a weekend away

we took a trip to chicago with some friends this weekend for memorial day. we packed in a lot of sight-seeing and a lot of eating. i have to admit that my bulk is starting to slow me down. i am not as comfortable as i used to be and can't "hang" for as long either. my brain tells me that i SHOULD be able to keep up, but my body has been yelling quite the opposite. so it begins....

our weekend went as follows:
we drove in saturday morning and headed straight to wrigley field for a game against the pirates (cubs lost miserably). then it started raining and we shuffled our way around the soggy town, ending up at the john hancock observatory on the 94th floor. friends had some drinks while i warmed up with some hot chocolate. going up that high was pretty much a bust because we were literally sitting in a cloud. i had to ask if the windows were frosted or if it was just the fog, it was that encompassing. then we headed back out in the rain to an original deep-dish pizza classic restaurant. my verdict is that deep-dish is overrated. it's too bulky and the crust isn't delicious enough to need/want that much of. it was my second time to have it and most likely my last. by the time dinner was over, i was spent and asked marc to head back to the hotel. more warm decaf coffee and some dry clothes put me right to sleep.

sunday we woke up and enjoyed a quick dip in the hotel's indoor pool. it felt nice to just float around and chat. i am eager to try actually swimming laps for exercise this summer since running is obviously out for the last 2.5 months. by the time we finished up our swim and got ready for the day, it was pouring outside. we took a cab about one block to a place that was supposed to be the bongo room (an internet recommended breakfast spot). it ended up being a packed deli called eleven city diner. the wait inside was 45 minutes to an hour, but there was no way we were heading back out into the torrential downpour, so wait we did. and, holy cow, was it worth it! this was quite possibly the best breakfast any of us has ever eaten. our friend cale actually ate lunch (the pastrami sandwich), but we were all raving with every bite. all i have to say is....challah french toast = heaven on a plate. when we left, the rain had calmed enough for us to walk back to the hotel, but it soon started up again and made our plan for the day quite clear....museum. we chose the field museum, mostly because cale wanted to see the dinosaur bones. i think everyone else in chicago had the same rainy-day idea as we did, because it was packed and several things were sold out. we opted for the general admission, thinking we would just have to miss out on a few things. but, man is that place enormous! we spent a few hours in the never-ending ancient civilizations section before finally making it to the dinosaurs. and by that point, we were all tired of being there. we spent way less time reading about the big lizards and headed outside, pleasantly surprised to find sunshine! we made a quick stop at the hot dog stand for a snack and then took a cab back to the hotel for a nap. we made dinner reservations at 7:30 at david burke's primehouse and spent the rest of the evening stuffing ourselves with "exotic" treats from their kitchen :)

we awoke the last morning to a heat wave. 80s and climbing. we drove to a local breakfast hot spot, ann sather's, for their famous cinnamon rolls. they were about the only delicious thing on the menu, and we almost wished we had gone back to eleven city for our last meal. we then debated whether to spend the day outside in the climbing heat or head to the (old) sears tower for a chance to actually see out of an observation deck. the latter won, and we ended up standing in line upon line for the next several hours for the chance to get to the top and back down again. i don't know if it was worth all of the waiting, or even the view really, but we can say what we have been. and it IS pretty neat to walk out onto their plexiglass platforms with nothing below your feet but 103 stories of air. :) as we left, we figured we might as well make an attempt to get close to the water of lake michigan before leaving, so we walked a good ways to the shore and sat by the refreshingly chilly breeze off the water in the otherwise heat-ridden, sweat-laden day. after one final chicago dog and drink, we were in the car and on our long journey home.

all-in-all, it really was a nice way to spend a weekend away with some great friends. although next time, i'm requesting a wheel chair and a train ticket for the pregnant one :)

california part 2

friday, october 21, 8:30 am
on our way back to the hotel from our run, we drive down lombardo street. while the downward journey on the "crookedest street in the world" is just as we expect (curvy and like all the pictures), we are most impressed, audibly i must say, by the incline you must gun your way UP before reaching the crooked part and going back down. it is absolutely the steepest hill i have ever gone up in a vehicle that isn't operated by cables. i seriously think we may slide backward to our death if we are forced to stop on this 100 degree angle. the horizon actually disappears and the roller coaster excitement type lump in the throat persists until we make it to the top. it is amazing that people live and park on this street every day! needless to say, we do not perish and make it to our hotel for a shower, breakfast and final check out.


