So many of our trips have been focused around a race and 2011 was no exception. This time Gilles’ race of choice was Ironman Louisville and so off we went to Kentucky.
Louisville remains the place where I enjoyed myself the most as a spectator. I was able to easily walk everywhere, there were bridges in abundance (I really like bridges) … and bourbon.
It is here I discovered the joys of a fine bourbon.
The city’s whiskey heritage was apparent in many discreet and not so discreet ways. I thought Whiskey Row had a rather nice ring to it as an address.
This city was friendly and welcoming to its visitors for this major race weekend … and in my opinion, they have the loudest and liveliest finish line in the sport, located at Fourth Street Live.
My Life Lived Full 
My youngest, Felicia, graduated from UD and her best friend Erin, came from Louisville KY and she ended up being her roommate for 3 years. Felicia moved upon graduation down to live in Louisville and I enjoyed the river front activities and almost like Cleveland “Flats” area with jazz and bands playing in many night clubs. Beautiful and fun, Joanne!
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That’s one thing I didn’t get to experience – the night clubs. I suspected this was a city that knew how to party and you just confirmed it 🙂
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I need to get to Louisville! For that bridge, if nothing else 🙂
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Bridges! Many bridges!
… and then of course, the bourbon 😉
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oh yes!! The bourbon 🙂
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Thanks for the tour of Louisville it is nice to see new places, especially places you can walk around…and get good beer on a hot day!
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I agree completely … although I think we were drinking Long Island Teas 😉
Being able to sit outside with a cold drink and people watch is a great activity on a warm summer’s afternoon!
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I too love bourbon and bridges. I just try and never mix the two at the same time, it might be hazardous to one’s health.
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Definitely not a recommended combination 😉
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I’m not much of a bourbon drinker, but I do love bridges!
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I consider them engineering magic 🙂
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Bourbon.
I say Mmmmhm, Amen. Louisville is a place I love and my husband doesn’t. Somethin wrong with him. Prolly needs mo’ bourbon.
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Prolly does! 😉
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It sound like a neat place to visit. Bourbon! Wow, I could do a bourbon tasting tour!
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Taste testing!! Alright! 🙂
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It’s beautiful Joanne! I don’t think I have ever seen a photo of Louisville. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!
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Me too!! I’m getting excited, and nervous too! 🙂
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Oh goodness no need to be nervous! We are pretty nice people and totally go with the flow. It will be so fun to finally connect and thanks so much for organizing it!
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You don’t understand. I worry if the sun will come up tomorrow. It’s what I do, and I’m really good at it 🙂
… and I already know you are really nice people. I read your blog 😉
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Haha okay I hear you. Worry on then and we shall have a marvellous chat on Saturday! Xo
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Looking forward to it 🙂
I *worry* that time will fly by in the blink of an eye and we won’t have covered a fraction of the things we have to share!!
What a wonderful problem to have 🙂
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Yes I think we will have to make these meetings a regular occurrence! 🙂
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Perfect! I’m in.
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Now here’s a place I never would’ve thought to find you…..well, till I heard about the bourbon anyway……. 🙂
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LOL – I could pop up just about anywhere 😉
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Funny, I’ve never associated Louisville with Iron Man races! Ah well, live and learn.
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There are so many races now. When I started in 2005, there were only 3 in North America that I knew about. Now they’re practically everywhere.
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I’ve been to Louisville, though very briefly…it’s a very pretty little city! I can’t drink whiskey because I’m prone to migraines, but it’s interesting to see the history nonetheless 🙂
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I was very pleasantly surprised by Louisville. The people were nice, the city was pretty, and they throw a good party 🙂
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Bourbon and bridges – what a great combo! (Also, what a great name for my next soft-rock album …!!)
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HAHAHAHA!! 😀
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we love walking over bridges too- looks like a very nice city.
