Oh So Lovely Charleston...

After reading Pat Conroy's "South of Broad," my interest in visiting Charleston was hotter than ever. Thank you to my Erin for visiting with me. It was beautiful. (So is she.)

Our drive into Charleston from Savannah was an easy drive. We stopped into a funky little McDonald's for breakfast on our way and headed north. We're driving along, singing to the oldies in the south and we spy the biggest, blackest birds we have ever seen. They were the size of turkeys and I'm pretty sure they were vultures. Ridiculous! Right after that we saw a darling little hard-shelled turtle crossing the road v-e-r-y-v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Lucky little guy made it all the way across without getting hit. Now you don't see that on the highway every day, do you?

Charleston reminds me of many other darling little beach cities I have seen up and down the California coast. Lots of sunshine, cool ocean breezes, and adorable young people running around in shorts and flip-flops. I had no idea the College of Charleston was even here, and the Medical Center of South Carolina is enormous! Again, living on the other side of the country... no idea.

Lunch could not have been more delicious at "The Hominy Grill." Yep, they had some mighty tasty grits and great service to boot. We arrived at the tail-end of their breakfast service but got a chance to see what was going on later for lunch as well. This little gem was knocking out a pretty quick business and I do hope that one waiter who fell down in a greasy puddle is ok :). All I can think about though are those creamy grits and that delectable Ginger-Pumpkin bread. Yummy yumm yum. If you're in the area, check them out on Rutledge Avenue or www.hominygrill.com.

Erin and I love history so we headed straight to the pier where the ferry departs for Ft. Sumter. Our tickets were for later so we decided to visit the South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor first. What a terrific aquarium - easy to navigate and just $19.95 for a visit. Check them out at http://scaquarium.org/default.aspx if you are finding yourself in this area, especially if you're visiting with someone who loves marine life. We've never seen an albino alligator ... interesting to us and everyone else who passed by. And we stood and watched the playfully adorable otters for quite a while. There are fish, and sharks, and sting-rays, and eels, and touch pools. This crab-like creature was intriguing as he folded in half.

Erin & I outside the SC Aquarium overlooking Charleston Harbor.

The ferry ride out to Ft. Sumter took about 45 minutes and we enjoyed the gentle breezes as we floated farther from Charleston and its lovely skyline.

I am enchanted with the history of the Civil War and Ft. Sumter was definitely a treat for me. As we drifted in with the flags wavering in the breeze, I am humbly reminded of the sacrifices made year after year by our service men and women and their families... all for our freedom! It's just like when the Star Spangled Banner plays, I get a little teary.

Onward. The little island has been restored somewhat but you can still see the crumbling bricks and poles and such in certain areas along with old fortifications. A really good visit for me.  









After our visit to Ft. Sumter, we were super hungry and decided to partake in some of the fresh seafood here in Charleston. Smart-phones ... I adore you! We found this great place called, "Pearlz" with the freshest tasting food, friendly service, and open-air seating up front. Now, let me tell you again that this city is also dog-friendly and there were people sitting right out front with their adorable little pooches. I so missed my Wyatt. I digress - We both had a nice sampling of local beer, a half-dozen of the freshest oysters, and some sweet and savory corn fritters as our appetizers. No wonder I gained weight on this trip. For dinner Erin had fish and chips and I had a mixed seafood selection on saffron rice. Oh my land... great food you should not miss out on. Check them out at www.pearlzoysterbar.com and grab a seat at the window on Bay Street in Charleston.

Now the bad... we headed to our reserved bed and breakfast which I shall not name here. I always feel that bad juju will come back and haunt me somehow. Suffice it to say that the pictures and description on their website in no way resembled the place we trucked into. The place was overgrown and creepy; there was a tiny parking space that was on a busy street. The inn-keeper was down the street at another locale for the evening and our room was dusty and dirty. Erin was sneezing, the ceiling slanted down into our heads, and the beds were like rocks. What did we do, you wonder?? Of course we called Marriott right away and booked ourselves into the Courtyard down the street. I love you Mr. Marriott! We relaxed in a lovely harbor view room for a better price and enjoyed our comfy cozy beds ... no creepiness and no sneezing either.

Our full day in Charleston took us down the Museum Mile visiting the Charleston Museum, the Confederacy Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, a half-dozen historical churches, and some lovely old homes. We got a two-day ticket from the Charleston Visitor's Center and it paid for itself on the first day. This website has great info for planning your trip and the local building had good info too. Check them out at www.charlestoncvb.com.

We were pooped from all the walking but we loved every minute. We shopped and dined as well. We enjoyed our lunch at the Mellow Mushroom (and the Golden Monkey for sure,) visited the Le Creuset shop on King Street, and had a cup of hot cocoa at a friendly two-story Starbucks. I think our favorite home to visit was the Aiken-Rhett house which has not been restored, but has been very well- preserved. The audio tour was quite remarkable and gave us a good sense of antebellum life in the south. The churches were glorious, and the women making the palmetto baskets were amazing. We headed south of Broad (of course) and could not believe the absolutely beautiful homes below Broad on King and Meeting Streets. You've got to see them for yourself but the three and four story homes with enchanting wrap-around porches and gardens to die for... aaah. There are just no words.

