Flamini, 50, accepted the adventure for large-scale experimentation as part of the Timecave project. Throughout the “journey in the cave”, she was observed by scientists from various universities in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, studying the reaction of her brain and body to the extreme conditions of isolation.
From electronics, Flamini took with her a “smart” bracelet that transmitted body parameters to researchers, and two action cameras. On them, the woman filmed a “vlog” about life in the cave for the next documentary, and at the same time helped scientists track the dynamics of her condition on video. In addition, the mountaineer had a whole team of assistants, whom she called the cave gods. They left her food, clean clothes and other necessary items at a designated place, and in return took away the trash. The Spaniard admits she has always looked forward to treats like avocados and fresh eggs, as well as washed T-shirts.
Despite all this, for a year and a half spent within the walls of the cave, the woman completely excluded all contact with people. According to the mountaineer’s conditions, she should not have been disturbed even in the event of the death of a loved one – in other words, a total “detox”.
However, far from civilization, the athlete wasted no time in vain and read 60 books. On its stone “library” were volumes of Jules Verne and Nietzsche, as well as books on speleology. The mountaineer regularly played sports, painted, knitted woolen hats and even wrote his own book. According to Flamini, she tried to live “here and now” and constantly took care of a few things. “You have to be focused. If I’m distracted, I’ll twist my ankle. It will hurt. Everything will end, and they’ll have to get me out of here. And I don’t want that,” the athlete said. at a press conference immediately after emerging from the ground. Flamini complained that after 16 months of “shut up” conversations are difficult for her. Two “lonely” birthdays, including one, which the woman celebrated in silence and tried to pay attention to “internal conversations”.
The Spaniard spent the endless cycle of hours underground playing sports, as well as drawing, knitting, reading and writing a book. Photo: Reuters
Nevertheless, Flamini was in no hurry to leave her native “dungeon”. When the workers came to pick up the climber after 500 days, the woman couldn’t believe her ears – she thought less than half the agreed time had passed. And all because in the cave the athlete has completely lost track of time. For the first two months, she tried to “follow” the schedule, but on the 65th day she lost her way. “I’m still stuck on November 21, 2021 (the day the woman moved into the cave). I don’t know anything about this world,” the record holder confessed. She seemed to fall into a time loop and after a year and a half returned to the world without the COVID-19 pandemic and without Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. Will Flamini be ready for new challenges? Indeed, according to the Spaniard, she did not miss the outside world at all and was content to live in a modest cave, where she knew no worries, except for the invasion of flies which had once disturbed her peace. .
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