Robyn's Wanderings

View from Westin Harbour Castle hotel over Lake Ontario

Liz Roberts – a Bermuda-based journalist – has enjoyed visiting New York for years. Recently she thought she would give Toronto a go…especially with the rates from Bermuda’s newest airline addition- WestJet. Here’s her Bermuda Abroad take on a city that is home for 2.7 million people:

I love New York. I may not actually own the tee-shirt but it’s right there in my heart. And every time I want to get off The Rock (Bermuda), that’s where I end up.

It’s got everything a female solo traveller could want – great atmosphere, great shopping, marvellous people watching and it feels quite safe.

Oh and NYC has a myriad of bars and restaurants where it’s perfectly acceptable for a single gal to sit alone reading a book without being considered odd (it is not possible to do this in Bermuda, trust me.)

But after at least ten trips to The Big Apple in the past four years, I felt like I was stuck in a vacation rut. When WestJet started flying direct to Toronto at super-cheap prices, it seemed a good opportunity to check out somewhere different.

So I got myself a ticket – just $224 including taxes – and booked a discounted hotel room through Hotwire.com at the Westin Harbour Castle.

This is a four star hotel in downtown Toronto, right on the shore of Lake Ontario. It has a great view, but I could have lived without the noisy party boats leaving the quay below my window at all hours of the day and night – in between ferryboats honking incessantly.

I don’t mind not sleeping in the “city that never sleeps”  – but that was a bit much.

I order to escape the honking as soon as possible on my first night, I set off on foot to find a decent Thai restaurant for dinner. I love Thai food and without being disrespectful to Bermuda’s Thai restaurants, they just don’t cut it for me.

I ended up at Golden Thai (www.goldenthai.ca) on Church Street, and what a fabulous place it turned out to be. Statues of gods and goddesses everywhere, ornate chandeliers and tapestries, and a welcoming atmosphere. Installed at a corner table with a glass of vino and a good book, I was already pretty happy. And then the food came along. Delicious Tom Yam Goom soup with lemon shrimp, followed by the house speciality, Phad Thai. All delivered by efficient and friendly waiting staff – I couldn’t have picked a better place.

Fun Fashion in Toronto

I wandered back to the hotel down Yonge Street, checking out the locals decked out in their Friday night finery. VERY short shorts seem to be the thing for Toronto girls this summer – perhaps this is an over-reaction to having to wear snow gear for most of the year? Anyway, I felt way too underdressed to join them in any of the city bars, since I was wearing shorts that were at least four inches too long, so I headed back to the hotel instead.

The next day I hit the Eaton Centre (www.torontoeatoncentre.com), recommended to me as the best place to pick up all the essentials I had on my clothes-shopping list. I popped into several of the big-name chain stores (including H&M) and they did the trick – although I have to say that I found the mall pretty gloomy and soulless. Nothing like the buzz you get from strutting down Fifth Avenue in NYC with arms-full of bags.
So perhaps the mall experience is just not to my taste. Never mind, the following day I hopped on the subway to Queen Street West. This, I had been assured by my Canadian friends, is a funky area with great shopping. And indeed it turned out to be so.

First I popped into the Essential Beauty Bar for a mani-pedi, a snip at just $45. The salon is situated next to a shop named Condom Shack with a rather interesting window display… perhaps the idea is you get all your “essential maintenance” sorted at the beauty bar before heading next door to stock up for a weekend of fun?

Despite being intrigued by the window display (I’d better not describe it, this is not that kind of website) I walked on past Condom Shack, as pleasures of a different kind were in order for me next – namely delicious sushi at one of the many eateries along the road. These range from Japanese to Indian and from Greek to Korean. So much choice that I was starving hungry by the time I finally picked one.

Next, more clothes shopping, with plenty of big-name stores mixed in with

Go Green - a Community Project in Kensington Market, Toronto

some interesting independent places further along Queen Street West. I picked up a gorgeous vintage dress at Tribal Rhythm, and got my first taste of the attentive and friendly service that is so often lacking in Bermuda.

In addition to the choice of stores and restaurants on this street, there was even an outdoor pop concert going on. It sounded a bit like Miley Cyrus, so I gave it a wide berth, but enjoyed the accompanying fireworks going off in broad daylight.

On my third and final day I hopped on the subway again. This is a little expensive at $3 per single ticket but nonetheless the service is frequent and the trains are a little less grungy than in New York.