Oh wait... here's a word... mosquito.

Just when I was thinking of pulling up stakes and abandoning my family to head east to Charleston ... SMACK - bit on the neck again and again and again. I'm staying in Phoenix, thank you very much :)

Dinner at Poogan's Porch was something we had really been looking forward to since they advertised themselves as having the best grits in South Carolina. I disagree pretty much but am more disappointed in their service. I hate that little back corner where you are forgotten by your waiter. How about an offer of wine or cocktails or appetizers or dessert or even this... what are your specials?? I know somebody has to sit here, but next time - not us.

Now, I gotta tell you that we absolutely love cheese and are always in the hunt for a good cheese shop. Especially one that has cheeses not COW. I had looked online before we traveled and we checked Erin's GPS and smart phone and disheartingly found nothing in the area. But, and a big but here ... we stumbled into the cutest cheese shop called, "goat.sheep.cow." Now these ladies know what they are doing here. Delicious cheese, lovely french bread, and gourmet wines for tasting. They packed us up a little picnic lunch and we were off to our travels again. I told them I'd mention them everywhere and I intend to keep my promise. Take a peek at their website www.goatsheepcow.com. How cute is that??

Every vacation comes to an end, doesn't it? Our car was returned to National Car Rental and we headed into the Charleston Airport. Nice little place, actually. Terrible customer service at the Delta counter. We would have loved an update on our delayed flight (just a little info as it was over 90 minutes late.) We raced to our connection in Atlanta and made it in time.

But seriously Delta - can I PLEASE have a little more leg room? Thank goodness I'm not six feet tall. Oh wait, hubby is. How about some leg room for him??

Until next time....

Deb :)



The Genteel South - Savannah!!

Oh Lordy, Miss Scarlet...
What a wonderful visit to Savannah!

 

Erin and I have just returned from the genteel old south... Savannah and Charleston. What a delightful week to splurge and explore some fine old homes, cemeteries, eateries, parks, museums, shops, and so on.

I have long wanted to travel to these two cities and explore their finery. I was not disappointed. Savannah in the springtime with the azaleas blooming everywhere was positively glorious.

Everywhere we went we spied these beautiful flowers in pale pink, bright pink, fuschia pink, and corals and whites. So gorgeous. We celebrated in Savannah with the Girl Scouts of America - this week was their 100th anniversary and we saw some mighty cute Girl Scouts too.

These little darlings allowed me to photograph them and their sunny attitudes kept a smile on my face for days. Aren't they cute??

Erin and I flew into Savannah on a Sunday afternoon, mid-March for our spring break. The Delta flight out of Arizona to Atlanta was not bad at all. We had extra comfy legroom in their extended seating area and were happy as can be. The short trip from Atlanta to Savannah was 45 minutes and a piece of cake. The people at National Rental Cars could not have been more pleasant and we began to see that the south truly is a place of gentility and grace. Everywhere we went, there were so many friendly people. Our stay at the Spring Hill Suites in downtown Savannah was very nice indeed. The room was spacious, beds were clean and supportive, and the location was perfect for exploring.

We found all kinds of adventures visiting the Mercer-Williams House (where Jim Williams allegedly committed murder); the Green-Meldrim home where General William T. Sherman spent several months when he captured the city during the Civil War and every last one of the famous squares that line the city.  Savannah has several large old cemeteries and you know we canNOT resist wandering through a cemetery. We visited Bonaventure and took some photos there. Here are pics of the Mercer-Williams Home, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and a few gravesites at Bonaventure Cemetery. We did take a walking ghost tour the first evening we visited Savannah and wandered by one of their other cemeteries and saw quite a few haunted spaces.

Now, the food in Savannah is to DIE for. We ate at Paul Deen's "the Lady and Sons" where Miss Erin went back to the buffet for seconds on VEGGIES. Yep, that's right more veggies here in the south where they know how to butter 'em up.

Here's a pic of my plate at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Hall. No sign of Miss Melanie ... but Delish!!

You just don't see plates of food like this back home in Arizona! There were tables for 10 and we ate family style enjoying fried chicken, barbecued chicken, sweet potatoes (so sweet we had seconds!) squash casserole, grits, parsnip casserole, creamed corn, cornbread, black-eyed peas and on and on and on. I can't even remember what all we ate. It was truly yummy.

We also enjoyed the Old Pink House on Abercorn in an old haunted home. The food here was a bit pricier but very enjoyable. We loved eating outside in many of the places we visited where they welcomed dogs no problem. Take a listen to that Phoenix - Dogs on the patios and people enjoying the outdoors with good food and friendliness.

One of our favorite stops was at 17hundred90 to their lounge and wine bar. This old haunted home is now an inn and serves up what looks to be - amazing food. We were stuffed when we got here but enjoyed their hospitality in their wine lounge. I wouldn't miss this place coming to Savannah for sure.

