For the last few weeks, I’ve been hearing a lot about Port City Brewing Company. They recently earned the national title of Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. They beat out the other 517 breweries in the small brewery category. 
We were welcomed by a friendly, good looking bartender who explained how the flights worked: $12 for six tickets and an extensive taster menu:;
Tidings Ale ended up being my favorite one. It’s a Belgian Strong Blond and has honey, ginger, cardamom and coriander. I mostly tasted the ginger – mild and very refreshing. 
Every Friday night, the Borinquen Lunch Box food truck parks out front from 5:30 to 9 pm. DELICIOUS! I had the arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), tostones (fried plantains) and a vegetarian empanada. John devoured his Cubano sandwich. If you’re looking for some authentic Puerto Rican food, I highly recommend stopping by for a bite (or take away). 
This was the first of many visits – I’ll definitely be checking out Trivia Night but will pass on science fiction night. I’ll wait for history trivia. There’s also Beer Yoga and Comedy Night.
Port City Brewing Company is located at 3950 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria. Give it a taste…
Posts Tagged ‘Travel’
Alexandria, VA: Friday Night Fun at Port City Brewing Company
Posted in Travels, United States, Virginia, Washington DC, tagged Alexandria, Beer, Borinquen, Brewery, Port City Brewing Co, Puerto Rican Food, Travel, Trivia Night, Virginia on Friday, 15 January, 2016| 6 Comments »
Philadelphia: Quick Getaway
Posted in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, tagged history, hotel monaco, Philadelphia, Photography, Travel on Monday, 28 December, 2015| 4 Comments »
The drive from Washington DC to Philadelphia is under three hours which makes it perfect for a weekend or even a quick overnight getaway.
What I like best about Philadelphia is all the history you’ll find around every corner. It reminds me of Boston but with a little more grit. 
Visiting with Ben Franklin at UPenn
A whole lot of LOVE on the Penn campus 
I especially like the way the cobblestone was preserved – still there but not cumbersome. 
There are historic information signs everywhere explaining the importance of a building or area. A nice refresher of my Revolutionary knowledge. 
Betsy Ross House
Ben Franklin’s gravesite – I thought the pennies were a nice touch. Didn’t see any $100 bills…
A building reflected within a building.
Christmas tree at City Hall.
XOXO photo opportunity.
There’s a lot about Ben Franklin in Philadelphia and I was happy to finally see George Washington as well.
Since I have more time than money these days, I scowered the Internet (specifically Tripadvisor) for hotel deals in central Philly. The best deal was a Sunday night stay at the Hotel Monaco (Kimpton).
For a history buff, it’s perfectly located next to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The hotel is trendy without trying too hard and I appreciated the cheery welcome upon arrival. We walked to most historic sites, restaurants and shops but did catch a cab when we came back from the Theater. We weren’t planning to see “The Book of Mormon” but discounted tickets were available and the seventh row seats were hard to pass up.
After reading the reviews, I splurged and paid a little extra for a room with a view. It was definitely worth it: 
Looking out to Independence Hall
A very comfortable room with fun amenities like a kite – a nod to Ben Franklin!
Croatia: Be Sure to Stop and Chat with the Locals
Posted in Croatia, Photography, Travel, Travels, tagged Beaches, Blue Lagoon, Croatia, Hotel Slavija, Photography, Split, Travel, Trogir on Monday, 21 September, 2015| 9 Comments »
With a Croatian Cheesemonger
When I travel, I love being able to chat with locals. My favorite Croatian encounter was with a cheesemonger at a rest stop on our drive back to Slovenia. She told us about the beautiful National Parks in the area and about her cheese/honey she was selling. When I asked her if she’d ever been to the states, she replied “No, but I LOVE Miami ~ CSI.”
I’ve been asked for more details about our brief visit to Split:
- Accommodations: Hotel Slavija €156.00 per night for a two bedroom, one bath, a balcony and breakfast for three. There’s also a €1.20 per per person per stay charge. We loved the central location of the hotel and the exceptionally friendly and helpful staff.
