Bonjour from Paris!! It has taken a while to update this, but I have left it until all our Parisian experiences could be combined into one blog. We leave tomorrow for Italy but this week has been the most magical, amazing week of my life.
Paris is gorgeous and something about it has calmed us down, relaxed us and made us so ridiculously happy!! So far we have seen all the touristy things: the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe (amazing view from the top), the Eiffel Tower (again, great view from the top), the Musee d'Orsay, Montmatre (complete with a sketh of both of us which s gorgeous), the Picasso Museum, Notre Dame, Catacombes (scary but quite amazing) and others I can't remember....
Favourites were the top of the Arc de Triomphe, it was much less crowded than the Eiffel tower and the view was just as good. Also loved Montmatre on our second attempt at going there - the first time we got off at the metro stop at the Moulin Rouge with is the seediest, grossest part of Paris I have seen. Sex shops and strip joints galore - we stayed about 20 mins then left! Luckily the second time we found the metro stop nearer to the artists area.
The big disppointment for us was the Louvre - sorry to all you art lovers but it was BORING!!!!! There are only so many white statues and religious pictures filled with flying babies one person can look at in a day.... It was too much and all the same to us, we loved the impressionists at the Musee d'Orsay and all the religious symbolism stuff in the Louvre just looks like crap to me.
Food wise we have been feasting! I feel like I am about 15kgs heavier but I am feeling very content, like a big fat, lazy cat lying on the lounge :) Heaps of cheese, red wine, baguettes and even a few meals of snails have kept us going - the food is quite cheap and just delicious. Bring on Italy with the fresh pasta and more wine I say - though it is very sad to leave paris.
We have decided to come back at the latest when we retire or in a few years anyway, perhaps to live, it has just had the hugest impression on us. Jen you were right - it is amazing!!!!!!
More to come shortly - viva Italia!!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Hyde Park London - made for runners
Well, we spent a week in London and it went way too fast!!! Almost as fast as the massive crowds down Oxford St on a Friday night - just nuts!! It was beautiful, and surpassed my expectations easily!
Rach and I stayed in south west Kensington, around the corner from Royal Albert Hall and about 500 metres from Hyde Park. Out of the seven days, we literally went for a run 3 of them. Although the last one was up to Portobello Rd Markets, Notting Hill, and we had not chance of running far that day. Just so many great things to look at and a few to buy. The runs we did around Hyde Park were fantastic. There are so many paths, and the park is HUGE. We saw some hard core swimmers doing laps in the lake/river in the middle of the park, The Serpentine. One had a wetsuit on, the other, remarkably similar looking to The Keg from CR, was calmly hopping out of the freezing water for a cold outside shower in nothing but speedos!!
We saw a lot of squirrels and even more runners. It always makes me feel good seeing runners - even if I am not running, as you know how someone feels on a good run! There seems to be a lot of people who run to work in London judging by the packs they carry and that they are heading towards the city. Also, for a town with narrow streets, optional road rules and massive buses, there are cyclists on every road, cruising along with no helmet but usually with a basket on the front.
We have been updating Rach's facebook with photos of the trip, if you'd like to see us in action in London.
Although having a great time and not wanting the holiday to end, Rach and I skip back in to Sydney mode, and start planning our 6 Foot, triathlon and fitness goals...all to start pretty much as soon as we land - 2008 will be another big fitness year for us both! But we need to survive Paris, Venice, Florence, and Hong Kong first!!
Rach and I stayed in south west Kensington, around the corner from Royal Albert Hall and about 500 metres from Hyde Park. Out of the seven days, we literally went for a run 3 of them. Although the last one was up to Portobello Rd Markets, Notting Hill, and we had not chance of running far that day. Just so many great things to look at and a few to buy. The runs we did around Hyde Park were fantastic. There are so many paths, and the park is HUGE. We saw some hard core swimmers doing laps in the lake/river in the middle of the park, The Serpentine. One had a wetsuit on, the other, remarkably similar looking to The Keg from CR, was calmly hopping out of the freezing water for a cold outside shower in nothing but speedos!!
