En Route from London to Bombay.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

En Route from London to Bombay.

It would be about 7.30 am (GMT)—local London time—when I landed in London at the end of the first leg of my return to Bombay from Los Angeles, California. After a light breakfast (a snack service, really, as gone are those days when you received a hot Full English Breakfast on British airlines even in Economy), I was ready to spend four hours in London’s Heathrow airport (Terminal 3). Naturally, I browsed through the shops and ended up making one wild purchase at Jo Malone (maybe my favotite store ever). I bought their most popular product—their annual Advent calendar. This is a hamper of 25 goodies, one for each day of Advent (starting from Dec 1). You open up one window each day throughout the month of December and are rewarded for your pains with a piece of candy or a toy (if you are a child) or a cosmetic (if you are a grown up). Many British companies have begun making these Advent calendars for Adults (although the practice originated with children). Jo Malone’s Advent Calendar flies out of the stores as soon as they hit them—because the value of the goodies contained in it far exceeds the retail cost paid up front. I have to say that, in the past, the calendar was much better: there was always a full sized bottle of perfume on the last day (on Christmas Day). This year, it is only a candle (and that too is not full size). But, all things considered, this is something I have wanted to purchase for years—but it was always sold out by the time I scented a whiff of its existence. This will provide my perfume needs for a whole year—which is why I am glad I indulged fully in a bit of retail therapy. So, all said, it was a very judicious purchase. I paid for it, had it wrapped up and left waiting for me. I told the shop assistant I would pick it up when it came time to board my flight.

Till then, I continued browsing in all the designer stores. I loved the fact that autumnal colors are gracing every shop window: there were warm oranges and yellows in the carves at Hermes, Cartier, Burberry and Gucci and the same shades at the handbag shops such as Mulberry and Chanel. Westerners certainly take Autumn very seriously as it calls for a complete change in wardrobe. It put me in mind of the annual wardrobe overhaul I used to do at the end of summer each year while in Connecticut as I put away my summer clothes and brought my cashmeres and silks out of storage to begin use for one more year. It was always such a fun time for me.

About two hours later, boarding for my flight was announced. I picked up my large and very heavy Jo Malone package and headed to the gate where all went smoothly. I had an aisle seat about which I was very pleased and as most of the flight would be spent sleeping, I was glad I would not be disturbing my seat companions each time I wished to stretch my legs. I watched three more movies in-flight (barely getting any sleep myself): Black Bag, Baby Girl and another whose name I do not remember.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Landing in Bombay, India—Home Sweet Home.

And then, before I quite knew it, it was 7.30 am IST (local Bombay time) and time to make our descent into Bombay. Very quickly, I was clearing Customs and Immigration, getting my pre-paid taxi and arriving at my home in Bandra. Much as I had loved my travels, it felt so good to be back home again—in my own flat, showering in my own bathroom and crashing on my own bed. Needless to say, I was out like a light.

Thanks for following me on this long and adventurous journey. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed these scribbles. Until the road rises up to greet me, stay well…and happy wandering yourself!

Making the Most of My Last Day of Vacation in Dana Point, California

Monday, October 13, 2025

Los Angeles-Dana Point, California

Making the Most of My Last Day of Vacation in Dana Point, California

And finally (I could hardly believe it myself!), I reached the last day of my vacation. After being on the go for more than a month (London—which suddenly seemed ages away—Chicago, Connecticut—with New York City thrown in, for good measure—and, eventually, Northern California—where we had a motoring tour to remember), the day dawned when we had to bring it all to a halt. And what better way to do it than at Dana Point, California—a place I had always wanted to visit (ever since my former neighbor and now close friend, Rosemary, had told me that her daughter Jenny loved living there for over a decade). As it turned out, I would be returning to Bombay tonight, but Llew would be extending his stay in the US for another two weeks and would be spending them, first with friends in San Diego, and then with more friends in Somerset, New Jersey. Accordingly, we were to meet Valentine and Jacinta, our San Diego-based friends, at Dana Point. They would be hosting Llew for a whole week in their lovely home in their lovely town and had agreed to meet us halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego—that spot was Dana Point: the perfect meeting-point and one that would allow me to see why Jenny and her family had loved this place so much.