- Tour of Diocletian’s Palace (highly recommended) €20 per person. Our tour was approximately two hours and we were the only ones on the tour. There’s a max of 6 people for any of the tours unless you book as a group. Book in advance through the Hotel Slavija (don’t need to stay there). All guides are licensed and Mirjana was fabulous! To book, email info@hotelslavija.hr
- The beaches are rocky ~ water shoes are a must. We didn’t have any and ended up walking in with our flip-flops. Comical!
- We took an afternoon boat trip to Trogir (UNESCO protected) and to Blue Lagoon (a swim/beach area). There are lots of options and also sailboats which would make the trip less bouncy. The tour companies are lined up along the harbor so you can check out which trip will suit you best. The Hotel Slavija staff can also book trips for you.
- Driving to Split from Slovenia was easy although we did get caught in summer traffic on the way there. And keep your passport handy for the border crossing. Tolls could be paid in euros or kunas. We saw license plates from almost every EU countries and even some Non EU countries. My advice is to travel early in the day. It made a big difference on the way back to Slovenia. Once we got to Split, we parked the car and didn’t use it until we left. The hotel is in a pedestrian only area but they provided detailed instructions on where to unload our bags and then where long-term parking was (we chose the bus terminal parking).
- Learn a few phrases in Croatian ~ it goes a long way with the locals. My daughter was so impressed that I spoke only in Croatian on the way out of the pay parking area. It was only FOUR words: Dobar Dan (Hello), Koliko? (How much?) Hvala (Thank You) but it was fun to give the language a try, limited as it was. His response to my “how much?” was “deset” which sounded a lot like diez in Spanish so it was a lucky guess when I handed him 10kn. It was fun to give the language a try and we were all smiles as we left the parking lot (the attendant included).
- Usually, I prefer to recommend rather than warn against but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our dinner at Tavern Favola. Don’t go. It’s tempting because it has a stellar location just outside the palace gates in a lovely courtyard. Unfortunately, the service was awful and the food even worse. With so few opportunities to enjoy the local cuisine, I was kicking myself for not looking up reviews on Tripadvisor or asking the hotel staff for their recommendations. Don’t make our mistake!
- If you have specific questions not covered in the above, please leave a comment or send me a private message through facebook.
Croatian Flag, Trogir, Croatia
Colorado: Favorite Moment
Posted in Colorado, Travels, United States, tagged Colorado, Leadville, Leadville100, Skies, Stars, Travel on Sunday, 13 September, 2015| 5 Comments »
It was three in the morning, completely dark, except for the starlight and the occasional headlamp from a Leadville 100 runner. The only sound was lake water lapping against the shore. We could see the Milky Way and my daughter saw her first shooting star. That became my favorite moment of the summer.
The Boat Ramp at Turquoise is not an official aid station but, at mile 93, it’s the last best area to offer a runner support and we were waiting to see if Jean needed anything or John wanted to bail before completing the last 7 miles.
Our early morning stay at the boat ramp lasted about 45 minutes but my daughter and I only had 10 minutes or so entirely to ourselves. Other support teams came and went. We watched as the runners came by ~ some still running very strong, while others were struggling a bit. I shined my flashlight on the trail letting them see where to continue running as Logan shouted out “Doing great, only 7 miles to go. Two hours and you’ll be under 25!”
Jean and John waved to us as they went by ~ both just wanting to complete the last 7 miles and be done. Thankfully, they didn’t stop since those few minutes would have put Jean over the 25 hours.
Oddly, I did witness cranky supporters who felt since they waited for their runner, the runner was somehow obligated to stop. To me, the best thing was when Jean DIDN’T need anything and felt well enough to continue on. I could certainly entertain myself well enough at all the aid stations ~ the beautiful scenery, people and dog watching and, most importantly, spending time with my family. And then seeing Jean strong enough to continue on at such a great pace made it all the more enjoyable.
