Dalat - The City of Love

Well, some may call it the City of Love.  I call it the City of Hills! But I will start from the beginning. We managed to get ourselves and our stuff down to the lobby by 5am. Our last member of the group showed up last night. She is quite young and had no idea she would be with a bunch of geriatrics. She is a doctor from London - so we are good hands there. Another piece of good news is that Hugh's luggage finally showed up at 10:30 last night. It got stranded in Singapore. So all is well with everyone.

The bus ride to the airport took about 20 min or so and of course, the plane was a bit delayed. It was only a half hour flight and we were at the hotel around 9. Could not check in yet. So there was a lot of scurrying around changing in the lobby bathrooms and organizing luggage and bicycles. Finally got going. The air is much nicer here and the temperature is a reasonable 70-75 degrees. The traffic pattern is pretty much the same as Saigon - maybe not as congested, but just as nuts. Cycling through the roundabouts was a master challenge.

The town was built by the French in the early 1900's as a retreat from the heat down south. So there is a lot of French influence. Our first stop was an old train station now used as a tourist spot and wedding venue. It wasn't until after the station when we were headed out of town that the cycling became more challenging. Dalat is about 4500ft high and we climbed up another 1200ft. As we got higher, it got hotter. I admit to walking up the rest of a climb at one point. Just didn't have any more gas in the tank. The downhills were great, though. As I was panting, Geoff was able to get some decent pix of some of the scenery. 

Lunch was a soup bar that was just delicious. From there it was only 1km to the hotel. I managed the 35km today but not sure about the 100km - including a mountain pass - tomorrow. Not sure that's going to happen. Might be a nice bus ride for me - and I'm not sure I'll be alone.

We relaxed a bit, took a shower, and headed out to see what Dalat had to offer. We went down to

the lake that we had biked around earlier. Visited the Market - which was starting to close up. Dalat is known for their flowers, vegetables and fruits. They also have several coffee plantations. We were told to get a cup of Dalat coffee before leaving town. We thought about having one at the lake. Sat there for a bit. We weren't very comfortable so we left.  Went to the hotel restaurant,which is across the street from the hotel, instead. It was nice and quiet - much better place to rest. Sat at the bar and watched as the waitress made this wonderful Vietnamese- style ice coffee. Yum! 

Tonight's dinner was at the Dalat House. Another multi-course food explosion. The guides are selling more Vietnam bike stuff. Geoff got another bike shirt (which we'll share). Tomorrow is another early day. The bus is leaving at 7:30 to get us out of the city to start biking. Lots of Ibuprofen and a couple of beers, and my body is starting to feel somewhat normal. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Next time... The Long and Winding Road

Cu Chi Tunnels

Awoke early and repacked, taking out all of our cold weather gear for Japan. Put it all in a duffel bag to leave on the bus until our tour is over in Hanoi.  This will make things a bit easier and lighter. Gathered for breakfast at 6:30 and was on the bus at 7:30 to go meet our bikes. The morning commute was in full swing. Although, it appears that it is always rush hour in Saigon.

The truck with the equipment was parked in front a school and the kids were just darling. After much tweaking and finding helmets, we were off.  I am so glad that we had a couple of days in HCMC to get acclimated to the traffic. Even though we were outside of the big city, the driving pattern is still the same. Not too many rules. Vehicles don't seem to yield as much as they merge together. With all the "salmoning" between lanes and scooters going every which way, we have not seen one accident or any kind of traffic encounter. So we were a bit prepared when we saddled up and got out there in the main stream. Not too long after we started, we were mainly on backroads and things calmed down considerably. This trip will all be on tarmac. What used to be dirt and dusty roads, have now all been paved due to the country being in better financially. A lot of that money is going into their infrastructure. Plus, there is construction all over the city. 

We stopped and took a group photo in the rubber tree forest. First encounter with a live rubber tree. They slash the bark diagonally and it bleeds latex, which is then made into rubber.  From the forest it was an easy ride to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The Cu Chi Tunnels remain the best-preserved example of a much wider tunnel network that covers significant stretches of Vietnam.As the Viet Cong’s base of operations during the American War, the region was of vital strategic importance. It served as the communication and coordination hub for the Viet Cong, allowing them link up with their North Vietnamese allies.The huge network of tunnels included living quarters, weapons caches, ammunitions and bomb-making factories, makeshift hospitals, command centers and kitchens. They were up to four levels deep, and protected by countless booby traps.

