Saturday, April 20, 2019

Happy Easter Everyone

We have moved off the island and have had the chance now to see Split, Dubrovink in the South, Zagreb, the capital in the north and Pula, on the Istria Peninsula close to Italy. Each city/town is strikingly different. Dubrovnik was very touristy with throngs of people (even in this the shoulder season). These are our first crowds since arriving in Croatia. Game of Thrones is filmed here and seems to be cashing in on tours as well. The walled city is spectacular and if I had three words for this town they would be - stairs, walls and cats. Tons of feral beasts everywhere. 

Sights in Dubrovnik: 





Zagreb is a fantastic city. A third of the population of Croatia lives here (and as far as we can tell, everyone over 10 years of age, smokes). The trees and gardens were in full bloom. The city is edgy but with a safe feeling. Lots of cafes and museums and graffiti everywhere. 




Easter is a big deal here - Eggs are hand painted and shared on the big day. Here are some big ones outside the Cathedral in Zagreb and yes, even the eggs got tagged with graffiti before we left!



Outside our Airbnb - and I agree - I love Zagreb!

Pula was a surprise to us. The town is just down the coast from Italy and low and behold - there are a lot of Roman ruins here - the Arena, built in 1 BC was being used to host the opening ceremonies for a youth soccer tournament. The cheers of the athletes drew us down the street from our apartment. Only here would you have hundreds of 16 year olds climbing around on a 2000 year old building for a photo op. So fun!



Some of the more curious sights... snails for sale in the market - these are big ones! and in Split... a sign warning that the buildings may collapse on you... you were warned!


Happy Easter All. 

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Croatia: Rocks, Sheep and Olive Trees!

Hi all, 

We have been on the island of Brac, Croatia for a couple of weeks now. We have had some amazing sunny days! Trees are in full bloom here and it feels like a very warm spring here. We are officially on the 'Extremely low tourist season,' which means - you can see the cafes, restaurants and potential businesses but EVERYTHING is closed at this time of year. 

Paul has been learning the hills (lots and lots of them) and Kate and I have been clocking the miles. Biggest day was 18 km of up, up, up and down, down, down. but I think our average day is around 10-12 km. The grocery store is a 10km trip... you get the idea.  The theme has been sheep, rocks and olive trees. 

We head to Split and points in land tomorrow... 



All in one picture - rocks, sheep and olive trees. 


Sheep being herded through the traffic turn circle.


Kate found a playground!


We rented a scooter for the day and got to see the areas the rest of the island. 



Milna - end of the island



Fishing boats in the harbour


Harbour and blue skies


Flowers are fantastic


The town of Splitska from our apartment balcony... 


Wildlife


Cobble stones in Postura


We see lots of piles of rocks and fences for miles made of ... rock


Goat - one of triplets


Bol


Splitska

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

One last blog from France


We are off on new adventures this weekend so I thought I should send out a few pictures of France before we go. We have had a fantastic time here in Mouxy - the skiing has been great. We have skied every last trail what feels like hundreds of times; the trails are all one-way so you don't have lots of choice. This past week alone we have skied in a thunder and lightning snow storm, rain, hail and blinding sun. As a new skate skier, I like the fresh corduroy but they don't groom as much as they do in Whitehorse. 

We have all had our goals... we have met some of them and others will remain on our bucket list. Kate is just shy of meeting her goal of racing down the largest hill at Féclaz at 50km/h (0.4 off).... I snow plow the smallest hills and she loves to have the speed - crazy kid. Paul has paid off his pass almost 5 times now. He is also enjoying (right?) making the climbs in the area on his bike. I have a achieved my goal of hiking the Revard Cremailliere Trail. It took me 5.5 hours to do it... Takes me from our house to the top of the Revard. 



Left: At the start... Right - destination - tippy top of that mountain.



The trail starts down where the weather is spring.





Bridges.... 





Great views


Crazy tunnel on a bend which means you can't see a thing. I had a stick and used it as a cane to make sure I didn't fall into any big scary holes. The tunnel is 165m long.... that is a long way to walk in the dark my friends. 


Last hour, my feet kept punching through the snow pack. Crazy! 


View from the summit


Original Hotel at the top


Revard Station - made it. Mission accomplished. 


