Dream Run - #7 (Lake Bled, Slovenia)

Have you heard of it? Most people haven't and stare quizically at me when I say one of my favorite places I visited in Europe is Lake Bled, Slovenia. Favorite partly because of the beautiful lake with the path that circumnavigates the water's edge (often times over the water), favorite because of the view of the Alps rising above the cliff with the castle on it, favorite because of the church on the little island in the middle of the lake and also a favorite because the great people I met while I was there.

The route shown is an actual path that I walked with these new friends I had made. It was a snowy, messy, cold morning but we trudged through it all…and we were awestruck most of the way. When I think about my photography and places that stand out as possible turning points, Bled ALWAYS stands out. I only had a point and shoot with me but the images I was capturing still amaze me.

The path around Lake Bled was partly paved (think Greenlake) and partly raised, wooden pathways (like a dock) that curved with the lake's edge and at times was over the lake. It turns out, our leisurely stroll (to help the hangover) ended up being a 4 mile journey. Who would've thought!? And, like so many other places I've been, I've promised to return here as well:)

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2694174

Dream Run - #6 (New York, New York)

A few years back, Sally and I lived in a very small Greenwich Village aparment in Manhattan. The adventure we had out there could fill an entire blog on it's own (or book) so I'll try to limit my excitement to just one of many walks I'd love to go on if we go back. This could very well turn into a Dream Run subset. I find myself gravitating to the things I know (Manhattan, Italy, Spain and pretty much anywhere I've traveled to)…I didn't have the foresight to see how hard it would be to choose somewhere like Bali or Rio and try to come up with a "dream run". If you've been to Manhattan with Sally or myself this isn't too far off what we would've made you endure! We loved torturing, er…touring with our visitors showing them the sites…we had it down, too!

Starting at Bedford and Downing (our apartment) we walk towards SoHo..saying hi to the Joe's on the road (old super). In order to get us through this long journey we have to (MUST) stop at Ben's Pizzeria for a slice of the best NY pizza (in my opinion) on the corner of Thompson and Spring. Refreshed we walk further south on the coolest, cobble-stoned road (and only with trees) in SoHo, Wooster! We swing by Sally's old work then cruise up by mine. It's out to Broadway and up to Bleecker…turning right we head towards the Bowery and see the remains of CBGB (rip). We navigate through a few streets with our sites set on McSorley's Old Ale House…(I see a common theme here reminds me of Dublin).

We then take a small detour to 1st Ave then brings us back to Day 1 when we stayed at a shoddy hostel! We walk down 14th Street (the longest of all the Streets on Manhattan...not Avenues, Streets) to Union Square and turn to head up Broadway to the Flatiron building. We look up at it and then push on across town on another long thoroughfare, 23rd st. We turn on 9th and head back downtown stopping in at the Chelsea Market to see if we can find Emeril. After checking out the market we browse up and down the Meatpacking District. We work our way towards Hudson Street passing Cowgirls and Christian Louboutin along the way. After enjoying our favorite stretch of the Far West Village we head back to Bedford, across 7th and back to our 400 sq. foot place we called home. I guess it would be weird to go back there now since we don't live there, but hey this is my dream run:)

Here's a picture of Ben's...oh how I love it so!

Dream Run - #5 (Dublin, Ireland)

My next Dream Run is also one I've been on but have promised to do again! I will get back to more of places I haven't been but at the moment I'm enjoying going back to the places I've already visited! I'm speaking for "we" not just "me" in this post specifically because I have promised my Father-in-law that we'd go:)

Starting at the hostel I stayed at (which I'd never go back to) we head out to a park. We quickly leave and head up a pedestrian friendly area then head out to the first main thoroughfare we can find. Our sights are set for my first major point of reference. After awhile on this road we head toward the River Liffey just to change it up…Eventually the magic happens. We have arrived at the Guinness Storehouse, the brewery! After the tour they treat you to a free pint of Guinness at the top of their building in a circular bar called the Sky Bar. Gorgeous!

Reluctantly we leave Guinness but am happily reminded of our next stop. The Jameson Distillery for another tour and a taste! Ahh…the smooth, triple distilled Irish Whiskey! You can't beat it! The rest of the trip is just a wandering back to where we are staying. On the way we walk through the Temple Bar, a cobble-stoned cultural center…it's very cool and there are lots of bars but we are beat from a long walk and a few binges so we head back and take a nap.

