In case you were wondering, Halloween is starting to spread around the world. I have seen evidence in several European countries over the last few years (including here in Guernsey), mainly candy and decorations for sale in stores. I think it mostly due to US candy manufacturers trying to diversify their key markets. Of course, it also gives adults an opporunity to dress up and get drunk.
On my way home from work tonight, I saw a few dressed up kids out with their parents. I think most of the trick or treat activity is confined to small parties inside. I've had nobody knocking on my door here...
Wednesday 31 October 2012
Thursday 11 October 2012
Havelet
The street I live on is called Havelet. The street is only a few hundred yards/meters long, but in that distance it manages to twist its way up from the waterfront on the edge of town to an old, established neighborhood. The bottom part is quite steep. The top part is very narrow and only one way as a result. The buildings on the sides of the upper part bear the scrapes and scratches of many vehicles that apparently were not quite small enough to fit through. It’s the type of street that you don’t see much of in the US – you can literally get hit by a car while standing on your front porch!
Wednesday 26 September 2012
What I did on my Summer Vacation (2011)
[Due to popular demand from the huge throng of followers, I'm back with more posts!]
What do you do for a vacation when you enjoy cycling and you can see the French coast on a clear day? Why not strap your bike to the top of the car and head for the Pyrenees!
The Pyrenees are the mountain range between France and Spain. Each July, they fill up with hundreds of thousands of cycling fans from all over the world that want to see the world's best riders slowly suffer their way up hills of varying length and steepness.
Cycling is one of the only sports that more enthusiastic fans can truly experience the same thing as the athletes - you can pull on spandex and ride the same bike on the exact course. Try to imagine playing a baseball game with your friends at Wrigley Field or tossing a football around in the Rose Bowl - that's what it's like to ride up some of the legendary cols (passes) of the Tour de France. There's also some fantastic scenery!
You can still see riders names painted on the road by fans maybe a decade ago as you and a surprisingly large number of other riders crawl up the hill like a trail of ants. Switchbacks in the road give many opportunities to survey what you've already conquered snaking below. The occasional barnyard animal (or evidence that they've been there) adds some strategy to choosing the safest path up the road.
Once you reach the top, it's a daredevil descent at 40 to 50 mph (usually faster than the cars) while looking out for sharp corners, more barnyard animals (and evidence), stones, and other things than can ruin your day in a hurry.
Near the top of the legendary Col du Tourmalet!
What do you do for a vacation when you enjoy cycling and you can see the French coast on a clear day? Why not strap your bike to the top of the car and head for the Pyrenees!
The Pyrenees are the mountain range between France and Spain. Each July, they fill up with hundreds of thousands of cycling fans from all over the world that want to see the world's best riders slowly suffer their way up hills of varying length and steepness.
Cycling is one of the only sports that more enthusiastic fans can truly experience the same thing as the athletes - you can pull on spandex and ride the same bike on the exact course. Try to imagine playing a baseball game with your friends at Wrigley Field or tossing a football around in the Rose Bowl - that's what it's like to ride up some of the legendary cols (passes) of the Tour de France. There's also some fantastic scenery!
You can still see riders names painted on the road by fans maybe a decade ago as you and a surprisingly large number of other riders crawl up the hill like a trail of ants. Switchbacks in the road give many opportunities to survey what you've already conquered snaking below. The occasional barnyard animal (or evidence that they've been there) adds some strategy to choosing the safest path up the road.
Once you reach the top, it's a daredevil descent at 40 to 50 mph (usually faster than the cars) while looking out for sharp corners, more barnyard animals (and evidence), stones, and other things than can ruin your day in a hurry.
Near the top of the legendary Col du Tourmalet!
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