We managed to visit the Jepson - Telfair Museums of Art as well and were quite surprised at the wonderful works displayed here. Shopping in Savannah was fun too. After a bit of tea at The Tea Room on Drayton, we headed over to Broughton Street for some shopping. This major shopping avenue has everything from Birkenstocks (of course I bought a pair) to honey at the Savannah Bee Company to tea shops and antiques and finer stores like Marc Jacobs too. We had a blast wandering along Broughton and then headed down to the riverfront to walk off some of the calories we stuffed ourselves with. The riverfront area had lots of pubs and eateries, and a few shops. There was a Life is Good t-shirt store (thank goodness) and some kitschy tourist shops down here. I could skip that area next time for sure.

One last delightful surprise in Savannah was the Wright Square Cafe Chocolatier. Oh my land.... what delicious chocolatey treats. We had the dark chocolate beehive filled with honey, the lavander chocolate, some salted caramel chocolates, and peanut butter cups as big as the palm of your hand. Yum.

I wouldn't hesitate to visit Savannah again - it had just the right mixture of great weather, history, and delicious food. If you're making a visit check out some of the places we visited and enjoy yourself.

Lady and Sons at www.ladyandsons.com

Mrs. Wilkes Dining Hall at www.mrs.wilkes.com

17hundred90 at www.17hundred90.com

Cobblestone Candlelite Walking Tours at www.ghostsavannah.com

Wright Square Cafe at www.wrightsquarecafe.com

Mercer Williams House at www.mercerhouse.com

Savannah Bee Company at www.savannahbee.com

Jepso-Telfair Museums at www.telfair.org

Spring Hill Suites, Savannah at www.marriott.com

You can find lots of info at www.visit-historic-savannah.com too. This website was a wealth of information.

Next up - the rest of our trip in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina.

Get out there and play, ya'll!!

Deb :)

  



That's What VISA is For!

It sounds as if my sweet 8-year old son is hacking up his left lung in our tiny little spot. Thunder is booming, lightning is sparking, and the rain is pouring down outside as my 10-year old daughter and I make a quick jaunt to the restroom. We jump out  and tear through the downpour, do our business, and are gripped with confusion on our way back. We can hardly see where we are going. Is it this way or that? We've only been here a few hours and we are not only lost but soaking wet to boot. And what is that loud growling noise right behind us? Hearts pounding, anxiety coursing through my mommy-self, we run through puddles and dive into the confines of our flooded litle tent. It is a typical 4th of July weekend in Yellowstone National Park and we are colder, and wetter, than we've ever been. Zach is in the middle of an asthma episode. He's under a heaping pile of coats, sleeping bags, and blankets and he is so miserable. The tent is about 3" flooded and not one of us has slept a wink.

Now, my hubby has always treated me with more care and concern than I probably deserve, but even I know that he does not expect to hear my next comments at 4:00am. "I am done DONE done camping in this battered little tent. It leaks, it's tiny, and we are freezing!" And so, at at this very moment, we gather up our belongings, pack the van, and throw our tent into the nearest dumpster. Now, we had reservations for the next five days in this campground and had literally no idea what we were going to do next but muster on we do!!

And so our vacation continues in this sensational place that God has majestically created for everyone to enjoy. We cannot believe the amazingly beautiful vistas, wildlife, geysers, and hikes galore. Our first day here did begin a bit precariously but we enjoyed every blessed minute. At one point our mini-van was surrounded by a small herd of buffalo and we just sat there as they bleated and trooped on by. It was a magical time and I highly recommend you make time in your busy lives to visit Yellowstone.

Check out www.nps.gov/yell and www.wyomingtourism.org for help in planning your trip.

Unfortunately, we did not have any lodging for the night. We have just that very morning thrown our tent away and desperately needed a place to stay. It was the evening of the 4th of July in a highly visited national park and there was NO-where to stay. This little vacation of ours was spent in Wyoming and Utah prior to cell phones. We stood at a public telephone booth running through the yellow pages until we found a tiny little TraveLodge with a one night opening, thank goodness. We headed into West Yellowstone and found ourselves smack-dab in the middle of an old-time 4th of July celebration. There is a street parade with decorated cars and floats, carnival rides, balloons, food, and fireworks. What a joy to celebrate our nation in this sweet lively town. One point of interest ... Fireworks do not happen till the sun goes down and this didn't happen till almost 10:30pm so far north. Quite a surprise for us!

You might like to visit West Yellowstone as well, and if so check out one of the following websites www.destinationyellowstone.com or www.wyellowstone.com for more information. I truly do not know if the little hotel we stayed in is still around or not, but I'm sure there are plenty of other places to stay while visiting.