We saw a lot of squirrels and even more runners. It always makes me feel good seeing runners - even if I am not running, as you know how someone feels on a good run! There seems to be a lot of people who run to work in London judging by the packs they carry and that they are heading towards the city. Also, for a town with narrow streets, optional road rules and massive buses, there are cyclists on every road, cruising along with no helmet but usually with a basket on the front.
We have been updating Rach's facebook with photos of the trip, if you'd like to see us in action in London.
Although having a great time and not wanting the holiday to end, Rach and I skip back in to Sydney mode, and start planning our 6 Foot, triathlon and fitness goals...all to start pretty much as soon as we land - 2008 will be another big fitness year for us both! But we need to survive Paris, Venice, Florence, and Hong Kong first!!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Lights of Las vegas
WARNING: this post has absolutely nothing to do with running.
I am in Las Vegas for work, not a bad place to wait out the week until L-Day :-) I am staying "on the strip", at the Monte Carlo. The hotel is lovely but my room overlooks some major construction and it is going on 24/7. Think I need to ask to be moved - it is so noisy!
Las Vegas is even bigger and brighter than I imagined. I leave for work at 8am and there are people in the Casino just getting warmed up from the night before. Crazy days. I have also discovered a previously hidden talent for Blackjack which I plan to test tonight.
I have been going to the gym here, at the bargain price of $19 per day - total rip off!!!!! The gym is usually empty which is great so I have been doing some jogging, cross training and weights. Need to do some cycling as well (as we have our first tri soon after we get back) but I find cycling so boring at the gym.
I have seen the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, Caesars, New York New York, Excalibur, the Venetian and Circus Circus. I played Blackjack last weekend, still learning when to stay, hit and double down but came away about $40 up which was sweet!! The hotels are amazing, the Bellagio is my favourite I think, it is just beautiful and has a gorgeous garden inside.
So.... I have 7 sleeps until I see NTR again in London - OMG I can't wait!! So exciting, I still have travel between Paris - Venice and Venice - Florence to organise but otherwise we are set! More to come shortly, hopefully I will have made my millions at the Blackjack tables ;-) (Not really sure if this is possible playing with $60 maximum but we shall see, hehe).
I am in Las Vegas for work, not a bad place to wait out the week until L-Day :-) I am staying "on the strip", at the Monte Carlo. The hotel is lovely but my room overlooks some major construction and it is going on 24/7. Think I need to ask to be moved - it is so noisy!
Las Vegas is even bigger and brighter than I imagined. I leave for work at 8am and there are people in the Casino just getting warmed up from the night before. Crazy days. I have also discovered a previously hidden talent for Blackjack which I plan to test tonight.
I have been going to the gym here, at the bargain price of $19 per day - total rip off!!!!! The gym is usually empty which is great so I have been doing some jogging, cross training and weights. Need to do some cycling as well (as we have our first tri soon after we get back) but I find cycling so boring at the gym.
I have seen the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, Caesars, New York New York, Excalibur, the Venetian and Circus Circus. I played Blackjack last weekend, still learning when to stay, hit and double down but came away about $40 up which was sweet!! The hotels are amazing, the Bellagio is my favourite I think, it is just beautiful and has a gorgeous garden inside.
So.... I have 7 sleeps until I see NTR again in London - OMG I can't wait!! So exciting, I still have travel between Paris - Venice and Venice - Florence to organise but otherwise we are set! More to come shortly, hopefully I will have made my millions at the Blackjack tables ;-) (Not really sure if this is possible playing with $60 maximum but we shall see, hehe).
Saturday, October 27, 2007
hot running...NTR
It was another hot day at Parra Park Runners yesterday. However, it was handicap race day, i saw some familiar faces ( Andre from PPR, Terry "the talker" who also runs at SMC, and Thomo from CR ) so it was an enjoyable run. I did the 8.33~km in 41:15 - i was happy with that, although i was secretly hoping for a sub 40...again i keep hoping! I have done it twice in 16 attempts!
Despite craziness at work and home ( hosting two birthday parties in one weekend is not recommended people...), i managed a few runs since the last post..a 21.1km run in 1:55:00, with about 10km of it with BB ( thanks for the run Ray), and a 10km run on the new parkland trails and M7, in 0:55:00 ( something about runs ending in 55mins there! )
I may squeeze in a swim this weekend, as Rach and I are doing a tri ( me the enticer, she the Sprint ) on December 2 with our tri club,the aptly named Hills Tri Club and i need some more swimming practice!
