California, Here We Come (Part 5)

Monday, March 23rd

Mot, Steve and I loaded into the Jeep to go find breakfast. Napa has no fast food....well, no where that serves breakfast at least. :-)

We were trying to waste time until our spa appointments at 10 am. This place was amazing!!!! Everything you could possibly want and need in the locker rooms. Top of the line luxury. My masseuse was Galia. She was wonderful!!!!

After our spa appointments, the four of us loaded up the Jeep and headed out into the Napa Valley.





First stop, Cline Wineries. We met an employee at Safeway the night before, and she told us all about the place. We're glad she did. The people working there when we arrived we just as nice! And the wine was wonderful.





Between the four of us, we picked up 4 bottles of wine, and a box to put them in....for airport checked baggage.

(we got the box that would hold 12 bottles - didn't want to restrict ourselves) :-)

After Cline, we headed to Sonoma for a food and wine pairing reservation we'd made at the Mayo wineries. 8 different wines, with 8 different foods. Crazy good!!





We bought two bottles there. :-)



Here is a pic of the second round of pairings...with the bolder (bigger :-) red wines. Absolutely good to the last drop.....er, lick.....



From there, we stopped at an Olive Oil tasting.





Surprisingly enough, Mot and I didn't buy any. But Danny and Steve did.

The food at the pairing was great...but there just wasn't much of it....and after the tasting, I was feeling a bit...well....toasty. And the boys were still hungry. Danny spotted a nice little Mexican place along the highway, so we stopped.







As we were sitting on the front patio....locals were pulling up for lunch. They were hesitating in the parking lot...debating on whether they should come in with us there. It was a little...strange...but the tacos were wonderful!!!!!!!

(to be cont)



I will post all of the pictures from our trip on my Webshots page....as soon as I'm done posting blog entries. I'll put up a link when they are ready.

California, Here We Come (Part 4)

Sunday, March 22 (cont)

When we got back from Alcatraz, we went back to the hotel, and checked out. We headed across the Bay Bridge towards our next destination.



Berkley - Mot was on a mission for tie dye. The real stuff. :-)

We stopped at Nations for lunch, and to charge my camera battery. Dummy me forgot to plug in it the night before...and it was nearly dead. They were the best burgers I've had in quite a while.



Oh, and we all had to get some pie too.

They had to roll me out to the Jeep. :-)

We found Mot's tie dye after some serious looking. I also found a store that made me think of Sheila. It's called Lhasa Karnak Herb Company. Bottles of herbs and extracts as far as the eye could see. :-)




(Campus housing)

With tie dye in hands, and bellies full...we headed for our next hotel...in Napa. We didn't arrive until after 5:30 on Sunday, so most (all) of the wineries were closed down. We went to a Safeway in town, picked up some wine and munchies for dinner, and headed to the hotel.



We lost Mot at some point....he was in the lobby talking to a fellow fireman from L.A. So, Steve, Danny and I started munching without him....while watching Last Holiday, and then Amazing Race. :-)



Once we finished watching TV, we changed into our suits, our pitcher of wine (Mot talked the hotel restaurant out of a plastic pitcher, since glass isn't allowed on the hot tub and pool deck) and headed out into the courtyard...and the hot tub.



Mot took a polar plunge in the pool next to the hot tub...but I missed the photo op. :-(



The wind was crazy....and cold. Look at the steam coming off of Danny as we were running inside. :-)

Once back inside, and dried off....we broke out the cards for a little Progressive (International) Rummy...then headed to bed.



(to be cont)


I will have all the pics posted of our trip on my webshots page....as soon as I get done blogging. I'll post a link when it's ready to go.