friday, october 21, 10:00 am
we head off to the fisherman's wharf, put money in a pay station, and begin our exploration. we spend two hours wandering around some truly fascinating places. these include the pier, ghirardelli square, the original ghirardelli chocolate shop, a cupcake shop featured on cupcake wars, and a magnificent warehouse filled with hundreds upon hundreds of working, antique coin-operated machines. now this is my kind of arcade. it is like a museum chronicling the history of every kind of instant entertainment used through the last century and a half. and it is free. like finding a gold mine. after we have our fill, we decide it's time to head out of the city and start to stroll the last few blocks to the car. en route, we notice a homeless bum sitting on the curb and holding several bush branches in front of his body. this picture alone is somewhat intriguing, but the riddle is solved when he suddenly parts the bushes and yells at the nearest oncoming tourist. she is so startled that she screams and then wild laughter ensues from all around. it is hilarious. maybe not for the tourist, but we are fortunate to have been on the backside of the prank and enjoy catching several more victims before calling it a day. seriously...google it :)

friday, october 21, 2:30 pm
we are hungry. we have just driven about an hour north to novato and checked in to our next hotel. it is an inn with a lovely, cottage-feel room and picturesque grounds. we drop our bags and head 5 minutes back south to a strip center i know to have restaurants. each eatery in the connected buildings appears to have a higher quality vibe, and we start to feel the more posh side of california coming out. we decide on a little italian place. it turns out to be a wine bar. they literally have spigots with a small variety of wines that you can prepay for and sample by the glass. we are, by no means, wine connoisseurs, so we order an artisanal pizza and a cheap bottle of white wine. being that we are the only people in the restuarant for so late a lunch, the owner opens our bottle and then talks to us at length about the history and happenings of this charming find. it is a lunch miles away from our saturn cafe dine. i only wish i could take this place home with me. we even mull over the idea of returning for dinner, but decide to test the local wineries first before making a final decision.

friday, october 21, 4:00 pm
we drive a few miles out of town and discover wine country. we don't really drink much, but instead soak up the gorgeous scenery and samples of fresh olive oil. it is as close to tuscan tastes and sights as i can get without making the trip back to italy. it is a pleasantly calm and satisfying afternoon. we spend the rest of the evening enjoying an equally calm dinner out, watching the the world series game and relaxing in our room.

saturday, october 22, 2:00 pm
my cousin is getting married in a beautiful state park near the mountains. his nuptials are the inspiration behind this entire trip. and today is the day. and it's raining. but not even a tornado could dampen the spirits of this bride and groom. though it has been decades since i have seen brian and have never laid eyes on tara, i feel that these are the kind of people who would be instant friends, had we lived closer together. they are jovial, carefree, and totally in love.....with each other and with life. they are amazing. i catch up with my aunt, uncle, and cousins and then cry my way through the vows. after that, it's party time. this couple also knows the meaning of a good time. we stay until 2 am dancing, eating, taking pictures, drinking, singing and mingling with great guests. not even an unfortunate purse snatching snafu at the very end of the night can ruin this glorious evening. with some sleuth work and a few phone calls, we manage to track down my purse and finally crash into bed around 3:30.
sunday, october 23, 5:00 am
exhausted as we are, we have a plane to catch. we drive the return hour south to the airport, making one final pass under the golden gate bridge. i feel that i must at least attempt a picture to prove that we were really here. the best i can get is the bottom of the first suspender as we approach. and it's ridiculously dark. it's just as well. pictures couldn't do it justice anyhow. it's logged in my memory though. and maybe one day we'll be back to do it all over again. maybe it won't be foggy or dark on the day that we come. and maybe you will come with us to capture that perfect photo of this seemingly perfect place....

california dreaming

in typical fashion, i have delayed writing about our last trip for over two months......guess it's about time before i forget...

wednesday, october 20, 11:45 am
we arrive at lax. our flight to san francisco is scheduled for 12:15 so we grab a sandwich at starbucks and eat it next to our packed gate while people-watching. i expect to see ten trillion "hollywood" type people milling about. fake blonde hair, fake tans, fake boobs. you know. although there is the occasional ugg and sweatsuit-wearing combo, i am surprised not to see any of the aforementioned stereotypes. i resign to the fact that this is, after all, the airport. most people are here to visit or en route to another destination.

soon, our packed gate is overflowing with passengers and they call for volunteers to sacrifice their seats. i get excited. i have ALWAYS wanted to do this, but never had the time (or the paid ticket) to be able to wait for a later flight. i run this idea by marcus...earn $600 in travel for four hours of waiting. he likes the idea too. we are like kids at christmas waiting for them to announce that we have "won" the travel vouchers....at least it felt like winning to us. thirty minutes later, we are enjoying beer and margaritas and staring at our newly acquired "free trip" coupons....a traveler's dream.

wednesday, october 20, 6:30 pm
we have picked up our rental car and are headed down the coast toward monterey. by staying the extra time in lax, we have given up the chance to enjoy the "nice" dinner we had planned for carmel. instead, we opt for our first in-n-out burger experience. i had honestly never even heard of this place until marcus said we needed to stop at one before leaving the state. the verdict? eh. it's a burger. the nice thing about this place is that there are only three things on the menu. hamburger. cheeseburger. double cheeseburger. this makes it hard for them to screw your order up. and since this is all they do, it does come out hot and fresh...so i guess it's not all that bad. we drive the remaining hour and a half to monterey on the dark, winding mountain roads. mild carsick alert. we arrive at the hotel, check in and hit the sack.

