Of course being a PE teacher, I couldn't visit Beijing without seeing the Birds Nest or Water Cube. Well, they are now open as tourist attractions. Interestingly apparently the money for the Water Cube was donated by Chinese people around the world and the reason they were built so close together was for the Ying and Yang. The hard metal like structure of the birds nest is balanced by the tranquil Water Cube.
They are both very impressive. The swimming pool looked quite small compared to the training pool but it wasn't, it was the vastness of the spectator area that made it look small. For a fee you can swim lengths in the training pool, but unfortunately I didn't have my costume with me. However, a new Swan Lake was being staged in the Water cube, a fusion of ballet, synchronised swimming and diving, all to Tchaikovsky's haunting music. Those of you who have known me for years know how obsessed I am with Swan Lake (but Matthew Bourne's male version) so anyway I bought a ticket for Wednesday night for a full dance experience here in China.
The Birds Nest has a massive spectator area for an 80,000 capacity. The track was covered up (almost, I found a small section uncovered) but I managed a sprint start and finish for an imaginary finish line. It was quite funny that a lot of people came and asked if they could have their photo taken with me. I wasn't aware I resembled someone famous!
Hope you like the photo of me trying my breast stroke outside the Water Cube!
They are both very impressive. The swimming pool looked quite small compared to the training pool but it wasn't, it was the vastness of the spectator area that made it look small. For a fee you can swim lengths in the training pool, but unfortunately I didn't have my costume with me. However, a new Swan Lake was being staged in the Water cube, a fusion of ballet, synchronised swimming and diving, all to Tchaikovsky's haunting music. Those of you who have known me for years know how obsessed I am with Swan Lake (but Matthew Bourne's male version) so anyway I bought a ticket for Wednesday night for a full dance experience here in China.
The Birds Nest has a massive spectator area for an 80,000 capacity. The track was covered up (almost, I found a small section uncovered) but I managed a sprint start and finish for an imaginary finish line. It was quite funny that a lot of people came and asked if they could have their photo taken with me. I wasn't aware I resembled someone famous!
Hope you like the photo of me trying my breast stroke outside the Water Cube!
