And in ev'ry room roses in bloom

Maybe not rose colored glasses but maybe bed of roses is what Jake had when filming Prince of Persia. The recent travel section of the NY Times reviewed the The Villa Rose Sultan, that opened just a few months before Jake began filming.

The"secluded boutique compound" on the outskirts of the Marrakesh, contains only private nine suites. The hotel is based upon a rose theme, from rose-flavored tea for guests, lush grounds, a secret rose garden oasis in sea of sand, and each suite bearing the the name of a certain type of rose like White Crystal, Royal Gold. The Villa Rose Sultan "comes with an impressive pedigree. The owner, Majid Ej Jennane, a grandson of the former pasha of the imperial city of Meknes, worked in marketing for Chanel and Hermès." The suite's rooms are "rough-walled, elemental and minimalist" complimenting the desert vistas. There is no restaurant, but rather a kitchen that prepares meals as the request of each suite. Patios are lined with high walls for privacy looking out over the glassy outdoor pool, gardens and mountain views. There is a traditional hammam (traditional Moroccan bathes - a multi-step cleansing technique requires a brew of hot and cold water, olive oil soap and a mud-like paste in a honeycomb of rooms).





A review of the hotel in the NY Times travel section describes it levels level of privacy. "If you’re trying to evade paparazzi, creditors or the law, the Villa Rose Sultan is for you. Located a good 20-minute drive from Marrakesh proper, the hotel is hidden behind anonymous high walls at the edge of a vast unpaved and unmarked dirt expanse roughly a quarter mile off the Route d’Ourika highway. The upside is a stellar view of the Atlas Mountains, fresh air and tranquillity — all in short supply in the city’s central districts. The downside is the hassle of getting into town, or even just across the bumpy sea of dirt. Don’t expect any taxis to be able to find it. You’re pretty much obliged to use the hotel’s driver."

Beautiful garden, elemental rooms, secluded, exlusive privacy. Sounds like they hit the nail on the head for Jake's accomodations.

Makes you wonder if the entire compound was rented out for Jake and his personal entourage. Seems like you could have people or perhaps a Secret Squirrel come and stay and no one would know. Hmmmm....

The Rose Sultan

What's black & white and ....

... read all over?

The tale of twosome on two wheels, that's what. And it looks like it has been hitting all over in various version of spinning.

But is it Spin City or the Mystery Machine?

The a rider on the knoll? A third wheel? Or just another rider that's been passed?

But the bigger mystery is the Man of Mystery himself - Austin.

In the first set of pictures we saw yesterday we see Austin with long spandex under a pair of short spandex shorts. And both he and Jake had long sleeve bike jersey's under short sleeve ones.

In the newest pictures, both are just wearing short sleeve jerseys and Austin in short spandex bike shorts.

Now you can see how you could peel off the shirts on a roadside stop along the way, but pants, now that's a magic trick, because that's a strip all the way down to what to what the good Lord gave you (while debated - the majority of cyclist do not wear anything under their cycle shorts, it defeats the purpose of the padding in the shorts, and yes there are forums about it) including your shoes to peel off the the long spandex and redress.

While Austin has no problem baring it on screen or in cars, you'd think the spandex striptease would be more of a show stopper or the show itself and you'd never get back on the bike.


And where are those long spandex and Jake and Austin's long shirts. And who would add a layer during a workout if you are heating up? And even then the longer would go over the shorter.

And quick eyes in the comment had thought along similar lines. (Thanks "Austin loses his pants") Another thing "Austin loses his pants", a self described LA native pointed out would be the haze in the new pictures. And those from LA understand haze. And that the biking pictures are sets from two different days. To quote them:

"I'm in LA and going by the light/haze I would guesstimate the older, sunnier clearer pics are either Thurs, Sat or Sun, and the newer hazy ones are Fri or Mon. "


Now do they want everyone to think that they were all taken on the same day?
"Austin loses his pants" thinks "someone wants it to look like this was 1 bike outing when it was really 2. You know, a casual monthly get together when Reese is too busy to be with Jake, not a regular 3x/week routine that Jake and Austin have."

