Category: Trips and travel

Travel never ceases to be full of surprises.

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Flying is the only way to fly, On the road, Trips and travelLeave a comment

I am siting in the Admiral’s Club at Dallas-Fort Worth airport. Now this was not the original plan. I was booked on United out of Seattle at 8.00 am this morning, changing planes in Denver, continuing on to Cedar Rapids. The first flight had a mechanical, first one hour, then 2 hours – the plane was still in the hanger, that usually means a more serious issue. My connection was in jepardy so I called reservations for United. BTW you usually do better phoning instead of standing in the customer service line.

They changed me to American, yeah. American is a partner with Alaska so now I am getting Alaska miles. And thanks to nice relations with American and Alaska I can use the Admiral’s Club, so a glass of wine and cheese as I wait for the next flight. Sometimes things just work out for the best.

Getting through the chaos-food, wine, friends, and Tricia

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Been there - places, Food and drink, Happy Hour, On the road, Restaurants, thewinesketcher, Trips and travelLeave a comment

Taking a break this morning to reflect on the things that get me through the challenges. I have been on over 20 flights in the last 11 weeks, thankfully none this last week. On the week-ends we pretend to be contractors, doing the repair work left us by our anniversary week-end flood in December – Wainscoting, painting, repairing sheetrock, installing a cabinet, ceramic tile, etc.

IMG_1947Two weeks ago I was in the Holiday Inn next to Disney, in Anaheim. It is a short walk to Downtown Disney, and Catal Restaurant. Upstairs at Catal is a quiet oasis in the chaos. A glass of wine, bacon wrapped dates, calamari, and of course pen, ink, and paint, made for a nice break from the travel.
IMG_1948The next week I had Asian Meatballs and broccoli, in Sirachi sauce at Niki and Joe’s in Newberg. We finished the evening with a we dram of Laphroaig, and my first game of Catan. I slept well on the hide-a-bed, visited by Nuli, their way too cute kitten.

Last weekend Tim came up, a good excuse to put the construction on hold, and instead too much food, some good discussions, and a bit of guitars and singing.

Thursday night of this week Tricia and I went to Daniels for Happy Hour. Just what we needed before this weekend of the final push in the basement.

These breaks make it possible to go on, food and friends have always been part of what we humans need for rejuvenation in the midst of challenges. I am so grateful.

Five Days on the Road, Day 3

On By Terry ChristophersonIn On the road, Trips and travelLeave a comment

Up again a bit after 5.00am, nothing new there. Another cup of Earl Gray tea in my ceramic cup with an elephant trunk for the handle. I got the cup a couple of years ago on a trip with Tricia and my mother to La Conner. There is a little shop there that has intriguing things from India and the surrounding countries, thus the elephant motif.

Spent most of morning reading and watching the Presidential race, I should tire of it yet it is addicting. Still not sure what to make of it all, but the people are speaking, for good or bad, we are seeing reflections of the populace in the candidates, a bit of a mirror on our society – that is sobering at times.

A good day at Starbuck’s a free drink on my iPhone app, so I had a short Latte Macchiato with an extra shot, in a real glass cup – yes I do have a thing about paper cups, its just not the same. Then I am off to do day two of the project management training I started yesterday, get to dance around management issues to a group that probably needs to hear them. I am looking forward to traveling to Anaheim tonight.

Made it through the seminar, great evaluations, yet glad to be at the airport. Turned in the rental car, rode the shuttle bus to the terminal. Now I am having a beverage and I already sent in an invoice, I do like getting paid.

It is 4.30pm, my flight for Anaheim boards in 2 hours. I am B33 for boarding on Southwest, that still gets me an aisle seat and overhead for my roller, so life is good. 

In Anaheim I am at the Holiday Inn next to Disney, a much happier place on earth than West Sacramento for sure. May walk tomorrow to Downtown Disney just for the diversion, and for a better meal.

Five Days on the Road, Day 1

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Been there - places, Food and drink, Happy Hour, On the road, Restaurants, Trips and travelLeave a comment

It’s turbulent at 30,000 feet today, Monday afternoon, on the way to Sacramento. Surrounded by Alaska Air navy blue, with complimentary MVP Gold  white wine in a plastic cup. Seat 6C, the bulkhead, is good, as much leg room as in first class, and you get your wine right away, quick deplaning.

