Athens & The Olympics - 20-Aug-04 to 22-Aug-04
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View from Vouliagmeni beach. For our first 2 nights in Athens, we stayed in the beachside suburb of Vouliagmeni, south of the city of Athens. |
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The water of the Mediterranean was very flat and calm. The blue and gold signage on the far side of the beach was the area where the Triathalon was to be staged. |
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Another view of Vouliagmeni |
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Simon in front of Vouliagmeni beach. These shots were taken in the middle of the day, when the sun was very intense and the temperature at least 35C. |
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Rosie in front of Vouliagmeni beach |
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Closer view of the Mediterranean |
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Rosie in a Greek taxi on the way from from Vouliagmeni into central Athens |
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View from our taxi on the way into central Athens |
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The Acropolis, Athens. (The second hotel that we stayed in for the last night of our brief trip, the Royal Olympic Hotel, is one of the buildings in front of the two pillars in the middle ground of the photo) |
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Church buildings and taxis, Athens |
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Acropolis hill, Athens |
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Street scene in the Plaka district, Athens |
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More streets in the Plaka district, Athens |
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Temple ruins in the Plaka district, Athens |
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Ruins of ancient Roman Bath House, preserved in one of the Metro stations, central Athens. |
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Promenade at the Olympic Sports Centre, Athens |
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Rosie at the Olympic Sports Centre. It was about 6.30pm and still very hot and sunny |
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Simon in front of the Athletics Stadium with the Olympic flame burning in the background |
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Rosie Simon in front of the Athletics Stadium |
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Architectural display at the Olympic Sports Centre - the bars moved back and forth with the wind. |
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Grant Hackett in the warm-up pool before the start of the swimming session |
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Some Aussie supporters in the stands behind us at the Main Pool of the Aquatic Centre |
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Getting ready for the first event, the Womens 50m Freestyle. There were 2 Australian swimmers, Libbe Lenton and Michelle Engelsman |
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And they're off! Libbie Lenton in Lane 5 and Michelle Engelsman in Lane 2. |
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The start of the Mens 1500m freestyle final - Grant Hackett in Lane 5 and Craig Stevens in Lane 8. |
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The sun sets in the background as the 1500m swimmers start on their 11 laps. Grant Hackett is in the lead. |
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The moon rising over the Main Pool of the Aquatic Centre |
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The start of the Womens 100m IM relay |
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Grant Hackett accepting the gold medal |
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Grant Hackett with the silver and bronze medalists |
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Rosie in the stands, which had started to empty considerably by the final medal ceremonies |
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The Australian Womens 400 IM team of Petria Thomas, Jodie Henry, Leisel Jones and Giaan Rooney accepting the gold medal after winning and breaking the world record |
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Rosie the first row of the stands after the session had finished. |
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Simon, wearing an 'Athens 2004' cap, in the stands as the organisers packed up |
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The Travelling Frog keeping Simon's Official Olympic Hat company, on the balcony at our hotel in central Athens |