We didn't have a place to stay the next few nights either but found a last minute opening at the most beautiful little lodge in Moose, Wyoming. It was Dornan's Spur Ranch Cabins near the banks of the Snake River, outside of Jackson Hole and the immensely beautiful Grand Tetons. We felt like the luckiest family on vacation when we stepped into this cabin. The beds were covered with handmade quilts, and the colorful Fiesta Ware was set upon the table ahead of our meal. There was a bbq outside and wonderful little gourmet grocery to pick up some steaks, hot dogs, and chilled wine for our dinner. We spent three nights here at the base of the Teton Mountains just gazing at the spectacular scenery and enjoying each other's company. There were no TV's, no phones, and nothing to bother us as we continued to enjoy the beauty of Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. If you're interested in visiting here, check out the Dornan website at www.dornans.com.

This whole Yellowstone vacation was probably one of the best family vacations we have ever had and it wouldn't have been possible at all if it weren't for VISA. So I always say....

That's what VISA is for!!!

Finishing Up With the Saints!

Our last two ports of call on this delicious winter cruise were St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

Lovely St. Maarten is divided into two countries - one Dutch, and one French. We ported on the French side and were absolutely delighted at the beauty of both sides as we traversed both countries. Our exceptional ships's excursion was an art tour visiting five different galleries throughout the island along with a highly informative island tour. Our guide was a resident of Dutch St. Maarten and she fascinated us with tidbits of info regarding island life. For example, most residents have two cell phones (one Dutch, one French) because they correspond across two countries and it's cheaper. Oh, and a small box of triscuits will run you about $6 U.S. - Seriously!! There are a large number of private schools for young people and education is of high priority. There is a top-notch medical school here where many young doctors begin their studies before transferring elsewhere to do their residency. This island attracts people from around the world with its fantastic weather, and cosmopolitan living.

We met with artists and jewelers, painters and sculptors and were drawn to so many of the works. The Minguet gallery was lovingly run by the deceased artist's daughter and son-in-law. We just had to purchase one of the paintings here and we are loving it in our home. This was by far my favorite time in port through drizzle and traffic and lovely island views.

We enjoyed walking through the shopping area near the port and saw beautiful pieces of jewelry along with some pretty dynamite chocolate in a little Belgian shop downtown. I couldn't resist either. We had to sample beer here as well and visited Dwayne and purchased a few cold ones. Strictly Caribbean branded beer for our sampling... And - Dwayne LOVES his job!!

We headed next to St. Thomas, which is a U.S. port and found it to be a shopper's paradise. We visited bookstores, jewelery stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, purse stores, etc. etc. etc. I can certainly see why people visit St. Thomas on a regular basis. Of course we wore ourselves out shopping and had to sample one last Caribbean brew. We had Banks in Barbados, Wadadli in Antigua, Piton in St. Lucia, Carib in St. Maarten and last but not least the Virgin Island Tropical Mango Beer. This beer was technically bottled in the states but labeled in St. Johns. Yumm. They were all pretty tasty, but the Banks was still my favorite.

We truly enjoyed the entire cruise - the ports, the food, the friends, and the laughter. Celebrity Summit was a wondrous adventure in and of itself. Our meals were deliciously prepared, the wine was incredibly tasty, and the staff pampered us to no end. I highly recommend visiting the Persian Garden within any of the Celebrity ships for a lovely respite from all that goes on around you. It is warm and restful and relaxing. I also can't say enough about the specialty restaurant 'Qsine' with its innovative ordering system, menus, and attractive presentations. Delish! 

This lovely sculpture below was my favorite piece of art on the entire ship. Most ships have some lovely pieces and you'll find that each ship has a flavor all its own. We love Celebrity!!

If you're toying with the idea of a cruise - do it! It can be both tranquil and relaxing or as exciting as you choose. You unpack once and leave your floating hotel as you visit several ports in a span of a week or more. Cruising is not for you if you love an in-depth visit of a specific duration or if you get panicky out in the middle of the ocean. If you have any kind of motion sickness I do recommend the use of Bonine, a 24 hour tablet, or Dramamine, an 8 hour tablet. Many people do use a medical patch on their skin which you can get by prescription from your doctor.  

Check out www.celebrity.com for more information on a Celebrity cruise.

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it." 

~~Buddha

Enjoy the Ride

:) Deb

Strolling Through Antigua

Just the name 'Antigua' sounds gorgeous rolling off the tongue, doesn't it?? Antigua - so tropical. Antigua - so cultural. Antigua - Aaaaaahhhhh.......

Antigua was indeed a lovely island. We did not have an excursion planned here and decided to stroll the city instead. There was shopping right at the pier and the prices were terrific. I popped into Longchamp and found the perfect little bag for my purse cosmetics. Bargain#1.

One of the things I liked most about this shopping area were the hand-crafted items and bits of this or that that were truly unique. There were still many of the typical cruise-island shops like Diamond International, but we found pottery, sculpture, paintings, and jewelry that we haven't seen anywhere else. I really should have brought home that Moon Goddesss statue I think... There were a few trinkets that made their way right back to my home in Arizona though. Jewelry - Bargain #2. After a shopping jaunt, we headed uptown and found a lovely church that was being renovated and it's cemetery. We always LOVE a good cemetery!!

