Still on Amtrak, still enjoying it. The layover in Chicago was good; I wandered around the station and nearby for a little, and then relaxed in the first class lounge where there was free coffee, pop, and snacks. Lots of quiet little corners and a couple large TVs to watch.
Still meeting interesting people on the train, but the best part is that my brain is so totally relaxed. Reminds me: "Please don't do that, Dave. Daisy, Daisy . . ."
Anyone out there recognize that scene from that era-defining movie?????
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
addition to last post Amtrak Trip 2 Day 1
So, although I had a nice, peaceful drive from Napa to Emeryville to catch my train, Joyce and Nancy arranged to have a taxi pick them up mid-morning to take them to a bus to San Francisco International Airport. When they got to the bus, they found themselves amongst a busload of 49ers fans. Probably wasn't too relaxing for them! But they said that the trip was fun, uneventful, and got them to the airport in plenty of time for their plane.
We had originally thought that they would drop me off at the train and then do a little sightseeing in San Francisco before catching their plane. However - San Francisco was insane that weekend with a 49ers game, America's Cup Sailboat Race, Navy Week, a huge Blue Grass festival at Golden Gate Park, the country's largest Columbus Day Parade, a huge Greek Festival, and several smaller fairs, festivals, and farmers markets. Given all the traffic we had last week, we thought it smartest to split up and none of actually try to drive into the city. Good decision!
We had originally thought that they would drop me off at the train and then do a little sightseeing in San Francisco before catching their plane. However - San Francisco was insane that weekend with a 49ers game, America's Cup Sailboat Race, Navy Week, a huge Blue Grass festival at Golden Gate Park, the country's largest Columbus Day Parade, a huge Greek Festival, and several smaller fairs, festivals, and farmers markets. Given all the traffic we had last week, we thought it smartest to split up and none of actually try to drive into the city. Good decision!
Amtrak Journey 2, Day 1
I got up early this morning and drove to Emeryville, near Oakland. Easy drive with a little early morning fog, but nothing I'm not used to from Seattle. Got there, returned the car, and waited about 30 minutes for the train. Perfect timing. Got on and got settled in my sleeping compartment.
As I traveled through Californina, I reflected on what I learned from my trip to Napa.
First, and most important, was that I REALLY enjoy traveling with my sisters! We never have a disagreement, we all seem to be in about the same mood (is this a lazy day or shop our brains out day). If one wants to do something a little different, the other two don't take it personally and perceive it as criticism. We always seem to have the same appetite for dinner - is it fancy steakhouse tonight or burgers and fries? We know not to chatter in the morning until everyone has had just the right amount of coffee. Even though we seem to live very different lives, we seem to have some very basic similarities. What's that saying: Different flowers from the same garden. That's us. We usually so look forward to our next Chick Trip that one of the things on our agenda is to plan the next one. This year, we outdid ourselves and have planned the next two!
The other thing that I learned was that grapes grow off the bottom of the staked plant. I had no idea - I thought the grape clusters were scattered throughout the greenery, but they hang off the bottom. A whole lot easier to pick than the way I had imagined it. I learned a lot about grapes and vineyards this trip; before I had visited wineries, so knew how grapes are made into wine. This time, got to see and hear a lot more about the grapes and vineyards themselves. I have a new appreciation for wine; and still my absolute favorite is champagne, the drier the better!
Am enjoying my first day back on the train. This part of the trip takes me from Emeryville through Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago - where I change trains and have a little layover. The Chicago through Pittsburgh to Washington DC, where I again change trains with a little layover. From DC down to Savannah.
As I traveled through Californina, I reflected on what I learned from my trip to Napa.
First, and most important, was that I REALLY enjoy traveling with my sisters! We never have a disagreement, we all seem to be in about the same mood (is this a lazy day or shop our brains out day). If one wants to do something a little different, the other two don't take it personally and perceive it as criticism. We always seem to have the same appetite for dinner - is it fancy steakhouse tonight or burgers and fries? We know not to chatter in the morning until everyone has had just the right amount of coffee. Even though we seem to live very different lives, we seem to have some very basic similarities. What's that saying: Different flowers from the same garden. That's us. We usually so look forward to our next Chick Trip that one of the things on our agenda is to plan the next one. This year, we outdid ourselves and have planned the next two!
