7 cities, 6 flights, over 10,000 air miles, over 1,000 driving miles – all in 16 days. Then throw in a hurricane warning in Hawaii, some great food, a surprise visit by good friends, and a birthday weekend that was amazing. This has been a great August!
The predicted storm pretty much missed Waikiki, the view from my table at Surfrider
Nova knows Waikiki! The Moana Surfrider is one of my favorite places in Wakiki, and she just posted this on her site. For the inside scoop on Waikiki or just some great pics, follow her blog the96815
This was a great hike, yet best described as “roots and rocks.” It was pretty steep, but much of the trail was climbing and scrabbling over rough terrain. Yet it was worth it, the lake was a gem in the Alpine Lakes area.
Reading this book has been a delightful mental gymnastic. Einstein occupies legendary status – genius, formulas, time, gravity, and relativity – all are concepts that evade most of us; this was my motivation in reading this book in the first place.
Isaacson includes detailed discussions of how Einstein arrived at some of his formulas and theories. I have a bit of a science background, but theoretical physics and the mathematics that goes along with it has always been a stretch for me. Yet, as challenging as it was, I did grasp enough to give me a better understanding of the world-shattering nature of his discoveries. I still struggle that there may not be simultaneous events, that time is curved, or that light is bent by gravity, yet when Einstein explains it there is sense about it, and it does fit what you see.
Though he was not at all a religious man, he was convinced and argued for the idea that “God would not play dice with the universe.” He opposed quantum mechanics to his death because it is based on randomness and probability. Einstein never was able to define a unified system that explained how all physics worked and connected, he was certain that it does exist and would be discovered one day.
As fascinating as his physics was, his personal life and his political thinking were just as intriguing. His theories were essential for the development of the atomic bomb, yet at his heart he was a pacifist who believed that there should be a world organization that prevented, by force if necessary, countries from going to war. This along with his socialist thinking earned him the label of communist, he was clear that he was opposed to communism because of its dictatorial nature.
Since Einstein died when I was quite young I was surprised at the celebrity status he enjoyed/hated. There were parades held in his honor and he was frequently asked to support causes, which he rarely declined and as a result ended up being associated with organizations that damaged his reputation, and who he really did not embrace.
A good read, challenging at times, but needed insight into one of the greatest thinkers ever, and a major influencer of the last century.
Wonderful day for a wonderful hike. Planned to go to Lake Talapus, felt so good after the first 2.25 miles we went on for another 1.5 miles to Olallie Lake. Still some snow to hike on, but a sunny spot near the lake made for a perfect picnic.
We were staying at Nash’s airBnB in Rubion, a small village in the South of France. (Actually our hostess was Corrine, Nash was her dog that we fell in love with). At the local market we bought wine for about 3 Euros, then had a picnic while sitting on a bench in front of an old chateau. It was wonderful -local cheese, bread, and fruit – with the bottle in a small stream to keep it cool.
The wine for the picnic-in-the-room with this view was from a tiny grocery store in Moustier St Marie, it was from the Cote de Rhone and was also 3 Euros, about $4.50 in US dollars. I cannot think of many glasses of wine that I have enjoyed more, at any price.
I am sure that Wine Spectator never rated either of these two, and have no idea how they would rate, nor do I care. What mattered is that they were good wine.
So what does makes a good wine? A good wine is one that brings joy, gladdens the heart, and often is shared with friends.
But why is any particular bottle better than another?
Tastebuds are strongly influenced by the nose, thus a wine that does a bit of aromatherapy on us before we even taste it is already winning us over. I may not be able to describe every nuance of fruit, tobacco, figs and such, but I know when a wine entices me as it whispers “this is going to be good.”
Of course the color of the wine, and even the bottle and the label might hint that I will like what I am about to taste. Strong tannins, that puckering sensation you get just below your ears, is not a big plus for me; a bit softer works better. And “food pairings” are way overdone.
Price is no guarantee of taste, yet the Shaw wine at Trader Joe’s is almost undrinkable for my palate. I have enjoyed $100 bottles of wine for sure, yet have had $60 bottles that were not that amazing.
The factors that contribute most to a wines enjoyment scale are not what are printed in the tasting notes or on the label. The three most important components to a great wine experience are
History
Ambiance
Companions
Wine has a history.
The story of where the grapes were grown, the winery, and the wine maker may influence the experience more than the terroir; they trigger fond memories that enhance the taste of the wine.
Quivira is a wonderful wine, made better by the vineyard, the winery and the tasting room in Sonoma. We went on a tour, saw the vineyards, tasted grapes right off the vines, saw the famous fig tree, the pigs, the chickens and the gardens, while sipping wine along the way. Every time I open a bottle from Quivira it takes me back to that wonderful day; the wine just tastes better because of the history we have with Quivira.
