Akropolypto

Going back to the first night in Athens where the detox post Ocktoberfest was temporarily delayed.. The night ended with a 1 am mission to find gyros. The only problem is the person taking us to find the gyros shop wanted us to go to a bar. We had no interest in going to a bar and she had no interest in finding food so at the end of the night both parties found themselves unsatisfied. We were lead through some of the more edgy areas of Athens and due to an equipment malfunction earlier in the evening together with the assumption gyros would be be within a 100m radius, I found myself walking barefoot through streets where broken glass would have been the preferred object to penetrate my foot. I managed to make it back to the hostel unscathed and very ready for a good nights sleep.

The next day was an admin day for me as I went out to replace broken thongs, lost sunglasses and to set up my phone for my stint in Greece. With all accomplished and various types of gyros devoured I treated myself to an afternoon siesta.

That evening I shot down to the acropolis which was absolutely beautiful light up after dark. I climbed up a rocky peak adjacent to the site where I had a panoramic view of the city of Athens and a great view of the site itself. After spending a little time trying to take night time landscape photos and soaking it all up I went for a stroll through the Plaka district to find some more gyros and possibly some Greek desserts.

Gyros I found, only after yet again stumbling through a more edgier neighborhood where I was surprisingly quickly desensitized to seeing groups of junkies shoot up within meters of where I was walking. After two gyros and a beer (all for 6,50 euros) I headed back to the station but not before hunting down one of my favorite Greek desserts, the custard wrapped in filo pastry. The portion the little white haired Greek man attempted to give me could have fed 5 and only after a heated argument did the little fella give in to giving me a smaller slice. It was at that moment that I decided Athens was yet another city that I love. A bit of edge mixed with wonderful, generous people and amazing sites, it's a must see even if the islands are the main focus.

Today I got a all access pass for 6 euros using my Deakin student card and climbed the acropolis, saw the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora and The Temple of the Olympian Zeus. The Parthenon in the acropolis was the best, a magnificent grand, ancient structure with surrounding views of the city of Athens as far as one's eye can see.

Lunch was a greek salad, with tzatziki and bread followed by a souvlaki and a glass of red. After the sightseeing I settled into a nice little cafe in the Plaka district for a coffee to unwind and reflect on a day where a covered quite a few kilometers exploring ancient structures and soaking up as much of the atmosphere of this buzzing place as I possibly could.

Early night tonight before a 4:45 wake up tomorrow and a ferry off to the islands. Happy days!

Just had a little 10 minute workout. The feeling post workout after having not trained in 3-4 days was comparable to the feeling expressed on the faces of those seen injecting heroine the night before. Two addictions, one detrimental to health, the other the complete opposite.

Hostel Aphrodite Roof WOD

3 Rounds with 1 min rest:

Max HSPU - 14, 9, 7.
20 Squats.

3 Rounds with 1 min rest:

Max Pushups 30, 20, 20.
20 Squats.

Post WOD nutrition.

2 x Lamb Gyros and a bottle of water. All for under 4 euros.

Vienna, Ocktoberfest and a night in Athens.

Back onto a PC and able to reflect on the past week. Last start with Vienna...

Vienna is a very cool little place. Everyone walks with a purpose, they have somewhere to go and someone to meet. There is no dawdling and if you stay out of the main touristy areas not a hell of a lot of tourists taking pictures of of their wife and son in front of an ice cream store. In order to keep up their energy and focus the Viennese love to drink coffee. They do it well too. The second biggest coffee drinking country in the world and they know how to make a good brew. Not nearly as good as the Brother Buba's, St Ali's and Proud Mary's back home but not nearly as horrific as the coffee in the other parts of Europe Ive visited thus far.

There are amazing sights with palaces, cathedrals and museums. Most of the Palaces are now in fact more museums). But by that stage in my trip I had seen enough beautiful architecture and just felt like settling in. Drinking coffee, eating schnitzel and relaxing in a city where I felt the more at home than any other place in Europe so far.

Even got a training session in:

4 Rounds

10 Dh Pull up
15 Bar dips
10 Burpee Bench Jump
400 Meter Run
2 minute rest

18:something

Felt good but very tough.