The other thing that I learned was that grapes grow off the bottom of the staked plant. I had no idea - I thought the grape clusters were scattered throughout the greenery, but they hang off the bottom. A whole lot easier to pick than the way I had imagined it. I learned a lot about grapes and vineyards this trip; before I had visited wineries, so knew how grapes are made into wine. This time, got to see and hear a lot more about the grapes and vineyards themselves. I have a new appreciation for wine; and still my absolute favorite is champagne, the drier the better!
Am enjoying my first day back on the train. This part of the trip takes me from Emeryville through Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago - where I change trains and have a little layover. The Chicago through Pittsburgh to Washington DC, where I again change trains with a little layover. From DC down to Savannah.
Napa Valley Touring
Well, it's Saturday and it's our last day in Napa. We all leave tomorrow morning, so today is a Big Day. For our last time, we again enjoyed our coffee and breakfast on the backyard deck, enjoying the sunny pleasant weather. We fianally found the "waterfall feature" we had heard about. It wasn't the obvious fountain, but was part of the Jacuzzi! I don't get it. The "waterfall" fell about 4 inches and the only way it works is to turn on the jets and bubbler, so you can't hear a gentle waterfall. We all deided that had we REALLY wanted the sound of falling water with our morning coffee, we could have just turned on the hot tub. Somehow, that thought just didn't cut it! We are so fussy!
We decided to drive the Napa Valley from Napa to St. Helena, shopping and wine tasting along the way. One of our first stops was in Yountville, a cute little town with gift shops, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants. We had lunch on an outdoor patio at Pacific Blues Cafe. We had a very nice lunch of a BLT, Salmon Burger, and Polish Sausage with Sauerkraut. We just wanted a plain lunch, so did not eat at Thomas Keller's French Laundry. Maybe next time. After lunch, we got off the beaten path a little to visit the Grapevine Store in Rutherford. I bought a cute heart-shaped hanging wreath made of cabernet vines. We all bought a bunch of stuff and just shipped it all home.
We drove on to St. Helena and at the far end of town, found the Holy of Holies: The CIA Greystone. For you non-foodies, that would be the Culinary Institute of America - Greystone, sister to the one in New England. It looked like a large grey castle on a hill. Inside, it STILL resembled a castle. We got to spend a lot of time in Spice Market - their store. I bought a couple hundred dollars worth of cookbooks to ship home, and sampled some wonderful Myers Lemon Viniagrette.
On the way home, we stopped at several wineries for tastings - I was designated driver, so I watched and enjoyed vicariously Nancy and Joyce sip all kinds of wines and buy some. We stopped at BV (Beau Jous Vintners), Berringers, Menage a Trois, and a couple others whose names escape me at the moment. When we got back to Napa, we ate dinner at a hamburger place called Gotts Burgers - really excellent burgers on the pricey side. We spent $44 for 3 burgers, 1 fries, 1 malt, and 2 cokes.
We finally got back to the house, got all packed up to leave in the morning, and then hung out for the rest of the evening. Tomorrow for me: Amtrak.
We decided to drive the Napa Valley from Napa to St. Helena, shopping and wine tasting along the way. One of our first stops was in Yountville, a cute little town with gift shops, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants. We had lunch on an outdoor patio at Pacific Blues Cafe. We had a very nice lunch of a BLT, Salmon Burger, and Polish Sausage with Sauerkraut. We just wanted a plain lunch, so did not eat at Thomas Keller's French Laundry. Maybe next time. After lunch, we got off the beaten path a little to visit the Grapevine Store in Rutherford. I bought a cute heart-shaped hanging wreath made of cabernet vines. We all bought a bunch of stuff and just shipped it all home.
We drove on to St. Helena and at the far end of town, found the Holy of Holies: The CIA Greystone. For you non-foodies, that would be the Culinary Institute of America - Greystone, sister to the one in New England. It looked like a large grey castle on a hill. Inside, it STILL resembled a castle. We got to spend a lot of time in Spice Market - their store. I bought a couple hundred dollars worth of cookbooks to ship home, and sampled some wonderful Myers Lemon Viniagrette.
On the way home, we stopped at several wineries for tastings - I was designated driver, so I watched and enjoyed vicariously Nancy and Joyce sip all kinds of wines and buy some. We stopped at BV (Beau Jous Vintners), Berringers, Menage a Trois, and a couple others whose names escape me at the moment. When we got back to Napa, we ate dinner at a hamburger place called Gotts Burgers - really excellent burgers on the pricey side. We spent $44 for 3 burgers, 1 fries, 1 malt, and 2 cokes.
We finally got back to the house, got all packed up to leave in the morning, and then hung out for the rest of the evening. Tomorrow for me: Amtrak.
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