We watched a movie about the Viet Cong Guerilla Warfare and how they beat out the US by not only living below ground but by using their own weapons against them.  They would re-purpose the bombs and make their own ammunition.  They pretty much out witted the US at every turn.

Geoff was one of the few people who could get into one of the entrances to the tunnel system. The entrance that most of us went through has been widened from it's original size to accommodate us Westerners. 

The whole tour took about 2 hours and then it was back in the bus to go to lunch. Lunch was at a lovely restaurant on the river. This was 4 courses and Geoff and I got prawns again instead of the meat dish. We are going to have to try to get something else. We are up to our eyeballs in shrimp! The food was wonderful, again.

We bailed on the War Remnants Museum and went straight back to the hotel. We have a very early start tomorrow. We are on the 6am plane to Da Lat, which means getting up at 4:30am. UGH! Once in Da Lat, we bus to the hotel, change, and get on the bikes for a 35k ride. Today's ride was only about 18k, which was a good thing because it was bloody hot out there. The gps was reading 95 degrees. Not too bad as long as you're moving, but once you stop, you just become a puddle. Thing's will get cooler from here on - we are heading north.

Went to Ngon restaurant for our last Saigon dinner. It came highly recommended by our guide.The restaurant is kind of an indoor/outdoor experience. All the cooking is done outside in the open. The concept being to bring the street food indoors. The ordering was a challenge and the waitress spoke no English, so we winged it! Mussels with fried pancake, steamed snails in lemongrass, and vegetable curry. The vegetable curry was the only thing that looked familiar. The mussels were very tiny and the fried pancake turned out to be like a cracker. Steamed snails were huge but a bit chewy - don't have to order that again. For dessert we had black beans in coconut milk that came in a tall glass with ice (a challenge to eat) and black sticky rice with coconut milk - both were quite yummy.

We were also able to get a few good departing night shots. Not too sad to be leaving Ho Chi Minh City, but glad for the experience. It is shocking at first, but the longer you stay, it sort of grows on you. It will be interesting to see the comparison with Hanoi. 

Next time... Da Lat, the City of Love

Keeping Cool in the Pool

Finally had a whole night's sleep and woke up feeling a bit more human than the last couple of days.  At breakfast, we met 3 people who are on our bike tour - a couple and the man's sister. They are from New Zealand and are very friendly. We will have lots to talk about since we spent some time in their country.  We will be meeting the others tonight at dinner.

Had time to kill before going over to the pool, so we walked back down to the "Made in Vietnam" outlet so that Geoff could get a pair of 3/4 pants -  his first ever. I love the one's I bought yesterday - they are loaded with pockets, which is great for travel. While there, I looked around for a t-shirt that would fit. Ha!! No problem with pants, but there was no way I was squeezing into those teeny tiny shirts. Even the xl size is petite. Oh well.  More great people shots walking the streets of Saigon. We passed the local barber and some dudes playing a game we cannot pronounce.

It was after 10am by the time we got to the Sheraton pool. Found a couple of chaises and camped out for the day.  It was heaven not having to do to nothing more than dunk in the water and come out again. Wonderfully refreshing. Plus, for the next 17 days, we don't have to think or plan anything. It is all taken care of.  Ahhhh....

Ordered a spicy seafood pizza for lunch poolside. Really good. At about 3ish I decided to check out the spa that was right there. I opted for a reflexology massage since my feet were killing me from trekking around for the past 2 weeks.  This place was heaven. I was in heaven and my feet especially were in heaven. By the time I got out, it was time to wrap it up and head out.  On the way out of the lobby there was some local entertainment.

When we got back to the hotel, there was a big bus outside with a sign "Overseas Adventure Travel". That was the company we used in South America. Guess all these companies use the same hotels. Our guides, Zang and Bing, greeted us in the lobby. Went to our room to get ready for the 5:30 orientation meeting. There were 10 out of the 11 present for the meeting. Apparently, there is another woman (much younger - 35) who is meeting us on Saturday in Da Lat. At present, there are 5 Canadians, 3 Kiwis, and us.  Our guide explained what to expect from the trip and handed out the swag - bag, bottle, and shirt.