Off to Dana Point by Car:

Llew and I awoke early so that we could shower, get ourselves organized, take our baggage downstairs to the hotel lobby and probably pick up a bit of breakfast at the restaurant on the ground floor before Chriselle and AJ would arrive to pick us up and drive us to Dana Point.

Breakfast was just a croissant (which we shared) as there were no other baked goods to be had. It turned out to be a holiday (Columbus Day?) and their daily shipment of baked goods had been delayed. We enjoyed our coffee, however, (and too a few photos) knowing that this would probably be the last time we would stay here in this hotel. Chriselle and AJ arrived on cue at about the same time that we made contact with Kevin, AJ’s brother, who happens to be the general manager of the hotel and who kindly made special arrangements for our stay on both legs of this trip. We were happy that we were able to meet and thank him in person. And then we were off.

The drive out of Los Angeles was nothing to rave about: we did pass downtown in the distance and could see the skyscrapers of the city. Then, we were in the midst of traffic, making our way south towards San Diego. It was a pleasant enough ride for about 90 minutes before we entered the little hamlet of Dana Point which is on the coast—a typical, swanky seaside town. You can just imagine how pretty it is, being both coastal and affluent.

Discovering Dana Point:

drove straight to the waterfront as Chriselle knew that there was a large public parking lot there. This would be the perfect meeting-point for our rendez-vous with Val and Jacinta. And indeed, we had a lovely reunion with them in just fifteen minutes after we reached there and parked. It was terrific to see them again. We could not remember when we had last seen them; but we think it was about four years ago. Of course, we are constantly in touch with them online.

After our meeting, we decided to take a stroll along the coast. It was a very cloudy day and the sky was heavily overcast. It really did not suit the sea-side ambience of this town, but at least it was not unpleasantly cold. In fact, it was very mild indeed as we strolled alongside the marina to take in the fancy boats moored there. We made our way to the very end where a few restaurants and souvenir shops and boutiques caught our eye. Because we are long past the summer season, every place we explored was practically empty. In fact, most of the shops seem to be in closing mode and it will not be long before this area becomes a mini glost-town.

This part of Dana Point seen, we decided to drive towards the downtown area. Here, there is a maze of pretty streets, laid out in most organized manner, containing shops, restaurants, etc. that would give us quite a good idea of the shopping opportunities available to the locals. We walked through a couple of them, after finding parking for our two cars pretty much alongside each other. We then walked towards the ocean and when we arrived there, a most glorious view awaited u. For perched high up on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean is a look out point that offers panoramic views of the town the beach, the marina, the boats harbored there, the cliffs, the upscale homes clinging to the sides and the beautiful skies stretching out way beyond the horizon. Yes, Dana Point is beautiful and every bit as grand as its reputation suggests.

After taking severa pictures at this vantage point, we looked out for a place to eat brunch (as we’d barely eaten any breakfast). We found a place right in front of us and decided to simply settle down there, It was a very casual place with a wide balcony which could allow us to eat ‘outside’ as it were. Also, we found that the place offered Fish Tacos and since they are such a standard item on menus in Southern California (and we hadn’t had any on this trip), that’s where we decided to go and what we decided to eat. We ordered a variety of tacos—pulled pork, lamb, beef and, of course fish and shrimp tacos—and with this assortment in front of us, we all dug in and had ourselves a really delicious meal. It would be my last meal of this trip and I was really glad it ended on such a joyous note—with terrific company, much laughter and catching up (I had only about three hours with our friends and wanted to make the most of it) and superb casual and very reasonably-priced food.

As if this amazing repast were inadequate (Llew treated us all), Val and Jacinta decided to treat us too. They figured dessert would be just what the doctor ordered to end a lovely daytrip. So, we strolled around a bit more (to work a few more calories off) and then headed to Bruster’s for Real Ice-cream). And oh my! What a variety of flavors were available for our choosing pleasure. Each of us got a cup with two scoops and they were simply loaded. Of course, some of us went for the tried-and-tested types such as Chocolate and Strawberry while others feasted on more exotic choices such as Chocolate and Dark Cherry or Salted Caramel Mocha (which I picked). It was indeed the perfect treat with which to end our day. From this point on, you can bet I resolved to go on a diet—especially a no fat one—so that I could return to my regular wardrobe instead of living in drawstring pants!