I went back the next day to see the boat ramp and it’s a beautiful spot but at night, it’s incredible:
Boat Ramp at Turquoise Lake, Colorado
It’s been an amazing summer but this is the moment I cherish the most. As I see the leaves turn colors, it’s time to chase a favorite fall moment. Do you have a favorite?
West Virginia: Harpers Ferry National Park
Posted in Photography, Travel, United States, West Virginia, tagged Harpers Ferry, National Park, Photography, Shenandoah, Travel, West VIrginia on Sunday, 6 September, 2015| 8 Comments »
Only an hour and fifteen minute drive from Washington DC, Harpers Ferry National Park is a delightful getaway for the day, an overnighter or perhaps even a weekend. There’s lots to do and something for everyone: hiking, civil war history, river sports, fishing, shopping in the quaint town and much more.
We parked at the Visitors Center parking lot because the town has narrow streets and the parking is extremely limited. There’s a shuttle every 15 minutes but we walked 1.7 miles along the Lower Town trail into Harpers Ferry. There’s a sign at the start of the trail designating it as strenuous but it’s moderate to easy. The hardest part are all the steps.
Steps on the Lower Town Trail
Attempting to make it more strenuous
We got to see beautiful wildlife along the way:
Butterfly at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Along the Lower Town Trail, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Black Butterfly
The Shenandoah River
Bent log on Virginius Island
Bookstore and Church on the hill as you enter Harpers Ferry
Pulp Factory Ruins
The town is named after Robert Harper who operated a ferry across the Potomac River beginning in 1747. By the early 1800s, the river powered the US Armory complex and the various commercial mills including two pulp mills, a flour mill, a saw mill and a cotton mill. There was also the Halls Island Rifle Factory which revolutionized manufacturing rifles by perfecting interchangeable parts.
For a detailed historic talk about the famous John Brown Raid, be sure to go on one of the walking tours with a Park Service Ranger. We thoroughly enjoyed the stories he told us and certainly learned a lot about the history of Harpers Ferry. Although Brown’s raid failed, it became a symbol of Freedom and focused attention on the issue of slavery leading to the Civil War.
Colorado: Leadville 100 from the Crew’s Perspective
Posted in Colorado, Photography, Running, Travels, United States, tagged Altitude, Colorado, Leadville 100, Photography, Rockies, Running, Travel, Ultra Distance Races, Ultra-Trail, USA on Friday, 28 August, 2015| 6 Comments »
After spending the weekend amongst the elite ultra runners at the Leadville 100 race, and seeing it with my own eyes, I still can’t fathom how they ran 100 miles. Not only 100 miles but a course which starts at a little under two miles high to an elevation of 12,600 feet.
We arrived in Leadville two days prior to the run and the atmosphere was abuzz with the anticipation of the event. It was wonderful to be back in the Rockies ~ wide-open spaces, beautiful mountains, crisp clean air and charming western towns. Aside from an occasional rapid heart rate when going up steep steps, none of us succumbed to altitude sickness.
My involvement with the 100 mile run, along with my daughter, was strictly as a crew member for our New Zealander friend, Jean. I felt as though I was part of the run ~ minus all the bother with the painful, difficult, exhausting running part. My husband had dual responsibilities as a crew member AND a pacer. Thankfully, he’s still talking to me even after I misinformed him that his running would consist of 10 miles. Once we got to Leadville, Jean asked if he could pace her from Outward Bound/Fish Hatchery aid station to the finish. Hmmm…nothing like a surprise marathon (24 miles) at night.