Yes...its only 6 days till i leave for London!!! yay! rach and i both arrive in heathrow about 40mins apart...our embrace might last 6 days!! sigh....nothing more to be said except i can't wait!
Despite craziness at work and home ( hosting two birthday parties in one weekend is not recommended people...), i managed a few runs since the last post..a 21.1km run in 1:55:00, with about 10km of it with BB ( thanks for the run Ray), and a 10km run on the new parkland trails and M7, in 0:55:00 ( something about runs ending in 55mins there! )
I may squeeze in a swim this weekend, as Rach and I are doing a tri ( me the enticer, she the Sprint ) on December 2 with our tri club,the aptly named Hills Tri Club and i need some more swimming practice!
Yes...its only 6 days till i leave for London!!! yay! rach and i both arrive in heathrow about 40mins apart...our embrace might last 6 days!! sigh....nothing more to be said except i can't wait!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
feeling good...chocolate and holidays does that...
It’s Saturday night, and I am home alone, and feeling quite good. No single reason...I spent this morning at BRICK - once again it lived up to its name. I find I have no idea of the effort on the bike - I blow my "asthma seal" every week - with running I have more control and can build up to a pace, I need to learn that on a bike ( that is not saying my pace is fast, its just hard for me! ) . I spent the rest of the day shopping for little G's birthday - rach and I have got her a cool present...cant say what it is...even 6 year olds surf the web!! After that, started painting the mid-renovation pergola, and then made a mountain of seafood marinara with tomato sauce and pasta.
I also spoke to rach about three times today - which is great - I love phone cards!! Some days we talk more then if we are both in Sydney - I guess you don’t take someone’s presence for granted when you know they wont be home for a while...anyway, it was great. Less then 3 weeks till
Back to running...not a lot done. I spent a few days with the kids and Basil at
Signing off from a low mileage week, but finishing it on a happy high note!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
it seems funny now...
a few days is all it took for a bad run to become a funny one!
Despite feeling a little under the weather ( hayfever, cold, tired ) i thought it would be a great idea to not only run home from work ( about 15km ) but do a few laps of parra park before i did that, just for good measure. And my route home would be on the new transit lanes/paths along Old Windsor Rd to the M7 - something i have been thinking of using for long runs in the future. Hey, I have done a marathon, surely i can do this! well.....
The parra park 8km part was fine. The next 2km was fine, but then, as i discovered the cycle path from westmead which meets the M7, it all became a chore. I walked. I stopped. I ran. I cussed. Repeat. It really got messy when i started dry reaching on the last 8km or so. Could it get any worse? Well...about 500metres from home, 8:30pm ( 1 hour over due! ) i was rounding a corner on the M7 cycleway, and had to dodge a Motorbike taking shortcuts on the pedestrian path! That was the final straw! I hated running that night!
Dragged myself home, exhausted. Collapsed on the lounge, only dragging myself to the shower in time to vomit lunch and Gatorade and watch it circle the drain hole! ( sorry for the imagery this might invoke! )
Rach was severely non-impressed by my stupidity, when i was not 100% fit or healthy! It was a silly move!
But just like my nan used to say, its only 2 days between a bad and good haircut, its only a few days between a bad and good run - i can see it was stupid, but now i know a new route home from work , i know not to bother with the extra laps at parra park first, and aso, even though i am pulling out of FFFT marathon, it is much better the bombing it totally, and being a wreck for the holiday in 28 days!!! ( but whos counting hey!!)
Despite feeling a little under the weather ( hayfever, cold, tired ) i thought it would be a great idea to not only run home from work ( about 15km ) but do a few laps of parra park before i did that, just for good measure. And my route home would be on the new transit lanes/paths along Old Windsor Rd to the M7 - something i have been thinking of using for long runs in the future. Hey, I have done a marathon, surely i can do this! well.....