Wandering through town we found a cool little cafe spot to sit and sample this island's brew. Zach would be so proud! I also found a pretty dress (for $20-Bargain #3!) and some interesting public seating. I love the picture of this bench and have it framed now in my home. Check it out... Words to live by.

The Carib was good; not my very favorite. So far I liked the Banks Beer in Barbados the best. It was a pretty hot day though and an ice-cold beer was just what I needed to make it through the afternoon.

We met up with our friends later and had a snack and some rum. Boy those islanders sure know how to make a rum punch! A little grated nutmeg on top made it all go down so smoothly. Right, Julie?? Happiness in a glass - Bargain #4.

Antigua also has a nice quantity of lovely resorts on their beaches. You could probably spend a wad of your future retirement bundle lazing about on this island. However, the food, fun, and drinks were well priced so..... Think about it.

The weather on all of these islands is humidly temperate - about 85 degrees each and every day of the year with some scattered rainfall. This was February and we were in sleeveless tanks so I can't imagine what the summer may look like. Maybe a little bit warmer and damper? 

As our ship departed the harbor in Antigua, the sunset was one of the most amazing of the entire week.



Hubby does a nice job of taking some pretty fantastic photos. I'm lucky to have him for a variety of reasons!!

Adieux from Antigua,

Deb :)





Gorgeous St. Lucia

St. Lucia has been on my list of 'places to see' for a few years now and I'm so excited to be here. Now, I'm sure some will disagree and I can't say for sure because I haven't been EVERY-where yet but this island has been purported to be the most beautiful in all the Caribbean. And it was truly beautiful to us. This island is hilly and tropical and lush and green and vibrant. There are mountains and rain-forest, trails, and streams. First stop on our day-long tour is at a little shopping centre up the hill a piece. We shop for island-made jewelry, bowls hand-made from palm fronds, and delicious banana ketchup. The people are friendly and joyous. This new friend of mine agreed to have his picture posted.

Hubby and I are in the last rows on a short bus, sitting atop the rear right wheel. The twists and turns on this island are hairpin-crazy and every turn feels like Space Mountain at Disneyland. Yee-ikes. Thank goodness for Bonine (meclazine) my favorite anti-nausea pill. Our driver was a young student at home on her break from university. We learned all about the educational system in the Caribbean and the choices they can make as far as learning goes. Students attend school until the age of 17 or 18, subsidized by the government, most strictly wearing uniforms. There are no gangs here, but there is poverty and fights over clothing and shoes. Students are allowed to decide if college is right for them or not and choose from many places of learning throughout the Caribbean; even a good number of quality medical schools.

The St. Lucian Pitons were a huge draw for us and they were gorgeous. Take a peek...



The sights on this island vary from the richest to the poorest of the poor and everything in between.

We made a quiet stop at the Maranatha Prayer Garden after driving through the La Soufriere Volcano. There are hundreds and hundreds of people happily living in the crater of this volcano as the steam continues to pour forth from the earth.

The prayer garden was so peaceful - like a sanctuary away from everything else. If you have ever been to the Buchart Gardens in Victoria, this place was similar on a much much smaller scale. The birds were chirping and humming and the place smelled like a tropical heaven. Reminded me of how badly I want to get back to Hawaii... 97 days till that trip!



Our last stop dropped us off for some delicious island cuisine - fry bread, plantains, and jerk chicken. Oh, and St. Lucia's finest Piton beer.

You may be thinking that all we did on this trip was drink... ha!ha! You're almost exactly right.... we did eat too :)

Next stop on this Caribbean adventure ~ the lovely island country of Antigua.

Happy Travels,

Deb :)





Barbados & A Taste of Banks Beer

Aaahhh... Barbados. Day-Oh. Daaaayyyy-Oh. Daylight Come and Me Wanna Go Home....

Barbados is a land of Spanish conquests, slavery, English rule, gorgeous beaches, and warm friendly citizens. We were so excited to arrive here in this tranquil and utterly tropical island that measures roughly 20 by 15 square miles. Docking near Bridgetown, we are in the midst of barges and freighters. Where is the beach?? It's a few miles up the way and gorgeous.

We are delighted to take a ship's excursion to Harrison's Caves. If you know me, you may be surprised (or not) but I LOVE caves.

This is one of those amazingly limestone caverns surprisingly found on Thomas Harrison's property in the late 1700's. It was not properly explored until the 1970's by an enterprising trio of adventurers from Denmark and Barbados. Driving through the cave in a tram built specifically for this cave with an exceptional guide was awe-inspiring. We were "blessed" many times by the dripping water throughout the cave and enjoyed it's warmer temps. Unlike other caves with very cold temperatures, this cave maintains a more humid and higher temperature throughout the year. Can you even imagine being on an island and dipping below the surface into a cavern of this proportion? It does seem illogical, doesn't it?

Stalactites and Stalagmites in Harrison's Cave

One of the areas of run-off in Harrison's Cave.

The buildings at Harrison's Cave - Yep... the cavern is under these buildings!

Lush and tropical at Harrison's Property above the cave.

