Running on the run

The main downside of those introductory tour packages (e.g., see Europe in 10 days) is the lack of time for morning runs. Recently, my family did a Trafalgar London to Rome Highlights “cost-saver” tour (6 cities in 9 days!) that was very efficiently organized, with an excellent tour guide—a great way to see a lot within a limited time period. But, it was really hard to get in the morning runs. In contrast, in the 2012 trip to Paris, we're travelling by ourselves and setting our own schedule, and I was able to do several really nice, crowd-less, early morning runs, especially that memorable 8-mile sightseer!

On this trip, I'd to skip running in London, because of a weather-related delayed arrival, and didn't get in a run until the second day in Paris. It was still dark (~5 am), when I stepped out from the hotel (Mercure Paris La Défense 5), but I soon regretted not bringing a camera. By the time I got to the Place de la Défense, in front of La Grande Arche, the early morning light was enough to get a really nice view down the Av. de la Grande Armée of the Arc de Triomphe in night lights. Here's approximately the same view from Google Maps, except in daylight. The Arc de Triomphe is the very small feature just to the left of center. Later that day, we were up on the first level of the Tour

Eiffel and can easily see our hotel in La Défense to the northwest (to the right of the distant skyscrapers in the photo, with the Jardins du Trocadéro in the foreground). The Arc de Triomphe was not quite three miles from the hotel and a round-trip would have made for a nice, easy run. But, no time!

So, where would I have gone for my morning runs, had I had more time? The following are my "virtual runs."

In London (~8-mile run): From our hotel west of the city, go east through Kensington Gardens towards Westminster Abbey, then along the north bank of the River Thames to the Tower of London, cross the

Tower Bridge, come back along the south bank of the river, passing Shakespeare's Globe and the London Eye, cross the river back to Westminster Abbey and then to the hotel.

In Paris (~10-mile run): From our hotel, east southeast along the Av. de la Grande Armée, pass the Arc de Triomphe, continue along the Av. des Champs-Élysées, pass the Jardin des Tuileries, cross La Seine to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame and on to the Quartier Latin, through this very narrow Rue du Château Qui Pêche, just off the 

Quai Saint-Michel, through Le Jardin du Luxembourg, to Rue du Montparnasse, where one could not go hungry (at least from lack of crêpes; Crêperie Le Petit Josselin, on the left, is where we had a delicious dinner; order cider!), and back to the hotel, by way of the Tour Eiffel.

In Lucerne (~5-mile run): From hotel, a few short blocks to the edge of Lake Lucerne, out and back to the east along the shore, back to city center, across the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), through the city streets to the 

Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), just north of city center (dedicated to the Swiss mercenaries who died during the French Revolution), and back to the hotel.

In Venice: Our hotel was too far from the city for a run. (This was a cost-saver trip!) But, had we stayed in Venice, I would have had great fun running the many side streets and bridges, here with the Bridge of Sighs 

in the background. Or, pass through this narrow street and commune with the master. Or, for a really 

colorful run, take a boat ride across the Laguna Veneta to the island of Burano, known for its lacework and colorful houses, some seen here along the Fondamenta della Pescheria. (Best lunch of the trip on Burano!)

In Florence: Along the Fiume Arno, here just to the east of the Ponte Vecchio (which, btw, was not that high above the river, so Lauretta throwing herself in the Arno wouldn't have seemed to be that big a deal--unless she couldn't swim!), and through some of the

narrow streets of the city, such as Via dei Bentaccordi, where Michelangelo had lived. (See plaque on right.)

In Rome: An early morning stop at the Fontana di Trevi, perhaps with a coin toss--without the crowd--would have been really nice! But, near our hotel, in the outskirts of the city, there were also some interesting sights, 

including this one of a roadside fountain, taken on my only run (~3 miles) with a camera, on the last full day of the trip.