A poorly punctuated store in Kensington Market

I ended up in the Kensington Market area (www.kensington-market.ca.) after strolling through the exotic sights and smells of Chinatown en route.

The market is filled with food stores specialising in an immense variety of fruit, meat, and fish and – my favourite – cheese! Since I have such a weakness for cheese that I could happily eat it all day, I avoided that temptation and wandered in the direction of the Last Temptation pub instead.

This drinking venue has a chilled-out atmosphere and a little patio perfect for people watching. I had a drink there, but was put off stopping to eat after a trip to the bathrooms down in the incredibly stinky basement.

I spent the rest of the day exploring Kensington Market, which also boasts a number of hippie-style clothing shops – one of which is the brilliantly named Fairies’ Pyjamas. I was somewhat disappointed to discover it does not actually stock pyjamas for the little people at the bottom of the garden. However, it does sell hula-hoops (remember them?) and some interesting human-sized clothes including tutus and knitwear made from Yak wool.

My trip nearing its end, I couldn’t resist heading back to Golden Thai that evening for more delicious food (basil beef this time) before a nightcap in the hotel bar overlooking Lake Ontario.

Overall, I couldn’t fault Toronto when it came to good shopping, some interesting neighbourhoods and the feeling that it’s very safe to explore alone.

That said, it definitely lacks the soul and buzz of other big cities I’ve visited as a solo traveller such as Sydney, Buenos Aires, Singapore and of course – New York.

But with tickets selling for less than $250, it certainly offers a bargain weekend trip for anyone with a dose of Rock Fever…and a craving for some decent Thai food.

Bermuda Blooms

Really Sun newspaper?? Britain is balmier than Bermuda? Not really hard to beat us in the heat. What about the humidity? Think we still beat Britain. For those who don’t know, Bermuda rarely goes above 90 degrees Maybe you should have picked….Bali?

Yeah well the Sun wasn’t alone. The UKPA (press association) also had something to say. Hey! Perhaps this is better tourism advertising than pink cabs???

Red Fort in New Delhi...ok not Chennai, but still India!

Going to India anytime soon? Worried you won’t be able to have your Bacardi and Coke? Fear no longer. The Bermuda-based family owned rum maker is opening a plant in Tamil Nadu, India! Yipee!!

Back to Europe and Bermuda debuted on the Paris runway. Well our shorts did at least. The designer Thom Browne covered them in Space Suit first and then let the golfing NASA crowd show their legs off! Well according to Huffington Post.

Paris is far behind….Canada! Calgary to be exact. A Calgary mayor candidate, Joe Connelly, wore them as he spoke to students at the area’s University! Go Bermuda shorts!!!

After trekking 2,000 miles to Bermuda and back newspapers along the East Coast of the United States are hailing their sailors – heroes. They took part in the Bermuda Race.

Of course Sail World also got involved and published some photos of the actual race winners! Featured at the Government house everyone’s smiles and suntans.

Now for something really exciting….Bridge. No not crossing the water…the card game. Apparently there is a Bridge Bermuda Bowl and just this week the USA team for it was chosen. I don’t know how I contain my excitement!

A little closer to home? Last week I had a friend visiting from New Jersey. It was great playing tourist with them and they loved the island (it only took her 12 years to visit me here:) Apparently the rest of New Jersey loves our home too.

And finally….a little news for those who are Bermuda-based (and, well, any Canadians seeking some winter sun) WestJet is going to be landing on 21-square-miles through the winter!! Yippeee. Discount Canadian prices all year round!

a zip lock bag. Wrap the sweater around it. Hide it in the winter jacket.

Stuff it at the bottom of the bag. Shoes are hiding underneath. The utility bag goes on top.

Wine Tasting in Chile

What am I talking about? Trying to fit my life in a backpack for a year. And yes the wine glass from Concha y Toro made it back to Bermuda.

In that vein today’s Rock Fever Column takes-on packing and…..a few more tips from those who know:

The New York Times recently covered the “Art of packing” by who else? A stewardess! What’s the number one tip?

Roll, Roll, Roll, your clothes! It saves space and your clothes.

Others? Layer, layer, layer. Winter clothes are the worst to pack! So much stuffing. So bring long underwear and layer the clothes and the winter jacket can be a minimum.

From the travel site Gadling? Create a travel drawer. Good idea especially when I am always searching for my chargers and vaccine booklet.