Another stroll was called for as we had about half an hour to kill before we would start off on our return drive to Los Angeles Airport where I had a flight leaving at 7.00 pm. Val, Jacinta, Llew and I left Chriselle and AJ to their own devices as we chattered, nineteen to the dozen, and eventually, at 2.30 (the time we had decided to take off), we met again at our parking lot, said our goodbyes to our San Diego friends, left Llew in their happy charge, and left for Los Angeles.

Drive Back to Los Angeles:

We did not realize that since it happened to be a holiday, there would be barely any traffic on the freeway. We took much less time than the 90 minutes we had expected—with the result, I reached the airport well in time for the reporting hour. I unloaded my baggage, said goodbyes and thank-yous to AJ and Chriselle and with my baggage safely in the concourse, I was inside and getting ready to check in.

All went well with my check-in procedure. I have to say that I had a lovely traffic assistant who gave me a window seat (without making me pay for it), My baggage too was well within the weight limit and with no worries, I set off for Security. I had plenty of time to window shop but as I had a heavy backpack and a strolley to lug along, I decided to simply get to my gate and relax—even if it was a whole hour before boarding.

And that was what I did. I killed time at the gate by blogging and in no time at all, we were ready to board. Yes, darkness had fallen over California by the time we were airborne but as my flight was going from Los Angeles to London, I made sure I watched a movie after drinks and dinner were served (I watched ‘Heretic’, a really scary movie with Hugh Grant) and then sleep washed over me and I gave in to it.

What a fantastic last day it had been! And how memorable had been my entire trip! All I had to do, before I slipped into Dreamland, was think about a safe landing in London and onward flight to Bombay and then a really interesting homecoming as I would be alone for the next two weeks.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Goodbye Lake Tahoe and Hullo Los Angeles, California

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Lake Tahoe-Los Angeles

Goodbye Lake Tahoe and Hullo Los Angeles, Califoria

Today was devoted to making the long car ride back from Lake Tahoe in the north of California to Los Angeles in the South. It promised to be an uneventful day and so we tried to make it as interesting as possible.

day began with Breakfast in our Air B and B on Anderson Street in Lake Tahoe as we attempted to finish all the eatables in our fridge as we would be clearing and moving out in an hour. After our showers, we had the last of the bagels and cream cheese and carried away the other perishables (fruit, nuts, etc.) with the idea of fishing them off as snacks in the car. Then, we took our last pictures outside our B and B and left.

The Long Drive Down to Southern California:

(for at least the first hour), we drove through thick fog which made for some really wonderful photo opportunities as we skirted Lake Tahoe and merged onto the highway (5 South) and would take us all the way to LA. Coniferous trees whose tops were shrouded in mist made for a very autumnal, almost Halloweeny, kind of landscape. Once the fog cleared, we were away from the mountainous part of Lake Tahoe and making our way down south.

From this point onwards, the scenery changed quite rapidly depending on the various miles we traveled. There was miles and miles of sandy desert with very low shrubbery which made us well aware of the fact that, at heart, California, is a drought-ridden state. It was amazing to us how much irrigation has changed the face of development. We saw any number of canals or channels as they call them that are used to water the extensive acreage of California farm, field and orchard. Interestingly, for the first time ever, I saw signs advertising Punjabi Dhaba and Indian food. Clearly, the number of Punjabi Indians who have taken to trucking in the country has increased and now there are trucking stops to cater to their taste in Indian food (similar to the dhabas of Northern India found along the Grand Trunk Road, for instance, in the Punjab). We also passed a giant reservoir that obviously provides water to the city of Los Angeles.

Lunch at Wendy’s in Bakersfield:

We stopped as Bakersfield to get some lunch and since we were insistent on finding Wendy’s (as I was keen to enjoy their chilli), we had to travel quite a long distance from the point when we decided to stop for lunch. And yes, we did get our chilli eventually (where there is a will, there is truly a way!) and we had that together with a fabulous Southwestern Salad (this used to be my occasional lunch at NYU when I did not carry a sandwich for myself to eat at my desk). It was deeply nostalgic for me as this meal took me back to good times.

