San Fran & Sonoma

More pics of this beautiful area.  I met an amazing woman named Charlotte, who is Jonathan's sister.  She graciously hosted us one night and day in Sonoma.  She has the most perfect house with the most gorgeous garden in a perfect setting and to top it all off, the sweetest dog named Poco.  It was nice to get some puppy snuffles.  Her guestroom had the softest sheets I've ever slept in.  I could have stayed there and fallen asleep into oblivion for quite some time.  The Sonoma film festival was on and Charlotte introduced me to a documetary film about a woman whose life changed after a one week vacation to Mexico.  It documents why so many north americans are leaving their lives behind and living in Mexico.  I could totally relate.  

Jonathan took me to the Haight one day also, and we had a blast (well at least I did) looking into all the cool shops and there are so many awesome thrift stores.  I got a hat for 5 bucks!

It was a beautiful sunny day and it was a feast for the eyes.  Jonathan lost his mind in a shoe store, so it wasn't all one-sided.  However, he is indeed quite patient and tolerated my doddling ways.  We found a cool Mexican place for an early dinner and then drove through the latin section of town on the way back.  Somehow I felt like I got a fix.

Some pics here are of Sonoma, San Fran and Charlotte's dog Poco.

More Sonoma/S.F. pics

Photos 1.  There was this cool olive grove in the courtyard of one of the wineries, where the boys and I played bocce ball.  It seemed like I'd walked into the south of France where time stands still.

2.  The Golden Gate Bridge is pretty stunning even when you're driving on it.  

3.  The Culinary Institute of America is in St. Helena, a place full of wonderful food and wine.

4. At the Institute of Food & Wine

5.  Apple blossoms in the gardens

A Day of Wine Touring

A sunny Saturday filled with scents of spring, the wildflowers alive and colourful in the hills, and birdsong abundant and bright.

We began with a wonderful breakfast in St. Helena, a picturesque and gorgeous town overflowing with vineyards and old stone walls, picture perfect little houses and some definitively kick ass wine.  We stopped at Ehlers Estate to sample the reds and my buddies Joe and Jonathan were amusing as usual.

Kyle, the stupendous host (pictured here) entertained us while simultaneously flirting with a gaggle of well dressed women on a bridal shower excursion.  After the tastings, we returned outside, where the fellas and I found a  bocci ball court beside a very mediterranean feeling olive grove courtyard.  I won the first 2 games and it was a very close draw at the end between Jonathan and I.   I felt like I was in Italy or France.  The smell of the olives  jasmin and roses, so intoxicating in the dry warmth of the sun.  The first really hot day of the season.

We then headed off to Trinchero,, another old winery where I got to flirt this time; with a bichon frise named Merlin.  I miss my Maddie a lot,  and he looked so much like her.  It was bittersweet.  I tried two extraordinary reds, and the notes are somewhere in my backpack.

At lunch we went to the city of Napa to COPIA, the American Center for Wine Food & the Arts, where there was Julia's Kitchen, a restaurant named in honour of Julia Childs.  We didn't eat there, but at the cool market across from it.  When we were walking with our ice cream cup, my plastic spoon dropped on the concrete floor.  I had picked it up and after a quick exam was about to start using it again, when Jonathan appeared behind me with a new one.  "You've been in Mexico too long", he stated.   I thought the cement floor of this brand new market was certainly clean enough to eat off, however I graciously accepted the new spoon as I laughed thinking I would have never done something like that a few months ago.  Before leaving, we all strolled through the fabulous gardens, all manicured and blossoming.  It was really hot out! 

To escape the heat, we finished the day sipping sparkling wine at the caves of Gloria Ferrer, on the shaded deck with a view of the whole valley.

Definitely, a princess kind of day . . . even if the princess did try to eat her ice cream with the dirty spoon.

Driving through Wine Country

Hm.  There's something about driving a low-to-the ground sports car through a practically empty and very curvy road that appeals to my masculine side. When the countryside is as stunning as it is here, in northern Cali and the sun is in the perfect spot, lighting up the grassy hills and newly budding trees, arching their branches over the road; when the ipod mix is just perfect and the stereo sound impeccable and all one has to do is drive -  it's pretty sweet.

Thank you Jonathan for the gift of luxury transportation while I'm here, and for this freeing and powerful experience.

I passed the Mondavi estate this day, plus dozens of other fabulous wineries, and also the Culinary Institute of America, housed in a gorgeous stone castle-like building.  Perhaps I got sprinkled on my way by with domestic goddess powder, because since I got here, all I can think of is food and cooking.  Okay and drinking and shopping.  It's all a mirage I know. The picturesque perfect little towns along highway 29 are too pretty to be real.  There's got to be a seedy side somewhere, but so far I haven't seen it, and I'm not going looking for it.

