Vatican and everywhere else. We stopped at some of the better known pizza places and coffee houses along the way. We then walked back to Metro station and called it a night.<br />
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May 19th.<br />
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A day with no agenda. We decided to check out the other side of the Tiber, Trestavere area. We walked around without any game plan – revisited a few areas - Spanish Steps to Piazza del Popolo to Borgese Garden to the Piazza Venezia and Victor Emmanual building, museum and church behind it. We crossed the Tiber to Trastevere area, had a long lunch - stopped for a campari/orange at the Tiber Island and once again made it to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_de%27_Fiori">Camp de fiori</a> - this time for a long dinner. Then traced our way back to the Metro via the Trevi fountain. <br />
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And - just like that our trip had come to an end. Loved my first visit to Europe and Italy. Florence was certainly the highlight of my trip.<br />
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Metro in Rome was really easy to use. Great directions, well marked on the floor with arrows and train directions leading to each platform. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Campari and Orange</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ogG1VMBR2XT_rgKpfYP287rFBGcV9gNjpmjt7aAWdHJHZGA2TNnpJot_bBmNZEvFZz_AwsUZ5yEaDMFh2gfktgWYN9siXVPniqLzFpiu_TcB1pzs2-4GKQyz0JaXt0gTV_kY/s1600/IMG_2689.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ogG1VMBR2XT_rgKpfYP287rFBGcV9gNjpmjt7aAWdHJHZGA2TNnpJot_bBmNZEvFZz_AwsUZ5yEaDMFh2gfktgWYN9siXVPniqLzFpiu_TcB1pzs2-4GKQyz0JaXt0gTV_kY/s320/IMG_2689.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="st">Campo dei Fiori</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhponMa6T3nUa-5sB9ycDPRn29s65UX9HpjAdVR5XLi_FFqEcKvucLn0EH4-zB06_0wfZpFmPLaHtyTHeY4eS4alNcY4CSTsjfRfoRLlsEF9ErP3iaGN9TsXlrAhyRyVlJdMzIj/s1600/IMG_2692.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhponMa6T3nUa-5sB9ycDPRn29s65UX9HpjAdVR5XLi_FFqEcKvucLn0EH4-zB06_0wfZpFmPLaHtyTHeY4eS4alNcY4CSTsjfRfoRLlsEF9ErP3iaGN9TsXlrAhyRyVlJdMzIj/s320/IMG_2692.JPG" /></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="st">Campo dei Fiori - Dinner</span></div></div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com2Italy41.87194 12.56737999999995729.678010500000003 -8.0869170000000423 54.065869500000005 33.221676999999957tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270545.post-4183255347526106332013-02-13T16:26:00.000-08:002013-02-17T15:49:05.823-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.therougeorleans.com/">Rouge-Orleans 126.2 miles</a><br />
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Status: DNF at mile 95. (31 miles short of the finish)<br />
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Why this race? Well, I was looking for an ultra race where I could not get lost :) The fact that the Baton Rouge to New Orleans run was along the Mississippi with no (or few) chances of missing the levee - I signed up. With that done I emailed the ultra hero friends I had (Anil Rao and Rajeev Patel) looking for some tips on how to go about training for this distance. To my good fortune, Rajeev Patel signed up for the race as well. Given that he would be around made things easier for me. This would also be the first time we ran an ultra together. We have paced each other in the past, but never run an ultra together. <br />
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<b>Training:</b> As part of the training I ran a 100 miler at Alan/Rajeev's race in November, <a href="http://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2012/11/run-d-amore-100-mile-run.html">Run d'Amore</a>. After a short trip to India in December, I was back with a few runs. There were a few runs with Martina at Rancho and a few other long slow runs. <br />
The biggest training issue for me was to slow down my pace. I had to force myself to run at 11, 12 min/mile pace on the longer runs and to add a bit of walking. That did not come naturally to me and if I stopped concentrating, I'd find myself running at a 8:00/8:30 pace. <br />
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<b>Diet:</b> I stuck to my regular food, nothing special and no diet changes. I flirted with going gluten free (again) but gave up on that idea. My plan for the run was, gels every hour and a half, water and at the aid stations, pbj sandwiches, soup, potatoes and salt tabs (as necessary).<br />
Shoes: Hoka - no hot spots no blisters. But the lack of long training walks in them could have been the cause of my injury.<br />
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<b>Course:</b> The levee was not soft mud, it had stones strewn about and our feet took a beating. It was not scenic either...the Mississippi is probably one of the most industrialized rivers around. We had Refineries & Chemical factories for as far as the eyes could see (and nose could smell). The course is paved from mile 90 onwards. So the last 36 miles are on a paved bike path. <br />
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The race:<br />
With Shridhar, Madhu, Dhvanee, Renuka coming to cheer us on, I knew this would be a fun weekend. All of us (except lil' Dhvanee) were in Muscat together in the mid 1990s, so it was a reunion of sorts. Patel, Renuka and I got to Baton Rouge on Thursday Morning after a long hopping flight SFO-Vegas-Houston-Baton Rouge. We checked into The Belle of Baton Rouge, a rather nice hotel. We drove into town for lunch and then scouted the course for about 7 miles - checking the GPS co-ordinates provided by the race director. The levee looked nice and even and we were looking forward to a good scenic run. Shridhar, Madhu & Dhavnee came in around 11 pm, they drove in from Dallas.<br />
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Friday was spent arranging our drop bags and resting a bit in the afternoon. We had taken the 8:00PM Friday start option, which meant we would be running through 2 nights (Friday and Saturday) in order to finish sometime around 10-11AM on Sunday.<br />