Then there is Torii Mor in Oregon, wonderful Pinot Noir, made all the better by memories of warm summer days on their deck overlooking the hills of the Dundee wine region. History truly does enhance the flavor of the wine.
I will always be partial to Cote de Rhone wines in general simply because of my times in Provence. Spanish Cava triggers memories of hidden plazas in Barcelona.
The Ambiance makes a difference
Sitting on our deck on a warm summer day, snacking on wine and cheese makes any wine taste better. I remember some rather plain wines that were wonderful because we drank them with a picnic on the train from Melbourne to Sydney, as I saw my first kangaroos on the hillside, it was my 20th trip to Australia so I was overdue. I don’t remember the name of the wine, but I do remember that wine was part of the experience.
Glasses are part of the ambience. It does not really make all that much difference to me if I drink my reds from huge glasses, my rose from tulip shaped glasses, or Sauvignon Blanc from a smaller white wine glass. But I do love the Italian style glass I bought at the Coppola winery in Napa.
Food adds to the taste, but again too many folks get crazy on the perfect pairing. Visit various web sites looking up the right wine for a certain food and you will quickly discover that there is no consensus on the “right” wine; the experts all have their own opinion. My guideline is if it tastes good it is paired properly. If you really are enjoying that Pinot Noir with the delicate fish, then go for it. And if white wine sounds good with a steak, then you have the perfect wine.
Food adds to the ambience, not because it is meticulously matched, but because you enjoy it. There is something about cheese, bread and wine or a bit of salami, a piece of fruit, a cracker. When you pour the glass, grab a snack and the wine will thank you for it.
Wine is best when you have companions.
Who you drink your wine with is as important as anything to make a bottle of wine a good one. The best wines I have had are those I have had with Tricia. We have had some good wines with friends and enjoyable conversation.
A good wine may be an 80 instead of a 95 on the Wine Spectator list, but if it stands out, puts a smile in your heart, brings you closer together with friends, adds to the enjoyment of the place then it is a good wine.
A great candidate for Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Tonight is burger madness night!
I had the Jiffy Burger, peanut butter, provolone, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles- it was great
Yes, this is exactly what the room looks like, without the flowers. This is a great place, the customer service is amazing. I must admit the exterior had me expecting a pretty average place, yet the experience at the front desk on to the first impression of the room was quite a pleasant surprise. And there is a great over-stuffed chair, one of my favorite amenities.
If you are in the area, check it out Best Western Inn, Boulder, CO
It’s the little things! Salt and herbs transform a palatable dish into a special meal. Accessories make the outfit. Frequent flier perks, attitude, and the little things make travel a whole lot better.
Travel, especially air travel, is one of those things that it is fashionable to complain about. It is interesting that those who complain the most are quite often those who fly the least. It does make sense though, when you are not as familiar with how the whole process works it can be frustrating, and when you are in an environment that is unfamiliar it is hard to know what to expect.
I offer the infrequent flier just two tips to enhance the experience
Now for those of us who have decided to make frequent travel part of our life, a few thoughts:
Never complain.
I have travelled for over 20 years and stayed positive about it, how? I refuse to complain. As I write this I am on a morning flight, not the travel I had planned, I missed a connection and spent the night in Denver, one of my least favorite airports. Yet I refuse to complain. It is like the Dark Side of the Force, once you start down the road of complaining you end up negative and frustrated, I have seen it over and over again.
We frequent fliers are doing this because we chose to do it, we knew it was part of the job when we signed on; it is part of our life. If the travel is that overwhelming or uncomfortable then it is time to dust off the resume and start looking for a change.
Loyalty has its perks
If travel is to be part of your life then be loyal to one airline, or group. I am a huge Alaska Air fan, when it comes to USA carriers I think they are the best. Their frequent flier program connects you to Delta, American, Quantas, and a number of others. By combining all your miles in one account they accumulate faster and you reach premier status sooner.
With premier status you earn the little things that make it better. Early boarding so there is room in the overhead, upgrades to first-class, on Alaska a free beverage in coach, free checked baggage, premier seating, and when things do go wrong they do give preference to the frequent fliers who have and will be back next week on another trip.
Join the club. My Alaska Boardroom membership is the best money I spend each year. Food, drink, wifi, quiet. And reciprocal arrangements with Delta Crown Rooms means I get to use their rooms when traveling on Delta, or when in an airport that does not have an Alaska room.
Accessories that matter
Each traveler will have his or her own list of what makes life on the road more comfortable; here is my list:
Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” The Christopherson corollary to that is, “Most people enjoy travel about as much as they make up their minds to enjoy travel.”
Been There, Eating This 