11am - Local time - Dubai
We arrived in Dubai at around 6am local time and met up with the other rowers in the airport including Matt Glen (M1x), coach Mike Gilbert, Luke Watts (MLW1x), the girls light weight double from Auckland; Ana Holt and Ellyse Stehlin. We also met up with team mate Esthie De Wet, so now the four is back together! We had a four hour stopover in Dubai so we went and used our meal vouchers from Emirates and enjoyed a second breakfast. First breakfast was served on our flight at about 2am so it was definitely time for round two.
We are on the plane now as I'm writing, on the runway at Dubai airport which is rather vast I must say. We even had to catch a bus from the terminal to the plane and just about got blown away by what felt like a heat wave on the tarmac. The temperature here is about 36 degrees Celsius, at 11am!
The inside of the airport was quite extravagant too, with just about every duty free store you can think of, and some more unusual outlets including henna tattoo parlors and a place called "sleep cube" where you can hire a place to sleep by the hour.
Our coaches just informed us of some news of the regatta time table for racing, and being on our last flight until Russia we are ready to get back out on the water and get a feel for the Russian waters.
8pm - Local time - St Petersburg
After our last flight into St Petersburg, we found ourselves starting to get the giggles a bit on our next wait, after a very broken night of sleep we were starting to become rather overtired.
It felt like forever waiting in the line at immigration in St Petersburg airport where they are very strict on visas and entry to the country. When we finally made it out of the airport, a man named Paul had been sent to get us, his English was poor but he managed enough words to get us into his transit van and after an hour driving through rush hour traffic we arrived at the 'English Rowing Club'.
What a pleasant surprise...
The club is the most magnificent I have ever seen. It is very historic, built in 1864, but was refurbished two years ago. And boy did they do a mighty good job. It feels like a bit of a haven away from the bustling streets of St. Petersburg. The club is three stories tall and has a large boat shed and a gym on the first floor. The second and third floors are fitted with luxury accommodation and a wonderful club rooms. If you don't believe me, have a look at the pictures. It really is fit for a queen! The water looks like glass to, we'll get to go out on it tomorrow.
We had dinner made for us tonight. It looked to me like traditional Russian meatballs and some sort of mushroom stew. We are feeling very well looked after.
]Anyway, its about nine now but still very light outside and feels like a decent 18'C. So we are off to bed to try and catch a few zzzz's and will be ready to row tomorrow.
We arrived in Dubai at around 6am local time and met up with the other rowers in the airport including Matt Glen (M1x), coach Mike Gilbert, Luke Watts (MLW1x), the girls light weight double from Auckland; Ana Holt and Ellyse Stehlin. We also met up with team mate Esthie De Wet, so now the four is back together! We had a four hour stopover in Dubai so we went and used our meal vouchers from Emirates and enjoyed a second breakfast. First breakfast was served on our flight at about 2am so it was definitely time for round two.
We are on the plane now as I'm writing, on the runway at Dubai airport which is rather vast I must say. We even had to catch a bus from the terminal to the plane and just about got blown away by what felt like a heat wave on the tarmac. The temperature here is about 36 degrees Celsius, at 11am!
The inside of the airport was quite extravagant too, with just about every duty free store you can think of, and some more unusual outlets including henna tattoo parlors and a place called "sleep cube" where you can hire a place to sleep by the hour.
Our coaches just informed us of some news of the regatta time table for racing, and being on our last flight until Russia we are ready to get back out on the water and get a feel for the Russian waters.
8pm - Local time - St Petersburg
After our last flight into St Petersburg, we found ourselves starting to get the giggles a bit on our next wait, after a very broken night of sleep we were starting to become rather overtired.
It felt like forever waiting in the line at immigration in St Petersburg airport where they are very strict on visas and entry to the country. When we finally made it out of the airport, a man named Paul had been sent to get us, his English was poor but he managed enough words to get us into his transit van and after an hour driving through rush hour traffic we arrived at the 'English Rowing Club'.
What a pleasant surprise...
The club is the most magnificent I have ever seen. It is very historic, built in 1864, but was refurbished two years ago. And boy did they do a mighty good job. It feels like a bit of a haven away from the bustling streets of St. Petersburg. The club is three stories tall and has a large boat shed and a gym on the first floor. The second and third floors are fitted with luxury accommodation and a wonderful club rooms. If you don't believe me, have a look at the pictures. It really is fit for a queen! The water looks like glass to, we'll get to go out on it tomorrow.
We had dinner made for us tonight. It looked to me like traditional Russian meatballs and some sort of mushroom stew. We are feeling very well looked after.
]Anyway, its about nine now but still very light outside and feels like a decent 18'C. So we are off to bed to try and catch a few zzzz's and will be ready to row tomorrow.
- Kirstie J
Dubai Airport bus
Boarding
My kiwi contribution to the decor
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