Wandering in Lisbon

Had a bit of a quiet day today, after having the Hotel buffet breakfast and catching up with the news back home on the Internet, I went for a walk into the city along one the wide tree lined boulevards, when the sun comes out the shade is really needed, there are plenty of cobble streets to wander along and cake shops to eye off. I found a nice cafe to have lunch at, fixed menu for 12 euros - olives, bread, fish & sweats & a beer to top it all off, it was a hard day at the office. On the way back to the hotel I stopped off at the cake shop for supplies, I just didn't know when I was going to get fed next, I just couldn't go hungry.

Day Trip from Lisbon

In the morning after about 7 hours sleep, I went down the Hotel desk, I had checked thru some brochures on day trips and picked out one company that had 3 different day trips, one every day and the other 2 alternate, I was going to take the daily trip which was to Sintra & Cascais but found out that was full but the hotel guy was able to get me on the Fatima/Obidos day trip. I then had the hotel buffet breakfast for 8.5 Euro it was really good value, coffee, eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, croissants etc, what more can a man want, I have the 4 days rule which is I can eat anything for 4 days after marathon, in this trip it has been extended to 21 days.

From my hotel I only had to walk about 10 minutes away to get picked for the trip, there was a tour guide in his van and 7 others, at only 58 Euros I thought it was the best value of seeing places outside Lisbon.

The first stop was the town of Fatima, about an hour north via the highway, it has one of the most important Catholic sites in Europe outside of the Vatican, it was a site of some miracles with 3 kids back in the 1910's, they have now built a church, a massive hall for large services, probably holds 2-3 thousand people, the square between the hall and church was used for the popes visit 2 years ago, looks like it would hold 50-75 thousand people, this site gets 5 million visitors each year.

Then we went and saw a 14th century Batalha Monastery that is World Heritage listed, I think this is the most churches I have seen in one day.

We then wandered around the seaside town of Nazare, had grilled Sole (whole) for lunch for 10 euros with a glass of fresh wine and fresh rolls, i was very impressed, these are the reasons for travelling. The wine here is fairly cheap, I saw a bottle of Mateus for 3.5 Euro ($6).

We then started heading back to Lisbon via the coast, but we did stop at Obidos on the way back, it is a walled city, very well kept, cobble stones again, small alley ways, houses with white walls with red/brown roofs, the guide arrange a sampling of the local ginger wine in choclate.

Then back on the road, we were dropped back in the city just after 7pm, so it was a long trip, 10 hours, really good value, I am thinking about doing the daily trip on thursday, tomorrow I might wander around the Lisbon city area.

Arrived in Lisbon, Portugal

After changing trains twice and missing one connection I made it from Wolverhampton to Luton Airport train station, got there about 2.30pm for what I thought was going to be 4.45pm flight to Lisbon, but my plane was delayed by 2 hours, when you fly with Easyjet you have to expect the odd delay, you can understand why they get the occasional angry passengers, they are marginally better than Tiger.

The plane landed around 9.30, I managed to get bus from the airport to the city area close to my hotel, after asking directions a few times, I managed to get to my hotel (HotelMadrid Executive VIP) just before 11pm, I booked it thru Wotif, a single room for 50 Euros (Aus $80) a night, I wasnt sure what is was going to be like, a single bed, with a shower, TV, little fridge, Air Con, I can't complain, I pre booked all my accomodation, it just saves a lot of mucking about.

It was interesting dragging my suitcase on wheels via all the cobbled streets, but this is europe.

Off to Portugal

I have pulled up ok after the marathon, legs still a bit sore but they will heal, I am catching a train about 11 from Wolverhampton to Luton Airport should take about 3 hours, then I have a 4.45 flight to Lisbon, Portugal, I am flying with Easyjet, they are an ailine that appears regularly on some of the Airline/Airport shows, you have to arrive an hour earlier for your flight, I am allowing nearly 3 hours, I should be ok, not sure how often I will do my Blog there, depending on Internet access, I might just write up each day on my computer then load them up when I get access.

I was hoping to have another 8 pound buffet breakfast at the hotel before I leave, I just found out that it is only on weekends.