Dinner at the Temple Club was excellent. They prepared non-meat dishes for us when meat was served. The Vietnamese eat several course meals. Either served all at once or  one at a time. Tonight's menu was four courses. Khong said that there could be as many as ten.

Tomorrow we take the bus out of town and prepare the bikes. We then bike over to the Cu Chi Tunnels - more on that tomorrow - about 15 miles or so as a bike warm-up. Bus back to the city with an option of going to the War Remnants Museum. We took pictures there yesterday but we didn't go inside. Guess we will probably go. Goodnight for now.

Next time:  Biking to Cu Chi Tunnels

A Day at the Beach.. or maybe not

Well, we missed the boat - literally. Got down to the pier in plenty of time to catch the 9am boat only to find out that it was leaving at 10am and that the only boat available to take back to make it worth our while left the beach at 4:30 - a bit late since the trip would take close to 2 hours.  We went for plan B. We would have to figure out a way to go tomorrow. Only we have to be back in time to meet the group for dinner. Not sure ho doable it will be.

Plan B was cooked up at about 2am when we both were wide awake - still adjusting to time zone mania. We chose what tourist stuff we still needed to see and then use Google maps to plot a circle from our hotel.  When the beach plan died, we headed back to the hotel to print out Plan B. We needed to get a USB thumb drive to put it on - so just like with the screwdriver - it took a couple of stores and some friendly folks to finally find what we needed. 

With maps, directions, and gps in hand (plus we brought lunch with us also), we headed out on foot to Site number 1: The History Museum.  However, on the way there, we stopped into a "Made in Vietnam" clothing market and I bought a couple of very lightweight capris - very comfortable and very cheap. Right before the History Museum we passed the War Remnants Museum. We made another detour to poke around their grounds. More US tanks and shot down war planes. This is turning into a very popular theme for lawn ornaments. Finally made it into the History Museum, which is housed in an old pagoda. It was quick because they close down for afternoon lunch. Across the way another pagoda type building which was built as a  WWI French Memorial. Took a peak inside before heading to our next site.


From here we headed to the Jade Emperor Pagoda.

One of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam, the Emperor Jade is filled with smoky incense and fantastic carved figurines. It was built by the Cantonese community around the turn of the 20th century and is still buzzing with worshipers, many lounging in the front gardens. Take a moment to look at the elaborate statuary on the pagoda's roof. The dominant figure in the main hall is the Jade Emperor himself; referred to as the "god of the heavens," the emperor decides who will enter and who will be refused. He looks an awful lot like Confucius, only meaner. In an anteroom to the left, you'll find Kim Hua, a goddess of fertility, and the King of Hell in another corner with his minions, who undoubtedly gets those the Jade Emperor rejects. It's spooky.

The place was packed with mostly locals praying. We really didn't see too many tourists. Incense just fills the air outside and inside.

Next stop was Independence Palace. Along the way,we ran into a street entertainment group. Very colorful group of guys. They do a bit of everything including managing the large dragons on parade day. It was getting to be lunch time. We needed a place to sit - that wasn't in the street - and also needed use of facilities. Lo and behold a McDonald's. I have to admit that Mac's comes in very handy while traveling in foreign countries.  You can always rely on good climate control and clean bathrooms. We ordered a couple of drinks and some fries, and went upstairs and ate our own sandwiches.  With some nourishment in us, we were able to make it down to the Palace. This is either called the Reunification Palace or Independence Palace. Take your pick. It is a modern design from the 60's - which reminded us of our Palm Springs tour. We toured around and shot some pix.

Post Office

On the way back to the hotel, we ran into the Notre Dame Cathedral. Walked past that into a wonderful old post office. The building had the effect of a train station, only it sold stamps. It also housed many gift shops. Picked up a few postcards and stamps while there.  

