candacefrances

Los Angeles to San Francisco: Hwy 1

2017-04-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Spring Break 2k17: March 26 - 31

Our intention was to fly to Los Angeles and work our way up the California coast to San Francisco with all the cool stops in between. We made all our reservations and purchased tickets well in advance but you still need to be flexible. We had quite a few changes prior to the trip and during. Due to all the heavy California rainfall, we had lush views, green grasses and an abundance of flowers...but also due to the rains, we had to cancel our section of Big Sur. Our reserved cabin at Detjeens Resort in Big Sur, was destroyed by mud slides and a fallen Redwood. Pfeiffer State Bridge was demolished due to its instability. Road Closures, Shut down resorts and a missing bridge...forced us to reroute around Big Sur..inland to farm country (beautiful). We were still able to sneak up towards Big Sur a little from San Luis Obispo and down from Carmel. I look forward to a future trip to Big Sur, Deetjen's, Nepenthe and the surrounding nature.

Day 1: Los Angeles

We arrived at 6am, picked up our rental car and headed out into the city...
- Breakfast at Venice beach (and sights along the way)
- The Hollywood Sign (we googled best views to find a less crowded option)
- Hollywood Blvd
- Passadena: The Rose Bowl and the house Bren grew up in
- In and Out Burger
- Met friends for dinner at a Passadena Brewery (Borowski and Anastasias)
- Had "Dragon's Breath Ice Cream" (nitrogen frozen cereal) in Korea town: Chocolate Chair
- Checked into Courtyard Los Angeles next to "LA Live" (sports, eating, drinking)
- Bren and Trip went to LA Lakers Game

Day 2: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

About a 1.75 hr. drive...
We had a Whale watching excursion booked so headed out early to arrive in Santa Barbara Harbor by 7:30 am..only to find out it was cancelled due to high winds.
- Had breakfast down by the harbor/on the beach in Santa Barbara
- Explored the beach
- Checked in Early to the Hotel
VERY cool hotel
- Drove to the Historic Monastery and from there drove to the parking area for the hike to
Inspiration Point
- Back to the Hotel for a swim and relax
- Drove around Santa Barbara...checked out The Funk Zone (wineries, restaurants, breweries)
- Had drinks/dinner at The Outpost Restaurant in the hotel followed by S'mores by the fire pit

We stayed at the Kimpton Goodland in Goleta...a quick 10 minute drive from downtown Santa Barbara. The Worples recommend it and we loved it. Very Bohemian with a fun laid back kitchy vibe. My favorite hotel and one I had been looking forward to.

Kimpton Goodlands: You can borrow records for your room

Kimpton Goodlands: The three of us had a few fun games of pool

Inspiration Point: 1400 ft up the Santa Ynez Mts, 1800 ft above Santa Barbara w/views of the American Riviera and beyond to the Channel Islands. About a 2.5 hr. round trip hike

Cocktails at the fun hotel bar followed by a great dinner at the Outpost in the Hotel

Different activities nightly...our night was s'mores by the fire

Other Santa Barbara Recommendations from friends:

Paddle boards or Kayaks in the harbor

Funk Zone: Drinking, Winery tasting rooms and Fig Mtn Brewery

http://santabarbaraca.com/explore-and-discover-santa-barbara/neighborhoods-towns/santa-barbara/the-funk-zone/

The Lark: http://www.thelarksb.com/menus/dinner/

You'll need to make a reservation –Eat through the appetizer menu and share. It’s all good

Brophys: https://www.brophybros.com/welcome-santabarbara

great location on the pier overlooking the city and islands – good spot for lunch

Day 3: Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo

We were supposed to back track back to Ventura Harbor for our Ferry to the Channel Islands...with a Sea Cave Kayaking tour (all day excursion). I had breakfast/lunch/snack ordered and ready to be delivered to us at the ferry...but the Trip was cancelled due to high winds.

http://www.sbadventureco.com/adventures/channel-islands/#Sea-Cave-Kayaking

So...we re-booked the Whale Watching Excursion on the Condor Express
that had cancelled the previous day.
- Light breakfast at the hotel and checked out
- Arrived by 8:30 for 9:00 am whale watching:
CONDOR: http://condorexpress.com/whale-watching/california-whale-migration-season/

This was an awesome excursion...about 2 hrs. in length.

Sea Lions basking in the sun.

No kidding: Saw about 700 + dolphins

We came upon 1 shy grey whale (migrating season) and only saw a little of it.

Found a HUGE school of anchovies and a feeding frenzy followed. Hundreds of Dolphins, Pelicans, Seaguls, Sea Lions and the highlight... A Hump Back Whale.

We were able to see The Humpback feed on the surface and stay in the area for quite awhile.

Heading back to the harbor we saw two young Grey Whales swimming together along the coast.

(the grilled ham and cheese on sourdough, on the boat was amazing)

- Stopped at UCSB (University of California Santa Barbara).

- Did a quick college tour for Trip and stopped at the bookstore for his first UCSB shirt.

Gorgeous campus overlooking the water. WOW.

- Headed to San Luis Obispo (originally we weren't going to arrive in San Luis Obisbo until 7pm after our all-day kayaking adventure but now we had extra time...so we shifted our schedule a bit)

- Headed up Hwy 1 and Drove directly to Morro Bay to see Morro Rock

- Continued on Hwy 1 to Cayucos (9min north of Morro Bay) Funky California Beach town trapped in the 60's

- Picked up some Brown Butter Cookie Company Cookies: YUM (brown butter/sea salt) recommended by friends http://www.brownbuttercookies.com

- Turned around and headed towards San Luis Obispo

Morro Rock: worth parking and walking around.

Saw Sea Otters, great views and fun to climb on the rocks.

Rocks around Morro Rock

Morro Rock

- Checked in to Hotel in San Luis Obispo

(booked in Apple Farms because we originally would have checked in late and checked out early...room was generous for the 3 of us, hot tub was nice and location was fine...decor was not my thing) If I could do it over again, knowing we had more time, I would have booked The Madonna Inn. We did have breakfast reservations there for the next day so that was a consolation.

- Trip enjoyed the hot tub

- Went downtown for a casual dinner at The Firestone Grill: Tri-Tip Sandwich came highly recommended (it was a bit too casual/fast food)

- Novo was recommended. We wished we had sat on the back patio by the creek instead:

http://www.novorestaurant.com

- Walked to Bubble Gum Alley

- Downtown has great vibe/shopping/restaurants

- Headed back to Hotel

Bubble Gum Alley

Day 4: San Luis Obispo to Carmel

- 8:00 breakfast reservation at Madonna Inn
- Had to get off Hwy 1 and go inland through farm country to head up north to Monterey/Carmel

Madonna Inn: Known for its cake and Outlandish Rooms and Decor

Homemade corned beef hash...(sugar is pink, cakes are pink, tennis courts are pink)

Restaurant

Bathroom and Dinning Room

- Drove to Monterey...passing lush green vineyards and fields of fruit and vegetables

- Passed a Huge Dune Park but access was closed due to heavy rains

Vineyards

fields of strawberries, spinach, kale, artichokes, etc...so many field workers

- Arrived in Monterey (originally would have done Monterey the next day but by calling ahead, I found out high winds were headed up the coast and this would be the only opportunity for us to Kayak in the Monterey Bay. http://www.montereybaykayaks.com/monterey-tours.htmlFisherman’s

Ready for our Kayaking

Views from the Kayak

Sea Lions and Seals on the Rocks

Pulled in to a little beach to explore

- After Kayaking we drove around Monterey and headed to hotel
- We stayed at Hotel Carmel:
http://www.thehotelcarmel.com/?gclid=CjwKEAiAtefDBRDTnbDnvM735xISJABlvGOvcORfLYNlKmy1ATooo__IgPrp7pJz-mQACYj1IydECBoCQVzw_wcB
enjoyed their comfortable room, private balcony, hot tub, outdoor fires and convenient location.