We headed back to the ship for some lunch but stopped in at a local eatery instead. Boy do these people know how to cook and eat! The food was exceptionally prepared in this teeny-tiny kitchen by a sweet woman

 in her headscarf and apron. Yummy, right?



 We had a few bottles of the local beer, Banks and they all went down quite smoothly!

After polishing off a few beers, we headed back towards the ship and stopped into the dock-side shopping area. Wouldn't you know we found a few items we couldn't live without?? First up and (Zach would be proud) highly enjoyable was the bottle of Mt. Gay Rum we played 4-square with. What does that mean? Well, there were 4 of us and we polished off the bottle right quickly. Amazing how good a $4 bottle of rum tastes...

Once onboard we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Celebrity Summit did not disappoint in their presentation of delicious food and talented entertainers. We especially enjoyed the guitar player onboard who played in the style of Carlos Santana every night. Great melodies and his voice was really nice. The Cellar-Masters wine bar was a hit for us as well. We were able to serve ourselves 24 hours a day from their inventive wine refrigeration system. Dinner this first night with our waiters from Costa Rica and the Phillipines included (for hubby) Prime Rib, baked potato, and veggies or (for me) a delicious Lamb Shank with sweet potatoes and extras.

Here's wishing you were traveling with us!!
Deb :)

Departing for the Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Do you agree that airline seats are getting smaller and smaller both sideways and lengthwise? Are they jamming more and more customers into economy seating? And... please don't say it's me or that I'm getting bigger 'cuz I just lost about 25 pounds!! And finally, why do the aisle and window seated passengers hog both of the arm rests? They have two and I have NONE. Can't they see that I'm so squished I can barely breathe? Plus I have literally nowhere to put my arms. Jeez.... Glorious airline travel in the United States.

So the dead goldfish (ick) floating in a mini aquarium at the check-in counter of the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico did not detract us from having a lovely evening before we embarked on our Caribbean cruise. The Caribe Hilton was a short ride from the airport with the friendliest of taxi drivers in all of San Juan. Our room was smallish, but newer than the rest of the hotel. I should say that our bathroom was almost larger than our bedroom with seating for five or so in the shower. Seriously. The room was comfortable with a nice balcony overlooking the city of San Juan and the local Subway. (Yep, Subway as in Jason and sandwiches.) Our pre-dinner cocktails in the hotel lounge were pretty weak, but dinner outdoors at Lemongrasss Pan Asian-Latino was mighty tasty. The frogs were croaking and the birds were chirping as the sun set in this lush tropical locale. The duck and foie gras croquettes were a very nice appetizer, followed by sushi, sea bass, and green-tea salmon. Yumm. Our servers were young and inexperienced but portions were generous, and the food was divine.

Saturday morning got me up fresh and quick to join a yoga class on the beach. What a wonderful way to start the day stretching to the sound of the ocean on a blisfully breezy beach. Honestly, I could do this every single day of my life without one complaint.

Breakfast was my usual oatmeal and hot cocoa at Starbucks - I can't seem to pass it up. Their oatmeal is perfect with brown sugar, nut mixture, and dried fruit. Delicious and predictable actually.

Check out Caribe Hilton for yourself at www.hilton.com and search their listings for hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

By noon, we are packed and waiting on our transportation. Our driver is a prankster and makes some pretty sarcastic jokes as we drive through the streets of San Juan. It is an older city with a very busy infrastructure. We know that tourism is a big factor in their economy, as is rum, and pharmaceuticals. Who knew? Apparently U.S. manufacturers are located here making medication on the cheap for the citizens of our great country. It is not a lengthy drive and we do pass through some areas of beauty and poverty.

We finally arrive to the dock and the deliriously gorgeous Celebrity Summit. This beauty just came out of dry-dock two weeks ago and is spankin' pretty. New paint, new carpet, new public rooms, new cabins, and new balconies. Wow!! We cannot wait to get started on this cruise to the ports of Barbados, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. Whew.

Celebrity Summit

We are traveling with two other couples who are also seasoned travelers. Celebrity is new to them though, and they are in for some delightful surprises!!

The view from our balcony cabin as we depart San Juan.

First port of call will be Barbados!!

Until then - enjoy yourself.

Deb :)



Napa Valley With Kids

Napa Valley State Park ~ California ~ August 1993

            Imagine if you will a few thousand scented acres of vineyards draped across the rolling hills of picturesque Napa Valley. Keep that imagery alive in your mind with graceful tree-lined drives, shady picnic sites, and impressive reconverted barns sheltering wine enthusiasts as they enjoy an idyllic afternoon. Complete this portrait with gleaming wood-paneled tasting rooms filled with knowledgeable adults sniffing and swirling and sipping fine wine to their hearts content. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it? Most people we know would not bring their young children to Napa Valley where the principal attractions are wineries. But we are not most people, and drag our kids we did to Napa Valley for a camping vacation. Our children were then and are still great travelers, mostly well-behaved, and inquisitive studies as well. We had always wanted to visit this part of California and absolutely adore wine. So we made our camping reservations for August in hopes of escaping the heat of our home-town. Our plan was to meander through the Napa Valley then head over to San Francisco for a brief visit to the City by the Bay.