We were in search of a pool, so we popped into the Caravelle Hotel. Tres grand. Went up to the 7th floor pool and was told that they did have a day rate of about $30 each. This did include use of all the facilities - sauna, steam, gym, etc. This sounded like a better alternative than trying to make it all the way out to the beach. The place was deserted and we were pretty much finished with sightseeing and all the noise anyway.  We kept that in mind and decided to see if the Sheraton had the same deal. Their's was better - even cheaper! $35 for the two of us! Same stuff even a cafe and bar.  Plus it is just a few blocks from our hotel. It is also going to be a whole lot warmer tomorrow - somewhere in the mid 90's. It should feel good to just hang out and chill for a day.

the barber of Saigon

All in all, we wound up having a great day and didn't even get hit by a scooter! We passed some very interesting folks along the way: the barber, the key maker. We bought a sugar cane drink that was out of this world. In the past two days, we covered an awful lot of territory and experienced it all: the sights, sounds, and smells that make up Ho Chi Minh City. 

It is nap time before going out to dinner.

Just got back from Cuc Gach Quan which was recommended by the couple from San Diego that we met at last night's dinner. A $2 taxi ride to a part of the city we haven't seen yet brings you in front of this non-assuming door which opens up to the restaurant that goes on for days. The restaurant is housed in an old colonial French building - an old country style house. The food was outstanding. The waiter guides you through the menu and helps put a meal together that is right for you. We had the soft shelled crabs, eggplant with onions in fish sauce, and home made tofu with mushrooms in this sauce that was amazing.  We chatted with a couple from Portugal who were touring and on their last city before going home to Lisbon.  They told us not to miss Cambodia. Looks like we will have to come back to Southeast Asia.  We had a wonderful time this evening.  And, although it was tough getting up, it was well worth the effort. A must if you ever find yourself in HCMC.

The lights of Tet 2015

Next time:  Keeping cool in the pool....

Good Morning Vietnam!

It was close to midnight when we finally made it into our room. The flight to Tokyo was fabulous. JAL's premium comfort is more like business class - noise cancelling headsets, seats slide down rather than push back (so the seat in front never invades your space) - and the bathroom was huge.  I have never reviewed an airline bathroom.  They are all pretty much standard, unless first class is different, and I wouldn't know about that. This one not only had a bidet with individual settings, but it was equipped with mouthwash, toothbrushes, facial masks, etc. The flight from Tokyo to Saigon was less of a luxury - no premium comfort class.  And although we did get the bulkhead seat so there was lots of room, the seat was not nearly as comfortable and the bathroom was back to normal.

Leaving the airport was a breeze. We were really glad we opted for getting our visa before we left instead of waiting on more lines to apply for one at the airport.  There was some confusion with the taxi driver over where this hotel was, but he did manage to find it eventually.  The hotel is fine, nothing fancy but clean and comfortable. And having walked around all day, the hotel appears to be in a pretty convenient location. No pool however. We will have to find one somewhere else.

First order of business was sleep.  We slept till 9am and dragged ourselves to breakfast. We packed up our day back and threw in our bathing suits just in case. Then it was off to explore Ho Chi Minh City.  This place is nuts!! We have been in some pretty crowded cities but this has to be the worst. Traffic is insane and crossing the street is an Olympian event! We walked down to the river and checked out the hydrofoil ferry to Vung Tau, a beach community. Might do that tomorrow. On our way to the Ben Thanh Market - lots of stuff with lots of people - we stopped at the Sky Deck. We went up to the restaurant on the 50th floor. It was way too hazy so we decided it wouldn't be worth to go to the sky deck. 

It was getting warmer and grimier outside, good time to stop for lunch.  We walked into a cafe which was part of a hotel. We were told that lunch was upstairs. OK, we went on up. In the elevator, we noticed that there was a rooftop pool - Eureka! Had a lovely lunch and headed for the roof. The button for the 18th floor would not work. Went down to the lobby and asked about the pool. With no questions asked, the girl came out from behind the counter, went to the elevator and swiped her card so we could go up. Within minutes we had towels, chaises, and a to die for view from the roof. Took a swim and hung around for an hour or so. It was time to do some touristy stuff.

I had noticed that there was dust in the camera again. So before pursing any more photo ops, we

went in search of screwdriver to take it apart and clean the dust out.  After several shops with several directions, we finally found one camera repair guy willing to sell his tools. For five bucks, we bought the screwdriver. Victory. Back in search of touristy stuff. Using the trusty gps, we found our way to the \Ho Chi Minh City Museum.. 

