Manhattan Beach

 I was running errands yesterday, chicken and rabbit food. Stopped at Manhattan Beach, not long, it was too hot and too humid....

San Pedro

 This morning I ran from San Pedro to Wilmington. 10km during a drizzling rain.

San Pedro

The reason I went to Los Angeles is because I am dog sitting for a friend of mine in San Pedro.

But also to renew my paspoort. 

That could not be done in Phoenix, only in Los Angeles or in 4 more cities, spread out over the USA.

I had an appointment for last Tuesday, but I was missing one document.

I made another appointment for last Friday. After a lot of help in the VSF Global office, and internet hassle I got the missing document printed out.

After 2 hours in the office I paid, a total of $280. That included a 50 dollar fee for mailing the paspoort 

The pasport will be mailed to me in Flagstaff by FedEx!

I don't have to wait around in Los Angeles.

The  VFS Global office is next to the La Brea Tar Pits

Skeletons of Mammoths and Sabletooth tigers were found there. (There is a big oil field located underneath Los Angeles. Animals got stuck in the tar welling up)

 

San Pedro

 I'm in San Pedro, California. 
Where it is hot and humid. Luckily it cools enough in the evening, so sleep is good.

Went running with the dog this morning.

Train: Flagstaff-Los Angeles

Like last year I'm dog sitting for a friend who lives in San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles.

it is now 17.42 waiting at the Amtrak station. Of course, the train is delayed. Until 21.30, for now.....

Fall in Flagstaff

Fall flowers have appeared!
During a bike ride (that I normal use for my 9km run)

Athens

I was looking through my video archive from my last stay in Athens (Feb-Apr 2026) and found an unedited video of Athens.

Well, it is now edited: Shoppers on a sunny Sunday in Athens

Flagstaff

 My daily afternoon walk, here in Flagstaff

Flagstaff

 It has been warm in Flagstaff.
At night my doors and windows are open (mosquito proved), this morning it was 20 degrees Celsius inside and 17 outside. Late afternoon it goes up to 33/29 degrees.

Anyway....I walk early in the morning and late afternoon, taking my DJI Pocket camera with me for the entire week. I finally have enough footage of Elk.

Oh, also the Fourth of July celebration was yesterday. Barbeque at my friends house.

Where I ive

 On my daily walk...

Drone Video in Flagstaff

Last Sunday I flew a Neo2 drone, N3 Goggles and a remote controller (all bought in Greece, because not for sale in the USA)

Using the goggles you see what the drone is seeing, makes it a lot easier to navigate past and around trees and other obstacles. (better done sitting down).

Sometime this Summer or Fall, I'm planning to make a video, using this setup, from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

Biking in Flagstaff

 Last Sunday I did a bike ride in Flagstaff, starting at 06.00hr...

Flagstaff

 Spring is here!

Flagstaff

 On an early morning hike where I live...

a large group of female elk

Flagstaff, running & biking

 Bike riding and running in Flagstaff

In Flagstaff

Along Lake Mary

Flagstaff

 It is already warm in Flagstaff!
At night between 2-7 degrees Celsius, in the afternoon between 24-28 degrees Celsius.
I am getting my altitude running conditioning back.
Last night I filmed a dance recital.

Flagstaff

Home again:
Last Wednesday flew from Athens to Newark and then another flight from Newark to Phoenix.

After arriving in Phoenix I drove rental car to Flagstaff, I got there at 0.15hr.

Long day, awake for 26 hours.

On Thursday I hooked my car battery to a charger, and when that was finished it started right up.

Winter is gone, all the trees have leaves.

Friday morning it was 1 degree Celsius, but in a couple of hours it had warmed up to 18 Celsius.

Blue skies.

Athens

 Summer is here! Well, almost...but Spring is here.......

On Wednesday I'm flying back to the USA, back to Flagstaff....

Athens

 Athina Street and Athinai meat and fish market: The biggest daily market and the busiest shopping street in Athens.

Athens

 Just a Sunday morning: everybody in Athens going to the Plaka...

Athens

 After walking around the Akropolis, I saw this on Monastiraki Square

Barbeque!

Athens

 Early in the morning I went to Piraeus for a run. 
Afterwards took the metro to Ag Antonios where I got out.

The weekly Farmers Market.

I got a bottle of olive oil and apples from Kreta.

Athens

Spring is here! Trees blooming behind the Akropolis.

About 24 degrees Celsius, last night it was about 16 degrees. So spring here in Athens, would b a very nice summer day in Holland or Germany...

I walked behind the Akropolis this morning, around 09.30. 

Busier than ever before, lots of groups (must be from cruise boats) with a local guide.