The Hotel Carmel Lobby

The Hotel Carmel: Breakfast area for the morning w/granola, coffee, juices and bagels

- Our room was not quite ready so we headed into town after a partial change of clothes from the trunk of the car/lobby bathroom
- Walked the streets of Carmel:
- Went to AW Shuck's Oyster Bar for oysters, clam chowder and drinks:
http://www.awshuckscarmel.com/
- Headed to the Beach: dogs dogs everywhere...missing our pups
- Great views of pebble beach and the incredible waves due to the winds.

Pebble Beach behind us

slippery moss covered rocks

Wild sun bleached trees on the dunes

- Checked in at the hotel and relaxed for awhile

- Trip opted to chill in the room and wait for us to bring back dinner for him

- Hogs Breath Inn for Dinner

Bren and I went to The Hogs Breath Inn, recommended by friends...and we would pass on the recommendation. Fun atmosphere in the enclosed patio with a giant mural...fires everywhere.

table by the fire...

Hotel robe and a hot tub to finish off the evening (wine is mine) ;)

Day 5: Carmel
- Bren and I went down to the beach...he ran the beach and I walked...enjoying all the dogs and activity at 7am. VERY windy
- Breakfast in the Hotel
- 17 mile Drive: We really took our time. An incredible drive with amazing views and stops along the way....worth every penny of the $10 fee.

Views from 17 mile drive: Spanish Bay

Seals out in the choppy water

close up of the seals

findings on one of the beaches

mossy pool of water on one of the rocks

250 year old cypress tree

- Went to Nielson Brothers Market in Carmel and put together a picnic

- Drove down Hwy 1 towards Big Sur (only 22 mile stretch was open)

Gorgeous views...felt like we were on the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland

- Pulled in to Point Lobos State Park (3 miles south from Carmel)

Drove all the way to the end of the park, parked and picnic'd from the car with a bottle of red wine, bagguets, ham, cheese, boiled eggs and chips. (there were designated picnic areas so we opted for this cozy option with a view of the ocean)

Point Lobos: Stand on the edge of the rocks as the Ocean Spray Blasts its way towards you...

Point Lobos

- Regrouped at hotel
- Trip chilled, while Bren and I went downtown to shop and do a little wine tasting
- Got a beautiful linen bag at a french shop and they monogramed it for me
- Picked Trip up and the 3 of us went to dinner at La Bicycette (recommended). Really enjoyed it.

Day 6: Carmel to San Francisco
- We were now supposed to Head to San Francisco for 2 nights in the city...we had our Alcatraz tickets and hotel reservations. Bren had to fly out on a trip on Sunday...so it would mean we needed to leave a day early, split up and he travel out with a suitcase full of salty, sandy clothes and flying out from Atlanta. We all discussed it and decided we were exhausted and wanted to head home. We cancelled the hotel, forfeited the Alcatraz tickets and headed to the airport. We will do San Francisco on a 3 day weekend sometime soon. It was a good decision :)
- Drove to the airport along Hwy 1 and saw some amazing views of the ocean and cows enjoying the grasslands over the cliffs.
- Pulled over and stopped at Bonne Doon Beach... WOW

Trip at the top of the Hwy...before walking down to Bonne Doon Beach

Bren and Trip descending

the view from above

their footprints on the beach....what a great end to a fantastic trip.

Things we missed due to cancellations/mother nature that I would add:

Channel Islands: https://visitventuraca.com/channel-islands-national-park-overview/?utm_source=Madden&utm_medium=GoogleCPC&utm_content=Channel&utm_campaign=DM-CAVen

Channel Island Kayak Tours from Ventura Harbor: http://www.sbadventureco.com/adventures/channel-islands/#Sea-Cave-Kayaking

Deetjen's Inn: Big Sur http://www.deetjens.com/rooms.html

Nepenthe: Big Sur, sit outside for great views drinks/lunch http://www.nepenthebigsur.com

Big Sur Bakery: closed mon/tues breakfast/lunch/great pizza https://www.bigsurbakery.com

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park/McWay Falls: http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_mcwayfalls.html

Limekiln Falls: Hike thru giant redwoods and bubbling streams to 100-ft cascading waterfall

Sand Dollar Beach: longest strand of sandy beach on big sur coast

San Simeon/Hearst Castle: buy tickets online ahead of time: http://hearstcastle.org/tour-hearst-castle/daily-tours/grand-rooms-tour/

Tanbark Trail: 6-mile trail thru Redwood canyons with coastal views: http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_tanbark.html

Ewoldsen Trail: 5-mile lollipop loop shows off gorgeous redwood forests

Garrapata beach: White Sand Beach

Andrew Molera State Park: Horse back riding http://molerahorsebacktours.com/index.html

Ohio State Beer Cap Table

2015-06-07T15:04:00.001-07:00

Here is Cal's Ohio State University Beer Cap Table...

(painted Goodwill table with top trim added to contain the caps and glaze)...complete with attached OSU bottle opener.

South of France: 3 Days

2014-09-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

Bren and I had the opportunity to sneak away for a quick trip to the South of France to celebrate our 24th Wedding Anniversary. We wanted to see the beauty of the area, and do a bit of hiking, so we decided to carry back packs and rely on trains and buses for our various destinations. Here is what we did...

Tuesday Sept 8, 2014: Nice to Vence...to St. Paul du Vence

Flew into Nice and jumped on a bus to Vence.
http://www.beyond.fr/villages/vence-provence-france.html

Dropped bags and checked into hotel: Auberge des Seigneurs
http://www.auberge-seigneurs.com/home.htm
We loved the authenticity of this hotel. The room was furnished with antiques and it had a cozy restaurant. Highly recommend it.

Auberge des Seigneurs: Vence

checking in...

Our Room

Armoire in our room

View from our room

.

After unpacking...we hiked via a wooded path to...St. Paul De Vence

This scenic, hilltop village lives on a vast rolling landscape. Take your time to wander through the old stoned streets with chatty sidewalk cafes, try the local wines and wares, appreciate the art, linger around the fountains and simply take it all in. A cultural feast:

http://www.beyond.fr/villages/st-paul-de-vence-provence-france.html

Hike to St. Paul du Vence

roof top

St. Paul du Vence

refreshment

Then we hiked back to Vence for Dinner and explored the town.