Stock it with travel-size shampoos and a first-aid kit.

Need a computer? Don’t forget the ethernet. Though to be fair most places now have WiFi so…don’t stress if you forget.

Need to bring jewelry with you? Well include a typical pill-box and each of these compartments can store your important pieces.

Do you have any good packing tips? How do you prepare for a trip?

Tonight I’m going to a friend’s wedding reception at a beautiful, hidden spot in Bermuda – Tom Moore’s Tavern.

It’s that time of my life and that time of the year for weddings (Not my own mind you. No ring on this finger). But Bermuda is a definite must-do for destination weddings. So close to the East Coast of the United States brides just love us.

But want to go more unique? What about multi-tasking? Try grocery shopping while getting hitched? Well a Wisconsin couple did.

“Honey could you grab the butter and this ring with which I do wed?”

“I do…take you and want spare ribs for dinner.”

I can see it. It’s romantic…..I guess. Hell at least you could grab cocktail napkins for the reception (it happened in my family. We did a horse and buggy drive-by complete with husband and wife shopping).

You getting hungry yet? Yeah well so did passengers on a Ryan Air flight from Prestwick airport in the UK to Girona, Spain last week. Stuck for six hours on the tarmac they were not allowed food or water.

What happened? The Police were called……for water and chocolate.

Chocolate leaving your diet? You trying to fit into the wedding dress? What about for the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida.

Yeah this new theme park recently opened for….well no one with a frame larger than 265 pounds is allowed on the ride: “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.”

Of course it’s for safety concerns. Harnesses won’t be able to hold anyone looking more like cousin Dudley than Harry.

Not sure what you weigh? Don’t worry the park has “test seats” to check! Uh….invasive? I don’t know any ride I would go on if I had to weigh myself first!

I’m going for a run and then…bring on the reception, finger food!!! That’s fair, right?

It’s Friday folks so time for a photo. Today’s it’s all about flying flags for the sailors gracing Bermuda’s shores. Where did they come from? Everywhere.

Where are they going? Who knows. Everywhere. I sat inadvertently eavesdropping yesterday at The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club (Bermuda in case you haven’t caught on yet) to two sailors discussing their plans.

“So have you decided if you’re flying?”
“Yeah. No I think I’ll be by boat.”

“Are you entering the……” and the list of multiple sailing events around the world began issuing from their mouths and I lost interest.

Ahhh…to be able to sail away on a boat. Another time. So where is this photo

Docking at the Royal Amateur Dinghy Club

taken? Well you guessed it – the Dinghy Club!

I know. I know. It’s not the hosting club, but well it’s closer to home.

On another note that’s very far from home – it’s the year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. Is this the JFK of our generation?

I don’t know, but I can admit he was one of the first cassettes I ever bought (and that will date me in case you wonder which generation I was referring to). He went in the basket along with Whitney Houston – before her crack problem – and Madonna – before she was a mom.

So why the JFK reference? Because I listen to my parents wonder where they were on that day. I can remember where I was when I heard of Michael Jackson’s death. Sitting in my hotel room in the rudely named Phitsanoluk (sounds like piss…NO LOOK!).

I was just about to head to the cafe below for my much-needed coffee when I decided to watch the TV. I hadn’t seen one in weeks so it was a bit of a splurge. CNN started chattering as they do.

Running along the bottom of their screen (which is often the only way to understand what is going on): “Michael Jackson’s dead.”

Where were you?

So it’s hard to sit and write today. My internet is down….again! And  so I’m trying to concentrate as I sit overlooking Hamilton Harbour (in Bermuda) watching the sailboats sway.

Finding Bermuda

Why? Well it’s about floating and waves…and no I kid. It’s Newport to Bermuda time and apparently the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is full because The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy club is filling-up.

How do these boats find Bermuda? Well they’re pretty well-equipped so navigating our reefs is no problem.

Are you trying not to find Bermuda? Maybe escape the 21-square-mile island for July? Are you heading to Europe? Or maybe you’re debating whether or not to go? Here are some ideas:

Let’s start with the only direct connection from Bermuda to the other side of the pond – London, England. Well if anyone’s been watching….well anything the news, Wimbledon, whatever, you know that an American and a French player are on a mammoth session (ten hours and counting). Hopefully they will finish their game by the first week of July when the tournament ends!