Back on the Road:

According to our GPS, we were supposed to reach Los Angeles by about 4.00pm. We were happy to stay on track and, in a short while, we could see traffic building up steadily, for we were just north of Los Angeles. In fact, we passed by Magic Mountain, the huge amusement park to which I had first been taken as a Rotary Fellow in 1988. I had more nostalgia as I passed by this area. It made me realize how many experiences I have garnered in my life and how much I have seen and done through the decades, Truly, a person could not have been granted greater opportunity and grabbed them all. I felt truly blessed.

Arrival in Los Angeles:

And them, without further ado, we were skirting Glendale and arriving at our hotel, The Glenmark. As it was a Sunday, I was keen to pay a visit in a Church to thank God for our safe travels and safe return. As it turned out, the beautiful, English-style, Episcopalian Church next door to our hotel, was open and Llew and I said Goodbye to AJ and Chriselle who left (because they had to pick up their dog from the sitter before it got too dark). We then freshened up just a bit, asked the hotel to deliver our baggage to our room that we had left in storage with them, a week ago, and as we had the daunting task of re-packing (as I would be leaving for India the next evening) while Llew would be staying on in the USA for another two weeks, we decided to nip out to church before it got too late.

And that was exactly what we did. The church is simply beautiful—a true little piece of England in the middle of Los Angeles. It has all the features one looks for in an English country church: a gorgeous altar, stained glass windows all around, lovely sculptural statuary, pretty pews and embroidered kneelers. We made a prayerful visit and then left the church to wander around the adjoining cloisters (yes, this church actually has cloisters) designed in the traditional way around a perennial garden that was filled with fall flowers. Then, that visit done, we returned to our room.

We spent the next hour distributing the weight between our four suitcases (each of us is entitled to 50 pounds)—so between the four of us, we had 200 pounds (or a little less than 100 kgs). After I had filled my bags with my 50 pounds each, we found that Llew had about 12 pounds left in one of his bags to play with—and he would fill this with the last-minute shopping that he would do (mainly foodstuff) in New Jersey (just before his return to India).

And when that task was finally done, we felt exhausted and as if we needed a break. So I suggested to Llew that we go upstairs to the Rooftop of the Hotel for a last drink together as it was our last night in two weeks. We would not see each other again until he reached Bombay as he would be spending one week in San Diego and one week in Somerset, New Jersey, with friends before joining me back in Bombay.

A Last Drink Together on Our Last Evening Together:

So off we went to the top floor of the hotel. It was nostalgic for us as a little over a year ago, we had been there for the pre-wedding cocktail party for Chriselle and AJ’s wedding and as we looked at the corner that our private party had occupied, it brought back really vivid memories for us. This time, we were seated in the non-smoking section. It was lovely to take in the lights of Glendale, for darkness had fallen over the city and, in the mountains, we could see lights while closer to us, the streetlamps were on and they lent a lovely romantic light to the city. Also, as there was an autumnal nip in the air, we requested the waiter to seat us by one of the gas heaters on the terrace. He did so and we were soon nice and toasty. Llew ordered a glass of Cabernet while I had a lovely citrusy gin cocktail. We also ordered a plate of salted edamame and by munching on these, we had ourselves a nice snack. We had a lot to talk about in terms of our recent motoring trip and our plans going forward. After about a couple of hours spent just chilling and enjoying each other’s company, we made our way back to our room where we had a very eclectic dinner based on all the leftovers we were carrying.

And on that lovely note, knowing that we had everything wrapped for our early morning departure from Glendale and another drive to Dana Point, California, about two hours south, where we would meet friends, we called it a night.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Enjoying the Varied Pleasures of Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Casino and Hiking to Vikingsholme Castle.

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Lake Tahoe, California

Enjoying the Varied Pleasures of Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Casino and Hiking to Vikingsholme Castle.

It promised to be another lovely day at Lake Tahoe and after waking up, showering, breakfasting on bagels and cream cheese with decaff coffee, we were ready to launch out on another day of exciting discovery. We decided to devote our day to exploring Vikingsholme Castle which Lonely Planet says is one of the highlights of a visit to Lake Tahoe and certainly the most popular monument in the area. So, off we headed in that direction. But first, as we passed by the only casino in the area at Harrah’s, we decided to stop there.