We had dinner and breakfast in the hotel restaurant

Wednesday Sept 9, 2014: Vence to Ville-Franche-Sur-Mer

We packed up and took a bus to Ville-Franche-Sur-Mer. We stayed the remaining 2 nights here and day-tripped out and back.

View from our Hotel Ville Franche Sur Mer

Ville-Franche-Sur-Mer: http://www.beyond.fr/villages/villefranche.html

Set just beside Nice, Villefranche has a little town feel, with its small fisherman's port lined with cafes and local restaurants. The streets of the town have a distinct medieval flair, especially its 14th century rue obscure, a covered and vaulted street, dimly lit, haunting and majestic in design.

We were short on time so we ended up taking a bus to Eze and Hiking down only...It was still a challenging hike...take plenty of water.

Eze

Hike up to Eze:
Sleep Donkey Paths with breathtaking views which will certainly work up your appetite.
Simply the most charming medieval village on the Riviera. This 12th century fortified area navigates around the ruins of the old Château and oozes with history. Its cliff top location provides panoramic views over the Mediterranean. Behind the village walls are hand-lain cobblestone streets lined with craftsmen and artist studios, exotic gardens and historical remnants. On the outskirts you will discover secrets of perfume creation at the world famous Fragonard Parfumerie.
http://www.beyond.fr/villages/eze-provence-france.html
Hike down from Eze:

Explored Ville-Franche-Sur-Mer and Area

The Nietzsche Trail: Hike Down to Eze Sur Mer

Our Favorite Bar in Eze Sur Mer: ANJUNA
Right on the Coast where Yachts were moored...and would be brought in by dinghies for lunch/dinner and supplies

That night we had dinner in Ville Franche Sur Mer

Ville Franche Sur Mer

Thursday Sept. 10th, 2017

Spent the day renting bikes and riding around the coast of Ville Franche Sur Mer and Areas. Even went back to our favorite bar on the water and the beach on the way back. The water was so clear that we could see sunken boats right through the water. Beautiful bike bath all along the coast and in and amongst the mansions.

a little chilled Rose

Back to our favorite Bar on the Coast at Eze Sur Mer: Anjuna

took a little dip in his skiveys

back to the bikes...

Back to College

2014-08-14T04:23:00.000-07:00

Nick is moving into an apartment @Miami this year and I offered him a painting of his choice. The consensus with his roommates was Dave Matthews hands down....

And so, my summer painting for Nick will be taken up next week as he returns to Miami of Ohio for his Junior year. Love painting for my boys...

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

2014-04-06T16:06:00.002-07:00

Royalton, Punta Cana

Spring Break 2014

We booked our Spring Break at The all-inclusive Resort, The Royalton, Punta Cana....a newly rebuilt, re-furbished, and re-created 5 star resort. We were not disappointed. Our arrival and departure at the quaint thatched airport was smooth and uneventful. (note you pay $10 per person upon arriving). Our cab ride for all 4 of us was $40 one way but quick and direct without stopping at additional resorts. We arrived at the resort about 1:30 and were immediately "Oohing and Ahhing".

Upon being greeted with cool cloths and fancy drinks we were led to the "Diamond Club" for check in. The diamond club is an optional upgrade that includes access to the Diamond Club with games, and special goodies, A butler at your disposal "Mr. Theodore" was ours (room service, stocked bar etc..), Priority reservations at the inclusive restaurants, Top-Shelf Liquor, Private section of the beach, Private Beach Bar with much better drinks, and Beach Bed Cabanas. We were upgraded for free! Normally this would be an additional $40 a day per person add on. It was fun and much appreciated.

Our room was a Luxury Swim-Out Ocean View. We were steps from the beach. Gorgeous Gorgeous room. The Beach was clean and the water clear...with fun waves. The Dominican Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. We brought a lot of $1 bills and used these for tips for the staff, which was much appreciated.

There was nightly entertainment, non-motorized water sports, a beautiful spa, amazing pools, a casino, night club, sports bar etc... Our resort was a sister property of the Memories Splash resort, which we also had access to. We went there for a day at their water park complete with slides and wave pool. For our dinners, we opted for the Greek Opa restaurant, The Hibachi Grill one night, A seafood restaurant another, and a yummy Steak restaurant...for lunch we did the buffets or the pool side burger bar. The buffets were amazing and the food good. We opted for this resort because it was a smaller resort vs. taking shuttles etc...

We would definitely return to this resort and location again. None of us had any complaints. So so beautiful!

View from our swim-out room...looking right out to the beach bed cabanas

Our Patio

My Cabana....dreamy

A view down the row of other swim-out rooms

Trip swims to our room

the beach

Trip enjoys a drink on the swing at the bar

resort map. we are top left #14 on the end....perfect

Off to College

2014-03-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

So now its a tradition: You leave for college with a painting of your choice.

Nick's Mural:

This tradition started with Nick going to college, and moving into his fraternity. I offered to do a painting for him...suggesting his favorite musicians. He jumped on the idea, putting together a list of his favorite rappers. After some photo research and working together, we compiled a working composition. He had a choice of a canvas or a mural. We both agreed there is something cool about a mural...and leaving 'something behind' when you move. So, a mural it was. Here is Nick's mural, now on the wall in the Theta Chi house, Miami University. Its about 4' tall x 5.5'. We did it in one day during the summer.

Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Eminem, Snoop Dogg,

Kanye, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z.

Cal's Canvas:

So now its Cal's turn...Cal heads to Ohio State in August. Cal decided on a Large Canvas and made a selection of his rappers. Some were the same as Nick's, some were different. What a cool project to work on with your son. Cal would play the music of the rapper as I was painting...educational and fun. I am grateful to have had this time with Cal.

Tupac, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dogg,
Kanye, Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi

Cal chose some of his favorite lines from the artist's songs to incorporate.

Cal and I worked together...

Little Beer Cap Table:

2014-03-02T18:52:00.001-08:00

Theta Chi Beer Cap Table

This was a mini for a fundraising Auction. Found the table on clearance at Target. It already had the edge around the table.

Baby Nursery

2014-03-02T18:49:00.001-08:00

Cherry Blossoms:

This baby will be surrounded by cherry blossoms in his nursery....

Fraternity Furniture:

2013-06-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

Theta Chi Beer Cap Table

He needs college furniture for a Fraternity House – a dresser, a desk, and a coffee table (not that it will ever be used for coffee). I know its going to take a beating and needs to be strong...so its off to the local Thrift store to see what I can find. $70 later, I have 3 sturdy pieces. I can't help myself... have to put my touch on them.

The Beer Cap Table: We added a trim piece to frame the inside of the table and I added a coat of paint. I then arranged our collection of beer caps in my desired pattern. After it was all laid out, I poured coats of a liquid varnish over until the caps were completely covered.

