Peter

...but sometimes a good meal at a restaurant creates a good enough impression. So, having swam at a community college pool with a Masters team one Saturday morning recently in nearby Silver Springs, dinner that night was back out to the suburbs, to Jaleo in Bethesda.

I have no doubt that the place has its detractors for the crowds, the waiting for tables, but darn it, I liked the food. Great tapas. Well worth it, and I will happily go back.

I guess it’s useless comparing cities. San Antonio is not Montreal or Chicago or Vancouver or any of the other cities big and small that I love. But it’s got some things going for it. The River Walk is a tourist attraction, but it’s also a fairly attractive way to bring life back into the city center. There are some interesting and nicely preserved buildings – one medical center looms high over the river and really catches the eye with its terra cotta.

I don’t love it here. Who cares? It’s altogether pleasant and walkable, and I’m thankful for that.

Come on, people. I only had three days there, and I can safely say it’s high on my list of places to revisit. Even better: it was December, yet it was still gorgeous and full of the bustle and style and attitude and great food and and and and… everything.

Do yourself a favour: go.

Highlights: Lunch at a small bistro in the Montmartre, the lights of the Eiffel Tower as seen from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, shopping in Fauchon, staying on Ile-St-Louis.

Regrets: not having gone to the Musee d’Orsay early enough in the day to make it worthwhile braving the long line while a light rain fell.

And by that I mean: don’t go as an unappreciative 18 year old with your terminally uncool father. You won’t have especially fond memories and you’ll likely not want to go back.

...the guidebooks have it a little wrong, I think. We loved our B&B in Holualoa, far up the hill from Kailua-Kona (but not inconveniently so!). But indications are that you’ll be in the midst of a great little village with a lively main strip that features art galleries and coffee shops, all set amidst coffee plantations. Well, it’s not quite that. Yes, there are galleries and a post office, but that’s about it. Oh, a library, a general store, a place to sit with coffee. And THAT really is about it. You can see it in five minutes if it’s before 10:00 or after 5:00.

Drive through, stop if it interests you, but if you don’t get there, don’t lose sleep. There are a lot of places on the Big Island to visit, after all….

Actually, the four years I spent at UVic in the 80’s and 90’s (yikes!) were terrific. It’s been almost two years since my last visit to the city – I miss it much.

I know that the Ohio Street Beach is a favourite place for serious swimmers to train. So many mornings I’ve run along the lakefront leading up to the beach and utterly YEARNED to just hop in a swim a bit myself.

The last time I did swim there, sad to say, was 2003 at the Big Shoulders open water swim race (coming up this weekend again!). 5 km, twice around a triangular course within the breakwater. The downtwon skyscrapers loom overhead. The water, though was clear and calm, the weather sunny, and many teammates were there. In short, a lot of fun, and a wonderful place to swim.

Just back from the Big Island (he brags), and many things to report on. Waimea and environs was a highlight – a good lunch (pork sandwich) at Merriman’s. Hawaiian shirt shopping at Reyn’s. A drive on a road through green ranching country up to 3500+ feet, one day in sunshine, one day in the midst of a cloud. I am so glad I went. I would love to drive there again!

...except it’s also about the views of downtown and False Creek, and the walkway that already extends around much of the south side of False Creek and includes the Island. It’s also about taking the cute little ferries to and from the island. And it’s about the wonderful foods in the Market, oh yes….

Life is odd. My first BK experience ever was in Sheffield, UK. My first Gap was in San Fran. My first Old Navy was in Bloomington. I have lived in none of those places.

I like Bloomington anyway, for that, for seeing Monsters Inc there, and for witnessing a sorority rush activity. Scary. Gorgeous campus, though, IU is.