Along came Ocktoberfest. I'm not going to even try to tell you what the city of Munich is like because I honestly saw very little of it. I can however tell you that Ocktoberfest is completely out of control and absolutely awesome. You have fantastic beer which has been brewed especially for the festival by each brewery, you have amazing roasted meats and you have these lederhausen dresses that seem to accentuate a females "appearance" in a way that I've never seen before. For a male this is the perfect combination for an unbelievable time.

The first beer was poured on the 200th annual Ocktoberfest at 12 o clock on the Saturday. I was there and shortly after a woman with a terrifyingly strong grip slammed 8 1 L steins of the freshest goddamn beer you've ever had on our table. 6 in one hand and 2 in the other. What a machine. After the first sip we knew we were in trouble. This beer was floating down way too easily and after an hour I think we were well into our third stein. By 5 o clock I was close to being passed out on the table even after slowing it down a bit and by 7 o clock I WAS passed out in my hotel room.

The first beer of the second day was rough. I also noticed that I had developed a deep bruise on both hands where the handle of the stein had been pressing down every time I took a swig of the sweat brew. A later start, a slower pace and a properly lined stomach helped me last the distance on day two and in the end it was Mick, Bargs and I left in the tent. What to do? What to do? Buying three cigars, lighting them up and smoking them on a 6 loop roller coaster was an option, an option that may or may not have been chosen.. There also might have been a take a hanger on an Italian competition but the details are a little blurred. The night ended in Burger king and it was a night that had its highs, lows, loops and everything the three of us had hoped for out of Ocktoberfest.

The next day we all met at the same burger king to say adios and my journey continued on to Athens for the Grecian leg of my trip. After a couple of nights at Ocktoberfest I was keen for detox. The boys at the hostel bar had other ideas and the drinking continued for another night. A few strawpedos later and my detox period before the greek islands had been cut down to two.

So two more nights in Athens to rest and recuperate before what could prove to be an even more devastating 8 nights for the temple than Ocktoberfest.

Vida Ala Mexicana - A long time coming

I knew that things were going to be a little bit different in Mexico when halfway through what would later prove to be my last solid shit in over a month I peered down to my right and saw a basket for the disposal of soiled toilet paper. Im not sure why this suprised me as I'd been told about the poor sewage in Mexico and the inability for it to process toilet paper but it was not until I was faced with a basket full off little shit filled paper dumplings that it really sunk in.

Mexico like many developing countries doesn't really do public or occupational health and safety regulations. Bridges are used on the side of cliffs in Puerto Escondido that would be have been shut down many years ago, scooters can be hired via a transaction that takes little over a minute and doesn'teven get close to including a helmet or even a quick "how to" and food is prepared in a way that makes it blatantly obvious that schooling is not only optional but very few have the funds to attend.

The police carry M16s and where body armour. Some of those with said assualt rifles arent even real police for example in Puerto Escondido where you have the "vigilantes" who consist of boys and men between the ages of 14 and 40 who give you looks that have you expecting to have to bribe them for looking at them for too long.

The country itself is breathtaking. Canyons, rivers, waterfalls, beaches, jungles, monkeys, crocodiles, turtles and many more natural beauties that make mexico a very beautiful place to visit. The people on the whole are also fantastic. Non English speaking but fantastic. The women.... "not so much" but still very friendly.

Speaking spanish was abit of a joke. Our general rule of thumb was to say 'si' to everything they said until they stopped replying. In doing this I ordered a scone from KFC, Raspberry flavoured tea from a cafe and saw others get themselves into all sorts of awkward situations.. okay maybe not only others. I feel if I was there for a good 3 months I would pick up quite a lot as you are forced to use it because no-one speaks a word of English. Again reflectant of their poor education system.

The way of life in Mexico is as you might expect very laid back. There is a sense of things getting quiet after lunch for a bit of a siesta although nothing compared to Spain I imagine. But there is also a passion there. Public displays of affection that would sicken even a Frenchman, Firey little mexican (and Italian) men in bars after having a few too many Dos Equis cerveza and people who genuinly care about looking after you.

