View From San Juan Marriott Penthouse

Traveling is Medicine, A Walk on Condado Beach

After watching Jonathan Tisch on Fox I headed down for my morning walk on Condado Beach from the Marriott. I headed out with thoughts about Tisch's interview about the state of business travel. Soon enough I came across a very pleasent fisherman and watched him throw a handline repeatedly out into the surf. Soon his work was rewarded and as he hung the fish from a tree to keep it sand free we chatted. The world's problems faded from my mind and I realized that traveling is medicine in troubled times.

Its Snow Bodies Fault, San Juan Marriott for Another Night

It wasn’t a tough choice even for a mind tranquilized from just getting done with a fantastic deep tissue massage, a snowy night most likely stuck in CLT or another night in paradise at the San Juan Marriott. Truthfully I love a snow storm but when sitting by the fire at home. The Marriott no doubt saved US Airways staff in CLT the grumbling ranting of a travel editor, I cannot help it. I have a two visit battle going with the casino here; currently we are very close to even. Losing a bit tonight is well worth sitting on the balcony watching the waves roll on shore. Then again if I am lucky enough to be here who knows?

Sammy Kitwara, Not the Only Winner in 10K, San Juan

With my prensa or press pass blowing in the wind, Sammy Kitwara blew across the finish line at the Best 10k in the World. Lithe and limber he lead the pack past the line and in a record time. While I admire his endeavor I saw a lot of people with heart collapse in pain, all for the chance to run in the Best 10k in the World. While I was poised above the thousands that beat the pavement clicking photo after photo, everyday people were pushing their limits. My heart goes out to all that beat the pavement. Still Sammy Kitwara did the deed, a winner!

First Published Photos of the Winner of the Best 10K in the World and a New Course Record

$30,000 winner!

El Yanque, High Above Puerto Rico

About an hour away from my super comfortable bed at the Marriott is a world unto itself, El Yunque. El Yanque is the only tropical forest in the U.S. National Forest system. The
Trails through varying foliage and cascading waterfalls are better than a valium on a 20 hour flight! It is almost enough to make this guy toss the Marlboros and swear off mojitos. A stop at a pool beneath a waterfall is a tropic delight. It put me in a tropic coma needed for quite awhile.

Fortunately a great lunch on Playa Luquillo of fresh grilled red snapper and a cold beer awaited. One must slowly return to reality and on Puerto Rico reality isn’t tough to take! A few waves on the Marriott’s beach then dinner at Tuscany and all is right with the world, at least my place in it!

Team SJ Marriott Best 10K in the World 2009

From the San Juan Marroitt to Condado, Yerba Buena Baby

From the Marriott San Juan we headed down into the Condado main drag and on a Friday night the streets pulsated with rhythms not found in Cottekill, NY. Travel & Leisure recently did an insider piece of the area and no doubt that beneath my 15th floor room action is happening such was certainly the case at Yeba Buena. I devoured a plate of delicious huge shrimp covered with a Creole sauce, washed down with a few mojitos. Feeling in a winning mood I took $50 from the Stellaris Casino, okay so big time I wasn’t. Still it covers the cost of lousy airport food eaten on the way down.

Return to the San Juan Marriott

A long day but I have returned to the San Juan Marriott and all is right again. The smell of the ocean and the view from my 15th floor view has created a Caribe Coma already.Pulling up to the hotel was a great feeling and I feel home. Loving this place!

Back to the Marriott San Juan to Cover the World's Best 10K

This Friday I head back to San Juan to cover the World’s Best 10K race, I will not be running but attending the race and all the big events. While the runners are losing weight I will be packing it on as I also plan on checking out local foods and the resurgence of Puerto Rico’s coffee industry. Pulpo, Mero and Pasteles will be downed in quantity.

Another big plus is my return to the Marriott Stellaris, where I stayed when on my adventure trip last visit. The place was fabulous with their super rooms and Island feel. Morning wake up will be a dip in the vodka clear water and I suppose my days will end that way also.

Puerto Rico for Adventure

Hurricane Dean missed Puerto Rico so tomorrow I head down for a visit. Most visitors head down for resort and casino activities, not in my case. This trip is all about adventure and the great outdoors. Day one begins with a visit to the Rio Tanama in the Karst region with its limestone hills and caves. The hike will be through the valley wading through the river and end caving. If that wasn’t enough we then will do some rappelling and zip line action high above the river after lunch at the Perez Family’s Organic Tanama.

That’s only day one and I am glad I got some hiking and biking action in Germany, Austria and Switzerland earlier this month, looks like I will need it! Of course the nights will be a different story; I will be bunking at the newly renovated Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino in San Juan. Another plus will be hooking up with Peter Mandel; we last traveled up the coast of Norway together enjoying the aurora burials.