            Lest you think that we are completely out of our minds, let me tell you that there is quite a bit to do with your children in this scenic valley. Bothe-Napa Valley Campground is located five miles north of St. Helena in the heart of the valley and offers camping, hiking, swimming, and horse-back riding amongst tall groves of fir-trees, madrone, and redwoods. This state park has terrific hiking trails for day-hikers and a beautiful campground to boot. It was here on a perfectly silent summer morning that our children spotted their first deer. Our kids were thrilled to see the three of them as they carefully wandered into our campsite while we quietly breakfasted. The hiking here is truly spectacular (though we did see signs of poison oak and/or poison ivy, but I can’t remember which is which!) Just be prepared to wear long pants and keep your little darlings on the trail to avoid the rash associated with either of these plants.

     After one particularly long and dusty hike, we headed to the showers to wash up. Showers and flush-toilets are a big deal to this camper especially when our kids were younger. The showers at Bothe-Napa State Park were tiny but efficient and as is usual at most campgrounds, they were crowded early in the morning and late in the evening. We thought a mid-day shower would be perfect so Jeff and Zach headed to the men’s showers while Erin and I headed into the ladies’. I was exhausted from our hike and hoping for a nice warm shower to soothe my aching body. I turned on the water and we jumped right in and screamed because … oh my goodness ~ it was FREEZING! I don’t mean a little bit cold but absolutely bone-chilling. We hustled through that shower as fast as we could, dried off, and dashed back to our campsite. I couldn’t figure out why the guys were taking so long until Jeff returned to tell us about their enjoyable shower with the warm spray that massaged and invigorated. Ugh. Erin and I were quite dismayed to find out that all of the hot water had been diverted to the opposite shower stalls. But this was a lesson learned for the remainder of the trip as we did not chance showering when the men’s showers were occupied.

            Along with the requisite visits to nearby wineries (and there are so many to choose from!) we visited Old Faithful Geyser of California, rode horses, hiked to waterfalls and hot springs, went antiquing, rented bikes, shopped through St. Helena and Calistoga, and sampled some of the most delicious food we’ve eaten anywhere. Our children enjoyed the tours we tried at Beringer, Sutter Home, Rutherford Hill, and V. Sattui Wineries. Beringer has one of the largest and most charming properties and a tasting room that should not be missed. The tour at Rutherford Hill involves cool wine caves that are interesting and distinctive. And V. Sattui is one of the best wineries in all of Napa Valley due to their accommodating staff and inviting picnic area. This winery is famous for their cool and shady grounds and can become quite crowded, so plan your visit accordingly. Their wines are also deliciously affordable gems that are available directly from the winery only. We truly appreciated the graciousness of our tour guides as they entertained all questions and comments from their younger audience members at every single winery. There are plenty of places to find tasty food throughout Napa and Sonoma but I’d like to give a shout-out to ‘Juanita-Juanita’ in Sonoma for some of the best Mexican food around. This cozy little jewel is located on Arnold Avenue in Sonoma, and if you’re lucky the wait staff will kick your butt at Trivial Pursuit. Don’t miss it!

            As an aside, we have visited Napa and Sonoma Valley several times since this trip and thoroughly enjoyed many more wineries than those listed above. You alone know your taste and should avail yourself of the ample resources available online or in travel guides specific to planning a wine-tasting tour. Love the wines ambiance at Ravenswood in Sonoma and Rombauer in Napa. We have enjoyed limo rides and hot-air balloon rides while sampling our way through the valley. The above-mentioned trip was a camping trip, but we have also stayed (sans children) at the Renaissance Lodge at Sonoma Resort and Spa, and the Napa Valley Marriot and found both to be tranquil resting places.

            For more help in planning your trip to Napa Valley, go to www.napavalley.com for a good sampling of information on lodging, wineries, and other things to do. For Napa-Bothe State Park, visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=477  to plan a camping vacation. Just over the hill from Napa is Sonoma Valley and their tourism website is located at www.sonomavalley.com. Again, there are so many wineries to visit, but I urge you to make a stop at V.Sattui for a nice lunch and great bottle of wine. You can research them ahead of time at www.vsattui.com.

Buon Appetito!

Deb :)

Still a Family Fave - Richardson Grove State Park

California Redwoods ~ July 1993

            If there is a mosquito within a twenty mile radius, he will alert all his buddies that there is new blood in town and they will collectively hunt me down to siphon the life out of me while digging in for a scrumptious last meal. I am super-allergic to their bite and swell up with caustic red welts that resemble some kind of rare tropical skin disease. Clusters of bites huddled in group formation will be layered on my skin so closely together that it is impossible to see where one bite begins and the next one ends. The itch will torment me morning and night and I usually wake up with my skin scratched raw to the brink of bleeding. Interestingly enough, nobody else in my family will get stung. While I lay twitching and swatting at the army of mosquitoes dive-bombing my limbs, my family will peacefully sleep the night away. There are perhaps a hundred different theories as to why some people get stung and others do not. As a mother, I prefer to think that it is my duty to protect my children from the horrible pain and itch of insect bites by being so completely vulnerable. (My husband thinks this is a crazy philosophy and he may be correct since my hypothesis has gone completely unnoticed by licensed medical professionals.) Regardless, I’ll be the only one in my family running around town with my arms and legs covered with scarlet-red blotches of pain.

