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.

Athens: The Stadium

I went to the Dutch Embassy this morning. 
Forget about getting a new passport here, it might take 2 months, would cost 160 euros and may not be ready by the time I leave.

I will do it next year in Phoenix...

The Stadium, first Olympic Games were held here.

Walked through the National Gardens...

shopping at the Agora Market