thursday, october 21, 7:45 am
we are up and dressed. we have no set plan, but are ready to see the ocean. so we start driving. within a mile, we've find a beach trail that carries you to the pier. we park and head over a tiny sand dune that unveils the morning sea. it is windy and briny along the coast. although it is crisp and pleasant to be near the pacific, we are not so impressed. even less impressed as we approach the smelly, run-down pier of old shops and tourist-trap eateries. this is the great california? our spirits are dampened with the heavy mist. we don't stay long. after a hike up some stairs for a better view of barnacle-laden boats and rotting seal fur, we power-walk back to the car and head for the shower.



thursday, october 21, 10:30 am
breakfasted and repacked, we load up and head out for pebble beach. marcus' dream is to play this course, but prices deter us from spending an entire day here. we are content to simply see the wonders of this rich man's paradise. we park and spend about 45 minutes roaming the property, course, shops, and hotel. it is beautiful.




next stop....henry cowell redwoods state park. just before we hit it, i see a local artichoke farm featuring "freshly steamed artichokes." i have to try. i eat the entire thing alone at a picnic table while marc browses the little farmer's market for other treats. i am satisfied with my morning snack, so we leave for the park. we arrive and are virtually the only people there. i don another jacket layer, put on my "hiking" shoes and we enter the forest of gargantuan wonder. we marvel at the sheer might and calm of such a place. truly breathtaking. as we wander, we notice dozens of trees that have hollowed out trunks. marcus meanders near one entrance to investigate. he crouches for a picture and then scoots inside the tree for a better look. we laugh as we imagine some small animal scrambling around inside the cavernous hole and pouncing on him. with the aid of our camera flash, he captures the hollowed-out base and then bolts back out. the resulting images show that it is black and charred inside. at the ranger's station later, we will discover that the tree's natural defense after a forest fire is to hollow out its own damaged areas. pretty remarkable. we soak in as much of these amazing feats of nature as we can and then head to the parking lot for the 85 mile drive back to san francisco along highway 1.

thursday, october 21, 2:00 pm

it's time for lunch. we drive into santa cruz, where i gape at the beachfront roller coaster. marcus is not as thrilled by it. we buzz in and out of the small streets, looking for somewhere to eat. nothing but fast food junk. finally we spot a diner called the saturn cafe. it has curved, floor to ceiling windows and plastic booths with funky paintings on the walls. looks interesting. we pop in and open the menus. i notice a few vegetarian options and then start hunting for the meat choices. chili. mmmm. oh wait. it's vegetarian. blt. yes! oh wait. fakin' bacon. we then start to get a clue. an entirely vegetarian menu. bleh. marcus is smart and orders an omelette. at least eggs are closer to real food. i get some fake chicken sandwich. the flavor is alright, but it doesn't satisfy. in-n-out burger is sounding better by the minute. at least i had had my artichoke earlier. as we leave the cafe for the roadway, i'm already talking about stopping for ice cream.
about twenty minutes into the drive, we hit it. the road opens up and there is the ocean. the sprawling coastline of cliffs and white, crashing waves. THIS is the great california. wow. we pull over after an hour at a spot with massive rocks. the tide must be coming in because the waves are magnificent. they are deafening as the pound the rocks and spray blasts of icy water at us. we climb to the top and just watch. marcus has seen this kind of treasure before in georgia. i, however, am a first-timer. and i am enthralled. we stay for a while until the wind has chilled us. i probably could stay all night. such power. but san francisco still beckons us, so on we press.

thursday, october 20, 5:30 pm
downtown san francisco. rush hour. yikes. we locate our hotel where marcus dumps me out and then has to circle the enormous, one-way blocks because there is no stopping on the curb at this hour. luckily, valet is available within 10 minutes and we head up the tiny elevator to our tiny, but elegant room. we are very reminded of europe in this room. we call around to find a nice restaurant within walking distance. we set a reservation for alfred's, the oldest steakhouse in the city. we should have just taken a cab down to the wharf. the food is just ok. we are annoyed enough to venture a long walk to another oldie, tadich grill, for dessert. marcus plays some merry tunes on his pandora and we step-dance our way down the sidewalks. soon, a flood of giants' fans come our way as the world series game comes to an end. the city is bubbling with sparkling lights, happy people, and a gentle breeze. it's lovely to be in this exact spot at this exact moment.

friday, october 21, 6:45 am

we begin to layer up for our morning run. the golden gate bridge awaits. we arrive to an empty parking lot and relish in the fact that we are here early enough to avoid paying for parking. we climb the stairs to the start of the bridge and breathe in as we see the size of it towering ahead. we are off and running. 1.7 miles across and we're totally alone, save three bikers. i reach out and touch the enormous cables as we approach the first suspender. i glance over my right shoulder at alcatraz and the city, still lit up from the night. when we reach the other side, we stop for several minutes to catch the sun rising abovethe buildings, in all it's glory. magic moment. we turn around for the run back just as the fog rolls in. the city vanishes. we are running in a virtual cloud. now wet and misty, we are grateful to have had this private morning event to forever catalog in our minds. in later passing, we will realize just how lucky we were to have the bridge to ourselves. tourists come in droves later in the day. it's funny, but i do feel awfully lucky an awful lot of the time.

to be continued...