After 22 years on the road, travel for work, any travel is different. My life has three venues, home with Tricia, Travel with Tricia, travel alone. Home and travel with Tricia are the best, travel alone is where I spend too much time.

It is a quick flight, already we are beginning to descend, the turbulence reminds me we are actually up in the air. I use the scuba divers technique to release the pressure on my ears, flight attendants are scurrying to pick up the “remaining service items.”

After 840 steps, one train, and one shuttle-bus I get to the National car rental. A silver Chevy, the exact same one I drove last week. Then 13 miles into town. Staying at the Rodeway Inn just a few blocks from the Sacramento Rivercats baseball stadium, too bad there is no game. No Hilton hotel tonight.

My room is small, but clean and it looks recently remodeled, I have stayed in worse. I stayed here because the management responded to every comment on the website, even though it is not a fancy place they seem to be making an effort to do it as well as they can.

2016-02-29 17.44.02Across the street is a bowling alley and Cap’s Bar & Grill. Its close, and the only thing I see within walking distance except a Subway and some Chinese place. One difference between Tricia Time and my Vagabond Life is that I would not be eating here with her. In my Vagabond world I hit dive bars and drive-ins far too much.

My view is the bowling lanes, only three are being used, one looks like a dad and his little girl, cute. There is a family with a few kids, and a couple that spends more time talking than bowling. I order a Patty Melt, and a Sierra Nevada on Happy Hour. At the bar there are regulars.

Thanks to Wi-fi I watch soccer on my iPad while I eat. The sandwich is fine, it is new to the menu they tell me, it could use more salt or a savory sauce, but its not bad. I pay, then walk back to the hotel. I started to watch a documentary on Winston Churchill, but it was demanding too much thinking, will finish it later. So watched a couple of episodes of MASH, then went to bed, read a bit and lights out by about 8.00PM.

Polcari’s Italian, Woburn, MA

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Been there - places, Food and drink, Trips and travel, WineLeave a comment

This is an old Italian American place, we don’t have these in Seattle. Good house Chiante, and Spicy Diavolo flatbread.

IMG_1812

Eyeopening day in Genoa,

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Trips and travelLeave a comment

For some reason, obscure I am sure, when the idea of visiting Italy came up I was always hesitant. As ridiculous as it sounds all I can connect it to was their trains. Someplace, sometime I heard that the trains in Italy were not punctual and they were dirty. Thus my astute conclusion was is that was what the whole country was like.

I have never been on the trains but thankfully in September I had one glorious day in Genoa, it was an eyeopening day. How could you not love this city?IMG_1670

My best guess it that I wandered over 12 miles of the winding streets, sat and sketched in plazas, ate pizza and sipped wine and Italian beer. I even embraced the coffee shops. It was a wonderful day. Now I can’t wait to get back and explore more of the country.

I will let you know about the trains, but my old prejudice toward Italy has been replaced with appreciation.

May and June madness

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Been there - places, thewinesketcher, Trips and travelLeave a comment

This has been a travel heavy couple of months. Since May 20, 2015:

  • Honolulu (1 night)
  • Walla Walla, WA
  • Hayward, CA
  • San Jose, CA
  • Indiana
  • Portland, OR
  • Back to Portland
  • Denver, CO
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Portland, OR
  • Tacoma, WA
  • Anaheim, CA
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Tempe, AZ

Of course between most of these I was back in Seattle, then off again.

Not complaining but I must say I am glad that things are a bit slower in July. Now I can focus on painting bathroom, working in yard, and getting ready for two, yes two weddings this month. July 11, my sister gets married and I get the honor of officiating. Then on July 31 our daughter gets married, should be a wonderful day.

ThankfulIMG_1463ly there is time to sit on the patio by the garden and write on a cool morning before the heat comes, I love this yard. Then a glass of rosé after the work is done, after all thewinesketcher knows how to relax as well.

Hopefully August will not be as frantic, that is the plan.

Palm Springs, “Oh why?