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At the race meeting we were told that the cannon from USS KIDD would not be used as the starting gun because someone had blown off 3 fingers firing that a few months ago...to which Patel quipped 'Well, he should have used a Nikon instead' :) NUT! <br />
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Friday 8:00PM the race started off with a horn sounding off and we began with an easy jog/walk. For a few hours we kept company with a few other runners. Patel was in full flow, regaling all of us with stories and jokes. A few hours later we struck out on our own, settling into a 6 min run 4 min walk for a few hours. Cathy Nevans and her team (She was running solo and her crew were doing the relay) kept us company for a few hours. Songs were sung, jokes were cracked and Renuka and Madhu met us at relay points to give us water. We reached the first aid-station (mile 28) in good time and were feeling pretty strong.<br />
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Saturday morning dawned grey and overcast. It was cold and our feet were hurting a bit. Given that the race only had two Porta Johns (Yup, 2 for the entire 126.2 miles) we found some open portas (probably owned by the refineries) and managed our nature calls. We plugged on through the day, Shridhar, Dhavnee, Madhu and Renuka came out to cheer, feed us and take photographs along the way. Madhu ran (or rather walked - as we were walking at this point) with us for about 7 miles and we kept it going. Dhavnee was just too funny as she put on a southern drawl and pink mustache and egged us on at every stop. Aid-Station 55 was the next stop and we were still feeling fine. As night fell I could feel the sleep coming on (we had been awake since 9:00AM on Friday, which meant around 9:00PM Saturday it was 36 hours of us being awake). The night was cool and overcast and Madhu/Renuka continued crewing us. We tried to get a 10 min nap, but I could not sleep. We tried again after an hour and still, I could not sleep a wink. It was a strange place to be...sleepy during the walk/jog but could not sleep once we got into the car! At 11:30PM we took our first caffeine tablet and that got us going for a bit. I could tell that Patel was feeling sleepy too as he had gone quiet...yea...PATEL HAD GONE ON SILENT MODE!!!! He actually has a silent mode! <br />
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We were officially bored around mile 65-70. The course was just rubbish, scenery wise. The smells from some of the Chemical plants were getting to us too. The caffeine lift lasted till about 12:30AM (Sunday) and then the sleep came back. I was weaving about a bit. My Tibialis Anterior muscle (right foot) was really hurting, I could not dorsiflex my foot at all and was dragging it along. We talked about trying to run a bit, Patel said we should wait till the paved section at mile 95 and then run - that made sense as the stones would have been a problem for me with my 0 foot lift. The third aid station at mile 80 was a disappointment. They had no hot soup and had only one boiled potato left (we shared that). Thanks to Renuka/Madhu who got us sandwiches and hot Ramen noodles from a gas station a few miles away. This was sad, here you have a 126.2 mile race with only 4 aid-stations...you should have these fully stocked and have backups in case of a stove malfunction (We were not the last one either, there was a group of runners who started at 3:00AM on Saturday...they were all behind us). I was probably tired and hence got a bit more irritated than I would normally get...it took a few miles to get that out of my system. <br />
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At 1:00AM we took our second caffeine tablet...the effect of that lasted only half an hour!! It had started raining and around 2:00AM we got to relay exchange 20 (mile 90) and finally managed to sleep for 15 mins in the car. Once we were up, we insisted that Madhu and Renuka head back to the hotel. We could make it to the finish before 2:00PM if were got 20 min/miles (3 miles an hour). At mile 90 we hit the pavement and we felt a lot better. My foot was really bad and I could feel the swelling too. Patel asked me to stop at that next exchange point and not push through causing more damage. I mumbled something about being fine and making it for 30 more miles. It was pouring now and very windy. I did not want to stop at the mile 95 exchange as I did not want to call Renuka back (She had just left about an hour and a half ago!). <br />
But better sense prevailed, I called her from the exchange point and she said she would come back to pick us up (20 mile drive! Poor thing!). Patel called the race director to let him know we dropped out. A relay team of local Baton Rouge folks let us sit in their van till Renuka came by. It was cold, raining and windy outside.<br />
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Shridhar and Renuka picked us up around 3:30AM and we went around looking for a hotel room. WE finally found one and after dropping shridhar back at his hotel - I showered and crashed around 4:45AM (we were up for 43+ hours! and were moving for 32 of those). While Patel has done longer races and stayed awake for well over 60 hours, this was the longest I've every stayed awake. <br />
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Our crew (Madhu, Shridhar, Dhvanee, Renuka) were just awesome! Cannot thank them enough. This is definitely not a race to do solo without a crew. The race amenities are basic at best and you must have crew support.<br />
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Conclusion: I have finally figured out that ultra running is not my thing :) - I get bored easy and need the distraction of a different sport. Or, I need a sport I love - swimming. So it is back to the pool for me and I may try some ultra swimming in the coming years.<br />
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Foot update: Wednesday Feb 13th, the swelling around the ankle is still there, the Tibialis Anterior is still sore and a bit swollen. I have a little more range of motion in my foot, but still cannot fully dorsiflex. Will keep resting for a few more days and then see if a short run is possible.<br />
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</div>Rajeev Charhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11879434998240617427noreply@blogger.com4