Returning home

We left Frankfurt am Main on Friday on a direct Air Canada flight to Ottawa. I was happy for a direct flight because it is 8hrs long. I did not want to fly to Toronto or Montreal because that would have meant another connecting flight, though very short to Ottawa.
We arrived in cold weather only 12C not warm, today it is a bit warmer and this week we will go back to normal seasonal weather around 27C.

The puppies were very happy to see us, Nora cried as she always does and then had to go out for a pee. Nicky was also happy to see us but he does not cry. Since our return they have been watching us very closely.

Happy to be home back in our home bed. Our Friend B.P. who was looking after the puppies did a fantastic job and even cleaned and did some plumbing repair for us, just amazing.

The flight back was fine, except that as we were flying over New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada, a female passenger fell ill and lucky for her, two doctors on board came to her help, she was given an IV drip and oxygen. I later heard the crew say that she was ill due to not eating for 25 hours prior to the flight,  a case of low sugar and shock.

We arrived on time, met by an ambulance and paramedics who took care of the sick lady.
Today just relaxing at home, not doing much, a little washing but that is all.  I do have to go on a diet and will probably return to my diet I followed in Italy, small portions and a lot of vegetables and small amounts of meat 100gr daily, no desserts only fresh fruits and lots of water, I would say I need to loose about 16 lbs or 8 Kg.

This weekend 25-26 May is Marathon weekend throughout the centre of Ottawa and along the Canal across the Outaouais River and back, the race is spread over two days, meaning that major roads are closed off and no parking is allowed.  

Greek Marathon 2500 Anniversary 31 October 2010

Some 12,000 runners are expected to participate Sunday’s 42-kilometre (26-mile) race, a threefold increase over last year, in this celebration of the victory of Democracy over Totalitarianism.

"The 2,500-year anniversary of the battle of the defeat of the Persian empire by citizen soldiers from the democratic city states of Athens and Platea.

Panathenaic (all Greek) Stadium in central Athens.

According to history, the distance from Marathon to Athens was first run by Pheidippides, an Athenian messenger who in 490 BC dashed to the city to announce victory ''Niki'' over the Persians, before dying of exhaustion.

Athena Nike Temple, a top the Acropolis, Athens.

Run on a four-lane concrete avenue through the urban districts of east Athens with a finish at the ancient all-marble Panathenaic Stadium, site of the 1896 Olympics, the race is a challenge for runners as much of it is uphill.

Olympian Zeus Temple in foreground, Panathenaic Stadium in background, central Athens.

When the modern Olympic games were inaugurated in 1896 in Greece, the story of Pheidippides was revived by a 24.85 mile (40,000 meters) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens. Traditionally the final event in the Olympics, the first organized marathon on April 10, 1896 was especially important to all Greeks. Greece was hosting those first modern Olympic Games. The Greeks had yet to win a medal, and had one final chance to bring glory to their nation. Twenty-five runners assembled on Marathon Bridge. The starter said a few words and fired the gun, and the race was on. "The excitement of the crowd waiting at the finish line of Athens' ancient Panathenaic stadium was beyond description" writes the Greek historian Quercetani. Spiridon Louis, a Greek postal worker from the village of Marusi and veteran of several long military marches, crossed the finish line a full seven minutes ahead of the pack. His time was 2 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds for the 40 kilometer distance (average pace of 7:11 minutes per mile). When it was all over nine runners finished, 8 of them Greeks. The host nation was ecstatic, and the marathon was born.

At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26.2 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City stadium, with the 2.2 miles added on so the race could finish in front of royal family's viewing box. After 16 years of extremely heated discussion, this 26.2 mile distance was established at the 1924 Olympics in Paris as the official marathon distance.

Today, marathons have become a running tradition throughout the world. Yet the annual Marathon at Athens, where it all began, has a tradition and an appeal like no other. In 1996, the 100th anniversary of the modern Athens Marathon, more than 3,000 runners from every part of the world gathered to run in the footsteps of Pheidippides.

 Greek Flag 

Events

Well let's see, this weekend we had a lot of fun. First was the Scotch tasting evening paired with Indian food. I am not a Scotch drinker and until very recently knew little or nothing about Scotch. However through a friend who has a wonderful website, see
www.whiskeywineandwords.com, I have learned quite a lot about Scotland and Scotch. We only drink single malt and she likes to introduce you to music and poetry to accompany the tastings, food is also a big part of it. Who knew that India is the biggest market in the world for Scotch and that Indian food is a natural to drink with a fine Scotch either neat or with a bit of water, beer is definitely not recommended with Indian cuisine despite North American popular belief.

The event was held in E.U.R. a neighborhood of Rome built from 1935 for the World Expos Rome 1942 which never took place due to the Second World War. The buildings are modern, stark and monumental surrounded by vast parks and lakes, to showcase the achievements of the Fascist Regime. Today it is a neighborhood of multinational companies and immigrants, the completion of the construction on the different buildings took place between 1955 and 1962. You past by the area on your way in from the airport.

Sunday, we went to the Rome Marathon, which covered much of central Rome, with over 15000 participants. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Rome Summer Olympics 1960 and at those games, an Ethiopian ran barefoot and won, wearing jersey no. 11. Well this year an Ethiopian won again the Rome Marathon and he too ran barefoot. Ethiopia and Italy have a very old history in common, well over 2000 years and there is a large Ethiopian community in Rome and Italy.

We went to support our friend Vincenzo, who had prepared for months for this marathon of 42.1 Km. The route was spectacular, starting at the Colosseum crossing the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, along the Tiber River all the way down to the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls then back along the Tiber crossing over to the Vatican and again along the Tiber and re-crossing at the Milvio Bridge along the Flaminian road passing by the Mausoleum of Emperor Augustus and the Ara Pacis (Altar of Augustean Peace) down the Corso through the Borghese gardens, Piazza Spagna and back to the Colosseum for the finish. We were tired after walking much of it and went for lunch at Valentino on Via Cavour, a family run restaurant, very good value for money. An exciting day and so much fun.

This coming week 2 days off for my birthday, I decided to have a catered dinner at home for 8. Then we have Easter which will be in Rome, our friend Jack is visiting and then off to Palermo, Sicily for a few days vacation. So much excitement!