Going Through Your Paces on Holiday!

From climbing Kilimanjaro to walking the Great Wall of China, it seems there is a new trend in putting your body through its paces on holiday. If you’re an excercise-aholic then the annual Athens marathon offers the perfect opportunity to combine some summer sunshine with the challenge of a real endurance race- with a dose of culture, history and delicious food thrown in for good measure!

Why Athens…?

There are now 500 marathon races worldwide each year, but the annual Athens event remains the original and, many argue, the best.
Athens is, of course, synonymous with ancient civilisations, historical monuments and the Olympics. Legend has it that it’s also the place where a soldier named Pheidippides collapsed and died, having run 26.2 miles, without stopping, to announce that the Athenians had beaten the Persians in the Battle of Marathon.

In 1896, when the International Olympics Committee formed and started to plan the first modern Olympic Games, a French delegate named Michel Bréal was so captivated by the legend of Pheidippides that he proposed the inclusion of a long-distance running event to celebrate the story. Other delegates loved the idea and the legend was used to drum up interest in the games. Bréal even donated a silver trophy for the winner and the marathon as we know it was born.

The first marathon was the final event at the 1896 Athens Olympics, and inspired replica races all around the world with Boston being one of the initial cities to follow suit.

This year’s race…

This year’s race takes place on Sunday November 11th, which gives you a good ten months to get training! It’s open to anyone over 18 and there’s no qualifying time so amateurs and professionals alike can take part. You can use BUPA’s training plan to help you prepare for the challenge, if you plan to run.

Temperatures in Athens in November peak at about 18°c, but with the race starting at 9am it should be much cooler for the bulk of the run.

The course…

The route starts at the battlefield in Marathon which Pheidippides is said to have run from, and follows his route to Athens. Today, the terrain of the 26.2 miles (42.2 km) is wholly tarmac, which is worth bearing in mind when choosing your running shoes – look out for good support and cushioning. The first 12km of the route is fairly flat, with the next 19km being made up of gently sloping hills and the last 11km providing a downhill finish.

You’ll be following the very route that was used in the 2004 Athens Olympics and with the race ending at the world-famous Olympic Stadium, so you’ll truly feel like an elite athlete as you cross the finish line.

Once you’re in Athens, make the most of it…

You’ll probably want a day or two of chilling out by a swimming pool or on the beach post-race. However, once you’re up to it there’s a whole host of things to see and do in Athens; from devouring delicious cuisine, to exploring the ancient ruins, to shopping in quaint markets!

Where to recuperate…

If R&R is top of your agenda then take a trip to Greece’s original Fish Spa (Aiolou 45) and let the garra rufa fish sooth your worn feet or enjoy some reflexology or a traditional massage. There’s also the Hammam Baths (Melidoni 1) where you can enjoy a full body scrub and then a traditional massage on warm marbles- booking is advised. Finally, why not bag yourself a bargain at the fleamarket in Monastiraki or hit a more modern shopping precinct on Ermou Street where you can reward yourself for all your hard work and commitment?

Where to eat…

Greek food is world-renowned and Athens is home to some incredible restaurants. Favourites include Strofi (25 Rovertou Galli) which offers traditional Greek dishes- the feta parcels and baklava are both recommended – and a view of the Acropolis to die for from the open-air top level; Oroscopo (42-44 Antinoros Street), where the fantastic service is regularly praised and beautifully fresh seafood is on offer; and Funky Gourmet (Paramithias 13 & Salaminos)- the destination for cutting-edge, experimental haute cuisine, prepared by classically-trained chefs. What better way to replenish the calories you lost running the marathon?

What to see…

If you’re after some culture, you’ll be able to find it in every nook and cranny in the city! You must, of course, visit the famous ruins and there are plenty for you to choose from, from the big names: the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion , to the lesser-known Temple of Hephaestus, the Agora and the Odeum of Herodes Atticus.

