Have you heard of the Spruce Street Bridge yet?  Yes… there are still some hidden gems in San Diego.  Yes…there is a suspension bridge in San Diego.  Yes…she’s wiggly and offers peek-a-boo views of downtown’s skyline.

For those that need data points… the Spruce Street Bridge is 100 years old this year.  Built in 1912 and 375 feet long, she sits 70 feet off the ground and can hold up to 2,000 people…although…that’s not that common in any one time. She floats over the lush Kate Sessions Canyon and nestled in a quiet neighborhood in Bankers Hill.  Short snippet can be found here: http://www.hillquest.com/history/spruce.html

I love finding these natural secret treasure spots.  It offers respite from the busier urban surroundings and gives you space between your thoughts.

A great route is to start off at Balboa Park.  Fuel up with a salad and panini at the The Sculpture Garden Cafe at Balboa Park’s SDMA.  Cross the bridge, down Laurel, and turn right on First, and then left on Spruce.  You’ll find it tucked at the end of the cul de sac.   Don’t rush…sit…dangle your legs off the edge and stay a while.  Feel like a different perspective?  Then follow the bridge to the end and take the trail down into Kate Sessions Canyon.  Be sure you are wearing good shoes.  If it’s you’re here on a “date” … ladies leave the heels at home.  For shutterbugs and photographers, both the canyon and bridge should provide endless hours of entertainment.  Have one of your friends dress up in a costume or theme/genre and snap away.

Once you’re hungry again… head down Fifth for a treat at Extraordinary Desserts which is a delicious way to end a relaxing afternoon.

100 years old this year (built in 1912)

Overlooking Kate Sessions Canyon

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Spruce Street Bridge is 100 Years Old.

If you haven’t seen this yet…. do.  It will get you out of your chair planning your next adventure.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., MOVE: A trip of a lifetime

I just stumbled into a few new travel blogs that I’m adding to my reading list.  And I’m sharing them with you below:

Ytravelblog:  Caz and Craig have been traveling around the world since 1997!  They are typically ranked in the top 3 in terms of traffic to their site.  Not only will you read about their adventures…if you’re a travel blogger you can learn about the craft of blogging.

Cumi & Ciki:  I love food.  You love food.   They love food and write all about it in their adventures.

Pause The Moment:  Bored with “Work Hard.  Save Money.  Stay out of Trouble”, Ryan went to Dublin in 2007 and has been traveling since.

Nomadic Samuel:  “Miles away from ordinary…dripping from sarcasm”.  He invites you on to share his journeys and promises it won’t be a boring life.

Johnny Vagabond:  I actually stopped reading his blogs and just rediscovered it.  He’s got a nice layout and his stories focus on traveling on a budget.

The Runaway Guide:  Leif is a young but well traveled 23 year old travel blogger who has been on the road since he was 16.  He is proud he has never drank his own urine to survive though he does mention he ate an ant in Australia that tasted like lemonade.  And his favorite country is Turkey.

The Travel Tart:  Offbeat trails from a travel addict.

Translates to - "Oh the places still to go". I picked this up in an the art gallery store in San Miguel de Allende.

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., New Travel Blogs I Enjoy

As I write this, it’s been two years and three months (who’s counting) since our great European Adventure!  We did the typical thing, Rome, Berlin, Prague… and the great “off the beaten path” surprise was our stay at the Palazzo Catalani in Soriano Nel Cimino.  (The full photo album can be visited by clicking here to see it in Facebook).

The sky was passionately red.

Getting there was an adventure in itself.   We started off at sunrise.  The sky was the deepest fiery red we had seen.  We were in a rented apartment in neighborhood of Trastavere and we pulled our luggage through the quiet streets of Rome half a mile to the train station.  The ride was about an hour long.  Once we arrived at our train stop, we started asking where the bus stop was.  The hard thing was that NO ONE spoke English and we did not speak Italian.  We took a gamble after some muddled English/Italian and stood by our bus stop.  We board a bus which stopped to pick up the rowdiest high school kids we had every encountered.  It was a bumpy, loud, and crowded.  There weren’t much seats so we had to put our luggage on our laps.  Comfy!

I can almost see the chestnut trees from here.