A little paint, some distressing, new hardware and 1000 beer caps (give or take a few).... and we are all set for move-in day.

rome: five days

2013-03-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

March 2013

I was able to tag along with Bren on a business trip to Roma...thanks to dear friends for taking our children under their wings. xo

We had previously been to Rome as a family so this was a different kind of trip. We were able to revisit some of our favorite sites, walk the city and dine with airline friends.

we love going to the Pantheon...truly amazing

Campo di Fiori

the fountains continue to draw me in...fresh cold water
from the roman aqueducts

Trevi Fountain

not really ours...don't think we would fit

The Pinhos and The Frieses

The Pantheon on a slightly rainy evening.
A table under the umbrella with a view (understatement)

Best Pizza in Rome...our favorite and a favorite of the locals
Navona Notte (Ristorante Pizzeria)
Via del Teatro Pace, 44 - 00186 Roma
...right off of Piazza Navona

Walking Tour and Cooking Day

www.fabiolouscookingday (100 Euros)

The class began with meeting Fabio (our instructor) at a designated spot in the city. We had 5 students in our class. 2 Russian, 2 American, and 1 Australian....and 3 chefs.

We walked to the market to get our ingredients as well as the butcher's shop. Seeing sites along the way...we ended up at the Cooking School, an apartment laid out with a functional kitchen and dining area for enjoying our meal afterwards.
Immediately we began work preparing all sorts of wonderful dishes. We were then able to sit down and enjoy all our dishes accompanied by wine. We then walked to Fabio's restaurant: "That's Amore" and enjoyed a decadent dessert and esspresso.

Chefs Fabio and Igor

Fabio explains the preparation of the chicken at the butcher shop

pounded boneless chicken thighs
stuffed with sausage and wrapped in bacon

The simple beginnings of pasta

homemade gnocci

pasta about to become ravioli and lasagna

artichoke ravioli

Our Chefs and organizers

ireland: family christmas 2012

2012-12-23T17:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Ireland? We were up for an adventure and we had a wonderful Christmas and loved our time in Ireland. Knowing ahead of time that stores, restaurants and pubs shut down on christmas eve and remain closed during Christmas and St. Stephen's Day (the day after Christmas) was necessary in terms of planning on groceries, and activities.

We flew into Dublin, signed for our pre-arranged rental car and proceeded on to County Claire on the west side of Ireland. We drove the northernly route which was known to be faster and more direct,

stopping on the way to get groceries, and items for Christmas and then proceeded to "our castle"...Ballynagowen Castle or otherwise known as Smithstown Castle: http://www.smithstowncastle.com/

We had the castle rented until December 27th. When we arrived Emily (our caretaker) greeted us and gave us a walk-thru of our 500 year old fortified turret. We were immediately enchanted. Everyone running up the winding steps choosing their rooms and getting settled.

Ballynagowen Castle: Home away from Home

Our front Door with compressed peat stacked for our fireplace

The Castle did not have wifi but we were told the local pub, Kilshanny House, had wifi and the best Guiness around. We found both to be true. We had our first meal there and it was wonderful. The fish was delicious and the atmosphere cozy. I arranged for them to have some butternut squash soup prepared for our Christmas Eve dinner. When I picked it up the next day it was waiting with a loaf of fresh baked bread and a Christmas card.

December 24th...Christmas Eve...our day was supposed to consist of a bit of local Christmas shopping and exploring the area, however a spontaneous stop at Lahinch Golf Club (10 minutes away), to peek before starting our day, changed our plans. Bren inquired at the pro shop as to any possible tee times. He was told that the pro shop would be closing in an hour for Christmas Eve but we were welcome to play...free of charge no less. No golf clubs you say? Here you go...once again, free of charge. Just leave them at the door when you are done since the shop will be closed. Bren was in heaven. Bren, Nick and Cal played, while Trip and I explored. It was a glorious day.

"The Ascension"

Lahinch Golf Club: Christmas Eve

After a few hours of golf...we drove into the town of Ennistymon for some final Christmas Eve Dinner items and items for Christmas Breakfast. I went to the local butcher and baker...standing in line with all the locals. Sausages for breakfast and stuffed chicken breasts for dinner. As we were walking thorough town, the church bells began to toll and a small local funeral procession walked by following the hearse as the bells continued to toll...quite moving. All of the stores for gift shopping were closed but we drove down to the coastal town of Doolin, so picturesque, and stopped at Fitzpatrick's Bar for some Guiness and scones.

Heading back to our castle we found a Christmas tree for sale and managed to stuff it into our rental and 'head for home'.

unwrapping our tree

our dinning room

My Christmas away from home preperations: I brought a small strand of battery operated lights from home and a star tree topper and we purchased foil covered chocolate ornaments to adorn the tree from the local market. Gifts...what to do about gifts when flying with carry on bags only? I packed wisely. Most of Nick and Cal's gifts were clothes...so I edited their bags and took into account all the new gifts they would receive and left out some of the clothes they packed. Gifts too big to pack? I took photos of those gifts and left them at home. The tree was decorated with white paper christmas envelopes with photos of gifts. We hung our stockings (which we brought from home) and Santa filled them with items from home and Irish goodies as well. We left out some Guiness and cookies for Santa, which I am sure he enjoyed.

Our Christmas was wonderful...different to be sure but special and unique. I think we all enjoyed it. A breakfast of soda bread, rashers and eggs...prepared in our kitchen, prepared us for an afternoon exploring the Cliffs of Moher (6miles away)...Breathtaking.

On December 26th we packed a picnic and set out to explore the Irish countryside. "The Burren", a limestone plateau is formed from wind, rain and glaciers. The area is dotted with pre-historic dolmens, ringforts and early Christian churches and ruins.

We also went to Galway for lunch and some exploring, really enjoying the countryside, guiness and food along the way. Galway was a neat town but we much preferred the little gems along the way and around us in county claire.

The Burren

5000 year old Dolmen

We drove to Dublin on the 27th stopping at Bunratty Castle (I would not recommend...too touristy). We returned our rental car and walked while in Dublin, finding it easier to just take a cab to the airport on the day of our departure. We spent two nights in Dublin, right by Trinity College in The Trinity Hotel. A trip to the Guiness Brewery is a must, well put together but definitely a tourist stop. One of our favorite stops was the Kilmannan Jail. A short film gives you an unbelievable peek into the history of Ireland.

Some more pubs...more great food and alot more walking. Dublin was interesting but take me to the countryside any day.

A visit to the Guiness Brewery

A view of Dublin from the Brewery

The Brazen Head Pub...Oldest Pub in Dublin

Kilmannan Gaol (Jail)...a must see for Irish History. Fascinating.

Dublin

Temple Bar: Dublin

The Irish people were some of the friendliest I have ever come across. Certainly jolly with a quick wit. Even in December, we were surrounded by green. The food was delicious. One must remember that Ireland is surrounded by the ocean and the seafood is fresh and well prepared.
Some of my favorite dishes: Irish Stew, Shepherd's Pie, Seafood Chowder, Fresh Fish (fish and chips for the kids) and Soups ...comfort food at its finest.
Next time we might look into flying directly into Shannon Airport on the west coast and spend some time exploring the southern part of Ireland as well.