Like all developing countries with extreme poverty comes crime and drugs are a massive part of that in Mehico. Its funny though. The people obviously dont reaaally wont to be selling drugs. A guy will come up to you an say... "Hey Amigo... fishing tours.. fishing tours..." to which you might reply "No Gracias"... to which he will reply.."Marihuana, cocina, ecstacy." It was unbelievable. Every little entrepenuer can sell you anything. But I love how they start at their most respectable product and go down the list to drugs. Different to Europe where a guy on a bike will walk past you and whipser in your ear. "Weed!" "You want a joint?" and then try to pick your pocket 10 minutes later. Mexicans will just try and grab your bag off you then add it to their list the next day.. "Fishing tours, iPod, camera, Sunglasses, t shirt, backpack, marihuana, cocina, ecstacy."

A seriously crazy place and looking past the challenges I faced with a crook stomach, experiencing a little crime and missing some good quality food I find myself missing the Mexican way. By the way I just want to make it official that after just over a month since I touched down in Mexico city, I made my first plonk about a week ago. Great success!!

Praha

The bus trip to Prague from Berlin was a nice and short. We were on the road at 8:30am and even with an hour stop off at Terezin in the Czech Republic we arrived before 5:00pm.

As we cruised through the suburban streets surrounding the hostel in Prague I got a taste of the slight disappointment that was to come. Looking at pictures of Prague and reading a little bit about it I was expecting a fairytale city dominated by gothic buildings and gypsies. After spending three nights here I now know that yes there are gypsies and yes they will attempt to swipe your wallet. On the architecture side of Prague it was a moziac of Gothic churches and castles, medieval bridges and various other building types similar to those I have seen in different European cities thus far. The "fairytale' buildings were suprisingly few and far between and the Prague postcard shot that I have been dying to see have so far successfully evaded me.

Having said all this I have had some great experiences here. On the first night a group of us from Melbourne all went out to a Czech tavern type place and had Mixed beer (Dark on the top fading down to light on the bottom - the beer journey), Blue cheese infused potato pancakes with garlic and onion relish and a mouth watering pork dish with curry flavours and sour cream. We then ventured upstairs to have a game of ten pin bowling... something none of us pictured we would be doing in prague but for about 8 Aussie dollars an hour for everyone it sure beat 2 games, a hot dog and chips at AMF. We rounded out the night with a few sneaky 'Kozel' dark beers (probably a new number 1 beer for mine) at a bar filled with metal sculptures, robots, mezzanine levels with about 1.3 metres of clearance above seats pulled out of czech trams and a crazy euro dance floor. The place was like q bar minus the filth plus a whole lot of cool metal 'things' popping out of the walls, roof and floor.

It was sightseeing for me the next day which meant another walking tour. This tour in contrast to Prague itself exceeded my expectations. Its amazing how expectations influence experiences. Sometimes making experiences better and sometimes worse. It makes me wonder whether we would be better off holding low expectations for everything or having no expectations at all... anyway... Our guide made what could have been another bland 3 hours walking at snails place through a historical centre something interesting and enjoyable. A slightly essentric, bubbly young Czech girl told us all about the history of Prague... the Slavs kicking out the Kelts, King Charles the 4th and his four wives and how if the Czech people have a problem with anyone they through them through them out the window... a process they call "defenestration". Defenestration was probably my favourite part of Czech history and so I was very happy to hear that the process was evolutionary as after King Charles built his bridge (which only took 45 years to construct) they were able to move to throwing people off said bridge and into the Vltava river.

That night we went on another pub crawl and once again I found myself saying "If I saw me in this group looking from the outside in I would be greatly disgusted." I did have some absinthe though (tick) which was 70% alcohol and had a magical green glow to it. It was a wierd short to drink as it went down really smoothly for the first 4 seconds, then upon the exhale phase of the shooting process the gas hurls you into a world of discomfort.

Woke up this morning feeling sick, sinuses blocked and achings with a slight headache. Brilliant. Full english breakfast buffet. Couple of nectarines. Coffee. Back into the thick of it.