Go to Dublin. Drink Guinness and try Jameson's. Life is Good!

Click on this link to see the interactive map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2526435

Dream Run - #4 (Dubrovnik, Croatia)

Admittedly this run is actually a walk that I did when I visited Dubrovnik back in 2003. I was curious to see how far I had gone because it felt like miles and miles. I suppose it was not knowing where I was going that made it feel long. Ends up this long walk was only 3.7 miles but the views on the way were so amazing that I would do it all over again!

It starts in the old town (like so many of my DR's do:)...then I climb up some steep, way too narrow stairs to the wall that encloses the old town. For a nominal fee you can walk around the top of it and see all of Dubrovnik from an unbeatable vantage point! I highly recommend visiting this "Jewel of the Adriatic"...I'm sure you all remember the wars that went on in this region...Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Serbs, Montenegrians, the Yugoslav Army and the like (early 1990's)? Well, mortars were basically lobbed down onto this town shelling out a large part of it. Now, after rebuilding you can see a stark contrast from the new and old. I'm attaching some pictures from that trip:)

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2515321

Dream Run - #3 (Florence, Italy)

When we are on the road traveling, the easiest, cheapest and one of the most rewarding things to do is go for a walk around the city or town you are in. Take in the sites, see it from a different view and possibly or most likely stop for some gelato along the way!

Starting at the last place we stayed we head towards the River Arno, cross the closest bridge and make our way up to a wonderful viewpoint, Piazza Michelangelo. From there we make our way down a small path that leads into a very small, quiet part of town along the wall. The road twists and turns through and comes out along the river again. This time we follow it, checking for HUGE rodent's in the water, then taking a right across the Ponte Vecchio.

Following the tourist route we walk towards Piazza della Signoria and set our sights on the Duomo. From the Duomo we hang a left, stealing a glance at the gates of paradise and head down a main street. We stay left on the Y in the road and end up at Santa Maria Novella. Chug a Guiness at Diane's favorite pub (I always forget the name) and then walk up past the train station, hang a right then another, pass by the hostel I stayed at and walk down one of my favorite streets in Florence. Then we cruise through the flea market by San Lorenzo then head towards the back of the Duomo.

From there we weave through some tiny roads and end up at the best gelato place in Florence! Then it's a few blocks and we are back to the hotel to get ready for an amazing dinner:)

Dream Run - #2 (San Sebastian, Spain)

One of my favorite locations I’ve visited while on my travels is the beautiful San Sebastian located in the Basque region of Spain. I loved that place so much that I went there 3 times in the same trip. San Sebastian is known for it’s culinary prowess and is often considered having the best foods in Spain…which makes it an equally important location to throw in a jog or a walk.

We start in the Parte Vieja (Old Town) and head out towards the aquarium. Circumnavigating Mount Urgull along the water we take a right to go back through town on our way to La Playa de la Concha. We follow along the beautiful promenade until we reach the park at the base of Mount Igueldo, take a breather and watch the waves crash into the rocks with iron sculptures mounted on them…courtesy of Challida!

Then it’s back to the beach where we kick off our running shoes and walk along the beach and back up the ramp to the promenade. We then head back towards the Old Town to get ready for our night of pub crawling and tapas eating! Maybe throw in a Kalimotxo which is a drink my brother Steve found out about from a local which is 50% red wine and 50% Coca-Cola…ahhh, the Basque people had it all figured out!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2494992

Dream Run - #1 (Makaha, Hawaii)

When I couple traveling to favorite locales and my new found love of working out a beautiful thing is born. I'm calling this series my Dream Runs. Some of these places are places I've been that I would LOVE to go back to and revisit and some are going to be places that I just want to go!

Like so many of my goals have been so far, these places and ideas are just dreams right now...but like so many of my goals also have been achieved and therefore coming true. I will go to these places someday...and I will walk, run, jog, bike, skip...whatever it takes to make them happen.

The first is the beautiful Makaha! A 5-miler that takes you up in the valley then spits you out onto the water so you can mingle with the Turtles and walk back on the beautiful Makaha Beach! An obvious first in my Dream Run series!!

Click on the link to see more details: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2487016