Christmas in Ireland...a Christmas not to be forgotten...filled with funny family memories and time together...exploring and experiencing.

family travel

2011-11-10T03:47:00.000-08:00

travel w/ my family is one of the great joys of my life...

certainly not always relaxing and not always peaceful, but assuredly memorable and definitely bonding.
i have a tendency to forget details just months after a trip, so my intention here is to keep a record for myself but also to share our experiences in the hopes that they may be helpful in your planning. it makes me happy when i know a friend is following in our footsteps to a country, a resort, apartment or a restaurant, which we have enjoyed.
france...our most recent experience see below.

france: normandy and paris

2011-11-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

novembre 2011: We finally took the kids to France. What a memorable trip for all of us. I can't wait to share it with you. In a nutshell, we flew in to Paris, picked up our rental car (budget) and drove to Giverny (Monet's Garden), continuing on through Rouen, Honfleur, Caen and Bayeaux...to the Manoir du Quesnay (where we would stay for 3 nights). Our visit in Normandy would include an entire day of visiting the U.S. D-Day Invasion Sights, including Omaha Beach, The Normandy Countryside and the city of Bayeux (with the Bayeux Tapestry). After 3 nights we drove back to Paris, returned the rental car and moved into our tiny apartment in the 5th arrondissement for 2 nights, while we explored Paris. See below for our travel entries and photos.

Books I would recommend prior to a trip to France:
"On Rue Tatin: Living and Cooking in a French Town" by Susan Hermann Loomis
(Susan Hermann Loomis is an American who studied french cooking in Paris and eventually moves to Normandy with her family...her experiences in french culture, wonderful insights to daily living and a great feel for the food and recipes of the region. She has a number of additonal cookbooks and a website)
"The Normandy Diary of Marie Louise Osmont 1940-1944" by Marie Osmont

(At the time of the invasion, the widowed Osmont was mistress of Chateau Pcriers, a sizable Normandy estate about 3 miles inland from Sword Beach. The book is her diary of day to day happenings as her chateau is requisitioned by the Germans and then the English. Quick read with wonderful insight)

"Paris" by Rick Steeves

(Includes all the information on Normandy sites as well)

31 octobre: We arrived early a.m., picked up our Budget rental car (GPS a must), and headed north towards Normandy. We arrived at Monet's Garden just after it opened. No lines, a big plus to a visit in the fall. Amazing how beautiful everything was that time of year.

monet's house

inside: just as it was in Monet's Day.

Trip Sketching in the garden.

Nick

Cal

Nick and Trip...Nick promised Mrs. Rupe, his elementary art teacher, that he would go one day. Nick was 7 when he promised and now he is 17, and preparing for college next year.

pink roses

31 octobre: after leaving Giverny, we continued our drive up through Rouen (where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake), Honfleur (fishing village where many of the impressionists would paint, including Monet), and Caaen (virtually destroyed during the D-Day bombings and re-built). Eventually we came to Bayeux...struggling to stay awake to reach the manor house we would be staying in for the next 3 nights. Just outside of Bayeux, in the country lies the highlight of our trip, Le Quesnay, a bed and breakfast with lots of space, charm and history...we were the only guests. Jacques and his wife Alix, met us and gave us a tour, eventually carrying our bags to the Moat House, which was all ours during our stay. The five of us stayed for a very reasonable price: 140 Euro a night. Breakfast was an extra 10 Euro per person, and well worth it.

http://manoir-du-quesnay.com/Manoir_Du_Quesnay/The_Manor/The_Manor.html

le quesnay has been in Alix's family for over 150 years.

love the way the lawns were mowed and hedges were trimmed

the moat house: our family accomodation

our door

the horse stables...the horses were out in the field this time of year, but we were able to pick apples from the tree and feed them.

the french blue on the doors is my favorite color...it jumps at me everywhere in France.

looking out and down from our bedroom window

behind the moat house

the main house steps. the steps were designed back when the manoir had to be protected... narrow to be slow to ascend and reversed so a person could not use a weapon with their right hand as they ascend.

trip going down.

these little windows were for shooting thru

the main house renovation...beautifully designed.

the little french birds laid an egg while we were there

original stone carvings in the beams

looking down from Jacques library into the main house living room

Alix has decorated the manoir with family antiques and gorgeous oil paintings.

the stairs leading up to our rooms in the moat house

looking out from our room into the upstairs hall

our room

our wonderful window. we would sleep with the window open and hear the cows and horses in the morning.

the key to our room. i carried a beautiful tasseled skeleton key with me.

one morning bren and i left the kids sleeping while we went to the main house for a little pre-breakfast cafe au lait.

in the garden...

peeking into the breakfast room

le petit dejeuner

this cupboard was charming...the 3 doors on the right are actually storage but the one on the left is the doorway into the kitchen.

another table set for breakfast

huge aubusson tapestry

sharing some vin rouge in the moat house living space

the fireplaces were huge. we had a fire every night thanks to bren

Nick et moi in front of the huge oil painting covering one entire wall in our living space.

a pigeon from the kids window

1 novembre: after a delicious breakfast at the manoir, we set out to see all the WWII D-Day sites. I followed the suggested order from Rick Steves, which was very smooth and coherent. Rain was originally anticipated, but the day turned out to be absolutely perfect. We began in the town of Arromanches, climbing a hill to watch The Price of Freedom, a very moving film in a 360 degree theatre to set the mood for the rest of the day. A must!

Arromanches...looking out to Port Winston...where the U.S. set up an artificial harbor.

many remnants of the harbor

on the beach with the boys

then we went to Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery

standing on one of the four German casemates (three with guns intact)

We often saw drawings and art of poppies (the symbol of remebrance of soldiers killed in wartime) on memorials and such...but as we walked from one gun battery to another i came upon this lone poppy. the only live one I would see on the whole trip.

We then went to the American Cemetary and Memorial...the path above Omaha Beach, leading from the museum to the cemetary.

The view of Omaha beach from the path 34,000 Americans would land on this beach by days end. Estimates for this beach alone range from 2,500 to 4,800 killed and wounded on that day.

the infinity pool at the Amerian Cemetary Museum

some had no names...very moving

Our next stop was Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument...very memorable. The memorial is a "Dagger" planted firmly into the ground. This was The German's most heavily fortified positions. The Allies determined that this cliff was critical to the success of the landings, and so they proceeded to bomb it to smithereens for months. The Rangers had to scale the cliff with grappling hooks and rope ladders. Only 1/3 of the Rangers survived.

this view shows the cliff the rangers had to scale.

Nick near a crater

Trip in a crater

Another crater....the bombed bunkers are now considered german gravesites and picnicking is forbidden.

Nick and Cal looking out through the German Bunker.

Inside the German Bunker

Inside the Bunker.

Next we went to the German Cemetary.

The grave markers were flat stones with 1 marker for every 2 graves...It was a very solemn dark place, in contrast to the white of the American Cemetary.

On Omaha Beach with the boys.

Looking up to the American Cemetary from Omaha Beach. The sand was very soft, if it was wet at all your feet would sink in...could not help but try to imagine trying to run in full gear, completely wet and exposed with a heavy pack.

The stones further up on the sand.

Nick, Cal and Trip...November in Normandy...on Omaha Beach.

