Life On Two Wheels

Along the river and toward the mountains a morning shadow shimmers across the road. The rays of the first light jet through the trees and across a figure gliding upon the road. His breath trails in short spurts, petrified as it hits the icy air. All is quiet except the slight sound of the athlete as he summons himself for yet another days work. Soon the rest of the world will bustle with life as well and the brief simplicity of cyclist and nature will disappear into the everyday struggle of life in full motion; the errands and intervals, the appointments and intersections, and the deadlines and finish lines OutPaceTheRace

Monday, May 29, 2006

World turning: It's not about them, it's about me!

Girona, ESP
Monday, May 29, 2006

I’m back in Spain after doing euro race #2, and I’ll tell you, it’s not actually that bad. I think it just takes a concerted effort to respect that you’re an American in Spain and Spain has a different code than the US that you’ve got to adjust to. The fact that they look at you and say “okay, you speak English, that’s fine, if you don’t speak Spanish then I’ll speak English…” is a bit of a courtesy on you’re behalf- and realizing that is the key. But, there’s got to be more to Europe than the usual… Ya know, at first you think wow, I’m in Spain! But then a couple weeks later you realize that it’s the same rhythm of life. Everyone’s going to work, coming home, going on “holiday,” etc., etc. Sure, it’s different but it’s the same idea. In the end everyone is working for the same thing. Isn’t there anywhere where it’s actually different, where the world revolves around you? Maybe only Canada... patriatism runs rampant there...

posted by Tom Peterson @ 1:26 PM