It seems like it is a more a weekly routine. But another thought is if the pictures were taken last week and released on Monday, maybe they wanted people to know they were together on Easter like Stubborn TB suggested BUT maybe not where they where. Maybe they want us to think they were in LA but maybe the weren't in LA at all, but all together somewhere else. Kind of super "double secret" (name that movie) cover for them. You gotta wonder from Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole.

But what do you think?




One thing I do know there is only person who makes Jake smile like this.

Just one more thing - Thanks for the pictures - we love seeing you together.

Secret Agent Men

Alright you two you need new identities.

Here. You are now Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole, got that?

Yes Double Q!

You two will fight crime and evil enemy agents, paparazzi and the rest of Hollywood using your cunning and all of your nifty spy gadgets, including a machine gun cane, a collection of guns kept inside Secret's coat, and a variety of devices concealed in your hat SS. Don't take the hat off too much SS, or you identity will be revealed by your distinctive ears.

Yes Double Q.

Morocco Mole keep your glasses on, keep those well know eyes covered or you identity will be blown.


Yes Double Q

Your objective is to battle your recurring arch-enemy, Yellow Pinkie but don't forget about that master criminal Hy-Spy, look out for his hookah a sure sign Hy-Spy is near.

Look Secret the hideaway off the coast, no one will find us there.

You're right Morocco. We need to time put our heads together and figure out a plan.

Double Q?

Yes.

My hat is kind of small.

Sorry MM those are standard size your head must run large.

Double Q are sure this will work? I mean SS and MM, aren't kind of like GG and TT? And this purple hat with my yellowish fur does that seem a little Awful Truth to you?

I don't see a problem with it. Are you saying I'm not Double Q?

Well.... now that you mention it you seem more TC to me.

Top Cat, Secret?

Ahem, we'll just go with that.


And if I press this button Secret what happens then?



OMG Olympic Moment Twofer Tuesday

Weightlifting

An ancient sport as old as mankind, embodying the most direct manifestation of human strength, weightlifting has not only flourished, but also developed into a modern sporting discipline for the 21st century. The apparent simplicity of lifting the barbell from the ground and over the head in one or two movements is deceiving. Weightlifting requires a combination of power, speed, technique, concentration and timing. Super heavyweight lifters normally claim the title of World’s Strongest Man or Woman. However, kilo per kilo, the lightest weightlifter is often the strongest. Men’s weightlifting was on the programme of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. Women participated for the first time at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.

OMG's Olympic Take. From the looks of it, it looks like Jake has done some serious weightlifting in the few months to pump up the volume for Dastan. Anyone knows that you can weight lift alone, you always need a good spotter. ; )

Wrestling

If the Olympic Games are a history of mankind, wrestling is the prologue. When the ancient Games of the Olympiad were born, wrestling already was an ancient game. Widely recognised as the world's oldest competitive sport, wrestling appeared in a series of Egyptian wall paintings as many as 5000 years ago. When the Games began in 776 BC, more than two millenniums later, it included wrestling, and, in the years that followed, wrestling featured as the main event.

The sport would return in a similar role when the Olympic Games returned after a 1500-year absence in 1896. Organisers, seeking direct links to ancient times, found a natural in the sport that had enjoyed popularity across much of the ancient world, from Greece, Assyria and Babylon to India, China and Japan. They resurrected Greco-Roman wrestling, a style they believed to be an exact carryover from the Greek and Roman wrestlers of old.

In Greco-Roman wrestling, the wrestlers used only their arms and upper bodies to attack. They could hold only those same parts of their opponents. It worked nicely from a historical perspective, but another breezier style was sweeping across Great Britain and the United States by then. Known as "catch as catch can", it had become standard fare - and popular professional entertainment - at fairs and festivals in both countries.

In 1904, the Olympic Games added the second wrestling event and called it "freestyle". Now, wrestlers could use their legs for pushing, lifting and tripping, and they could hold opponents above or below the waist.

OMG's take. Leaving that all up to guys, leaving it all up to you. ; )