How we ended up in Leadville: We met Jean three years ago in London. When she first told me she was an ultra runner, I distinctly remember thinking “what a nutter” and didn’t think we would spend much time together since, in my mind, ultra runners surely had to be totally obsessed with little time for other activities. Happily, she shattered those myths ~ her life is as balanced as anyone I know. Fast forward to this past January, we found out Jean was coming to the states to run the Leadville 100 in Colorado. I invited myself and family to be her crew. Somewhat presumptuous since I had no clue how to be a support crew but I’m always willing to learn a new skill set and was thrilled to have the chance to help her meet her goals. As we planned what we would do as her “crew”, we talked about split times. She told us to let her know if she was in danger of missing any cutoffs, especially the final 30 hour cut-off. That all changed when we met her at the first aid station ~ she was running fast enough to finish between 22-23 hours. Even after 75 miles, she was projected to finish between 24-25 hours.
At the Outward Bound/Fish Hatchery station
John joined her at the 76 mile point (Outward Bound/Fish Hatchery aid station) and this is where it became apparent as to the importance of having a pacer who could help with the timing. We knew she had a good shot of finishing under 25 hours which meant she would get the coveted big belt buckle. We next saw John after he had been running 13.5 miles with her and his only comment to me was “I’m running with a billy-goat!”
Highlights of the Leadville 100:
Photo credit: Official Leadville 100 Race Series.
Jean crossing the finish line at 24:57:15 ~ with a smile on her face. Not going to lie, we were holding our breath wondering if she’d make it under 25 hours.
Beautiful rainbow and an inspiring message on the fence.
Jean coming into the Twin Lakes station well under the time we expected her to be there. 
Loved the camaraderie with the other crews. It was a little chilly and raining but spirits were still high.
There were so many dogs ~ including this cutie.
The 4am start was fun especially the playing of the national item and the shotgun (a real one) start.
The “last ass” finisher. He came in right under 30 hours. He’s a cross-country coach and his students walked with him across the finish line. He didn’t topple over at the end ~ he’s kissing the ground. There were lots of cheers and even a couple of tears.
Over 600 runners started the run and 312 finished. It’s a tough run and I was thrilled to be a small part of Leadville 100. I have no ambition to actually run a 100 miles but I would certainly be on a crew again ~ it was a lot of fun planning out what to have at the stops and cheering the runners on. We clapped for everyone who came through the stations.
Next time I’ll actually know what I’m doing!!
Bled, Slovenia: Stunningly Beautiful
Posted in Bled, Slovenia, Travel, Travels, tagged Church, Lake Bled, Photography, Rowing, Slovenia, Travel on Sunday, 16 August, 2015| 15 Comments »
Bled, situated in the Julian Alps, has beautiful churches, a castle high on a hill, picturesque mountains, hiking, boating, swimming, delicious restaurants, a casino and a whole lot of history. The first mention of Bled was when Henry II (Holy German Emperor) gifted it the Bishop Brixen in 1004. At that time, there was already a Roman tower on the cliff which is still a part of the castle.
Looking out to the Castle and sunset
Enjoying the view while having a delicious dinner 
Blejska Kremna Rezina (Bled Cream Cake). Ištvan Lukačevič, a pastry chef at Hotel Park, invented the delightful cream cake in the 1950s. When you’re in Bled, always leave a little room for this gem of a dessert.
Bled Castle 
There’s a running/walking trail around the entire lake, about 6.7 km. Although it should only take about an hour to walk it, I prefer to stop often, enjoying all the lake has to offer: watching the swan family, running to the top of the bleachers at the rowing center and stopping to enjoy the gorgeous views.
Serenity in Bled 
Rower Statue. Slovenia’s Olympic rowing team practice at Lake Bled. 
Children attempting to pet the swan, who really only wants some food. The ONLY type of food that should be given to the swans are dandelions. 
The Church of the Assumption of St Mary on the island at Lake Bled. More about the island in my next post.
If you’re visiting Slovenia, you should definitely spend at least one night in Bled, preferably with a view of the lake.