Where to Stay…

For under £400pp, the 4* Polis Grand is right next to the Acropolis and close to the old streets of Plaka, where markets are held. The hotel also has a roof garden where you can chill out after a long day in the November sun. There is also, the 4* Hotel Titania is in the historical hub of Athens, with a Greek brasserie restaurant for guests and a top floor piano bar that has stunning views of the Acropolis. It’s located between Syntagma and Omonia Square, so you’re in the right place for exploring the city and seeing the marathon.

How to Get There…

Athens is easily reached from major UK airports such as London Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh, with easyJet Holidays. The flight time is just over 3 hours and you’ll arrive in Athens International Airport, just 20km from the main city centre, just a short bus or taxi ride away.

Travel Photos of the Week: Sand Scuptures held on the Frankston Foreshore, Australia

Frankston has now hosted the Sand Sculpting Australia exhibition three years in a row. Frankston is a southern, bayside suburb of Melbourne and an easy drive on Eastlink. I’d been keen to visit in previous years but it never eventuated and so was determined not to miss it this year!

The theme was ‘Toytopia’ and delighted not just the kids but the grownups also! Twenty-three sculptures from all over the world participated to create a total of 16 solid sand exhibits or ‘piles’ as they were referred to in the Program Guide. Below you will see examples of the workmanship that goes into creating these sand sculptures with so much detail and the height of a couple of them was truly amazing.

Where is Hohenwerfen Castle?

This magnificent medieval castle stands high above the town of Werfen in the Salzach valley of Austria and was built initially as a fortress between 1075-1078. Roughly 40km south of Salzburg, it’s surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps and the Tennengebirge mountains.

The modern castle largely functions as an adventure castle for its visitors. Some of the attractions offered include guided tours showing its extensive weapons collection, the historical Salzburg Falconry with the falconry museum as well as a stylish fortress tavern. The historic Falconry Centre is a special attraction, offering daily flight demonstrations by various birds of prey.

Lonely Planet Austria

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Hohenwerfen Castle

One Great Reason to Visit Hohenwerfen Castle

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the beautiful location and watch the falcon display.

A Tour of Castle Hohenwerfen

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• The Official Site

In the era of budget airlines and package tourism, getting a holiday through a high street provider like Thomas Cook is cheaper than ever – even with the current financial crisis. However, it’s the additional bits and pieces that you pay when you’re out there which can turn even cheap holidays to Tenerife into an extremely expensive spell of lying on a beach.

The biggest cost is usually money exchange. A lot of people decide to get cash – but this isn’t the safest, or the cheapest way of ensuring that you have spending money abroad. Some people decide to fall back on their debit cards which is an absolutely terrible choice and can cost £100s is repeatedly used.

The best option is to get a specialist card, these are often UK based credit cards that are great when used abroad offering really good exchange rates (important) and no withdrawal fees from ATMs. However, most people don’t want to get a credit card just to use it abroad, so a good alternative is to get a pre-paid travel card, these often charge per transaction, so it’s best to go an ATM once a day (at most) and get your money out for the day, however, they are safe, easy to top up, and have great exchange rates.

Transport is often also another expense and not just when you get to your destination. Simply getting to the airport can cost you a packet, so a good idea is to use a specialist service (if you’re driving to the airport) or look for other deals. Most airports have nearby pubs which rent out their car parks and save you up to 50% of the car parking cost.

When you get to your destination, in Europe public transport is usually the best and cheapest option, but there are cheap car hires if you’re going somewhere like Tenerife where you might want to explore by yourself, here a comparison website is the best option. Bear in mind, if you’re going island hopping renting a car is an expensive way to get around.

Another must is travel insurance, and you can end up paying over the odds for it. If you’re going for a long period, it’s better to get annual trip as this will save you more (in fact, if you’re likely to go on holiday more than once during the year, annual trip is a good idea). Or, if you’re going in a family, getting a group insurance deal can also be a good way of cutting back costs. The most important thing with travel insurance is the value of the deal, if you’re going backpacking and don’t know what activities you’re going to get up to, make sure that your insurance covers everything, that way you’ll never find yourself in too much trouble (at least not with the insurance company).

Travel companies generally cover most eventualities, and most of the major costs, but you can still find yourself spending more money than you had planned if you don’t do a little bit of quick preparation beforehand.