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Thank you 🙂
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I liked Louisville, too. Wouldn’t mind retiring there… and no, that’s not just the bourbon talking. 🙂
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ok. Sure. yeah, already 🙂
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Looks like a good place to party!
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Funny you should say that. I had been thinking that their tag line should be Come for the Race, Stay for the Party!
I have never seen a finish line atmosphere like this one before!
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Right! It’s like, run a marathon…and then get totally drunk! I bet a lot of people do this anyway, and maybe don’t even see the irony!
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LOL – no irony at all 😉
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I’m surprised there are no panhandlers standing outside of Whiskey Row. But maybe they’re all down at Skid Row.
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It’s the next neighbourhood down 😉
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Our friend’s daughter attends school in Louisville. Although I have never been, it looks like a lovely spot to visit!
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I really enjoyed myself when we were there, although I’d be the first to admit that the atmosphere in a city during race week is quite different from what it is normally.
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Yes, I am sure it must be a buzz of activity when a race is in town!
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… and everyone is excited 🙂
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I’ve driven through Louisville several times, on the way to Nashville and Florida, but never had the opportunity to stop and explore. One of the events that I have always wanted to attend is “Thunder Over Louisville.” I’ve heard of it and watched a few videos on YouTube, but I would love to experience this in person. I bet it’s the coolest thing ever.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Over_Louisville
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I heard of this!
There were fireworks every night we were in Louisville leading up to the race on Sunday. When I was commenting on it one day in one of the local stores, the sales person told me about the build up to Derby week – although she didn’t give it a name.
What I experienced in August was apparently “nothing” compared to the April event!
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Great shots Joanne 🙂 Bourbon, now you’re talking my language !
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Straight up I assume? 🙂
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Is there any other way ?
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Exactly!
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Such an interesting way to have traveled over the years – through races and other physically challenging activities.
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It was a very deliberate decision.
We knew we wanted to make travel a very important part of our lives and being physically active also became very important to us as the boys grew up … so we combined the two!
No regrets 🙂
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Definitely a great address. And nice bridges.
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I knew you would agree that bridges always make a difference 🙂
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Bourbon and bridges – sounds like a winning combination to me !
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Well, when you put it that way – YES! 🙂
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I’m with you on the joy of fine bourbon …. I discovered Mint Juleps in Vicksburg – Mississippi and I remember that first time over 10 years ago like it was yesterday. I have never been to Kentucky, you have got me wanting to plan a trip to the south!
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hmmmm – mint juleps. Don’t believe I’ve ever had one of the those. You can be sure it will be one my agenda for this summer 🙂
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It must be in a mint julep cup! Any other way is simply not acceptable.
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A cup? What makes it different?
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They are usually sterling silver or plated cups and ice cold so you see the ice frosting on the outside.
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ohhh – that does sound perfect for a hot summer day! Thanks!
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now there’s an address my OH would love to have!
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You know when you pass big country estates that have been given a name? I’ve often pondered what I would want to call my estate … because surely someday I will have one 😉
I think Whiskey Estates sounds like a perfectly good name 🙂
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Damn. Why couldn’t have been L= Lexington, Kentucky so I could say “Ooh! I used to live there!”?
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So close! Sorry, I didn’t go to Lexington, but if they have bourbon I’m sure it’s a lovely place 😉
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I can’t vouch for that as I was but a wee babe at the time. Although I did go back for a visit in my twenties. But I’d only just been introduced to beer at that age; bourbon was a foreign concept.
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I developed a taste for beer only a few years ago while hiking the Bruce Trail with Helen. On a hot summer day, after a long hike, nothing tasted better than a cold beer! 🙂
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I was in Europe. On one of those bus tours. Drinking beer was practically compulsory. Comes in handy when you travel in places like Peru and Nepal where good wine is rare but the beer is tasty and cheap.
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… and the water might be questionable 😉
Beer isn’t usually my beverage of choice – except on a really hot day. The summer we were in Germany, Prague, and Krakow, a great deal of beer was consumed 😉
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