Running in Piraeus

Yesterday I ran from the Piraeus Port to Neo Faliro.
I took the subway from Victoria Square to Piraeus and to get back the same subway from Neo Faliro.

Athens

After 12 days of no sun and lots of clouds, but no rain, since yesterday sunshine and warmer. I used running shorts for the first time on my run on Monday.
Yesterday I walked behind the Akropolis,

lots of tourists and school groups, more than before since I have been in Athens.

Running in Athens

I went to Piraeus yesterday, to find a new running route.
Took the blue Metro line to Dimitiko Theatro, 

walked along the coastline to Neo Faliro, 

for the Piraeus Metro line (green) back to Monastiraki.

A distance of 6.1 km

Athens: Changing of the Guard

 

Walking in Athens

 Behind the Akropolis.
From the Akropolis metro station to the Thission station.

Running Everywhere

I finished my "Run Everywhere" video (until my next travel), which includes several segments in Athens.

I added a music sountrack

Piraeus Port Run 2026-2

Got up early this morning. I ran the 10km in the Piraeus Port Run 2026 event.
It started at 08.45 with the 5km runners. At 9.15 the 10km runners.

Athens

In December, back home in Arizona, I had ordered from Amazon a DJI Neo 2. 

A month later the order was cancelled. 
Reason: DJI is no longer allowed to sell their drones in the USA (Chinese company).

When I got to Athens, I googled and found a DJI store in Athens.

Long story short, I bought from them a Neo 2, Goggles N3, and a FPV controller.

Today I went to Aeros Park, to test it out. Well, it worked well, but it is very different from flying a done looking at the sky and a monitor.

You are seeing what the drone is seeing. Big adjustment.

Back in the USA I want to use the combo to film at the Grand Canyon.....

Piraeus Port Run 2026-1

I am running in the 10km event of the Piraeus Port Run 2026 on Sunday. 

I had to go to the fancy part of Piraeus today,

to pickup my running number

Athens: Edem Beach

 Taking the metro to Neo Kosmos, from there line 6 to Edem beach.

I ran

Athens

A little over a month now, in Athens. Today taking 2 trams back to Edem Beach. 

I will run there.

Winter in Athens is pretty much over, other than chilly mornings, 

in the afternoon it is about 23 degrees Celsius. Not in the apartment, there it is around 16 degrees....

Anyway  2 weeks ago in Aeros park.

Lots of big nests and lots of birds, ringneck parrots to be precise.

Athens: Edem Beach

 Took line 7 from Dimiko Theatro to Edem Beach

After about 90 minutes it got cloudy, so the tram, line 6 to Neo Cosmos and from there the metro to Larissa station.

Running in Athens

Yesterday I took my camera and my drone to the National Gardens and filmed the last segment of my "running in Athens" video.

Running in Athens

Took the subway to the Akropolis station this morning. Filming with my Hover X1 drone and the Insta360 camera. Adding to my "Running Everywhere" video. Tomorrow I'm doing the same thing in the National Gardens.

Athens

The day started cold, but warmed up nicely. 

Walked 8km today, including from Syntagma to Plaka.

Eating at a Taverna at Platia Mitropoleos.

Musicians at Monastiraki

 Musicians at Monastiraki. Also a dancer

The National Gardens, behind the Akropolis

Another beautiful day. 
It started out chilly when I went running early in the morning, but at 13.00 it was 22 degrees Celsius.

Walked from the house over to Omonia, Stadiou Street to Syntagma Square, through the National Gardens where there was a military exercise

Another walk behind the Akropolis. 

Pictures from the Herodus Atticus Theatre. 

Monastiraki

This afternoon walking through Ermou Street to Monastiraki.

Lots of people. At Monastiraki there was a rooftop coffeeshop with a great view of the Akropolis.

Also, great (fake Bougainvilla)

Athens

Today it rained for a while, still cloudy now.
I looked up my weekly run/hike/walk totals:

Quite a big increase over the previous weeks. Due mostly because of all the walking done in Athens!

Running in Athens

 Went running this morning.

 

It rained during my siesta at 13.00hr, but it was sunny and dry before and after.....

 

Athens: Farmers Market

Went to the Farmers market today, about a 30 minutes walk uphill from the apartment.

Large ripe tomatoes....

Today was another warm day, at noon about 23 degrees Celsius. A lot of people on the walk behind the Akropolis and sitting at cafes and restaurants....

Running in Athens

 Last night it rained, but it was dry and sunny today. Around 22 degrees Celsius.
Went running today

Took the subway to the Akropolis stop and walked behind the Akropolis

towards Monastiraki, shopped for Sheep/goat cheese, walked to Omonia Square

and from there took the subway back home.
Siesta! Later in the afternoon went for a walk to and in Aeros park.