Racing travel

For the past two years I travelled to San Francisco to take part in the Nike Women's race. Unfortunately it is such a popular race there is a draft and we didn't get chosen this year. Instead my daughter and I volunteered at the Rock and Roll marathon here in our home town. The sheer number of people who come for this race is astounding. one guy told me this was his 18th race. He was working to make every city in the RNR series. the man was clearly insane so I tried to cut the conversation short!

As I was uploading some pictures to my phone I found some pics from my past races. I thought maybe I should post some here to make sure I kept a record of the times I finished half-marathons. That is 13.1 miles people!

I hear you sister:


Oh the people. Lot's of people:


The reason I walk at all...the tiffany necklace!!

Puerto Rico...tropical breezes or tropic diseases?

Prior to our March cruise, this is what would come to mind when I thought of Puerto Rico. America lyrics from West Side Story!

Puerto Rico

You ugly island . . .
Island of tropic diseases.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing . . .
And the money owing,
And the babies crying,
And the bullets flying.



BUT This is what I found when we actually went there!







This crazy mix of Caribbean and Europe. A friend of mine who was born in Puerto Rico told me the cobblestones in the picture above were counterbalance on the ships brought from Spain who would return home with tons of gold. The streets are older than America!

Needless to say, I plan on returning when I can spend more than 5 hours!

A Baguette is a baguette is a baguette, non?

Strongly considering this tour of Paris from Context Travel

Comment of the day

From a friend in an email:

Oh YES, flip flops are a must have - my feet never touch the floor of a hotel.

YAY! Now I know she won't look at me strangely when I flip the mattresses in our room looking for bedbug feces!

Moroccan salesman or The Art of Guilt

My mother wants me to look for rugs in Morocco. Probably not realizing that this is likely a thousand dollar purchase. Or a emotionally trying experience I might perhaps need therapy for!

So I decided to do some research:

Dave's Travel Corner let me know some possible experiences I might have though the impersonal heavy-handed sales pitch is more likely for me. EBay taught me what to look for in Moroccan rugs. The girls who get around let me realize that more research would be necessary and shipping should be a consideration!

The moral of the story: I think my mother is getting a straw bag instead!

Save your Euros and spend it on FOOD!

Paris is notoriously expensive.And it's not just because the dollar is currently weak against the Euro. When it comes to supply and demand, there is just one Paris and millions who travel there every year. So when I saw Context Travel's Paris manager Lily Heise put together a list of five FREE things to do in Paris I wanted to note it (and share!) Conde Nast Traveler has a blog that Context contributes to and I will be following!

Art Gallery Hop in the Haut Marais
Check out the current art scene at the city's top contemporary galleries, such as Yvon Lambert, Thaddaeus Ropac, Galerie Perrotin, located on and around the northern stretch of rue de Vieille du Temple. The streets liven up most Thursday nights when art openings are held; pick up a glass of wine and rub shoulders with the hip crowd.


Groove to a Jazz Jam Session
Discover the next Miles Davis in the depths of the Caveau des Oubliettes cellar. For the cost of a drink (there's no cover), you can find the latest musical talent daily Tuesday to Sunday starting at 10 p.m.


Taste the Latest Trends in French Wine
Get a free sampling of wine and cheese, and maybe even meet the winemaker in person, at the wine shop La Derniere Goutte, during its "2 1/2 Happy Hours" every Friday evening from 5 to 7:30 p.m.


Witness Art in the Making
Since opening in 2008 in the former Municipal Funeral Service headquarters, Le Centquatre has offered a hip array of exhibits and happenings. Check out the creations of the artists-in-residence, experience performance artist or take in an electro-tango concert. While many evens here are free, some require tickets, so check the website before you head over.


Be, or Meet, a Modern Hemingway
Paris is a dream for literary fans and writers looking for inspiration—you'll find book launches and author appearances almost nightly at the city's anglophone bookshops, including Shakespeare and Company, The Village Voice, The Abbey Bookshop, and also at the American Library in Paris.

The Cheapest time to travel

Here are some pointers about when you can travel for the best price. When to actually book the ticket for the cheapest flight can be found here.

1. Try to travel midweek. Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the cheapest travel days.
2. Travel the off-season. BUT it's the off season for a reason. Make sure you aren't vacationing right in the middle of the wet season with 40 inch rainfall total norms.
3. Try to stay a Saturday night. If you have to travel on the weekend, staying the Saturday night often means cheaper flights.
4. AVOID SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. Labor Day is a horrible time to travel because it's the last 3 day weekend of the Summer.
5.Look for trends. Know your location. If you are travelling to Vegas for a non-weekend visit. It is often cheaper to fly TO VEGAS on Sunday than FROM Vegas. Watch for planes they are trying to fill.
6. Book flights during the workday. Lots of people try to avoid missing workdays and using up holiday time so they take later flights out. Taking a mid day flight is often cheaper.

I realize that booking cheap tickets is an art form, but it is extremely rewarding!