Photo MH

Prekrasen sončen in topel dan, in vzpon na Mangrtsko sedlo. Gor toplo, dol mrzlo. Tole bo treba ponoviti še enkrat letos.

… danes je bil na sporedu naporen dan… 8 ur vožnje z avtom in 800km… iz Ženeve v Švici do Slovenije Ker je bil dan prekrasen, in se je Mont Blanc prav svetil pod modrim nebom sem se v Chamonixu po gorenjsko odločil, da ne grem skozi predog, ampak “uporabim” krajšnico čez prelaze, z vrhom na prelazu Grand St. Bernard. Iz Chamonixa se cesta polagoma vzpenja, pravzaprav me je vzpon presenetil. Pričakoval sem Vršič in serpentine, ampak ne… relativno enostavna cesta za vozit, in zelo hitro se prečkata dva nižja prelaza. Col de Montant (1450m) and Col de Forclaz (1550m). Kolesarjev je pa ogromno. Sledi spust Martigniya (nekaj čez 500m) in potem po prekrasni dolini in med svizci vzpon na Col de Grand St. Bernard.

Vglavnem… v teh krajih ne moreš zgrešiti, da bo tukaj čez nekaj tednov potekal Tour de France. Vsepolno je znakov, in en izmed ciljev je blizu. Verbier. Takoj naslednji dan je naslednja težka gorska etapa, ki povezuje Švico, Italijo in Francijo. Čez dva težka prelaza – Grand in Petit St. Bernard. Povezava do etape na Le tour 2009

No… in kdo je treniral tam??!?!??!?!? Nihče drug kot Mr. Livestrong, Lance In je šel hitro navzgor. Frekvenca vrtenja pedal je bila neverjetna, in vse je zgledalo tako lahkotno…

Go go go Lance…

ps: na poti navzdol proti Aosti naju je med iskanjem svizcev ob cesti sicer prehitel, vendar žal fotoaparata ni bilo blizu

Na svoji spletni strani je Armstrong objavil naslednji video o današnji etapi…

Vstajanje zjutraj je bilo zgodnje… Se zadnja noc v sotoru in spanje pri jezeru Tso Kar in bujenje s cajem ob 3:30… Potem pa na slavno cesto Leh-Manali… del poti smo seveda prehodili, tako da smo ze opravili vec kot 10km in nam ni bilo treba preko drugega najvisjega cestnega prelaza v Indiji (menda na svetu) Tanglang La (5325 m).

Zato se je pa v temi zacela nora voznja… kljub temu da je to glavna cesta je izgledalo kot da je ni… Vglavnem, ta cesta je legendarna… Odprta pa je samo med julijem in zacetkom oktobra, drugace je prevec snega na prelazih… Prvi je bil ‘dvojni’ prelaz Lachulung La (5059 m), potem spust v dolino po noro prepadnih cestah, potem nazaj v osrcje himalaje na Baralacha La (4892 m) in na koncu se gorski cilj pred Manalijem Rohtang La (3978 m), ki je bil zavit v meglo… Vsak izmed prelazov je nekaj posebnega, in serpentin,da pri 100 nehas steti… Neverjetna pokrajina, ki se zelo spremeni, ko se peljes iz Ladakha proti drzavi Himachal Pradesh… ko gres iz tibetanskih planjav v osrcje Himalaje… noro…

Obicajno se pot naredi v dveh dneh, mi smo jo pa prevozili v 14 urah in pol… predvsem na racun tega, da nam ni bilo treba na en prelaz… Da ne govorim o tem, da se ti skoraj pred nosom podre most… NORO!! Ena najlepsih in najbolj razglednih cest… in najslabsih… vredno truda!!! )

Zdejle sem ze v Manaliju in prav cudno je spet dihati zrak poln kisika na visini 2000m… In spet smo v monsunski Indiji…

I survived my first airport “adventure” since the new liquid rules were introduced. And at least on Brussels airport it was soo bad. Ok, I had to check-in my suitcase due to oversized shapoon and shower-gel, but OK…

Do you ever wonder whats going on with your luggage during air travel and airport transfer? Here is the answer…

Well… as far of statistics… Of the two billion bags checked every year, about five of every 1,000 are mishandled, and about .002 percent goes unclaimed. If your luggage gets lost and you don’t claim it, it usually goes to luggage heaven aka “lost luggage capital of the world“. Its interesting what kind of things people leave behind and never claim… From computers to fairy licious costume… Ok, the latter is obvious why…

Well… apparently there are new rules for hand luggage at all EU airports. New rules on what is permitted in hand luggage will take effect on 6 November 2006.

Here is a short instruction from our national carrier…

Liquids, gels and aerosols are only allowed in hand luggage in small quantities (no more than 100 ml per item) and if correctly packaged. The same rules apply at all airports in all 25 EU countries (departing or changing airplanes). Similar rules for hand luggage apply in the US and Canada.

The new rules cover liquids such as water and other beverages, gels, pastes, lotions and the contents of aerosol cans. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shaving cream, hair gel, lip gloss and creams also fall under the rules. So, no more taking your drinks to the airplane or transfer premises… You will have to buy overpriced drinks there…

These are the rules for liquids in your hand luggage:

1. You can only take liquids and gels in containers of no more than 100 millilitres on board the aircraft.
2. These containers must be carried in transparent plastic bags.
3. There is a limit of one transparent plastic bag per person.
4. The volume of the transparent plastic bag may not be greater than 1 litre.
5. The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.

You may bring a suitable plastic bag from home. And apparently most airports will have free plastic bags, at least at the beginning.

There are two exceptions to the above rules:

1. Baby food needed during the flight (hmmm… i guess parents will again need to eat half of the dose, just to check if it is OK);
2. Medicines needed during the flight.

Good thing is… You can still make purchases, including duty-free purchases, after ticket and/or passport control and on board European airline flights. Liquids and gels that you buy after ticket and/or passport control or on board will be packed and sealed for you as necessary by the shop or cabin personnel. The seal is valid for one day. If you must change planes, you may not break the seal until you reach your final destination.

To sum up… do I agree? Not really. It will just make cues much longer (especially on Ljubljana airport) and more hassle. Will I feel safer, knowing there are no “dangerous” liquids on the board? Not really… But i guess others will… Beware when making purchases on non-EU airports or non-EU airlines… If you have after the flight still one connection flight to catch, it is most likely that you will be unable to take home any of the stuff…

But OK, i’m flying this sunday to Brussels, so, i will use the last day of good-old-days…