Ljubljana, Slovenia: Travel Tips
Posted in Ljubljana, Photography, Slovenia, Travels, tagged Ljubljana, Photography, Slovenia, Travel, Union Hotels, Vegan on Sunday, 2 August, 2015| 14 Comments »
My first visit to Ljubljana was in 2002 and, since then, I’ve recommended the capital city and other places in Slovenia to many of my friends. I’m happy to say everyone who visits has had a fabulous time. It’s the one country I don’t have to caveat with any exceptions ~ there is something for everyone.
On my recent return visit (after a 10 year absence), I was thrilled to find this incredibly charming city as I remembered. There are a few more cafes, bars and activities (paddleboard on the river, Segway tours, etc) but the positive vibe and essence of the city is still fantastic.
An especially nice change for the better are the new vegan restaurants located in the city center. We ate at Ajdovo Zrno for lunch and it was delicious. The restaurant is located at Trubarjeva Cesta 7, Ljubljana.
If you decide to visit, here are my suggestions and recommendations: Spend at least 2-3 days in the capital city of Ljubljana. It’s a great place to base from while exploring the rest of Slovenia. From the city, it’s 40 minutes to Lake Bled, 90 minutes to Piran (on the Adriatic coast) and 38 minutes to Postojna (Castle and Caves).
I didn’t get a chance to take one of their walks but it’s at the TOP of my to do list for my next visit.
We’ve always driven to Ljubljana and this time was no exception. We flew into Italy and drove to Slovenia the next day. It’s only a two hour drive from Venice to Ljubljana. If you drive, make sure you purchase a Vignette (toll sticker) or else you will be subject to a fine between €300-€800.
Where to Stay:
Grand Union Hotel located directly behind the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation (the pink church)
Tourist Train in Ljubljana. Didn’t ride the train. We took the funicular:
Street leading to the castle (it’s a tough climb if the temperatures are high)
On a hot summer day, look for one of the cafes with the cooling misters. We had a lovely dinner right by the river ~ all the while staying cool with the water mist 
Beer and Sausage ~ my husband was in food heaven
Ljubljana, Slovenia: People (and Dog) Watching
Posted in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Travels, tagged dogs, Ljubljana, Music, People, Photography, Slovenia, Travel on Saturday, 1 August, 2015| 7 Comments »
Observing people in a city is fascinating to me but I don’t want to be too obtrusive when taking photos. I appreciate those who don’t mind. I once had a woman ask me if I wanted her to walk by again so I could get a better shot (and no, it wasn’t in a sarcastic tone).
Bikes are very popular in Ljubljana 
Resting at the Preseren Statue near the Triple Bridge
I always say “if you work hard for a rockin body, then by all means show it off” 
So pretty but wish she’d lose the cigarettes. Smoking is prevalent at the outdoor bars/cafes
Hare Krishna group chanting along the river 
I’m thinking first date ~
Alone at an outdoor cafe 
Too much concentration going on
We came across Brass Against The Machine while walking around Ljubljana. Very entertaining. If you ever get a chance to see them play, go! 
Brass Against the Machine entertaining the crowd. High energy!
Only thing better than people watching is: DOG WATCHING. Ljubljana is very dog friendly.
“Hot” dog in a bike basket
Two men and their well-coiffed pup 
Ice cream eating dog
Waiting on pizza
Ljubljana, Slovenia: Ljubljanski Grad (Castle)
Posted in Ljubljana, Photography, Slovenia, Travel, tagged Castle, Ljubljamski Grad, Photography, Slovenia, Travel on Friday, 31 July, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Standing on a hill overlooking Ljubljana is a beautiful castle, Ljubljanski Grad. The views from the top are fabulous especially from the top of the tower. On previous visits, we hiked to the castle from the Old Square in Ljubljana but it was over 36°C so we rode the funicular.
View from the top of the Tower of Ljubljanski Grad
One of the cells in the penitentary
Stairs leading to Castle Tower
Castle high on the hill
For more information about visiting the castle, click here.
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