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My 5 Favourite Runs, From Around The World

October 30, 2014by Arden Jobling-Hey4 Comments

It comes as no surprise that my favourite way to see a city is to get up at the crack of dawn and give it the runaround. There’s simply nothing quite like waking up alongside a city; whether it’s skirting around delivery vans dropping off fresh baked goods for the start of day, or darting businessmen and women hustling to get to work on time, taking an early-morning run while traveling is by far my favourite way to discover a city. You never know what you’ll see before the sun creeps up! Rising early to hit the pavement has led me to discover a Canadian cemetery in the North of Wales, and accidentally join a 5km while spending an anniversary weekend in Pittsburgh and been yelled at by a fellow hostel guest in Geneva who must have dreamed her alarm went off and blamed it on the early risers, or, I suppose I should say runners.

While I’ve had my fair share of fabulous runs to kick-start my travels around the world, here are my top 5! If you’re ever in the area, don’t miss out on the chance to take in the fresh air, the beautiful landscape and hit the ground running:

1. Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C

Starting at Canada Place and ending at English Bay, the approximately 12 kilometer run through Stanley Park is the most amazing and memorable runs I have done to date (the fact that I ran it alongside one of my best friends was totally just the icing on the cake). Next to cyclists, joggers and walkers galore, you’ll weave in-between greenery set directly net to a never-ending coast-line in one of the most beautiful parks in the world. Check out more about Stanley Park and other things to see an do in Vancouver in my blog series on Beautiful British Columbia.

Continue reading “My 5 Favourite Runs, From Around The World” →

giraffe travel, street eats: foods from around the world, thetravelinggiraffe

Street Eats, Munich, Germany: Leberkäse or Obatzda mit Bretzen?

May 14, 2013June 3, 2013by Arden Jobling-Hey2 Comments

Welcome back to Street Eats, the series where we roam the world, discovering the best and the worst street snacks from coast to coast. Today, we head to one of my all-time favourite destinations, the city of Munich! Tucked in the heart of Bavaria, Munich has everything a traveler could ask for. Rich in history with cultural fests like Oktoberfest and Tollwood (summer and winter festival) taking place all year round, visitors to Munich can enjoy beautiful architecture in the form of Schlosses (palaces), inviting parks and gardens, museums, and (drum roll please)… beer gardens!

Prost! Shout out to the beer gardens of Munich

This city holds such a special place in my heart that I actually wrote an entire series on the “Best of Munich”, starting with #10 Schloss Nymphenburg and working down to my favourite place to visit in Munich, the Englischer Garten. One of my favourite things to do in the Englischer Garten (the English Garden) is share a Mass with friends at the Chinese Tower, the Chinesischer Turm, one of the city’s most happening beer gardens. As a newbie on the beer scene, I always order a Radler – a combination of lemon-lime soda and Helles (light beer) or Weissbier (wheat beer) meant to sustain cyclists (Radler = cyclist) in the mountains of Germany and Austria without getting them drunk – and a most refreshing way to welcome in a summer’s day.

Stirring up a thirst like no other, it’s very important to choose the right food to accompany your drink! For most, the easiest snack to grab on-the-go is are big soft Bretzen (pretzels), garnished with a dash of salt to make you go back for another sip. My preferred way to enjoy Bretzen however, includes a big helping of Obatzda, my go-to snack when frequenting any beer garden in Munich. Obatzda is basically a heavenly, albeit creamy, mixture of Camembert, butter, herbs and onions: check out this recipe recently posted by muenchen.de and try making your own!

image credit: Monele58 — *image credit*: Monele58

While obatzda may be my favourite thing to enjoy in Munich, it doesn’t really constitute as street food. For that reason, my vote goes to… Continue reading “Street Eats, Munich, Germany: Leberkäse or Obatzda mit Bretzen?” →

giraffe travel, street eats: foods from around the world, thetravelinggiraffe

Street Eats, Berlin, Germany: The best of the Currywurst

April 30, 2013May 14, 2013by Arden Jobling-Hey7 Comments

Ich bin ein Berliner! Nein? Hm.

Welcome back to Street Eats, the series where we discover tasty street foods from around the world. Today, we venture to Berlin, home to the Reichtstag, the Brandenburger Tor, the East Side Gallery – what remains of the Berlin Wall – and Checkpoint Charlie, the former border that once divided Eastern from Western Germany.

A city abundant in history, culture, and an unrivaled night life, Berlin is a “must-see” for any open-minded traveler. Jam packed with museums, markets, parks and a pretty nice zoo, this city is worth the stopover, and while the food in Berlin isn’t globally renowned, there is one specialty that has left quite the impression on backpackers, tourists, and locals alike… which is my vote goes to…