home again

Hey, friends!  We made it home over an hour and a half ago.  An easy ride back from the desert just as the ride down on Sunday was easy and relatively fast.  I'll post from the desert in days ahead, but for now, I've got laundry on the go, and I'm feeling lazy.  We'll catch up soon!  For now, relaxing, much like I did yesterday.  And, like yesterday, I am not getting in a pool.  🤣🤣🤣

 

Hawaii, day two

Our first full day in Hawaii started off with a morning walk for the two of us. 

It was one of only two days when Marie came for a morning walk, though she did a long walk another day.  I'll be blunt:  we are both large people and out of shape, Marie arguably more so than I am.  The walk was more than her usual, and she might have stepped down wrong at some point, so by the end her back was bothering her and more.  I felt badly about that, and I'm sorry it prevented her from coming on other morning walks - I should have been glad of her company.  Ah well.

So we were up just before sunrise, as the skies were lightening,

and out the door to head to the nearby Ala Moana Park.  Not a long walk there, but we caught some views of boats,

beaches,

birds,

beasts (mongooses - cute but invasive),

and (sorry this isn't entirely alliterative) Waikiki. 

We crossed over to the mall, wandered it a little while we debated what sounded good for breakfast, and eventually parked ourselves at an Eggs 'n' Things.  It was fine enough.  I continued my quest for Spam, choosing that with eggs and rice

and a glass of POG

for a very filling breakfast.

I wish I could tell you about grand adventures throughout the day, but the truth is, after getting showered and changed, we spent a goodly while in the mile, poking in stores, buying some things, later grabbing a small lunch (and thank you to the woman at the one business in the food court who offered me the senior discount, telling me that with my white beard I look like Kenny Rogers!) there, eventually choosing a book in Barnes and Noble to bring to the pool deck that afternoon.

Nice pool, but I wish there was more shade available on the deck. 

It wasn't too busy at the hotel pool, though, and I know I dozed off a little at one point.  Yes, we did go in the water.  Once done with the pool, we headed to the room changed, and came down to the pool level to try the little bar there.  Lilikoi (passionfruit) drinks for us - a margarita for Marie, a spritzer for me. 

The bar was, sorry to say, underwhelming, but now we know!

Dinner that evening was at a place Van had found back in 2023 for him and me and Conrad.  Fête is downtown/Chinatown rather than Waikiki, and I think Marie appreciated that we saw a different part of the city.  I was glad to go back and enjoy it again.  The hostess greeted us and asked if Marie and I were on a date, thereby beginning a pattern of the two of us explicitly inserting into conversation with service staff in restaurants, bars, and stores that we were brother and sister.  I guess not many siblings like us travel together, or something.  Anyway, we had a table in a little side part of the restaurant, by the window and across from where the kitchen was doing its magic. 

Great views!  We started with much better cocktails than at the hotel bar:  the Grab 'Em by the Pineapple for me

and the Spicy Kitty for Marie. 

We shared an appetizer special, breadfruit with Indian spices and crispy shreds of okra atop,

then it was the Korean steak for me and the coconut prawns for Marie. 

The coconut cake was a special as well, and we went for it. 

She and I capped the evening with an amaro each, and I was delighted that Marie is into them. 

Something else we now share.  It was all very good, and we headed back to the hotel with full bellies, turning in fairly shortly after getting back.

spa day in Sonoma

Here, let's do some short Sonoma vignettes over the days ahead.  I'll mix in Chicago if and when I can!

A spa day on our first full day in Sonoma - that was part of the plan for the trip.  Massages for each of us at the hotel spa.  My massage therapist was not able to work that day, and so I had a facial instead. 

I was done before Van, and took the opportunity to relax in the spa hot tub. 

I also got into the hotel pool,

and I would have insisted Van join me, but nope, that water was not as warm as my delicate self wanted.

I confess, I very much like treating myself well.  You can tell that by the food and drink.  But spas are a great example of that as well!

oh, hey, look!

I swam.

And so the ongoing love/hate relationship with the pool endures.

The funny thing?  If all goes well, I will be back in the pool tomorrow.  Back to back days!!

ah, a spa

We did a lot of different things on our vacation.  It wasn't all walking and eating and drinking, though it was a lot of those things.  We did organized activities, we took in museums.  We shopped, we relaxed on balconies and patios and beaches.  And, in one instance, we did spa treatments.

I rather enjoy spa treatments.  I had a manicure and pedicure before I left so I was in shipshape for vacation.  I get massage monthly.  A facial is a special treat.  Bring it all on!

So, when we checked in at Nordelaia, we asked to book afternoon treatments in the hotel spa the next day. 

We had only one full day at Nordelaia, and we wanted to enjoy the fine hotel as much as we could.  Massages all around,

the three of us in succession.  I was the last to go.

It was a nice massage, perhaps a little light, but with some stretching included.  I also took advantage of the little spa pool

and its glorious views after I was done. 

It was a welcome bit of pampering at the end of a trip and after a day with a nice bit of walking including some uphills and stairs.

Happily for everyone involved, I have no photos of the tiny little "briefs" that they had each of us wear for modesty.  Those things were NOT designed for gentlemen with larger butts, I tell you!

Italy recap: last destination, Nordelaia

It was a lovely start to the morning when we woke up in Lezzeno. 

So lovely that it was a shame to have to leave Lake Como behind.  Alas, we did, and kudos to Conrad again for doing the driving and to Van for doing the navigating.  And there I sat in the back again, not rattling anyone by talking too much.  I kept my cool.  Until the rest stop.

Folks, look at this:  an Eataly. 

No, this is not a regular occurrence in Italy, but how awesome is this? 

A freaking Eataly! 

Love it.  We actually didn't eat anything there, though we bought a few snacks.  Oh, and for those reading this who think Eataly is an American thing, no, sorry.  It's an Italian company that started out there.

Enough of that, and back on the road with us!

On this trip, we've spent time in Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and - finally - Piedmont.  Just past the village of Cremolino, we came to our hotel, the Nordelaia.

I'm going to let the photos do the talking here.  The hotel building was gorgeous outside

and in. 

Our suite was spacious

and opened out not just to a terrace on the garden level

but another large one overtop the hotel entrance.  The restaurant building was also handsome. 

We were greeted with glasses of their own wine to sip,

shown around, and then left to get settled in our room.  After that, we wandered more to take in the views of the valley,

the vineyards,

and Cremolino,

then relaxed some

and eventually found our way over to the bar at the restaurant.  What a space! 

We enjoyed cocktails there

and some lighter fare for dinner.

 

Van had found Nordelaia - he did all of our hotel research and bookings - and showed it to me.  A book, an article, an online feature - I can't recall.  But I was smitten when I saw it, and I knew we had to stay there.  We only got two nights, but I am so glad we did!