Visiting Harrah’s Casino:

In a place that does not have much to offer except for staggering scenic beauty, I suppose it is understandable that there would be attractions and past-times to suit every age group. And the casino at Harrah’s is definitely designed to suit the oldest members of tour groups who loved nothing better than to be seated facing a gambling screen with a one-armed bandit close at hand. As we were actually passing by it, we decided to stop, take a little walk to it, and get a feel of the place. None of us is a confirmed gambler but the pull of such places can actually be quite irresistible (if only for a stroll through the machines).

And so we did enter Harrah’s, walked through the casino, took in the lights, the glitter, the glitz and the glamor of the gaming tables (roulette, baccarat) and then decided to go upstairs to use the facilities. It is your cookie cutter casino with nothing different to commend it and after a few rounds, we were pretty bored as we had no intention of gambling ourselves. So back into the car we piled and off we went.

Exploring Emerald Bay:

We made our way back to Emerald Bay once again and found it to be really packed. It was, in fact, hard to get parking in the parking lot, as it was already past 11.00 am and most of the thickest tourist crowds were already out and about. Eventually, we did find parking after a great deal of confusion as we could not figure out the spot which we needed to make our base for the hike to Vikingsholme Castle. Yes, we did take more pictures because this part of Lake Tahoe is really gorgeous and lends itself superbly to camera enthusiasts.

Hiking to Vikingsholme Castle:

From what we had read, the hike to Vikingsholme is a one-mile hike from the top of the mountain to the base of the Lake where you will be at the lake shore. One mile is not far at all for experienced hikers, but, believe me, it was the most challenging hike I have done in recent times. To get down to the Castle is a piece of cake as it is all downhill---but oh boy, on the way up, you are doing nothing but climbing higher and higher. I have to say that I had a really tough time on the way up. But I am getting ahead of myself.

First of all, Chriselle and AJ told us to go ahead while they parked the car because it was really hard to find a spot in the crammed parking lot. And so Llew and I set off downhill at an easy clip. Our aim, of course, was to visit the Castle. So here’s a word about the ‘Castle’. This vast stretch of beautiful land was privately owned and in the 1920s, it was bought by a family of businessmen called the Knights. One of the brothers, Harry French Knight, married a woman called Lora Small More, who had traveled extensively in Scandinavia. When she arrived at Emerald Bay, she found that it reminded her very much of the fjords of Norway and Sweden. She decided, therefore, to get an architect to build her a house that would be a pure imitation of the wooden ‘stave’ houses of Norway (of which I had seen many during my visit to Norway in 2009). So she commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect (and her nephew by marriage) to design and build the home for her. While it was designed as a family home, it is referred to as a castle because of its exterior design—crenellated, turreted, etc. Palme also traveled to Sweden to study the layout of family homes as well as the decorative exterior details that gave it a distinctive ‘Viking’ look.

Palme returned to Lake Tahoe where his vision for the Castle took shape. In the summer, tours are given of the interior and exterior of the Castle, but I have to tell you that after the hike downhill, we discovered, to our horror and complete disappointment, that the entire property is out of bounds to visitors and cordoned off as it is completely under renovation and refurbishment. This was probably the biggest disappointment of our entire trip. I am not sure if other visitors knew this, but we certainly did not. It is also possible that they knew this, but were keen to hike to nearby Eagle Falls instead of taking a tour of the house.

By the time we arrived at the end of the hiking trail (which also brought us to the lake front), we were simply too exhausted to consider making a detour to get to the nearby Falls. Instead, we took a little break on a bench by the lake and then began the hike uphill. And this was where my lung power was severely tested and where I realized how much of a challenge it would be before I would reach the top. It took us more than an hour to do the one-mile hike upwards (with many stops every feet meters as the terrain was so tough) and, at the very top, we found Chriselle and AJ sitting on a bench. They had barely gone down about ten minutes before they decided to turn back up again.

By this point, we were well and truly pooped and decided to get back in our car and drive homewards and to spend the evening relaxing there. And that’s what we did. We stopped at Safeway to pick up some cheese and salsa and with these items, we made our way back home.

We sat down to enjoy a glass of wine with cheese and nibbles and then made ourselves dinner consisting of roast chicken with salsa and salad with fresh fruit for dessert.