2 novembre: we originally planned to spend a day going to Mont St. Michel, a 1200 year old Abby 90 minutes away...however having driven 2.5 hrs. from Paris to Bayeux we decided to take it out of our itinerary and focus on Bayeaux, The countryside around us and the Manoir du Quesnay. We were glad we did. We enjoyed our day in Bayeaux and had time for a football game on Omaha Beach.

Notre Dame in Bayeaux

a wall within Notre Dame

Beautiful Statue of Mary. Notre Dame means "Our Lady" and thus it is used for a number of churches.

a carving on the door.

The Bayeux Tapestry Museum.

Amazing 900 plus year old Tapestry showing William the Conquerer's ascension to the English throne.

Our BMW rental.

3 novembre: We had a relaxing breakfast, packed up to head back to Paris for our last two nights. Jacques kindly arranged to have our rental car dropped off close to our apartment rather than the airport. Bren dropped us off to find our apartment, and he returned the car and joined us. We stayed in a tiny apartment with a king size bed for Bren and I, a loft for 2 boys and a make-shift pullout bed for another. Close quarters to say the least but fun and economical. All 5 of us stayed in a GREAT location (right across the street from Notre Dame Cathedral) in the 5th arrondisement, The Latin Quarter. Our apartment was 135 Euro a night for all 5 of us.... Verde actually wrote La Traviata in our apartment. We could look up to 500 year old beams.

http://www.vrbo.com/53146#comments

Our street...St. Severin.

First stop: The Louvre. The boys in front of The Mona Lisa.

my boys et moi in the louvre.

The guys outside The Louvre in La Jardin Tuileries.

The Eiffel Tower at night.

Nick and Trip, just before it began to rain...

4 novembre: Bren's Birthday! His second in Paris. We went back to The Eiffel Tower and climbed to the 2nd level...and then the elevator to the top.

picnicking along the Seine

crepe anyone?

Les Deux Maggots for a drink

live jazz playing on the street corner near Les Deux Maggots

Flower stand. Arrangements sold in plastic bags holding water.

Cal found these roses in the trash can...surprised me by coming around the corner and presenting me with them...."flower my lady?" He assumed someone got dumped and threw them away...turns out the flower vendor selling them to people got caught by the police and had to throw them out. Cal gave them back to the vendor later when we found out.

the vendor gave Cal 1 rose as a thank you....

Our last evening in Paris. Bren carries down the street in St. Germain.

Trip and his new Football scarf.

Trip and Nick in St. Germain

costa rica

2011-04-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Spring Break 2011: Looking for plenty of sunshine, relaxation, and a splashof adventure...we headed to Costa Rica. This was a family vacation to remember, with a little something for everyone. I will attempt to include enough info to help those of you headed to this lovely destination while planning your trip. With our spring break at the end of March, it coincided with Costa Rica's Dry Season...95 degree temperatures and a beautiful ocean breeze...we could not have asked for better weather.

We chose to stay at the Flamingo Beach Resort, on Flamingo Beach (the southwest side, in the Guanacaste Region). The location gave us the beach along with easy access to tours and adventures. There are so many regions to choose from...depending on your interests. Next time I would definately work-in the Arenal Volcano. This resort appealed to us, because of it's more intimate size, yet it had all the comforts of a luxurious resort. I arranged transporation through the hotel from the airport (1 hour drive) however, next time we will rent a jeep to give us more flexibity during our stay.

The resort offered breakfast only as well as all-inclusive packages (your wristband indicates your status). Knowing we would be headed out for a number of family adventures throughout the day, we opted for the breakfast only package, which included a very adequate beachfront breakfast every morning.

Just outside the resort gate are a number of wonderful restaurants...Marie's is one of my favorites, with its open-air design. Their Fish Tacos are out of this world.

Beautiful waves...great body surfing with clear water in whichyou can

sometimes see fish swim through the water as the waves crest.

the swim up bar...chocolate monkeys and pina coladas

Flamingo Beach Resort.

Flamingo Beach Resort: Our Family Suite: 3 balconies and 3 Queen size beds.

About a 20 minute walk from the resort, brought us to Playa Potrera, a dark sand beach (this is where we later walked to catch our deep sea fishing excursion and catamaran sunset cruise). We found our first local ocean front restaurant...Plea Mar. Meals of typical Costa Rican and seafood cuisine are served right on the beach under thatched umbrellas. As we drank our Imperial Beers, fantas and cokes...we watched the fresh seafood being delivered.

the guys walking to Plea Mar Restaurant

Trip enjoying his fanta and the owner's parrot at Plea Mar.

ATV to Zipline: We purchased most of our adventures through the resort. Booking ahead of time is not necessary. Our first adventure was a combination of the ATVs and the Zip Line located at theCongo Trail. The ATVs were delivered right to our hotel (we each rode our own, except for Trip, who rode on the back of Bren's). Since we were in the dry season, the river beds were not quite as wet and fun as they would have been otherwise. We had a blast...after heading down a short paved road past Potrero, we went on dirt paths/small roads through villages and remote areas. About 45 minutes of fun riding later...we reached our destination: The Congo Trail zip line.

ATVs delivered to the resort

lots of dirt and dust...

cal taking a break...poor guy had to ride with a cast on for his broken thumb.

family of rough riders

starting out on the atvs....

riding along...

hello cows...

costa rica: zip line

2011-04-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

We arrived via ATV to the Congo Trail Zip Lines....an amazing maze of platforms and cables high up in the tree tops. We climbed steps and ladders to get to the first of the platforms.

You are hooked by your cable to the platform's cables which are attached to the tree....awaiting your turn to jumb up and get hooked to the zip line cable. you were leather gloves. One hand holds your harness and the other holds one of the cables loosely from behind your head. This is pulled down on, in order to slow as approaching the next platform.... You go from one to the next...really quite amazing.

mama...geared up

trip zipping

Trip zipping...

looking forward thru a zoom lens to the next platform.

there it is...we also saw howler monkeys in the trees.

nick zipping...

cal zipping...

the boys hiking to the next section

Nick held a camera in his hand as he zip-lined...

costa rica: dinning

2011-04-08T05:03:00.000-07:00

Our resort was an easy place in which to relax, swim in the ocean...walk over to the pool, and swim up to the bar for a cool refreshing pina colada. We ordered lunch on occasion by the pool (their sandwiches were good) but generally heading off the compound was much more tasty and interesting. Just outside the gate was Marie's, which I mentioned earlier for their fish tacos, but their drinks were amazing... I ordered a mojito and wondered what was taking so long to make a mojito...finally looking over at the bar, we witnessed the care being taken to hand squeeze the limes, crush the mint with sugar etc...WOW....by far the best mojito ever! Of course Imperial beer was the local beer, but on a return visit to Marie's, Bren couldn't resist their Pina Colada which is a sight to behold, and a meal unto itself.