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Europe 2013, Trips and travelLeave a comment

stock-footage-welcome-to-palm-springs-sign-along-highway-leading-to-palm-springs“Oh why?” Could it be that Earth, Wind, and Fire were thinking of Palm Springs when they sang, “After the Love is Gone.” Oh why? describes my impression of Palm Springs. 

The once fabled playground of movie stars, the “Rat Pack”, and wealthy retired folks seems to be a tired, out of style celebrity, struggling to remain desirable and virile. It is a crumbling monument to those glory days of Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore; after the love is gone.

The streets have the names of stars and celebrities from the 40’s and 50’s, reminders of the greats of the Golden Era of movies and big band music, but names that are strange, if they are even recognized at all, to those under 50.

Architects in the 60’s and 70’s did well in Palm Springs, but their edifices far out number more recent structures; the designers  have either moved on, or more likely faded away with age like their creations. Even the hotels look tired, with names that must have once evoked visions of Palm Trees and a glamours desert life: Desert Inn, Ace Hotel, Club Trinidad, Hotel California (why they would keep that name after the Eagles song is a mystery to me.)

Consignment and used clothing shops are frequent, often two or three at a given intersection. The maturing well-to-dos seem to desire an outlet for their raiment that is fading from their taste or fashion; trading in the old for the new.

Palm Springs does have a reputation as a haven for the “mature”, thus the ubiquitous plastic surgeons and urologists that compete with the consignment shop in numbers. The memories of times past may fade, clothes sold on consignments, but there is a burgeoning business in removing wrinkles and healthy prostates. We may age, but age well!

I am sure there are those who will take issue with my slanted observations, that is fine. Yet I was disappointed, I wanted Palm Springs to be something it apparently once was. Like gravity moving our sagging body parts down, the classy area seems to have moved South to Palm Desert.

Travel like a local

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Been there - places, Trips and travel2 Comments

Check out this entertaining yet instructive article on the differences between locals and tourists in Paris. The less we stand out when we travel the more you will enjoy the trip, and the safer you will be.

http://matadornetwork.com/trips/24-differences-locals-tourists-paris/

Travel, we are so much alike

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Trips and travelLeave a comment

Sitting in a Quality Inn in Pasadena, California, drinking Fess Parker Chardonnay, watching Tony Bourdain on my iPad I relaize how fortunate I am. My gift in life is that I can talk, it drives some people nuts, but it has enabled me to travel the world, with someone else paying the tab. What I know is that the locals people have it right.

The Windsor Hotel in Melbourne is where the queen stays, I stayed there too. I have stayed at the Mandarin in Bangkok, and many other first class hotels. Yet, after 22 years on the road, it is the simple places I remember with the most fondness.

In South Africa people took me into their homes. I made a friend in Melbourne, that has been so special. My first night in London, at the hotel pub, a man went to his room and brought me back a pen with the Rolls Royce logo that I still use today.

One night in England, after landing at Gatwick, I took a train to South End on Sea. There was nothing nor was their anyone at the train station, and it was late in the afternoon, sunset was approaching. I walked in the direction that I thought was toward the inn I was staying at. (No GPS on cell phones in those days)

One advantage of cities in the West of the USA is that they are laid out in grids, not so in Europe. So the numbers and the streets were confusing as I pulled my roller along the uneven sidewalks. It was growing dark and I had not found the inn. A man on a bicycle stopped, I asked him if he knew the place I was looking for, unfortunately he did not. We parted and I walked on, in what I was to find was the wrong direction.

Some time later i heard a frantic bicycle bell ringing, it was the man I had met. He had found the inn I was to stay at and rode back some distance to give me directions. It was dark now, I was so grateful. I asked if I could do anything for him, he asked if I could send him a keychain from Seattle, I do hope he got it.

People like that man are what travel is all about. Not the resorts or cruise ships, but people from one part of the world connecting with people from another part of the world. I really am not thrilled to check some icon off my list, but am excited to talk with a local in that city.

Though I fear Rick Steves has commercialized “common travel” I must agree with him that the secret is to get out of the tourist mode and connect with the people; with their food, their wine, their culture. We are more alike than different.

So travel, talk, eat and drink, but do it always with the goal to understand the locals, wether a hundred miles or 5,000 miles from where you live.