Kate in front of the church doors at Méry (town nearby)


Skiing in the sun.... La Féclaz


Kate's last race - individual classic. She is smiling... Go Yukon Go!


Everything is in bloom right now 



Enjoying France

Opinion Piece: So after three months in France, I have to voice some opinions, with full understanding I am doing so with serious cultural biases. When I walk, which I do for hours, up hills, through villages and down to the city, everyone who passes says Bonjour. It is really wonderful. Paul says every cyclist either gives a nod or a wave. I truly appreciate that. Once day, Kate and I were out hiking and we passed on a small country trail by a large group of Sisters from the local monastery. They were all fairly elderly, dressed in their habits but each and every Sister said Bonjour to us as we passed. 

This leads me to my rant. 

This being said, some of the French don't tend to care about others around them. Coming from Japan where the national philosophy is one of concern for the whole population - don't talk on the trains, as you will disturb others; wear a mask if you don't feel well, so as to infect others; give your seat and on and on....Here, in France, the opposite. I saw it on the first day of skiing. Everyone just stops when they want to stop and doesn't move aside. Large groups form at the bottom of hills, part way up a climb or at the crest to chat, take a drink... forcing skiers to awkwardly maneuver around to continue on their way. Worse, the ski races. The course are full of competitors but also racers warming up, recreational skiers, spectators all using the same track. I actually cheer sometimes just to get folks to move out of the way of the athletes. It drives me nuts but the French don't even notice. Even driving.... yes, everyone drives inches off the back bumper of the next car but I actually saw a woman park, block a whole street so that she could drop off her garbage and recycling. Drivers where out and yelling at her but she didn't move until she was done. Hilarious. So I guess the French find it tough too. 

Fashion

The second observation is French focus on athletic wear. Everyone dresses the part. I have never seen so many skiers wearing race suits. I guess in their defence, it isn't cold here (the suits just wouldn't work in the cold for very obvious reasons) but here - old and young alike wear tights or race suits for every ski. It doesn't matter the skill level, age, body type or fitness. I love the old guys... they wear their race suits from their glory days typically the 80s and the suits wear like they do on the young ones. all wrinkly and saggy - like elephant legs. Heck, people even wear full, matching tights and jackets when out walking their dogs. I find it all hilarious and fascinating. BTW: White race suits should be banned!



Well that is all for now. .... until next time. Au Revoir from France. 





Tuesday, March 5, 2019

A vacation from our vacation - Nice and Carnival

Nice.... here we come

This week in numbers: 


Mouxy to Nice - 456.1 kms
Tolls each way - 80 Euros ($120)

We weren't the only ones heading south apparently... 



Weather - Nice 20 degrees and sunny 





Carnival: Nice's carnival dates back to 1294 but parades and confetti have been in place since 1872.

2019 Theme: King of the Cinema



Parades: 6 parades over the two week period with 18 floats, 1000 dances and tons and tons of paper confetti (tried to find out how much but couldn't)

These are some of our favourites.... 


Security: 300 hundred spectators turned away the day before when they didn't get through security before the parade started - Think airport security and long lines but once you are in... it is a party


Floats: 50% are irreverent, thoughtful and/or funny; ex. Harvey Weinstein float with the call out to the Oscars and the #metoo movement - the Oscar statutes are miming the "hear not evil, see not evil, speak no evil" stance... 


Putin holding Gerald Depardieu... 


A vey scary Trump as "IT" holding President Macron in his hand - also notice the large heads of all the world leaders as the "It" scary dudes out in front. 


Citrus Festival in Menton:  145 tons of citrus fruit to create huge creatures with 45kg of fruit needed to cover 1 sq m.... 


Kate: one and only Kate




Italy: 3 happy travellers because Italy has great gelato (fact)


Monaco: Second smallest country (2 sq. kms) with highest per capital density in the world, 1/3 of population are millionaires  


France loves Biathlon: At 15 years old, kids must choose between X-country skiing and Biathlon; Biathlon athletes are national heroes. Check out the biathlon targets in the middle of a relaxed crowd - winter camp for the students off school.


U15 Nationals: 178 girls; 467 boys and only 1 Yukoner


Holidays in France: Priceless

Shout out to mom on her 80th Birthday... Happy Birthday mom!