Heading to Italy? Fancy a horse race? So do the folks in Sienna. For July

Italia!

2nd even some families will be divided as the horses race around the city centre. It’s the Palio di Siena! I’ve never seen it in play, but I’ve seen Siena and I know how small the square is…..I’d definitely make it here if you can!

Of course France celebrates their Bastille Day on July 14! Independence…..Here’s some ideas on how to enjoy Paris – Bastille or not.

Fancy a little exercise before heading for Paris? Run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain from July 6 to the 14! .

Jazz more your style? Head to Montreux, Switzerland for their two week jazz festival. From July 2 to the 17th the hills will be alive with the sound…. of Ben Harper to Billy Idol!

Any other ideas? Got something you’d like to add? Maybe something to see in a destination further afield? I’m looking forward to your suggestions!

Yep we are more than half-way through June and I know most of us have spent it glued to the TV. You know…that whole kicking a ball around thing in South Africa.

Bermuda's Southland Beach

It’s also summertime and in Bermuda that means the temps are up and the sun is most definitely out. It also means busy, busy weekends and I’m not even a social butterfly like most.

What are we Bermuda-bound people doing? Well if you were like me this weekend you found one way to escape the island – boat. Yep…out to Mangrove Bay I made my small escape. What did I find? Turtles! by the dozens.

These guys, who are called green but don’t represent their colour, were popping out of everywhere! It’s turtle time.

But what if you’re looking for somewhere to go further afield? Need some ideas? Want to know what’s going on in July?

For overall events I found this great website: www.eventful.com which provides worldwide listing of events.

Need something more specific?

Ok Let’s start from my favourite U.S. city: New York, New York.

Duh: July 4th is just about commandeered the event days of the United States. In New York they, of course, go big! Six barges sit in the Hudson River setting off fireworks for all to see.

Of course, like Bermudians they take to the water to watch these. Check out these options for cruises through the town.

Also July 4th? Stuff your face with hotdogs. Not entice? Ok well you can watch everyone else at the infamous Nathan’s Hotdog stand on Coney Island (it’s just a hop, skip and a jump on the Q train from Manhattan).

Want to eat better? Try to make it to New York between July 12 and the 25th for New York Restaurant week.

Even better? Afterwards New York takes to their ubiquitous parks for films, concerts and Operas…for FREE!!! Yes something in this world still is. Check out MET in the Park for the opera schedule and links to other concerts.

Baaaston…Well you may have read my post yesterday? That should give you some ideas on what to see and what to avoid in this battling city!

Boston Harbour

No? Not good enough. Ok let’s try again starting with numbers: SIX. Yes six. It might be July 4th, but Boston wants to ensure they truly celebrate in style.

Check out this site for the entire listing of what’s going on from June 30th until July 5th in Beantown.

Need to relax? Check out MIAMI for July. They entire city is offering special deals on Spa Treatments for the entire month of July!!!

Yep for $99 you can try all sorts of fun, relaxing treatments at the top Spas of Miami. Sounds like a girls’ weekend to me!

Fruit more your style? Well Miami actually has an International Mango festival! Now if they only had sticky rice…..

Where should you go?

Atlanta it is, finally. Well anyone up for some Benatar? Pat that is? Well she’s playing a concert here on July 1.

For more Atlanta events, including and exhibit of human bodies (yes that’s what I said) check out this site.

Yep so this was just a small selection from the West Coast of the states. Any other ideas?

I know, I know I’m missing anything West and anything East….so stay tuned. Maybe tomorrow you’ll get some more ideas….unless you can post some to me. Where should I find festivals/events/things to do?

Wandering along Charles River in Boston

It’s Monday! And it’s time for another Rock Fever Column. Here it is:

I saw the red and blue lights flashing before I heard the sirens. I was running down the streets of Harvard Square before I knew what I was doing. I had lost my friends.

“Andrew?!” He ducked into a building’s shadow. He was being followed by an overzealous citizen and I was following them. This was getting ridiculous. I lost Andrew. I could hear the Police sirens still screeching though the sound was reverberating less and less in my ears.

The concerned citizen gave-up. I saw Andrew ahead. “Andrew….Andrew….stop! Wait…What happened to you? (ok this is the clean version).”

I went to get some water to wash the fight off his face and hands. We try to call our friend David. He’s with the Police and not for his health. Ahhh…Boston.