Formerly the Revolutionary Museum, this central behemoth attracts more newlyweds posing for photos on the front steps than anything. Originally built in 1890 by the French as a commercial museum, then a Governor's Palace, and later committee building, the exhibits in this museum cover a broad range, from archaeology to ethnic survey, early photos of the city, and documents from its founding in the 1600s. The second floor is heavy on Vietnam's ongoing revolution, with displays of weaponry and memorabilia from the period of struggle against imperialism and many flags, placards, and dispatches from the rise of Communism, beginning with the August Revolution of 1945 all the way to the fall of Saigon.

From there we moved on to The People's Committee Buil ding,which is now City Hall.

   Saigon's city hall was originally a French hotel constructed between 1902 and 1908, a fantastic ornate example of refined colonial architecture. Unfortunately, it's not open to the public, but there is a small walking mall out front and running the length of the behemoth Rex Hotel, itself an important vestige of the American years when it housed the CIA headquarters.

We looked for the statue ot Ho Chi Minh, which is supposed to be across the street, but there was construction there - no statue.  Moved on to the Saigon Opera House. 

Stopped to get a fresh coconut drink and then decided to head back to the room so that Geoff could fix the camera which he did. Guess we will be traveling with the screwdriver from now on. We rested a bit before we showered and went out in search of dinner.  There is no lack of restaurants here.  Picking one is a problem. We decided on Xu, which I had read very good reviews about. Well, a bit over priced and the dinner seemed eternal. However, the food was very good.  Going to try something a bit more low key tomorrow.night. We did talk to a couple from San Diego who gave us a name of a good vegetarian restaurant - maybe we'll go.

We are back and resting our weary bodies. We don't meet the group till Thursday night for dinner. As for tomorrow, it will either be a trip to the beach or more walking around sightseeing. I'm hoping for the beach! 

Next time.. A Day at the Beach - or maybe not...

The Long Journey to the Far East

a view from the lounge

Time to leave LA - it was actually raining this morning. Woke up early and had a lovely breakfast with our wonderful hosts. Tom checked the traffic and all was clear to the airport.  We were off by 8:15 and was at the terminal by 9:15 even with gassing the car and turning it into the rental agency, which we passed a couple of times before we finally found it.

We are now resting comfortably in the LAX International Lounge. LOVE this premium comfort class - got priority boarding so we didn't have to stand in line to go through security. There is plenty of good food here - including smoked salmon. Quiet, comfortable, and civilized - the only way to travel these days.

The lovely woman at the check-in counter was kind enough to take Tali's birthday card and promised to mail it.  We forgot to drop it off yesterday and we didn't want to send it from Vietnam. We figured we could just drop in a box at the airport - WRONG! Took out all the letterboxes after 9/11.  Who knew? Anyway, she trusted us and took the card. Hopefully, Tali will get it.

We have about an hour before boarding.  The flight to Tokyo is about 10 hours and then there is another 6 to Ho Chi Minh City. We arrive late at night, which is always disorienting. 

We had a great time in LA with both family and friends and even made some new ones!  Thank you all for your generous hospitality and welcoming us into your homes. You are all more than welcome to come stay with us whenever the snow clears!

Next time...Good Morning, Vietnam!

Batter Up!

Was a bit bleary eyed this morning.  Should not have had that cappuccino after dinner last night. Had a quick breakfast, packed up our laundry and headed out to Andy's softball game. We got a little off track due to the fact that I typed in the wrong address in the gps, but we weren't far from the mark.  Liam, Ilana, and Tali showed up soon after.  Had a fun time cheering on Andy's team and meeting the gang. Hung around for a bit before heading back to Liam's place for lunch.

Geoff and I stopped at Trader Joe's and picked up some eats.  As it turned out, Liam dropped off Ilana at the Urgent Care Center (nothing to be alarmed about - all is good). We were able to get the our laundry done before Liam got back. Geoff, Liam, Tali and I had  a nice lunch on the patio.  Liam hung around a bit after lunch and then decided to go check on Ilana, leaving us with Tali. Tried to put her down for a nap, but for the most part, all she would do is talk and sing in the crib.  After about an hour, I took her out, changed her, and gave her our early birthday present.

We had ordered her a balance bike for her birthday.  She had a great time helping Grandpa put it together. However, when it came time to getting on thing, that was another matter altogether. Think it will take some getting used to before she feels comfortable riding.  After that activity was over, it was time to go to the park.  Strolled Tali down to this great park which is about a half mile away from the house.  There were lots of kids and families  for their Saturday afternoon outings.  Tali had a good time on the swings and climbing on stuff. She was totally fascinated by not only the older girls but also by the very young kids, not to mention the dogs!!  It was almost 5:00 and getting chilly. Time to call it a day and head for home.