We were so relieved to finally get to Soriano nel Cimino.  Which is a lovely hill town overlooking valleys famous for their Porcini mushrooms.  The town was quiet… and hardly anyone was walking around.  We later found out the population was extremely small.  Most of the inhabitants were older.  Again… we realized we didn’t know where our Castle…. yes I said Castle… was.  We had booked a room in the Palazzo Catalani and didn’t know how to get to it.  After a few minutes… we figured… well… it’s a castle.. so let’s just head up as it must be in the highest point.

Road leading up to the castle.

After a few minutes of admiring the views.  A very nice gentleman came by on a red moped.  He asked us if we were staying at Palazzo Catalani to which we said yes.  He introduced himself as the GM.  He let us know he had been looking for us all afternoon (how nice) and that he was going to send the porter down for our bags….but that we would have to walk (we didn’t mind) because the porter’s car was very small (see picture below)Not enough room for us in this one.

Not enough room for us in this one.

This is the super cool scooter of the GM.

So what’s Soriano Nel Cimino like?  It’s quiet!  And after the chaotic busy streets of Rome – this was a welcome surprise.  Staying in a castle that was built in the 17th Century was delightful.  We took a walking tour and marveled at how old everything was.  How most of these structures were still standing after 300 years.   During our walk the older citizens of town would come out and say hello.  Our guide told us that there wasn’t a lot of “street traffic” and the older inhabitants were friendly and craving company since all their kids and grandkids were living in the busier cities.

During the time we were there, the month long Chestnut festivals were going on.  To celebrate this the town decorated by flying their “family flags”.  Each of the four roads belonged to a family and each gate – led to that families area of town they controlled.  It was fun to watch the parades and skits in the town center.

We ended our evenings back in our “castle”.  There were only 6 or so other couples there.  We enjoyed the evenings over great food and wine.

We could see this from our castle.

The flags symbolize the family in that section of town.

There are four main roads that lead to the town's center. And the colors of the family flag were flying that day. Each street was different.

Jus to make sure ... the families even made sure the roads clearly stated who was in control in this part of town.

Quick... take the picture.

When you stay in a castle you get an old key. And the GM gave us a bottle of wine too.

This mural tells the story of the lady who raised the alarm during an invasion... which allowed the town to rally.. .and ultimatley save it from invasion.

Very very old church.

Hmmm - trying to get out of a parking ticket doesn't work even in country hill town.

Baskets for sale in the town center during the Chestnut Festival

These gates are about 300 years old.

Quiet hallway galleries

Probably one of the coldest days for me in my life. This was at Orsini Castle. It took me about 2 hours to defrost. I had one 4 layers.

Quiet evenings back at the castle.

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Staying in a Castle – Palazzo Catalani in Soriano Nel Cimino, Italy

It’s 3 years late… but I finally started a page on Facebook for this photo/blog of mine.

Feel free to visit that page here:  Click to visit Magically Delicious Travel on Facebook.

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Magically Delicious Travel Finally on Facebook

The elephant is my new favorite animal.   They are the symbol of wisdom and good luck.   I’ve always had a wooden elephant (with trunks raised) in my house.  And besides perhaps Toronga Park  or San Diego Zoo, that’s about as close I got to them. Until my most recent trip to Thailand where I found myself feeding elephants.

In Thailand, elephant parks, tours, rides, and shows are within miles of each other.  I haven’t actually climbed to ride one yet.  I’m not even sure I want to.  I feel it’s a bit cruel and pointless.  When you’re on top of the elephant you can’t see or relate.  You’re just bumpily riding along perched higher than if you would be on a horse.  Feels pointless.  But I could feed, take photos, hang out with them for hours on end.

They love bananas

On a recent business trip my colleague and I took an afternoon to look for “family friendly” activities.  If you’re not familiar with Pattaya, it’s more well known for the go go dancers and anything goes night life.   Everywhere you look when you’re close to the town center, you know it’s catered to adult entertainment.  There’s a massage parlor every 4 stores, and there are tons of young looking women walking around with men of all shapes and sized.

Finding something family friendly to do means you have to leave the center part of town.  But we asked around and talked to a few concierge desks and were armed with are list.  We got in the car and explored.  And so we discovered Nong Nooch Park.