Explored the city for a while. Had a ride on the metro. Yet another public transport system of the world had been conquered and I was ready for an afternoon workout at CrossFit Praha. Awesome little gym. Very eastern european but fully decked out with equipment and a very relaxed but no bullshit attitude to training. No mucking around. Warm up. Workout. Go home.

WOD

Skill:
Muscle up practice

Work Capacity:
"Helen"
400m Run
21 KB Swings at 24kg
12 Pullups

Time - 10:19

Then...
20 "strict" abmat situps

Strength:
5x5 Push Press
60, 70, 70, 70, 70kg

Bit disappointed with my time because I know guys go under 7 minutes on this one but two hills in the run made for slower times in running WODs for them according to the trainer. Normal kip pullups felt wierd. Should have done butterfly. Oh well. Happy with the strength work.

After this I took the metro a few stop to the museum. Had a stroll down what is probably the biggest strip in Prague and climbed up the top of a hill which provided amazing panoramic views of the city. After a bit of time to soak that in a a quick snap I was on the tram and back to the hostel.

Prague Miscallaneous...
Development of rock solid pick pocket identification and defence.
"Kozel" dark beer and Czech beer in general is some of the world's best.
Didn't live up to my expectations. Even the women.
Pork Knuckle, Potato dumplings with cabbage and gravy inducted into top 10 meals of all time.
Would not do Busabout again. Too similar to everything I despise about Contiki.
Must go to Russia.

Ich Liebe Berlin

When planning my european circuit I overlooked Berlin, neglected to do much research on it and thought that it would be a bit of a boring, expensive city. Oh how I couldnt have been any farther from the mark. This city provides an amazing mosiac of historic significance, modern development and alternative culture. You have a city that has survived WW1, the rise of the far right wing nazi party and the totalitarian rule of Adolf Hitler, WW2 and a violent division between east and west during the cold war. This place has taken some hard knocks and like the Italian stallion Rocky Balboa continues to get back up again.

After the people flooded checkpoint Bravo in 1989, starting the demolition of the Berlin Wall this city has continued to change. Still a very volatile polictical environment it has been the stage for a load of political activism. Still happening today you have groups in the districts of kreuzberg and fredriksten who are trying to keep out the commerical development currently sweeping through the rest of Berlin. These districts are cool little boroughs similar to those of Brooklyn and Williamsburg in New York or Fitzroy and Collingwood in Melbourne. Where thought and artistic expression rule over money and possesions. Young people dominate these areas and with a strong international community you can find very affordable Turkish, Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine.

I have explored all three elements of this city in the 2 and a bit days I've been here and am left wanting more. You could spend a whole lot of time here exploring the little neighbourhoods, museums and the more modren shopping strips and buildings.

Berlin Workouts:

8.9.2010
AMRAP 20 (20:50)

Max HSPU
10 Hollow Rocks
350m Sprint

8 Rounds of: 10, 6, 4, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5.

10.9.2010
5-6k Run (With East side gallery photo taking)
50 Burpees

In 24 hours I will be in Prague. A city that I had actually done research on and am quite excited to see. Very sad to leave Berlin though.

23 Hours in Paris, Half an hour in Bruges and 'The Damage'

As the eurail pulled in it was clear that three and a half hours sleep was not going to cut it for a full day of sight seeing in Paris. This meant the first sight I saw in Paris was a cafe, a double espresso and a crossaint with orange juice on the side.

A caffeine fueled wide eyed version of myself then wondered down the beautiful streets of paris from the Gare Du Nord (train station) to the Louvre museum down by the river. Straight in and unlike New York the entry fee wasnt a suggested donation so I had to cough up 9,50 euro for my time there. Yes I did put a comma between the 9 and the 50 because thats how it is over here. The louvre was really cool. I must admit I sprinted though some parts of it. But was suprised at how much I enjoyed the area in which the Monna Lisa was and how cool it was to see such an iconic painting. There was also a courtyard type area with large marbel sculptures that i really enjoyed but have forgotten their name.

After the Louvre it was time for a baguette and a crepe on the way to the Notre Dam. Make the two baguettes and two crepes. Very nice.