We were somewhat limited by the fact we had not rented a vehicle...we went to restaurants within walking distance, however cabs were also easily available. The Laguna Azul beachside restaurant had been mentioned by a few locals...just past the Plae Mar Restaurant. Rustic wood tables right on the ocean, with hammocks hanging nearby. Puppies at our feet and Grandma cooking in the kitchen, with Grandpa lounging 10 feet away in his 'front yard'...the beach. It was a family affair, as most of them seem to be. These restaurants are very reasonable and offer fish, chicken...and burgers. Bren and I had the Mahi Mahi which came with a side of rice and black beans. We ordered bottled water everywhere except the resort which served bottled water from a cooler...

waiting for our lunch at Laguna Azul

Trip with Puppy #1

puppy #2

There were also pizza shacks, sandwich stops and little grocers, where we purchased snacks, sodas, beers etc...for the room and beach. I brought foldable beach bags...but next time I would also bring one of those soft, insulated, foldable coolers too.

costa rica: fishing trip

2011-04-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

We went out for a 1/2 day trip on the Sun King. We had heard that the fishing had not been too good in the past few weeks, but having never been on a deep sea fishing trip we forged ahead. This was Trip's Birthday wish...he passed on a kid party to be able to do this adventure as a family.

Nick

We had been boating for about 40 minutes, when Cal caught the first fish....A Mackerel. Cal proceeded to hold up the fish for the camera...not thinking too much about the razor sharp teeth right by his fingers...

When handing the fish off to the guide...the fish dropped on deck, flopping around. One guide picked it up and lost it again...as it continued to flop, it flopped right next the head guide's foot and sliced the top of his foot wide open. Blood everywhere...the fish is caught and we take the guide into our care.

Wrapping his foot, keeping it elevated with pressure, we were able to stop the flow of blood, as the boat turned around to drop him off on shore to get stitches. We later learned he had 13 stitches and would be out for 10 days...

We then headed out again. Cal was splattered with blood from the fish and the guide for the rest of the trip.

We were served nachos, and a fresh fruit plate, along with sodas and beers. It was a gorgeous day, and though we did not catch any monster fish we still had a good time.

Trip with his Red Snapper.

The tinniest catch...

Nick's Bonita held by the guide.

Trip and Dad

The boys on the front of the boat, heading back.

costa rica: horse ride

2011-04-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

Trip had never really had the opportunity to ride a horse outside of a pony pen...so this was a great opportunity. It was $30 for a 3 hour trip, but we decided to limit the ride to 2 hours since we were not used to riding. We were so glad....it was the perfect length.

Trip

Trip and Mom...the land in the background is where our resort was located.

Trip's horse was named Baby Racoon, mine was Bobby and the guide's horse was Black. We followed the guide thru some little villages and out along the ocean. Walking on the beach, up through hillsides. We were walking along Playa Conchal. It was a beautiful beach with really calm waters. Our beach at the resort was much more playful and fun for body surfing....but this was lovely. We passed the resort: Reserva Conchal, which looked very luxurious and had a golf course. Another Resort we would look into next time is Paradisus Playa Conchal. The thing to consider is whether or not you will take advatage of the all-inclusive package if you are out and about doing lots of adventures. That was our dilema.

Reserva Conchal Resort. We rode on a path through the grove of trees you see in the picture.

On our ride back, I was filming the area when two dogs rushed my horse...a little startling at the time, but caught it on tape.

costa rica: catamaran sunset snorkel cruise

2011-04-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

On the last day of the trip...we decided to go on a snorkel trip. We opted for a wonderful Sunset Cruise on a 48' Catamaran named The Hibiscus, which was one of the highlights of our trip. The boat and crew were amazing, and we would definately do this one again on a return trip. I booked this trip through some beach vendors...using Christian our chair/umbrella guy as a connection....and introduction to his friend, Major. It was a way better boat than the one the hotel was offering up. www.sailhiviscus.com They do Third Lung Diving and private charters.

We were picked up at the resort at 1:45 and taken to Potrero to meet up with the Catamaran. We were taken out by dingy with some other passengers. We were met with drinks and a cheerful crew. We sailed out to Honeymoon Beach for snorkeling (the boat provides the equipment) and while we snorkel...the crew prepares a grilled dinner of delicious fajitas, fresh fruit, and cookies. It tasted wonderful. I highly recommend the rum punch.

the boys on the net

the brothers

The kids loved getting their drinks through the little hatch to the kitchen. While we cruised..the captain had some rods out for trolling...but we did not catch anything. The sunset was amazing and the fellow passengers all fun and easy going.

mom and trip...getting ready to snorkel

dad and his two big uns

we've snorkeled and had dinner...the sun is setting...

Trip...as we sail back.

cost rica: tips

2011-04-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

1. get out and about: the people of costa rica were so friendly and outgoing. They went out of their way to wave and reach out. We always felt safe and well taken care of. This friendliness seemed cultural....We would recommend getting out into the surrounding areas and meet some of the people. Mucho Gusto...that pretty much says it. Every thank you we said, was met with Mucho Gusto (my pleasure) and they really made you feel like it was.

2. sunscreen: bring lots. I used 45 the whole time and we still got some sunburns. The sand is so fine, that when swimming in the ocean, the sand rubs it right off. Re-applying frequently....very frequently, is recommended. Bring long sleeved t-shirts and hats with you. Surf shirts would be a good idea.

3. repellent: bring mosquito repellent with you. Some restaurants have it available...but I kept it in my bag for use in the evenings.

4. car rental: road signs are very clear and next time, we will definately rent a vehicle. The adventures always pick you up but if you went to set out on your own and explore different beaches and restaurants it would be key.

5. credit cards: almost all places take credit cards, but some beachside restaurants only take cash....either U.S. or Costa Rican.

6. exit tax: when you leave costa rica you will need to pay an exit tax $75 per person. If you are traveling at a busy time, you can pre-pay this at a local bank to expedite your process in the airport. You need to take your passports with you when you go to the bank. Our flight was in the early a.m. We did pay our exit tax in advance...but there was no line at the airport exit tax window when we got there....In hindsight it wasn't necessary.

7. next time: next time we plan to see the Arenal Volcana and do the natural hot springs, and volcanic mud baths...

our family trip to Rome...

2009-10-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

We took the boys out of school...and went to Rome for 5 days and 4 nights...we had a wonderful time. Here is a peek into our trip:

We rented an apartment, because it was less expensive for a family of 5 than two hotel rooms, gave us more space to spread out, provided us with internet, and gave us a more authentic feel to our time in Rome. There are so many areas to choose from, when choosing a location...

Our apartment overlooked Piazza Farnese...and an alley away from Piazza Campo di Fiori. The owner of our apartment is an artist who lives in the apartment half of the month, and rents it the other half. It is filled with his books, art and antiquities....nothing fancy but real. The kitchen was perfect for preparing breakfast, a picnic lunch, or another glass of wine. It can be a little noisy on the Piazzas at night, but we embraced the sounds as part of the experience of the city. I loved our location. Three floors up (no elevator) and a picturesque view. Steps away from just about everything. Surrounded by locals, and tourists alike...

our front door...

graffiti is not an indicator of an unsafe neighborhood,

it is all over the city.

cal from our window on the third floor

600 year old ceilings within the aprtment.

the owner of our apartment, Edoardo, in front of his studio below our apartment...