Liam and Ilana were back and invited us to stay for dinner.  They put together a great pasta and salad dinner. We cleaned the dishes while they gave Tali a well deserved bath. We had an "after bath party" in Tali's room with Grandpa reading a fish book which Tali was really getting into. It was tough saying goodbye to the kids but it was time to go. We had a great time and Tali is a great kid. I can't imagine what she is going to be like next time we see her. I can't wait.

Got through the front door of our ATC hosts and were immediately greeted with smiles and a glass of wine and iced tea.  We chatted about Vietnam and various other parts of the world before, we had to beg off to start packing. Tom tried real hard to sift through the Japan Airlines website to get us checked in, but it was quite a challenge.  He printed what he could and we will have to take our chances and hope for the best tomorrow.  Will try to get up and out early.  It is going to be one very long day.  

Goodnight LA.

Next time... The Long Journey to the Far East

Exploring LA

Wow, what a day we had today.  Never made it up to go walking with Elizabeth. We had breakfast with Thom and then decided to take the LA Metro and go downtown and explore LA.  We've never really spent any time in downtown proper. Thom was kind enough to drive us to the Metro station at Universal Studio.  We took the train to the last stop at Union Station. A grand old station with some great art work.  In fact, the Metro stations all have some interesting art work.  We talked with one of the Metro Art Docents on the train - they give tours of the Metro art - maybe next time.

Leaving the station, we walked through the Mexican section, Chinese section and then over to the Disney Concert Hall. A fabulous building that you are free to roam around (outside only). 

It was time for lunch when we ran into the Water Park  at the California Plaza - a great outside eatery. Grabbed a salad at Lettuce Rock You and sat down and enjoyed the waterfalls.  The Angel Flight tramway starts up there as well.  We were hoping to get a ride, but it has been closed for a while now. So we trekked down the multitude of stairs and landed at the Grand Central Market.  As all grand markets, this one was not to disappoint.  The smells and sights were amazing. Ran into the mole counter and gave a chuckle - lined up were the various different types of moles that we had been educated on in Santa Monica.  Got some ice cream and coffee and headed for the Bradbury building, where they filmed Bladrunner.  Across the street is the Million Dollar Theater, another landmark.  Our last stop before heading back was the Biltmore Hotel.  Very popular back in the day with all the big stars. In fact, the Oscars were once held there many moons ago.  

And speaking of Oscars, the are airing this Sunday. We knew they were setting up so we took the Metro to Hollywood and Vine - which by the way, is a great Metro Station and walked the mile down to the Dolby Theater where they were getting ready for the big day.  Lots of activity.  It was really getting late now and we knew we had a 2 mile walk from the station to the house, so we jumped back on the train.  

Got in around 5 or so and got ready as fast as we could in order to make it to dinner.  Ate at Presecco Trattoria in Toluca Lake.  A bit pricey but the food was great and the service was impeccable.  We had a lovely relaxing meal.  Walked down to the Falcon Theater to collect our tickets.  We had a few minutes to kill, so we went across the street to Bob's Big Boy where every Friday night they have a vintage car fest.  What a hoot!

Back at the theater, in our seats, which were great - last row, dead center.  The theater is very small so the back row is not very back at all.  Kelly Carlin did 95 minutes on growing up with George as a daddy with lots of video clips and stills.  She was very good and the one woman show moved very nicely.  Certainly was an interesting childhood. However, we both have to say that the Carlin clips were the best part.

We are back nestled in our lovely room and more than ready for bed. Tomorrow we are hoping to get to Andy's (Alena's husband) softball game and then go spend the rest of the day with Liam, Ilana and Tali. Also need to do another wash before heading to Vietnam on Sunday!  

Please note that there is a new photo album.  Sweet dreams.

Next time... Batter up!

