Boston Massachusetts

Take it from me: you need much more than a couple of days to do justice to all there is to see and do in Boston! Especially if you are foolhardy enough to spend one of those days running the Boston Marathon…It’s a marvelous mixture of a city. Old colonial abuts 21st Century. Student hangouts next door to chi-chi restaurants. Ocean port down the road from picturesque village suburbs. It’s fun, it’s funky and now the Big Dig is finished, it’s sane again! Here are a few visual samples: the view from my hotel room toward Cambridge across the Charles River; the glittering State House; the olde worlde Beacon Hill district.

Boston Highlights

A Trolley Tour is a good way to get your bearings without the need to navigate the streets yourself. I found the commentary was both well-informed and entertaining. It took us from Back Bay across the Charles River to Cambridge, back to Beacon Hill and Boston Common, through Downtown to the Waterfront District. And through 400 years of history! We left the Trolley to see the world-famous New England Aquarium, with its 7,000 fish and marine mammals. Highlights include the 200,000 gallon Ocean Tank with cool sharks and rays, sea lions, penguins, touch tanks, IMAX Theatre and a special exhibit on shimmering jellyfish.

Boston Marathon

I am a runner. And like most runners around the world, I aspired to run the Boston Marathon one day. Why? Because of its indisputable position as the world's oldest annual marathon and the fact that it’s widely regarded as the world's most prestigious road race. It’s the only major marathon where most runners have to achieve a target time in a prior marathon to qualify to apply to run the race.

When I somewhat unexpectedly qualified in the 2008 Ottawa Marathon, I couldn’t pass up the chance to participate in this ultimate runners’ experience. And it was just that: a wonderful, gut-wrenching, emotional, roller-coaster of a race where we 26,000 runners gave our all – and a million passionate, cheering spectators repaid us with such overwhelming support that almost all of us crossed the finish line with ridiculous smiles on our faces and a knowledge that another Bucket List tick is in the bag… I crossed the line after one of the hardest and yet most exhilarating 3 hours 46 minutes of my life!

Civilized Stratford

Take a big, deep breath and let the stresses and strains fall away as you enter civilized Stratford, Ontario! Nestled around a pretty river – called the Avon, naturally – this is what small town living used to be about…but with a cultural twist. Old stone bridges link gardens and pretty streetscapes, where plenty of interesting craft and book shops still survive. Statues lurk round every corner, like this one of The Bard, whose Festival provides that cultural twist. And food…I lunched pleasantly at Tango and then lurched onto the Epicurean Trek.

Tea Leaves

Just one of many mouth-watering stops on the Epicurean Trek through Perth County is Tea Leaves – a close encounter of the tea kind. Karen Hartwick (in red) is a member of that most rare fraternity of “Tea Sommeliers” - and to spend some time with her in a tutored tea tasting, as I did, is a revelation. White Peony, Organic Precious Eyebrow, Japanese Sencha, Organic Phoenix Oolong, Soom Darjeeling, Yunnan Black Needle, Al Shan oolong and 2 year old Pu-erh…all different in taste and colour from each other, and all immensely superior to your average cuppa. The amazing thing is the wide variety of taste that comes from essentially the same plant leaf. The secret is the environment in which the plant grows and the way the tea is picked and handled……

Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Of course the reason why so many visitors come to Stratford is to enjoy North America’s leading classical theatre: the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. The 2009 season of this world renowned festival includes fourteen productions, including stage and screen legend Colm Feore in Macbeth and Cyrano de Bergerac. I thoroughly enjoyed a performance of West Side Story, full of explosive dance and memorable music. I also experienced one of the “Beyond the Stage” activities: a tour of the costume warehouse, which was both fascinating and fun, as I was able to indulge in dressing-up fantasies!

Mont Tremblant

Elysium @ Panache vacation homes are ideally placed for making the most of Mont Tremblant’s ski pistes in winter and hiking trails in summer. We were able to ski – and board – almost to the door of our Elysium @ Panache vacation home on March slopes which were wonderfully un-crowded. The perfect weather (cloudless skies and a little below zero) just added to the enjoyment of this great short break.