Marathon day

Today was my Marathon in Wolverhampton Sunday Sept 5th, I was up early at 6am (not by choice) I had a banana for breakfast, normally I don't eat before a big run like this, but with the marathon not starting until 9.15am, weather seemed cool and overcast outside. I logged onto the Internet using the free WiFi, I started listening to the Swans Carlton game, I also rang up my Dad in Adelaide for fathers day, I want to thank Bob Harlow who is living in the UK for 4 months for getting me a PAYG Sim card that put into a phone (thanks Charlie) that I brought with me, enabling to make calls to Australia and all over the world, funny enough it is cheaper to ring Australia than to ring within the UK.

Withe Swans game poised level with about 15 mins to go, I left for the marathon, it was only 20 mins walk to the West park where it was starting. Both the marathon and half were starting at the same time, also going off 5 mins earlier was a bike ride of 19.4 kms, earlier on I actually caught the slowest cyclists.

Most of the marathon was on roads, it was basically 2 laps, with the half just doing 1 lap, I was doing about 26.45 per 5km splits, the other thing it was marked in miles, glad I have my garmin to give me my km splits, earlier on I worked out that 9min miles would give me about a 3.56, so that was calculation every mile to keep under that, the course had a few rises along the roads, so wasn't a real flat course. I went thru the first half in 1.53-54.

At the start of 2nd lap all the half people left, which left everybody strung out, I was keeping up a good pace, up to 35kms my splits were 26.20 - 27.03, my fastest 3 splits were 20-35, but the wheels partially fell off at 35, my thighs were starting to really hurt, I started to run/walk, for the rest of race I was on 6-6.15 min per km pace, also in the 2nd half of the race it drizzled so it kept me cool, shoes were a bit squeaky, I think if the sun came out I would blown out to 4 hours but I got home in about 3hrs 52 mins 40 secs, I was very happy with the run, never sure how you will after a 24hr flight and only 3 days to recover. I got a finishers T-shirt and a medal, for 25 pouns this was very good value and a very well organised run, it did get a bit hairy on some of the roads in the 2nd half, I had a semi past me by, but they probably don't have many options, most roads I was able to hop onto the footpath.

Tonight i am not feeling too bad, I had a dinner of British finest Fish & chips, legs will be sore for a few days, I will probably rest up over the next 3-4 days (no running) but I will keep the walking up, which will be good.

Saturday in Wolverhampton

The trip has started very slowly, todays excitement started with the buffet breakfast at the hotel, a very good spread for 8 pound, hot meal, cereal, coffee, toast, croisents, fruit, what more can I want, then I listened to part of the Collingwood Bulldogs AFL game from the Net, then I went and did a late entry for tomorrows marathon - (Wolverhampton) only 25 pound (approx $45), it is basically 2 laps starting at 9.15am, so getup at resonable time, 20 mins walk to the start. Talking about good value, for finishing you get a medal, a tshirt and a goodies bag from the local bakery (i won't complain about that).
Resting up this afternoon, just sitting in bed watching TV, I am on holidays, the next 3 weeks I have plenty of time to site see, catch you all later.

Yesterday I saw a Mister Bean car, you know the one with 3 wheels, I don't know how they allow them on the road, they look they will just fall over with a big gust of wind or a sharp bend.

Made it to UK - Wolverhampton

Hi all, I made it to Wolverhampton UK, you say why there, well I wanted to do a marathon while I was overseas, this one was the easiest one to get too, allowed me to recover from my flight in the one place and then really enjoy myself over the next 2-3 weeks.

I caught the Murrays bus from Canberra to Sydney International Airport got there just under 3 hours before my flight, checked in and then went to the Qantas Club, yes I bought a membership thru work (corporate rates are cheaper) and then sat down and had some lunch before my flight, a good setup there, i thought I would spend some money on myself, plus I can use the Internet there and have a shower before my flight, which freshens you up.

The first part of the flight went via Bangkok, had 1 1/2 hour stopover, went to British Airways lounge which Qantas shares, I had another shower there, checked some email and a snack there.

I then flew onto London, arrived there 6.30am Thursday morning, took about an hour to get my bags and get thru customs, I then went to the Bus station at heathrow to get my bus to Wolverhampton, I got there about 1pm and then spend an hour wandering around the city before finding my way to my hotel. Its about 15 mins walk south of the city and only 20mins walk to where the marathon starts.
I was really tired when I got here, made it to 6.30pm before i fell asleep, had a bit of a broken sleep, but i got about 10-11 hours sleep, which i was grateful for.

I did an 8.5km run this morning and felt ok, got the cob webs out, will do some wandering around the city this afternoon.

I am staying here for 4 days, I have the marathon Sunday, flying to Portugal Monday for a week, stay tuned for more adventures.