Back in LA

Another gorgeous day.  We just couldn't see rushing back to the LA so after breakfast, we did some bike repair.  Decided to head out towards downtown Palm Springs while it was still cool and the crowds hadn't woken up yet.  This time I used Marj's bike and I was much happier. 

downtown Palm Springs

Got into town, locked the bikes, and walked up and down the main street.  Not much going on. Picked up a postcard for the Cambridge kids and a birthday card for Tali, who will be two next month.  It was getting hungry so we headed back and stopped into the golf clubhouse for lunch. It was a buffet that didn't not look too interesting to us, so we went further down the road and Geoff was able to pick up his Subway special.  Brought it back to the house and had a lovely lunch on the patio.  

It was still too nice to sit in a car for 3 hours, so we headed for the pool.  Went to a different one, that was quiet and the water wasn't as warm.  Lazed around until it was time to say goodbye and pack it up.  It was absolutely wonderful staying with Bernie and Marj.  I'm sure we will be back. I hope they can make it out east one of these days.  We said our goodbyes and we were back on the road.

Next stop - Thom and Elizabeth in the Hollywood Hills.  Trafific wasn't as bad as we had imagined, so we made it to their house by 6pm.  This house is great and they are warm friendly people. We got acquainted for a bit before G & I needed some dinner.  Walked down the hill to the local Thai place.  Quiet and pretty decent. It was nice not to have to drive anywhere.  Back at the house, there was more wine and more conversation.  They have traveled quite a bit and we all have lots of stories to share.  Tomorrow, I am going to take advantage of their knowledge of Vietnam.

Geoff called Liam to let him know we were back in town. Not sure what is going on for tomorrow.  I'm going to try and go walking with Elizabeth and her neighbor if I get up in time.  Then G & I might hike somewhere. Tomorrow night is dinner and a show at the Falcon Theater.

Next time... A George Carlin Home Companion

Pioneertown

Slow morning. Hung out in the kitchen with Bernie and Marj. Tried to pay her for our stay but she would have none of it.  That is really nice of her.  We did the Kindle swap and gave them some of the books we love. Left the house aroun 10:30 - needed to stop for gas and the post office.  I decided to send some of the clothes I brought home.  Just too much stuff to schlepp around. Got to Nick's at 11 sharp. 

The bad news was that the famous Pappy's restaurant in Pioneertown was closed on Tues and Weds.  We were out of luck if we wanted to have lunch there.  We decided to head on up anyway to see what there was to see.  The ride was a little under an hour and some of it very scenic. Pioneertown consists of a dusty main street, the saddle maker, saloon, various other western buildings and sound stage for the films. Since the restaurant was closed, the place was literally deserted. It was great walking around with nobody there.  We chatted with the saddle maker for a bit - he told us the place is packed on the weekends.  He also gave us the name of a restaurant up the road in Joshua Tree.  So off we went in search of lunch.  Found Crossroads right on the main road as we got to Joshua Tree.  Great food and lots of vegetarian options.  Everyone was kinda happy that Pappy's was closed. 

Headed back to town and dropped the boys off at around 3. Steve gave us a little architectural tour of some of the modernist homes that the area is famous for.  We are invited back to dinner tonight for some angel hair and salad. It is great not having to eat out again.  We really appreciate that. Got back to the house and headed straight for the pool.  We had about 15 minutes after a quick swim of peace and quiet before this family of 7 came and took over the place.  It is a small pool - the large one in front of Marj's is closed for repair. Well after one scream too many, we packed up.  We are now resting before cleaning up and going back to Nick's. We leave tomorrow so this will be the last we see of them for a while.

Just back from another great dinner and good conversation.  Talked until 10:30 and then called it a night. Hope we get back here before too much time passes.

Not sure what to do in tomorrow before we leave to go back to LA.  Maybe a short hike and then a swim.  Looking forward to meeting our new hosts in the Hollywood Hills. We are thinking of everyone back east and hope all is well.  Stay warm.

Next time... Back in LA

Fun In The Sun

Yes, woke up to another beautiful day. Made the coffee and called Jerry, my brother, to see how they were fairing in the land of ice and snow. They are managing but really think that enough is enough. 

Grabbed a grapefruit from the tree out back for breakfast. At around 10ish we decided to head out on the bikes to Nick and Steve's. These bikes are not the best to say the least. Geoff barely had breaks and my bike just didn't fit at all. Nevertheless, we made it to the other side and stopped into the vegan restaurant near their house to pick up something for lunch.  Some sort of virtual buffalo chicken wrap.  

