Monday, February 12, 2007

Sarajevo

Sarajevo

Capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina, one of the most important cities of the Balcans. Was here that Archduke Franz Ferdinand was murdered (mmm... do some musicians want to teach us something about world history?), event that led to the World War I, and more recentely, in 1984, held the Winter Olympic Games.

It's more known, though, for the sad bombings and destruction that was subject to in the war that separated Jugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina). As soon as the war was over, the incredible energy of these people helped the almost full reconstruction of the city by 2003.

The city is located 550 meters above sea level, in a valley, surrounded by mountains that go from the 1502m of Igman to the 2088m of Treskavica peaks. Jahorina is one of those mountains, part of the W.O. 1984, with more than 40km of ski tracks and modern equipment, with a very cold climate and a lot of snow!!




All this why? Because next Saturday I'm going there for a week of snowboard and craziness with lots of friends from there (mainly Serbia) :) Oh, and there isn't the usual crowd in the slopes as in the Piriness or the Alps!

Photos coming soon :)

Monday, February 05, 2007

Getting High in Siurana....

As if it wasn't enough to be climbing under a radiant sun on the 24th of December, back in Barcelona, mid January, and check it out!!


It was so hot it felt wrong. Something is definetly wrong with the weather nowadays... In spite of that, going to Siurana and having two great climbing days, sleeping in a bungalow to wake for huge "bocadillos" and coffee to give strenght for what was coming with 3 other crazy people, is a good way to enjoy the "Better Weather".
Siurana is a small village located close to Tarragona that's quite known in the climbing world for having some of the hardest routes in the world. This added up to great quality rock and routes, a fenomenal landscape and being the driest place in Catalunya... a climbing must!