Tourist in San Francisco

Well, Hank is busy at work.  We all know the routine - working double time to prepare for vacation!  I, on the other hand, am already on vacation.  Oh, there are a few agenda items in preparation for Europe - downloading guides and language dictionaries to the Kindle (for which, thank you again WCAT folks), getting adapters and travel umbrellas, etc. - but other than that, I'm free.

Day before yesterday, I had a great dinner with friend Peter.  Peter and I go back 30 years.  We met working at the Bank of America, and bonded while ushering at the opera.  Who would have thought we would last this long.  Anyway, the result is another restaurant recommendation for San Francisco - Amber India, a high end Indian restaurant in down town SF, another great dining experience.

Yesterday, a day at the Palace of Fine Arts, which was featuring an exhibit, from a private collection, of the Dutch Masters.  I have always loved the Dutch genre paintings, as well as the portraits and landscapes.  A very good collection, well displayed.  An additional bonus was a display called the Mourners, from the tomb from 1470 Burgundy's John, son of Philip the Bold, 50 18-inch high statues of alabaster, very fine.

What shall I do today?

Tourist in San Francisco

Culture, at last!

We're in Ashland, finally!  The drive from San Francisco is about 7 hours, with a pleasant diversion in Redding, California, of all places, where some tax money has created a really momentous piece of functional art, i.e., a bridge (called the Skyline Bridge) over the Sacramento River.

We are staying at the Plaza Hotel, Ashland style, of course, but not bad, and within walking distance of the theaters. 

For those of you who don't know, Ashland, Oregon is very close to the California border.  Originally, it was redneck country (perhaps it still is, outside of the city), but in the 1940's, Shakespeare came to Ashland, and the three theaters - a large Elizibethan theater, a medium sized venue, and a small spot for more intimate plays - as well as the shops, the restaurants, and, of course, the weather, have made it a wonderful place to visit.  Hank, formerly David, and I, together with a varying cast of characters, have been coming for 25 years.  This year, we are joined by Pat Ferry, a friend of ours from banking days in San Francisco, and Carol Dodd, a friend from Salt Spring Island

So far, the theater itself has been disappointing.  The first, Willful, was an experimental play, and, to be kind, didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.  And the Henry IV Part II was a mess!  The old standby actors we are used to seeing were missing in action this year (with the exception of the Falstaff character, who was terrific).  The new crop can't project or enunciate, and the fool director had then talking to the back of the wall.

Well, that's the thing about live theater - it is always a risk.  When it is good, it is very good, and, often, when it is bad, it is awful! 

One thing that can always be counted on - there are wonderful restaurants.  Our current favourite is Sami's Bistro, the finist dining experience I have had for a long time.

Today is the backstage tour (I've done it before, of course, but Carol has not), followed by Ghose Light, a world premiere, and to top everything off, The Pirates of Penzance!  We're off to San Francisco tomorrow.  Were it me, we would leave at the crack of dawn, but Hank does not do crack of dawn well, so 10:00 A.M. depart time it is. 

And then, the final preparations for Europe!

A Tourist in San Francisco

Hank, eating, a rare sighting!

Hank, Carolyn and George, also former colleagues



Karen Hagewood



Who is that tan person?

And the infamous Suzanne!

The point of this part of the trip was Suzanne's party.  Suzanne, Hank and I worked together in Corporate Trust in the Bank of America in the 80's.  And here we are, 30 years later.  Suzanne in blue, immediately above) came from England 50 years ago, and was celebrating that.  Karen (in turquise), also pictured here, worked with us at the Bank as well. Today, just a bit of wandering around my favorite city, and Wednesday, off to Ashland!

84 degrees passes for hot in San Francisco!

And the ubiquitous cable car!

 

Finally, rejoined my heart!

Left my heart there, I am sure you all got it!

Anyway, the 8 hour drive was easy and uneventful - I tell you, you can say what you want about the Germans, but that Audi is one great ride!  Arrived in plenty of time for the aforementioned dinner at the Alamo Bistro - the recommendation still holds, as usual, the food was wonderful!  And look at that tan!

Goodbye Sun ((for now), Hello Fog

Time to leave sun and palm trees behind, for now.  I'm off to my last afternoon of reading magazines and floating in the pool.  Then it is time to pack up, and head for San Francisco for the road trip part of the adventure.  I will be leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow (yes, guys, I still get up early and go to the gym every morning, except now it is for an hour an a half!)  to drive to San Francisco.  The Hotel Hank (we're also starting the "Hank" part of the adventure) is open, and we will be having dinner tomorrow night at the Alamo Square Bistro, a restaurant I highly recommend for those of you who spend any time in San Francisco.  More later, from everyone's favorite city!

Rain in the Desert

Who would have thought that I would be excited to see rain?  But out here, with the empty skies and the palm trees and the huge clouds, and the thunder and lightning - it's fabulous!  For those of you who know the layout of the place in Palm Springs, they have closed the road over the wash, as it is flooded - who knew I had waterfront property? - and so we go in and out the back way.  (I tried to get a picture, but you can't really tell the water from the sand.  Just imagine......) 

This Is The New Work

My chore for the day was to learn to upload pictures to my blog.  I was partially successful, I think.  Maybe tomorrow, I will be able to do captions.  Luckily, these are pretty self explanatory!

Palm Springs

Even in the heat, this place is wonderful.  I don't know whether it the great openness within sight of the mountains, or the palms, or the fact that everyone acts as though they were on vacation even if they are not; whatever it is, if makes me - gasp! - calm.  One of the retirement skills I have already developed is getting on my float without getting my magazine or book wet; I floated on the pool for two hours yesterday.  Trust me, there is no better way to read the Economist.  It is great getting back in touch with friends Art and Wally, and neighbor Michael, and meeting new ones.  Only a trip to San Francisco and beyond could make me leave, and only then because I know I'll be back soon.  Who would have thought?

Finally on the way!

After the usually scurrying around and last minute glitches, I am finally underway.  Friends Donna and Hugh drove me to Bellingham for my flight, which leaves tomorrow A.M. at the crack of dawn.  We had a lovely dinner at Dirty Dan's, in the Fairhaven District of Bellingham, the old university district which has been wonderfully renovated.  Ah, a wedge salad and prime rib!  Now I know I'm in the States.  When we got to the hotel, I discovered that my reservation was for October 6, not September 6!  I And you didn't believe me when I said I had blown a brain fuse!  Luckily, they had a room, wakeup call and shuttle to the airport have been arranged, and all is well.  Traveling is so much easier with a credit card, no?  Tomorrow, Palm Springs. 

Still trying to get away

It has been a whirlwind week, and I haven't even left yet!  The rounds of lunches and cupcakes and drinks - all of which were greatly appreciated, by the way - are done, and I am working on closing up here.  Donna and Pellham are driving me to Bellingham on Tuesday night, for a Wednesday morning flight to Palm Springs.  I'll write - and hopefully, send pictures - from there.