Andrew tells me: “Robyn, you’ve just experienced the ‘real’ Boston.”

Yeah great. Quite honestly I could give the Boston that sends my friends to jail a pass. How did I get into this Boston brawl? I decided Memorial Day was a good excuse to leave Bermuda and visit some friends I had met while traveling through Cusco, Peru. You know…from my round-the-world trip….last year. It was turning-out to be far more than I expected.

David spent the night in jail and I went back to his house with Anthony and David’s sister. They bailed him out in the morning and I bailed myself out of the situation with a run along the Charles River, which cuts through Boston and Cambridge.

Fact for you: Cambridge is its own city. Yep. Boston is a city and so is Cambridge (you know the one with Harvard in it.)

Other ways to get your kicks (and not into someone’s side) in Boston? Visit Jail. No I didn’t go to get David out. So where did I go? The Liberty Hotel. This former prison has now been turned into a beautiful hotel filled with aptly named bars and restaurants such as The Clink, Alibi, Scampo and the Yard. Stuck in the heart of Beacon Hill it’s pricey (rooms range from $300 and upwards) so I came here for a drink and to enjoy the view of the former prison cells. It’s located on Charles Street and a hop, skip and a jump from Mass General Hospital.

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Believe you’re innocent? Not quite ready for prison, but want to experience the long-arm of the law? Try The Back Bay Hotel which was a former Police station turned hotel. Their aptly named bar? Cuffs. What more could you want? Well for just about $200 (and sometimes some good deals) you can also stay at the hotel. I have heard from at least two couples who stayed here and loved it.

Settled into your secure beds, but want something peaceful for the days? Yeah, me too. Well then head for the Boston Aquarium. I have loved this building since I was seven-years-old and lived in a neighbourhood outside of Boston. I must have been onto something. This aquatic centre attracts more than a million people each year. Ok so it costs about $20 to enter, but their tubular, “Giant Ocean Tank” with rays, sharks and all types of fish will keep you mesmerized as you walk around it to the top of the building.

Hungry now? Craving more peace? Well now that Boston has finally completed their ‘Big Dig’, which placed miles of above-ground highway below, the North End (or little Italy) is no longer ostracized from the rest of Boston. This area is Boston’s oldest residential neighbourhood where people have lived continuously since 1660. It is also the birthplace of the revolution. So now you’ve grabbed a pizza you can also sneak a peek at Paul Revere’s House and The Old North Church (you know, where the sexton signaled that the Brits were marching and set-off the whole independence thing). For the celiacs (because I am one and am always on the look out) the North End will not leave you out. It is also has Nebo which offers gluten-free pizza!

From the North End, finish the three mile Freedom Trail. March the 294 stairs up the Bunker Hill Monument and then find somewhere to rest your feet.

Where did I find? Fenway Park. The infamous, and one of the oldest baseball diamonds in America now has ….a bar, the Bleacher Bar to be exact with arguably one of the best views in Boston. What do you look at? Well if there was a game on I would have been ensuring first base was covered. And yes the bar is open during games and no, it doesn’t cost anything to get in. Well I mean besides a cold cider at the reasonable price of $5.

Of course after being in the dungeons of Fenway it was time to head to the tippy top of Boston Top of the Hub. This restaurant and bar at the top of the Prudential Centre offers incredible food (stuffed my face with salmon) at not ridiculous prices ($30 for an entree), but with spectacular views.

Not on the $30 a dish budget? Visit for a glass of $8 wine and enjoy the Jazz Band and the view for less. It will be worth it even if fires in Quebec fill Boston (yes it happened, Memorial Day weekend. Still did not ruin my time).

Now you’ve stayed in a jail in Boston, run Boston and enjoyed some of the peace of Boston. What’s left to do? Visit during July 4. This town knows how to party (even if they sometime run-in with the Police). For independence day, Boston manages not one day, but six days of celebration. Pull up a chair and a keg along the Charles River and celebrate the United States of America’s independence. I hear it’s a good time.

Flights are available on Delta and will spit you into Beantown by 2 p.m. or take Jet Blue and get in around 5 p.m.

Whichever way, visit Boston and my website: www.robynswanderings.com

* Next week: Now you’ve booked your ticket to Boston, I presume….how to pack? I’ll try to find someone who can tell you …. until next week!

Bermuda!