Nong Nooch Park is a cross between a wacky botanical garden, food court, outdoor theater, elephant park and miniature petting zoo.  At the gate the locals pay one rate, and tourists pay another.  It’s quite expensive (in Thai standards).  The first attraction we encountered were the elephants.  For some change, we were able to buy some bananas and feed them.

So cool to be up close and personal to these majestic creatures.   I wondered what thoughts must go through their big heads.  They eyes were amazingly expressive and their trunks were quick.  I think I’ve found a new favorite animal.

The elephant’s trunk is an extension of the upper lip and nose.

I also put more photos in the Facebook album which you can visit by clicking on this link:  More elephant photos.

The trunk functions for grasping, breathing, feeding, dusting, smelling, drinking, lifting, sound production/communication, defense/protection, and sensing.

This baby elephant was playing with a water hose and rolling around in between.

Elephants cry, play, have incredible memories, and laugh!

Elephant trunks can get very heavy. It is not uncommon to see elephants resting them over a tusk!

All suited up for a show.

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Feeding Elephants In Pattaya, Thailand

I love traveling during the fall season for many reasons.  The air feels cool and crisp.  Perfect all day walking, stomping and exploring weather.  The change in colors gives depth to the visual palette.   And the anticipation of setting a date so far out in the year, and the delicious feeling when you finally take that trip.   I savor those moments.

It’s been three and a half years since our last New York vacation.  Been all around the world since.   And in deciding this year’s annual trip…. we both looked at each other and agreed it was time to visit New York again.

Central Park was where we started and ended our days.  We’d wake up in our quaint railroad style B&B in Spanish Harlem, drink our coffee and head out through the Park.   I enjoyed those quiet mornings when it seemed we had the park to ourselves while everyone else was at work.  We’d sip our coffee and chat about the adventures ahead.  Always kept a loose agenda and let our feet, nose and eyes lead the way.

Here’s a few photos of those morning walks.

We'd walk for miles in the morning

Central Park, Great Mall

I had always dreamed of walking here.

And so we lingered a while.

We actually never crossed that bridge... maybe next time?

I can see we're close to the edge of the Park. Not quite ready to leave yet.

Let's hold on to this quiet time a little while longer.

ok... so we're a little hungry. Time for a donut!

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Remembering Central Park In The Fall

Located in the southern islands of Zamboanga, Dakak beach resort sits on 750 metres of private beach with pure powdery white sand.

You have to fly into Dipolog via an airline from Manila such as Cebu Pacific.   The resort is about 45 minutes from Dipolog downtown area.  You drive through a very remote area.  The landscape is lush and green with the occasional small farm houses or shacks.

The resort itself is situated on private grounds.   You stay in bungalow type accommodations, rustic traditional Filipino design but comfortable.  Even had a small fridge in the bathroom.  Has AC and even hot water.  Resort has 1 pool, restaurant, beach, tennis courts, basketball courts, walking and I think even horse trails.

Dakak beach resort is a great quiet alternative to the most popular spots such as Boracay.  Very quiet here – and just how I like it. Nearby towns Dapitan has the best seafood, small little town and still feels like the old quiet times I new as kid growing up there.

Outrigger at Dakak Beach Resort

View of Dakak Beach Resort from the Restaurant

Our Bungalow

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Photo Moment – Dakak Beach Resort, Philippines

There are three orca pods that favor the west coast of the San Juan Islands off Seattle, WA; the J, K, and L pods.  We had the great, awe inspiring fortune to witness these magnificent creatures during a recent kayaking trip Monday July 18 with  Outdoor Odyssey Outfitters.  I’ll write more on the trip but for now – I’m sharing a photo.

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Photo Moment: San Juan Islands and Orca Whales

What do you get when you combine wanderlust with talent?  You get an artsy and whimsical video from two extraordinary artists who have just come back from Peru…also known as Llama Land.

They do a good job sharing their adventures.  I guarantee you haven’t seen a travel video like the likes of this before.  My favorite part starts around minute 5 when Adelaide goes from peeking down the side of a mountain to dancing with her fans.

Adelaide Marcus is a local artist residing in San Diego and you can visit her websites: www.artbyadelaide.com and www.theshimmysisters.com.  Akira Chan, the man behind the lens is another talented soul and you can visit his website at www.akirachan.com.  Thank you both for sharing your adventures.

Magically Delicious Travel - Sharing my travel photos and stories., Peru also known as Llama Land