Hope Spring is springing near you.
photo by marj kibby
Friday, March 26, 2010
Dream Travel: Destination Marathon in Greece
I've been thinking recently that training for a marathon is a really good impetus for travel. You work hard at something, and your reward of going somewhere awesome is structured into your plans.
So this has me thinking about running the original 26.2 from the battlefields of Marathon to Athens that Pheidippides ran (meanwhile, he arrived with bleeding feet and then died, so hopefully that wouldn't happen).
And! This October is the 2,500th anniversary of Pheidippies' run. More info here.
As for where to stay, how about the St. George Lycabettus Hotel with a view of the Acropolis:
Looks like a great place for sore-leg ice baths, no?
... and in truth - I will not be able to train for a marathon between now and October. But I did just get a new pair of running shoes, and I hear 2,501 is lucky Greek number. Count it.
So this has me thinking about running the original 26.2 from the battlefields of Marathon to Athens that Pheidippides ran (meanwhile, he arrived with bleeding feet and then died, so hopefully that wouldn't happen).
And! This October is the 2,500th anniversary of Pheidippies' run. More info here.
As for where to stay, how about the St. George Lycabettus Hotel with a view of the Acropolis:
Looks like a great place for sore-leg ice baths, no?
... and in truth - I will not be able to train for a marathon between now and October. But I did just get a new pair of running shoes, and I hear 2,501 is lucky Greek number. Count it.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Virginia Naivete: Dinosaur Kingdom
Since I'm still learning about Virginia, it was not a big surprise that I haven't heard about Dinosaur Kingdom yet - but I'm pretty excited to check it out.
Mark Cline has created a world in which Union soldiers come across lost dinosaurs in Virginia and then use them as weapons against the Confederacy.
yep... that's a raptor on a Civil War era wagon.
ummm... Mom? Remember that time that you took us to the Natural Bridge in like '95 and we all complained about the detour? Dinosaur World would've really sweetened that deal.
Mark Cline has created a world in which Union soldiers come across lost dinosaurs in Virginia and then use them as weapons against the Confederacy.
yep... that's a raptor on a Civil War era wagon.
ummm... Mom? Remember that time that you took us to the Natural Bridge in like '95 and we all complained about the detour? Dinosaur World would've really sweetened that deal.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Ernest Shackleton/ Endurance Beer
I was really happy to hear the story about two cases of Ernest Shackleton's whiskey being retrieved recently from the South Pole [details], and I've been scouting around Charlottesville for some Endurance Beer as my own boozy tribute to the explorer's spirit.
For those of you who don't know the Shackleton's story: get excited. It's insane.
Ernest Shackleton and his crew on the Endurance were making an attempt at crossing Antartica from sea to sea - crossing the South Pole in the process. The Endurance ended up being packed in by ice, and was slowly crushed. The most amazing thing about this story is that with grit, fortitude, and probably some of that whiskey, every single one of Shackleton's men survived.
The second most amazing thing about this story? The importance that Shackleton put on keeping a journal. Through the disaster Shackleton encouraged his crew to keep records of what was unfolding - meaning that there are remarkable accounts of the ordeal.
I'm sure his 7th grade English teacher (or whoever taught him the value of record-keeping) was super proud.
moremoremore on Shackleton - Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Journey
For those of you who don't know the Shackleton's story: get excited. It's insane.
Ernest Shackleton and his crew on the Endurance were making an attempt at crossing Antartica from sea to sea - crossing the South Pole in the process. The Endurance ended up being packed in by ice, and was slowly crushed. The most amazing thing about this story is that with grit, fortitude, and probably some of that whiskey, every single one of Shackleton's men survived.
The second most amazing thing about this story? The importance that Shackleton put on keeping a journal. Through the disaster Shackleton encouraged his crew to keep records of what was unfolding - meaning that there are remarkable accounts of the ordeal.
I'm sure his 7th grade English teacher (or whoever taught him the value of record-keeping) was super proud.
moremoremore on Shackleton - Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Journey
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Ear Candy: Dawes
When My Time Comes is totally lovely. Hoping Dawes will swing back through Charlottesville this Spring.
Some pics from the band from the road:
seeeee you next time, guys.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Dream Travel: Luxury Stay at Angkor Wat
When I was living in Thailand last year one of the trips I had planned was to Siem Reap, Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. I ended up returning back to the US early to take a job on the Alabama, and so unfortuantely never made it.
While my trip to Angkor Wat would have been super-budget and no frills, today I've decided to faux-plan a luxury stay.
First of all, the main reason for the trip: Angkor Wat
photo by Trey Ratcliff.
Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and later served as Buddhist temple. It's the go-to example of Khmer architecture, and has an outer wall that encloses the 203 acres that comprise the site. There's also moat. It's been awhile since I crossed over a moat.
A lot of people do early morning hikes to watch the sun come up at the temple, and so that would defintiely be on the itinerary.
As for where to stay, I think I would go for the Amansara Resort:
... and then head over to the Hotel de la Paix for a meal at Meric:
ok. Let's book it.
...the actual trip I would have taken would have probably cost me $15 a day. Just saying.
While my trip to Angkor Wat would have been super-budget and no frills, today I've decided to faux-plan a luxury stay.
First of all, the main reason for the trip: Angkor Wat
photo by Trey Ratcliff.
Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and later served as Buddhist temple. It's the go-to example of Khmer architecture, and has an outer wall that encloses the 203 acres that comprise the site. There's also moat. It's been awhile since I crossed over a moat.
A lot of people do early morning hikes to watch the sun come up at the temple, and so that would defintiely be on the itinerary.
As for where to stay, I think I would go for the Amansara Resort:
... and then head over to the Hotel de la Paix for a meal at Meric:
ok. Let's book it.
...the actual trip I would have taken would have probably cost me $15 a day. Just saying.
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