The view of Piazza Farnese from our apartment

A short walk thru our alley to Piazza Campo di Fiori from Farnese.

Campo di Fiori is a wonderful Piazza. In the morning...a flower market, fruit stalls, meats, cheeses....in the afternoon it is all torn down, and the restaurants surrounding the Piazza open up their tented patios with heaters and tables. The kids can run and play in the Piazza while you drink wine right on the fringe...amazing. We were a short short walk to the Pantheon, which was our ALL time favorite. We kept going back....

Campo di Fiori flower market...

Bren and Trip buying Parma in the market to bring home...

think about the age of these stones...

roma: day 1

When planning our trip, I tried to keep our schedule loose, leaving room to move things around, based on mood, weather, and energy levels...we wanted to experience Rome...not just the sites of Rome.

We arrived on tuesday morning to a beautiful day...we settled into our apartment and then set out for Ancient Rome. The 11euro ticket covered the Colosseum, the Forum and Palantine Hill...and is good for two days. We explored the Coloseum in detail and headed back to the Piazzas for some cappuccino followed by wine of course...

walking to the Colosseum...see it up ahead?

This image of the Colosseum shows the structure beneath the floor,

where the animals and gladiators were held before lifting them up thru

an advanced pully system to emerge from trap doors...

what you don't see...every picture we are in together...

has the top of Trip's head, snuggling us.

cappuccino and pastries...

shops illuminated in the evening...

Piazza Navona Fountain...note the little head in front, once again.

Roma: Day 2

We completed Ancient Rome with the Forum and Palantine Hill, followed by a walk to the Pantheon. Two of my favorite apps for my iphone were great to have on the trip...City Slicker Rome, and DK Top 10 Rome. I was able to read highlights and give a tour to the family by following the applications...much easier than hauling around a guide book.

The Forum: walking on basalt stones once walked on by Ceasar Augustus, 2000 years ago...

Palentine Hill

Our first peek at the Pantheon....thru buildings, from behind...

wow...awe inspiring...

giant doors

the ceiling is a dome...open to the sky...built over 2000 years ago...

my one regret during our visit...we missed our opportunity to visit

the Pantheon in the rain...would be wonderful to watch the rain

come down into the building. i have read that snow is even

more spectacular...

i absolutely love this picture...to touch and feel....

we kept returning to the Pantheon day and night. Nothing like sipping wine

at 10:30pm at an outdoor cafe, while the kids play tag amidst the dark columns of the Pantheon... none of us will forget it.

roma: day 3

Today we walked to the Vatican...drizzly, rainy day. The Vatican is beautiful, no doubt...but we all preferred the churches we saw on our daily walks. Later that day we went to the Crypt of the Capuchin Monks....very macabre. I found it very interesting, the kids were intrigued, but Bren could have skipped it. After returning to the apartment for a change into dry clothes...the rain cleared and we headed to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Gelato of course....

The crypt was designed using the skeletons and bones of monks to draw people to the church for pilgrimage and as a source of income.

love the alley ways...

here you can see remnants of the Ancient Roman Wall between buildings that were built around it...

trevi fountain

the spanish steps...too crowded and touristy for my liking...

peek a boo

my boys

hazelnut gelato...mmmm

Dinner out at our favorite restaurant Maccheroni, near the Pantheon.

The waiter shown here with Trip...brought Trip the most amazing Buffalo Mozerella Ball ever...It was all for Trip, he barely shared and ate the whole thing...yummm

roma: day 4

this was the day reserved to visit Via Appia....however, the weather was not co-operative...rain was in the forcast, and after waiting for close to an hour for our bus, as looming clouds closed in on us, we gave up. In hindsight, this was good fortune, because unbeknownst to us at the time, a transportation strike was in effect from 2 to 5:30, which would have left us stranded out there. It was not an ideal picnic day either...the catacombs would have to wait for another visit. We walked to Castle Saint Angelo, had cappuccinos, a leisurly lunch, and returned to the apartment late afternoon to prepare for our visit out to my highschool friend (Valerie's) home, on the outskirts of Rome. Once again....we tried the bus...eek, but ended up in a cab. Valerie and David opened their beautiful home to us for a lovely "catch up" visit and to meet eachother's kids...They took us out to their favorite Family Pizza Place (which is their Friday Night routine). They ordered for us in Italian, and shared their knowledge of the city. What a treat! We all had a wonderful evening!! Thank you Guarnieris!

my cappuccino was so pretty...

waiting for our sandwiches.

prosciutto and mozerella

2009 David, Valerie, Candace and Bren...Rome

1982 Candace, Simona and Valeria...India

Our Babies...back: Isabel, Tristan, Cal, Nick

front: Aidan and Trip

a few of my favorite things...
the drinking water fountains...situated throughout the city, sometimes on walls but most often from the ground...the water is fresh and cold, still coming from the Roman Aquaducts.

my favorite is the dragon wall fountain, near the Vatican.

they may look unclean because of the pool of water below...but the water from the spigot is very clean.

the art that surprises you in alleys and high up on buildings...usually the madonna and child...

and the patina on buildings, the faded paint, the chipping stucco...the age

another such surprise...these are on each of the corners of Piazza Farnese

a street artist working in chalk...unbelievable

i was drawn to the graffitti...

these were standardized clips on the outside of many stores and restaurants, to hook your dog up while you shop...

Ciao...

useful souvenirs...

2009-09-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

when we visit new and interesting places, i try to bring home a 'grocery tote' from our travels. the bags range from 99 cents to 2 dollars. not only do they continue to remind me of our wonderful trip, they continue to help me avoid those nasty plastic grocery bags. we have bags from canada, brazil, and sundance utah, to name a few... the sundance bag has a neat subtext on the bag:

Use this bag twice a week for 2 years and each bag will SAVE

* 11 pounds of garbage

* 832 plastic bags

* enough petroleum to drive a car 60 miles

canada: georgian bay '09

2009-09-09T06:44:00.000-07:00

never underestimate the benefits of friendship, reflection and laughter...

5 canvas wall hangings: acrylic on canvas

2009-07-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

my client loves literature and wanted to bring her warm childhood memories of Robert Louis Stevenson into her home for herself and her family. exerpts were carefully chosen from a much loved book read and re-read to her by her mother, "A Child's Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor. we decided not to re-create these wonderful whimsical images and exerpts directly on the wall, but to paint them on canvas so they could one day be re-positioned and shared amongst all the children in the family. they were initially chosen and designed to fit into their youngest child's nursery...filling an expansive 5-paneled wall. Each hangs from a crystal knob, ropes and ribbons. i loved working on these pieces, and it was a joy to see them hanging in such a beautiful environment.

panel #1

panel #2

panel #3

panel #4

panel #5

painted circus panels: acrylic on wood

2009-07-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

i painted these two panels on inserts to fit into this cabinet/bar for a friend and client who presently lives in "The Circus House", once owned by John Robinson and family, of the John Robinson Circus. their home is filled with much memorabllia and history of the circus and she wanted to add some whimsy to this cabinet with reproductions of the old Robinson Circus Posters...double click for detail