The Notre Dam was incredible. I didnt see the hunchback but saw a few tourists that wernt far off getting in my way as I was trying to shoot tghrough the crowd. I sat in the park behind the Notre Dam and tried to take it all in before heading down the river Seine once more on my way to the Juliet Monument and the Basillica. The basillica wasn#t what I had expected. Just a modern looking opera building really but the juliet monument/statue was kind of cool and it led me to take a stroll down a very fashionable looking street with loads of shops etc.

This led me across to the Champs Elysse through the tuieleries park. An absolutely spectacular part of the city and I felt the need to take a load off to absorb everything around me.

Up the Champs I went passing designer shops and fancy places to eat on my way up to the arc de triomphe. Once again great to see something that not only have I probably seen before but that I have seen in movies and on TV.

The last stop of the day was the Eiffel Tower which is one of the sights of the world which exceeds expectations rather than being anticlimatic. The line was pretty substantial by the time I got there so I quick walk around a few photos and I was on the train and uptown to try and find my hostel, hoping desperately that they would have a room for me.

They did and after a few relaxed beers with some boys from central England it was off to bed and up in the morning for the 8am Bus to Amsterdam.

Nutella baguette, muesli and cocoa pops. On the bus. 23 hours in Paris.

On the way to amsterdam we stopped off in bruges as one of the busabout optional stops. The more we heard about and saw Belgium it was a shame not to stay but Mick(aussie guy I met on the bus) and I didnt let the disappointed stop us from enjoying a few belgian brews before heading back to the bus. Must come back here. Very cool looking little city. Apparently once the trade centre of Europe due to its extensive canal network.

Arrival Amsterdam. I touched down and was immediately off to my campsite as with limited camping experience didnt really want to have to make my maiden solo attempt at tent construction in the dark. I got to the camp in time but only after an expensive 20 Euro cab ride and was presented with an open patch of dirt, a tent unopened from the time it was bought and what would prove to be an interesting next 15 minutes.

I got it up! Not too much trouble. there were a few chords I couldnt work out what to do with but that didnt seem to be too much of a problem and I got a fairly decent nights sleep. The next day I went into town and tried to find a place to buy a simcard to call the people I had met on the bus. Instead my phone ran out of battery I couldnt get in contact with anyone and was feeling pretty shite.

Back to the camp. Charged my phone. Got word from Mick to be at the busabout hostel for the pub crawl and I was off for a few drinks to celebrate my birthday. A pub crawl in Amsterdam... Needless to say I cant remember much and dont know if I want to.

The next morning I checked out of my campsite and into a hostel adjacent to the red light district. Then I went for a trip down to a really nice park and chilled out with the busabout people. From there we went out for dinner after which Mick and I decided to go on a tour of the red light district. We were suprised but shouldnt have been at the seediness of the place. Nearly a little bit unsettling as droves of questionable looking characters ogled at these women who were tapping on the glass windows trying to entice their next customer.

Pretty early night and I the next day saw me meet up with Jeff. A Dutch guy originally from the dutch colony of Curacao now living in Utrecht at the univeristy. We went out to utrecht which was only about 30 mins from Amsterdam. Had a look around. Saw the uni. Jeff cooked me a nice chicken pasta for dinner and we headed down to the uni bar for a few beers. Before I knew it, it was past midnight and I needed to hurry back to the utrecht staion to catch a train back to amsterdam. Great night. Got my arse handed to me by the dutch at many the game of foozeball.

Last day in Amsterdam. Off to the Van Gough museum, other smaller modern art galleries and the dam (the main square where the royal palace is). Then I had a little workout at fitness first. Much needed.

8.9.2010
Squat
5 x 90,100,100kg

Bench
5x 80,85
7x 87.5

WOD
3RFT
500m Row
7 Pistols alternating legs
14 hands of ground pushups
21 burpees

15:11

hard.

Then went for a night stroll to ge some pictures of the lovely canals of amsterdam at night. the was it for Amsterdam as the bus left at 8am the next morning for Berlin I crashed out at a reasonable hour so I was fresh for the trip.