No work tomorrow! Welcome to Bermuda’s three-day weekend. Why? Because we’ve got heroes to celebrate for the third year! Yep in 2007 Bermuda decided it needed a heroes’ day (no capes needed) so here we are in June with a three-day weekend. Bring on the tights and saving small children!

Ok maybe not but Bermuda’s hero is definitely the ultimate female of firsts – Dame Lois Browne Evans. She was Bermuda’s first female lawyer, the first black woman elected to Parliament, the first female Attorney General and first leader of the Opposition.

She also became the first female Opposition leader in the Commonwealth.

Anyway…it’s a day-off. A day to recover from Father’s Day (don’t forget you’ve got a busy night with Do It for Daddy cruises! Don’t even get me started on how wrong that is).

Did you forget it was Father’s Day? Really? Not to worry. There are plenty of excuses. i.e. “Oh didn’t you know dad I thought we would be cosmopolitan and celebrate Argentina’s (hint it’s….)”

“Of course I didn’t forget I was making you feel like a dad again….” Ok well if all else fails these are the other countries and when they celebrate their dads.

Argentina – the third Sunday in June

Australia – the first Sunday in September

Belgium – St. Joseph’s Day & the second Sunday in June

Brazil – the second Sunday in August

Bulgaria – June 20

Canada – the third Sunday in June

Chile – the third Sunday in June

Denmark – the second Sunday in November

Finland – the second Sunday in November

France – the third Sunday in June

Germany – Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter)

Japan – the third Sunday in June

Lithuania – the first Sunday in June

Netherlands – the third Sunday in June

New Zealand – the first Sunday in September

Norway – the second Sunday in November

Portugal – St. Joseph’s Day March 19

Spain – St. Joseph’s Day March 19

Sweden – the second Sunday in November

Taiwan – August 8 ( in the Mandarin dialect of the Chinese language which many people speak in Taiwan, the numbers for this date – 8/8 – make the sound “ba ba“…and that is the same sound as the word father!)

Thailand – December 5 (This is the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej)

United Kingdom – the third Sunday in June

United States – the third Sunday in June

Who knows how any of these countries pick these days or how we do but there you go. Now you can buy that plan ticket for dad and celebrate father’s day in one of these far-flung places.

And for tomorrow – the day-off if you are a 9 to fiver who works Monday to Friday. What’s the plan? I mean besides celebrating the life of Dame Lois Browne Evans, obviously…..

I would say for most Bermudians it will be a chance to head to the water on their boats. Or via the pink sand on our beaches. What’re your plans? BBQs?

Me? I have a friend visiting by cruise! The same chica who met me in Buenos Aires. I love international friendships!

But whatever your poison for the day….have fun…and keep trucking!

run?

Running through the Valley of the Kings

The weather is heating-up. The running is drying-up. And the skin is starting to perspire even on a gentle walk into Hamilton. It’s summer time kids!

And it’s time to get the last run in of the season. Starting on Monday with the Heroes’ Day  Sprit Triathalon.

This is followed by the last two organized road races of the season here in Bermuda – the Fidelity Couples’ race next weekend. June 27th and then finally the BF&M weight handicap 5km on July 6th.

Why do I bring this up? Well I think anyone who has followed my blog will know I have a penchant for running. It’s something I started young with my dad.

But I only started it competitively a couple of years ago. Why? A friend and colleague convinced me to do the RMS 10 km. It’s set me off on a regular-running-routine.

And it was a great outlet while I was traveling. Not just as a way to let-out any stress, but to meet people and see places.

Well, that is if you are good at following where you ran. What do I mean? In Arcachon, France I lived with a family for five weeks. I decided one day that the family was leaving for the day and I was going to go for a run.

Two hours later I was circling the same road twice. I saw the area….thoroughly. Finally I asked a kind French man for directions. Yes, my French was good enough even through desperate attempts to breath.

I found my house. And I found a great way to see a place. This helped me in Bali. I could run along the beach and see the sun rise with the regulars walking their dogs.

Baking in Bali

In Santiago, Chile I could scale the mountain for the best view of the city and the Andes while also working-off the wine, steak and tamales.

Argentina? Well in Buenos Aires it’s all about the athletes. It’s all about bods. Can’t say I could compete but it was fun trying.

Now I’m back in Bermuda traipsing the sand dunes and enjoying the beaches, but need a get-away? Want to combine that with running? Here are some ideas for destination running.

Check ya lata!