The parra park 8km part was fine. The next 2km was fine, but then, as i discovered the cycle path from westmead which meets the M7, it all became a chore. I walked. I stopped. I ran. I cussed. Repeat. It really got messy when i started dry reaching on the last 8km or so. Could it get any worse? Well...about 500metres from home, 8:30pm ( 1 hour over due! ) i was rounding a corner on the M7 cycleway, and had to dodge a Motorbike taking shortcuts on the pedestrian path! That was the final straw! I hated running that night!
Dragged myself home, exhausted. Collapsed on the lounge, only dragging myself to the shower in time to vomit lunch and Gatorade and watch it circle the drain hole! ( sorry for the imagery this might invoke! )
Rach was severely non-impressed by my stupidity, when i was not 100% fit or healthy! It was a silly move!
But just like my nan used to say, its only 2 days between a bad and good haircut, its only a few days between a bad and good run - i can see it was stupid, but now i know a new route home from work , i know not to bother with the extra laps at parra park first, and aso, even though i am pulling out of FFFT marathon, it is much better the bombing it totally, and being a wreck for the holiday in 28 days!!! ( but whos counting hey!!)
Sunday, September 30, 2007
A couple of runs....( ntr)
Its been a while since putting pen to paper ( so to speak ) in this blog. ....
I've done 6 runs since last post....two with a friend at work who is just starting and trying to get fit. These are normally Wednesday lunch time, up to parra park, cut through the middle, and back to work.About 4-5km i think. Not a challenge, but a nice run, good to be away from the desk for an hour, have a chat and help someone.
SMC Race 1- after missing my alarm and nearly missing it ( yikes! ) i had a great time - ran a little with Rags ( as i always seems to do - i think i force him to start slow! ), then chased and got chased for the rest in friendly competition and jest. Finished the half in 1.50.04. I then updated the SMC website with results, which i think took just as long!
Sydney Running Festival - Half Marathon - A GREAT DAY! I really enjoy this course ( all of it, including the city west link - but mainly the run over the bridge on the road ( you can only do this in this event or if drunk ), over the darling harbour flyovers, and in particular, the finish around the Quay is fantastic!! I am seriously thinking this will be a marathon event for me next year...just for the finish!! I ran with Andy from work - it was his first organised run, and a single use of the garmin the week prior indicated a 6:30min/km pace. We finished in 2:03, and could have gone harder and faster - we chatted the whole way. However, my legs certainly knew i did 21.1km, regardless of the time. The day was drenched in sun, and the city seemed to be full of CR's who Mouse and I kinda know now after 3 years of running, so the day was all round a great day - (ps have i said how much i miss Rach yet....I MISS MY MOUSE!! )
Parra Park Runners - Friday 1pm - 28c, windy. My little running log entry says its all: "parra run - felt I was pacing OK but must have got it wrong...man, it was the first hot day, breezy and after the half on Sunday, my legs were shot!" I finished in 48 minutes or something...didn't really take it in at the end, i was cooked!
BRICK Session with Hills Tri Club : This was really cool! Started with drills the same as FreeSpiritFitness Run Club ( so i know they are good! ) about 10km on the bike, then 2 2km loops running, each with 2 hill reps - they BURNT my quads!!. Then another 6km on the bike, a final 2km loop running, with another hill rep. It was a great session "just tough enough" i think - i was hurting but in that enjoyable good way, youknowwhaddamean? At the end of the session i realised again i have NO abs. I must be been born without them. I cannot do the ab strengthening exercises - they just hurt my back too much. :-(
Well, its Sunday of the long weekend - i have mowing, cleaning and edging to do. Then I am off for my first ever swimming session at blacktown pools- hope i don't sink!! I am aiming to do maybe 10-15 laps? Who knows....
I was ( is the past tense telling? ) planning on doing the Fitzroy Falls Marathon ( indeed i tried to enter...just forgot to put entry form in the envelope i sent them!! ) but BennyR has been unwell and not entering. If i do a good 30km run tomorrow, then I will still go. If it bombs, then i will pull out i think....i dunno...i could be convinced either way!
Exciting news....tomorrow i can say "Rach and I meet in London next month". And in 3 days, i can say " in less then a month, Rach and I will be together in London" L -day is what we call it!! we are counting it down!!!
