Hi Some of the members of this list will remember that two years ago I mentioned I was going to the Sahara Desert. I was to run the Marathon des Sables, a 236-km race in the Morocco.
Well, I think I never came back to it. I wrote an article about the race. But it has never been translated into English. Those who can read in Portuguese or perhaps just want to browse a few pictures can see it at http://sites3.winbr.com/gaia/fcabral/esportes/corrida/maratona_areias/maratona_areias.html One thing I must say is that after spending those two weeks in the desert I came to understand why we had some so brilliant astronomers in the Arab world. I spent one night sleeping in the sand without even a Berber tent to protect me. In spite of the cold -- boy, it was cold! -- I couldn't resist staring the sky for a long, long time. It was so beautiful! So many stars shining against that clear sky... even thou I had trekked for about 65 km through the tough "dunettes" (and that was already the third day) carrying a heavy knapsack, I couldn't sleep at once (as I used to do) because I wanted to take in and breath and dive into that glorious and rare moment. The Beduins of old had an open university available for free: the starry and clear skies. Now I am returning. I want to run that race again. Mostly, I want to see the desert again. And I want to drink from its mysteries as I want to drink from the pristine waters of life. This time I'll do it a little different. After the race, instead of coming back to Brazil I'll visit the North Pole. From Morocco to Moscow, Siberia and... North Pole. I expect to be there from the 21st to the 28th of April. Maybe I'll take with me a especially made sundial (aha, you though this had nothing to do with sundials?). Any suggestions? - fernando -- REDUZIR, REUSAR, RECICLAR -- Dever de todos, amor aos que virão REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE -- Everybody's duty, love to those who are to come Fernando Cabral Padrao iX Sistemas Abertos mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pix.com.br Fone Direto: +55 61 329-0206 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] PABX: +55 61 329-0202 Fax: +55 61 326-3082 15º 45' 04.9" S (23 L 0196446/8256520) 47º 49' 58.6" W 19º 37' 57.0" S (23 K 0469898/7829161) 45º 17' 13.6" W -
