Information please...

A note about collecting information:

Trying to find information about the locations and routes of the marathons, with the exception of the Berlin one, has proven to be a bit of a challenge. I guess it is a reminder that despite it's prevalence, English is not used for everything, everywhere, which is just fine albeit easy to forget in a 'Googled world'.

Where information was only available in non English version, and 'native speakers' in the team were unavailable, using online translation services- like Babel fish, produced hilarious results, which although reasonably easy to follow and 'understand' the intention, nevertheless delivered sentences only a computer can create- another reminder that language in context in not something computers are good at.

Here's a Babel Fish translation sample:

The Roller Marathon of national width will cross 5 communes of the Essonne, for a distance of 30Km. This test is opened to all the bachelors and not fired, of the categories tiny, junior, junior, senior, vetéran 1 and veteran 2, Homme and Woman.

To be Continued....

The main events

The first marathon is in Italy- in Cesenatico [location info] - a port town on the Adriatic coast. This marathon is on Saturday afternoon, September 15th. We'll travel from Bologna to Cesenatico by train, returning in the evening. Sunday we leave in the afternoon to Milan, for a quick look-see, before catching the train to Paris Monday morning.

The French marathon, starting in Saint Cheron [location info] just south of Paris, is on Sunday, 23rd of September. Aside from skate touring the Paris sites during the preceding week, we also plan to make an appearance in the world renown Pari Roller Friday night skate [link]

The Final marathon, the big one, is in Berlin,[visitors info]on September 29th. This marathon draws thousands of participants, and quite a few members of the Melbourne speed club ( and friends) have honored the city of Berlin with their presence in past events. The Berlin marathon is a full on event/production- download the program in English here [PDF]

This year, our truly multinational team (see another post) will descend on the unsuspecting town folks around the 27th of September, taking up residence in the studio apartments of the Berlin inn hotel

The Plan...

The plan - ok, the itinerary-

Participate in the following marathons:

1. Italy - Cesenatico marathon- September 15, 2007 - official site
2. France- 3 valleys marathon- September 23, 2007 - official site
3. Germany - Berlin marathon- September 29, 2003- official site

In between, we plan to look for opportunities to skate as much as possible in as many locations as possible (and our 'veterans of Euro-Skating' tell us opportunities in Europe are a plenty) as well as sample the local attractions, food, and well, yes, lets face it, beverages...

Our group will travel together some of the time, especially around the main marathons dates, while also doing 'their own thing' in between.

The main Itinerary is as follows:

12 September- arrive Italy
14 September- arrive Bologna
15 September- marathon at Cesenatico & back to bologna
16 September- travel from Bologna to Milan
17 September- train from Milan to Paris, France
17-24 September- in Paris, sights, Friday night skate, eating, skating....
23 September- travel to Saint Cheron 3V marathon, back to Paris
24 September- travel Paris to Amsterdam & Utrecht ( Holland)
25-26 September- Holland, MSC On ice (we hope)
27 September- train to Berlin, Germany
27-30 September- in Berlin
29 September- Berlin marathon
30 September- most of us are heading home via different routes.

Patineurs de vitesse ?

What da...?
Well, this is as close to machine-trans French as we can get to 'Speed Skaters'- which seems an appropriate title for our little sojourns in Europe. We are a group of speed skaters from the Melbourne Speed Club, plus some friends from interstate and overseas, participating in a number of marathons and other skate activities in Italy, France, and Germany as well as side trips (for the ICE addicts...you know who you are) to the Netherlands in search of ice skating opportunities.

Expect also a special report from our rolling-reporter 'Velocity Pete' about Majorca- a popular skating destination in case you didn't know!

If you are planning a similar trip in some future date, our experience could help your planning, so we'll try to provide background information, insider tips, and links to favorite and useful facilities we use- such as a great SIM card to use while roaming with your mobile phone around the globe, and trying to stay in touch with family, friends, or team members spread all over a given city.... (tip of the old Akubra to Adam Trumble for that one)

So, to find out where we are (or will soon be - if you are reading this prior to Mid September 07) follow the posts- listed by date posted, on the upper right >>>

Enjoy!

YK - correspondent/editor in motion