Steve, Smokey, & Nick

Talked for a bit and then it was time to hit the pool.  The pool outside their unit was pretty cold so we just read for a bit. After lunch (which was quite tasty), we walked over to the larger pool. A bit warmer, very refreshing. There is also a jacuzzi there which we took full advantage of. At around 3:30 we had enough sun and went inside.  We chatted for a bit and headed back. Our hosts were still not back from their trip. We read for a bit outside and then it was time to shower and get ready to go back to Nick's for dinner.

Because of the heat, the heavy pasta dinner changed into a California fare. Fresh shrimp, cheeses, avocado, asparagus, chips, salsa.  It was perfect - very light and no stress.  We talked till way past our bedtime. Had dessert and it was time to go home.  Tomorrow we will all go up to Pioneertown. An old west town built in the 40's for filming movies and TV shows. I'm just glad I don't have to get on that bike again!  Till then...

Next time ... Pioneertown

Palm Springs

Fairhaven, MA Blizzard 2015

Woke up to read that New England was hit pretty hard with snow yet again. I was reading that the pipes were freezing all over Fairhaven due to yet another blizzard with severely low temperatures. I immediately called Diane, who as in a panic because her pipes were frozen along with a neighbors. Her husband was under the house and was able to defrost the pipes before any serious damage occurred. She sent her husband along with a kid to shovel down to our house. Once the walk was cleared Tim could check and see what the status was. I felt bad for Diane - all I asked them to do was water the plants every two weeks and now another blizzard - what are the odds!! 

Geoff and I waited patiently by the phone to hear from Tim. We were both terribly worried. It is a helpless feeling being so far away if something goes wrong.  Finally, the phone rang. Tim was cheery and eased our minds with the good news. Pipes are fine, It was 45 degrees in the crawl space (we have a remote thermometer to check on the pipes for this very reason) and the house felt quite warm.  When we were finally able to breathe again, we thanked him. We are very fortunate nothing was wrong and that we have great friends.  Next trip, we turn off the water!!

After all that excitement, we packed up - kissed the baby goodbye till Friday - and it was off to Palm Springs. No traffic, arrived here at around noon. Bernie & Marj were here to greet us but left this afternoon and will be back tomorrow. We chatted with them for a bit. Their son came over and fitted us up with bikes to borrow. With all that done, we headed for the pool. The weather continues to be record breaking beautiful. The rest felt great. 

Met up with Nick & Steve for dinner. Ate at a local pub. Good food, lousy service. It was great seeing them. They are doing fine. Biking over there tomorrow for some more sunshine. Nick is cooking dinner tomorrow night. Love his pasta!

Next time... Fun in the sun

Hanging Out

Walked down to Ernie's Mexican Restaurant last night. Lots of chips and music. Tali made a friend with the folks sitting down from us who had a 3 1/2 year old. Back at home, we stayed in while Liam and Ilana went around the corner for a Valentine's Day drink and some alone time.

Morning was busy. We skipped the trip to the farmer's market and also bailed on the 2 year old's birthday party. Although, in hind sight, we should have gone since we were told there were more adults than kids.  One of which is starring in the new Amazon show,Transparent - which we love.

We opted to hang out for our alone time and do some laundry. Walked down to Trader Joe's to grab some stuff to make breakfast. After the eating and washing, decided to head down to Universal City. The place was packed - walked around City Walk till it got hungry. Decided on Bubba Gump's for lunch. The food was good although the place is a bit too commercial for our tastes. In fact, the whole place is a bit overbearing.  Let's just say we don't have to do that again - EVER! Nevertheless, it was a very nice walk.

Heard from Diane (who is keeping an eye on our house) and it seems that the Southcoast got hit again with snow.  We are starting to feel a bit guilty enjoying all this warm weather. We check our solar panels every day with an online app to make sure that we still have power at the house.  All seems good so far.

Liam is out at a meeting. Ilana & Geoff are putting dinner together, Tali is running back and forth and I am trying desperately to get this posted before dinner but it doesn't look good. I'm being paged. 

Tomorrow we head out to visit Nick & Steve for a few days. We will be staying with the same b&b couple that we stayed with 2 years ago.  They are great folks. It'll be wonderful to visit with them again.  Looking forward to our next phase of this journey.

Next time...Palm Springs