I woke up to bright warm sun today, thankfully.  I've been freezing here. There were white tailed deer laying in the grassy trees and under the big stand of oaks that I saw from the deck.  I ate my obscure French Camembert with my favourite tea while sitting there in the morning sun and thanked the gods. 

Spring in Sonoma

  Well I'm in Calfornia.  How did that happen you ask?

While in Yelapa,  I met the most amazing guys Jonathan and Joe, from San Francisco who had won a trip and were staying at a cool palapa called Casa Capomo.  I showed them around Yelapa and of course we had to go to the Yacht Club, where everyone dances to their own drummer.

Sensitive and sweet, they invited my girlfriend Donna, who had come to Yelapa for a couple of days from Vallarta -  to stay with them in their spacious palapa, since she couldn't find a room and I hadn't moved into my new place yet.  They are full of love for life and each other and we laughed for 2 days straight.  They came to opening night of Sushi Sundays and I was their guide to the top of the waterfall.  When they left, they invited us to visit them in S.F. and to come with them to the New Orleans Jazz Festival in April.   So I said yes.  Donna will be coming in a couple of weeks.

I have only been to S.F. once but never to the beautiful countryside. It's stunning.  I feel like a princess.  It's nice to see spring again and smell the freshness in the air, of blossoms, of tree buds, of lilacs (my favourite) and to see cool trees like oaks, acacia, and bay.  I'm in tree heaven.

I have a view of a pretty lake, my own room, and use of an awesome car with a gps.  Just what a directionless girl like me needs!

I've even been inspired to cook, and with the choice of amazing food in the markets (I lost my mind in the imported cheese section yesterday) it's a pleasure.  It helps to have a real kitchen. Somehow not having to lug purified water up a long hill nor boil it to get it warm, nor disinfect the produce first - has made life easier all of sudden.  But don't get me wrong; I miss Mexico terribly and leaving Yelapa was one of the strangest and difficult things I've done in a while.

Plus, there might be French cheese here, but there are no tostadas that even come close to those at the Bahia cafe in Yelapa, and I've not yet had chilaquiles that equal those at Cafe Olla in Vallarta.  Dont' even get me started about the tortilla soup at Celida's Eclipse Cafe in Yelapa. There is no equal.

All food aside, I miss the people and the connections I made in Yelapa.  I miss the energy and the love.  My love is being sent to Keradwyn, Paul, Dan, Felix, Linda and Eric, Pamela, Isaac, Alex, Shakti, Daniel, Veronica, Aurora, Rangel, Gavin, Elena, Hermelinda, Alejandro, Philipo, Jaime and to all those who have already left.  I'll be back, but right now, it's really cool to be in a different place for awhile, with more loving friends.  I am blessed to have loving friends in many places.

Pictures here are of the just coming into bud vineyards, and the beautiful orange poppy  (I think the county or state flower.)  Reminds me of the Okanagan, but greener and with the most amazing round and rolling hills. Those oak trees are stunning.  Last pic is Jonathan and Joe in their Yelapa palapa.

Beauty abounds. 

 

Photos of Botanical Gardens in Vallarta

The river was cool, the sun hot and the flora and fauna plentiful.  A gorgeous place.  .

Indulging

Some pics of Vallarta and where I was staying. 

Puerto Vallarta & Botanical Gardens

Leaving Yelapa was a difficult thing to do.  I felt like I was leaving home.  I've been in Puerto Vallarta for a few days, chilling before I go off to visit friends who have generously invited me to travel in California and beyond.  Vallarta is just a boat ride away from Yelapa, but it might as well be on the other side of the world, they are so different.  I have to admit, it's been nice to have hot water, white crisp sheets and the luxury of hanging by a pool.  Perhaps I am more of a princess than I thought.  hm..

My very dear friend Jonathan, from San Francisco, has been hanging with me, and we went one day to the Botanical Gardens, filled with flowers, trees, a hot and sunny walk along a river, on a trek through the jungle, leading to some small white water over rocks where we were able to swim with nobody else around.  It was a quiet day at the gardens.  At the main kiosk with a restaurant there was a long rectangular pool with fountain and giant koy.  It was so lovely to experience the local flora.  And in the end, we luckily were able to avoid the hot and never on time bus and hitch the 20 minute ride back from a kind lady who runs the gift shop.  We arrived at the hotel in Mismaloya, just in time to have a pedicure.  This is a complete contrast to my last two months and it has been awesome.