Rach has been hitting the gym hard and swimming, not to mention doing the Chicago Half!!! Yeah baby!! In a city alone, in a run alone - that's a great effort!!! Cant wait to tun around Hyde Park, down the Champs Elysées past the Louvre, over the bridges in Venice....I think the M7 runs we do wont be as interesting when we come back!!
When your loved one is away for so long, you can go on, get to work, eat, sleep....but its like there is a constant hunger, a constant yearning that shadows you...its with you everywhere you go, wishing they were with you. So yes, you can go about your business, but its just not the same....nearly a month to go till L day!
I've done 6 runs since last post....two with a friend at work who is just starting and trying to get fit. These are normally Wednesday lunch time, up to parra park, cut through the middle, and back to work.About 4-5km i think. Not a challenge, but a nice run, good to be away from the desk for an hour, have a chat and help someone.
SMC Race 1- after missing my alarm and nearly missing it ( yikes! ) i had a great time - ran a little with Rags ( as i always seems to do - i think i force him to start slow! ), then chased and got chased for the rest in friendly competition and jest. Finished the half in 1.50.04. I then updated the SMC website with results, which i think took just as long!
Sydney Running Festival - Half Marathon - A GREAT DAY! I really enjoy this course ( all of it, including the city west link - but mainly the run over the bridge on the road ( you can only do this in this event or if drunk ), over the darling harbour flyovers, and in particular, the finish around the Quay is fantastic!! I am seriously thinking this will be a marathon event for me next year...just for the finish!! I ran with Andy from work - it was his first organised run, and a single use of the garmin the week prior indicated a 6:30min/km pace. We finished in 2:03, and could have gone harder and faster - we chatted the whole way. However, my legs certainly knew i did 21.1km, regardless of the time. The day was drenched in sun, and the city seemed to be full of CR's who Mouse and I kinda know now after 3 years of running, so the day was all round a great day - (ps have i said how much i miss Rach yet....I MISS MY MOUSE!! )
Parra Park Runners - Friday 1pm - 28c, windy. My little running log entry says its all: "parra run - felt I was pacing OK but must have got it wrong...man, it was the first hot day, breezy and after the half on Sunday, my legs were shot!" I finished in 48 minutes or something...didn't really take it in at the end, i was cooked!
BRICK Session with Hills Tri Club : This was really cool! Started with drills the same as FreeSpiritFitness Run Club ( so i know they are good! ) about 10km on the bike, then 2 2km loops running, each with 2 hill reps - they BURNT my quads!!. Then another 6km on the bike, a final 2km loop running, with another hill rep. It was a great session "just tough enough" i think - i was hurting but in that enjoyable good way, youknowwhaddamean? At the end of the session i realised again i have NO abs. I must be been born without them. I cannot do the ab strengthening exercises - they just hurt my back too much. :-(
Well, its Sunday of the long weekend - i have mowing, cleaning and edging to do. Then I am off for my first ever swimming session at blacktown pools- hope i don't sink!! I am aiming to do maybe 10-15 laps? Who knows....
I was ( is the past tense telling? ) planning on doing the Fitzroy Falls Marathon ( indeed i tried to enter...just forgot to put entry form in the envelope i sent them!! ) but BennyR has been unwell and not entering. If i do a good 30km run tomorrow, then I will still go. If it bombs, then i will pull out i think....i dunno...i could be convinced either way!
Exciting news....tomorrow i can say "Rach and I meet in London next month". And in 3 days, i can say " in less then a month, Rach and I will be together in London" L -day is what we call it!! we are counting it down!!!
Rach has been hitting the gym hard and swimming, not to mention doing the Chicago Half!!! Yeah baby!! In a city alone, in a run alone - that's a great effort!!! Cant wait to tun around Hyde Park, down the Champs Elysées past the Louvre, over the bridges in Venice....I think the M7 runs we do wont be as interesting when we come back!!
When your loved one is away for so long, you can go on, get to work, eat, sleep....but its like there is a constant hunger, a constant yearning that shadows you...its with you everywhere you go, wishing they were with you. So yes, you can go about your business, but its just not the same....nearly a month to go till L day!
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