Central Park in New York City

Posted on August 17, 2015 by David Cross

We had an interesting day all around Central Park in New York City.

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Since Mr. Trump was not available for coffee…

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We went to the local favorite in NYC that blows away Starbucks. A donut qualifies for carb loading for long runs doesn’t it?

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So we jogged across the street to get a run around Central Park.

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And there were LOTS of other runners. Was this normal for a Sunday?

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No, it was a NY Road Runner training event!  We could not resist being bandits! 🙂  But I do admit it is hard running more than 10 miles without a dozen donuts for fuel…

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On the other side of Central Park is the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

WP_20150816_009And I must admit, this museum is HUGE.  With an amazing collection of exhibits and artifacts from many different eras.

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It is like the Louvre, but in the Great Hall, it is like the zoo!

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We checked out the special exhibit on the China: Through the Looking Glass.  The arrangement, design and modern approaches in this exhibit were quite impressive and hard to describe or represent in pictures.  Very well done.

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I do have to admit, even though I am not an American History aficionado, seeing this original piece of art with George Washington and the American Revolution was pretty cool.  I had no idea this was a 20 foot long wall painting…did anyone else?

Here is another blog post of NYC in the winter on a different business trip.

 

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New York City

Posted on August 16, 2015 by David Cross

Landed and hanging out in NYC for a few days.  This is going to be a fun few days…New York City is one fun city/zoo/entertainment center.

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Mr. Trump rented us a room in his place on AirBnB. This was before he came President.  Very conveniently located next to Central Park. You can guess what the next post will be about 😉

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Side by side: Times Square at 9 PM and at 9 AM.  The city is alive at night to say the least.

Stay tuned to this channel!  Here is the next post about Central Park!

 

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Goodbye St. Lucia!

Posted on August 15, 2015 by David Cross

Our last day on the island with a sporty drive in a Porsche Cayenne to the southern part of the island where the airport resides.

We enjoyed the views along the way and were thankful for a Priority Pass lounge in the local airport. The Platinum AMEX continues to pay off 🙂

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Pigeon Island

Posted on August 15, 2015 by David Cross

Since it was our last day, we took a hike to the nearby Pigeon Island.  You can see the Sandals resort with the red roofs below.

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It looks like it is peninsula, but the British and French built up a causeway over time to maintain the fort.

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It is a great hike as you can get in the national park for $7 (per person) and explore around.  There are nice placards to explain the history.  You can see the fort above.

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They even have original guns from the 1800s still up at the top.  Caution: don’t try climbing in the rain, the walkway will be so slippery and dangerous because the rock paths are steep.

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Now, if you are brave, you can truly hike (I mean climb) up to the nearby peak where the gun slope winches were used.  It was VERY challenging and steep, but a fun adventure if you are fit.  See the fort in the distance?

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and when you get to the top, the views of the surrounding area and other islands is amazing.  If you speak French, you can see Martinique in the distance.

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All the things you can do at Sandals Grande St Lucia

Posted on August 14, 2015 by David Cross

Of course, you can have a lot of fun in the sun and play pool volleyball all afternoon and enjoy your favorite frozen drink…

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But you can also eat along the waterfront with some great local fare and wine…

 

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and then take a great run around the marina.

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so, you can then enjoy the local casino just down the street to play your lucky numbers on the roulette wheel to get enough money to pay for a taxi back to your resort.

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A Little Diving, Music and Exploring…

Posted on August 11, 2015 by David Cross

St. Lucia has some amazing diving. Kind of hard to take your smartphone on a boat to capture the scenery without destroying the phone from the saltwater.

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There are numerous sites and undersea wildlife to see here as a diver.

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It is hard to choose which sites to visit as we are only here for a few days…

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And after recovering from the dives, when enjoying some local BBQ, it is pretty impressive on what modern songs can be played on steel drums. I don’t think they have figured out Macklemore yet as a popular Caribbean sound…

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Later in the evening, we were invited up to enjoy a cocktail in the Presidential Suite (but not a president of a country though)

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It has some great ocean views…

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and a very cool outside private shower on the roof of the complex.  But is it worth $900 a night for the extra space and exclusivity?  Nah, the pool side lagoon rooms use the same beds, linens, furniture and stocked in-room bar for 1/3 the price 🙂

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Hills, Hills and More Hills Running in St Lucia

Posted on August 10, 2015 by David Cross

First we arrived and explored a little in this blog posting…but most importantly St Lucia is a great place to go running, but be ready to run some hills.

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Unlike many other Caribbean islands, St Lucia is not a flat long distance course.

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There is tons of great scenery.

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And tons of twisty, turny roads to wind your way through the hills.

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You also run into some unexpected wildlife from time to time.  A great excuse to step into the shade and take a drink so you are not dehydrated.

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It is really hot after 7 AM, but definitely a great place to run and enjoy the seaside atmosphere.  What else can you do here?  Check out my posting from the next day.

Running around the world is always fun.  Some of my other favorite spots:

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Arrived in St Lucia!

Posted on August 9, 2015 by David Cross

The international airport is in the southern part of the island, and there is a single road that makes a circle of the entire island.  We chose to stay at Sandals Grande St. Lucian at the northwest tip of the island since we are from the Pacific Northwest.

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It is best to hire a private car to drive you around.

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Much faster and convenient. I don’t think I need a 6 door Mercedes AMG for my next car though…

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You also get to drive through the high tech center near the city of Castries.

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Sandals always makes you feel welcome…

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It was a tough choice whether to eat the light French macaroons or jump in the pool outside our room’s door 🙂

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Have to love sitting by the fire pit at night with local drinks…it is like the pacific northwest with 85 degree nights in August, but you are right next to the Caribbean Ocean!

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Centurion Studio in Seattle Airport

Posted on August 8, 2015 by David Cross

Everyone has been wondering about the new Centurion Studio lounge in the Seatac airport so I thought I would sneak in and check it out.

It is quaint (small), but a nice quiet escape from the terminal with a great interior design, light snacks and a light complimentary bar. It has free WiFi of course with numerous power stations.

Verdict: A great place to sneak into and relax before or between flights if you are stuck in the Seatac airport.

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Off to a new adventure!

Posted on August 7, 2015 by David Cross

15 years ago we left with this friend for a tour of Amsterdam, Paris and London.

Who knows what might be next?

Stay tuned to this channel!

🙂

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