            Mid-July with summer in full swing and we meandered our way to Richardson Grove State Park within Humboldt County and the California North-Coast Redwoods. My husband camped here with his family when he was younger and his mom had mentioned over the years what a wonderful time they had here camping with friends, and how lovely it was. Once again, mom was right. It was a long day’s drive from our home in Southern California, but I tried to keep our kids entertained with scavenger hunts, car games, and sing-alongs. There are an abundance of songs that continuously rattle around in my brain begging to be sung out loud, and I seem to be blessed with the ability to remember every single word. Unfortunately, my tuning is a bit off, and my family will readily attest to this fact. Yet, these songs remind me of a multitude of happy memories from any given time in my life. And though it may seem cliché, every time I hear Mary Chapin-Carpenter’s lovely voice I am reminded of driving through this amazingly beautiful place, and I am taken back to a time when my children loved singing along with me.

     Driving through the towering groves of redwood and sequoia was like nothing I had ever seen. The canopies created by the trees shade and envelop the entire area, creating a sense of contentment in a seemingly hidden world. Along the highway we saw trees that had small houses built within their branches, trees that nestled little gift shops, and a tree that you can drive straight through. We were also delighted to see that amidst these old giants were clusters of new growth that will continue to beguile generations to come.

            Settling in at our campground was very easy, and we put up our newly acquired screen tent with ease. We had purchased it specifically to avoid any and all insects and their gleeful stabbing. Our plan was to use the screen room for relaxing, dining, and playing card games in a completely “bug-free” zone. We also set up a citronella candle on our picnic table for added protection. And lastly, my thoughtful husband purchased a small battery-operated device that made a barely detectable clicking sound designed specifically to keep mosquitoes away. With all that preparation I was surely not going to be stung. My unfortunate timing continued because the largest mosquitoes I have ever seen were also visiting Richardson Grove that same week. They were in the restrooms and the showers, and we found them frolicking throughout the entire campground. Not surprisingly I awakened that first night with the sensation that my legs were on fire, and found that I was covered with bites. (I’m not kidding when I tell you that people see my bites and cruelly wonder aloud as to what malaise has bushwhacked me.) There are a variety of good anti-itch products on the market today, but in 1993 my best bet was to smear on the Campho-Phenique like nobody’s business. Unfortunately the stinky salve did not completely alleviate the itch or assuage my discomfort, and the bites continued to swell. I inquired at the ranger station about the availability of a nearby market or pharmacy. Quite luckily, we were near the charming town of Garberville. If you get the chance you must stop and visit. It is one of the only places that I know of where the shop owners all know each other, look out for each other, and recommend the services of their competitor to the public. It’s the kind of town where everyone is friendly and helpful. There were no miracle cures in the grocery store, but in one of the polite little shops on their main thoroughfare I found a caring homeopathic dealer who sold me a wonderful product called ‘SSssting Stop.’ This cream was a natural balm that soothed the itch and calmed my red welts. This product is still sold in certain health-food stores and can be found online as well. Nothing has ever appeased my mosquito bites so readily and with such a cool and refreshing feeling. I was happily renewed and ready to continue our vacation.

            The forests here are absolutely spectacular with plenty of trails to explore the significant groves of old growth redwoods, masses of huckleberry bushes, while the Eel River is available for fishing, swimming, and nearby picnicking. Don’t miss The Avenue of the Giants about 25 miles north of here. Those old-growth treese are positively amazing. Our kids enjoyed the Ranger Program and we hiked over to the little general store every afternoon for a frozen treat. The coastal fog can be very damp throughout the evening and early morning hours. Your firewood should be at least 6 months dry if possible. Please also remember that this area of the California Redwoods is located in Bear Country, so food must always be properly stored and out of sight. 

Keep in mind…

I strongly urge you to pack anti-itch creams and all of the medicine that your family requires. Prepare a list ahead of time and check off your needed balms, pills, and prescriptive medicines.

Located just seven miles south of Garberville, Richardson Grove State Park is bisected by Highway 101 and the south fork of the Eel River.  There are a couple of other campgrounds in the vicinity, namely Smithe Redwoods State Park (with a 60 foot waterfall, fishing, and swimming,) Sinkyone Wilderness, and Standish-Hickey State Park.  Information on activities and reservations for all of these campgrounds can be found at http://www.parks.ca.gov.  For more information on Humboldt County lodging, attractions, and nature adventures go to their website at http://www.redwoods.info/.  Lastly, the Garberville Chamber of Commerce visitor’s informational website can be found at http://garberville.org/site002/home/index.php.

Get Out There!

Deb :)