It had been an eventful (if slightly disappointing day), but at least we can say that we actually took in the most popular sight in the region.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

A Drive Around the Periphery of Lake Tahoe from California into Nevada and Back

Friday, October 10, 2025

Lake Tahoe, California

A Drive Around the Periphery of Lake Tahoe from California into Nevada and Back

Waking in our really beautiful cabin-style Air B and B in Lake Tahoe was truly a pleasure. Our bedroom was beautifully decorated with soft burnished amber glass bedside lamps that gave a soft golden glow to the room and the ambience of a mountain hut. Outside, the leaves on the trees were just beginning to turn and Fall was most definitely in the air. It was cozy under our down comforter—so it was with difficulty that we emerged to find breakfast.

Breakfast was the bagels with cream cheese we had purchased with decaff coffee and feeling quite full with our first filling meal of the day, we decided to set out. Our aim today was simply to skirt the vast periphery of Lake Tahoe, to see the lake in all its variety, to explore the little towns along its banks and to simply take in the scenery of a part of California where lake meets mountains and mountains meet sky.

And so, with AJ behind the wheel, we started our tour of Lake Tahoe. We stopped firstly at the town of Kings Beach, just half a mile ahead of us. Chriselle and AJ got coffees while Llew and I browsed around the stores. None of them were open at this hour, but we were fortunate to find the Tourist Information Center open and in it, we found maps as well as an obliging assistant who told us what not to miss and where to be sure to go. Armed with these resources, we got back into our car again and had a most leisurely drive around. Just a little past Kings Beach on an eastwards drive, you will leave California behind and enter the state of Nevada (which I found to be pretty exciting) but there is little fanfare to announce this fact other than a large sign post with the name of the state name printed on it.

There is nothing really exciting to say about Lake Tahoe except that it is scenically enchanting. You need to keep your eyes peeled to the windows to take in the sights of mile after mile of fragrant coniferous trees, thick woodland paths, occasional one-horse towns with a single grocery store, gas station or coffee shop, boating piers from which people with water-sports on their minds can enjoy rowing or wind surfing.

Yes, we did pass by Incline Village where there is a very pretty walkway that juts out over the lake. It was filled with joggers and walkers and people taking the air on a delightful autumnal morning. The lake waters at the banks are crystal clear and although it is a lake, there are actually waves—which gives you an idea of how huge it is. Eventually, we arrived at Zephyr Cove where one can board ferries that take passengers across the lake for a delightful cruise to Emerald Bay where there is a very pretty island. We stopped there to eat our homemade sandwiches of smoked ham and cheese with lettuce salad as we watched children play along the waterside. This part of the Lake does have attractive shops, should one wish to do a bit of shopping. We merely walked around to enjoy the feel of the cool sun on our back before we moved on.

Past Kingsbury, we crossed the state line again and re-entered California and as we wound around South Lake Tahoe, we took in the sweet wooden cabins everywhere as well as the really expensive mansions of what is called the Gold Coast or Millionaire’s Row. Yes, I could easily see how this place could become the playground of the rich and famous who have disposable income to burn yet wish to get away from the glare of the public eye. At Meek’s Bay, we marveled at the turquoise blue waters of the Lake which, somehow seem to be patterned in ribbons of multiple shades of blue. It is really quite staggeringly beautiful.

And then, we followed signs and much thicker traffic to arrive at Emerald Bay which is probably the most popular part of the Lake. Most cars stop here as there is a large car park which allows you to park and then walk to the Lake’s bank to look out over one of the most beautiful bays in the center of which is a picturesque island. Close to this area is a hike to a castle but we decided that, if anything, we would do it the following day. So, taking a few pictures at this point, we moved on.

By this point, it was late afternoon and as we moved further north, we arrived at Tahoe City which I honestly expected to be much larger a settlement than it actually was. Yes, it is where the majority of the year-round population is based and so there are the usual utility stores here—supermarkets, hardware stores, even a thrift shop. We parked to stretch our legs and browse through some of these stores, to get our magnet in one of the souvenir stores and then to get a cuppa.

Yes, we were ready for tea-time and, luckily, I spied a small eatery called Rosie’s Café, a rather quaint place where I was certain we’d get a nice pot of tea and a tidbit. I stepped inside, met the lady there who assured me she could serve us tea and so inside we trooped. I have to admi that what really attracted me to the place was the promise of what was called ‘Grandma Rosie’s Secret Recipe Strawberry Shortcake’. And as we sat at the table and ordered peppermint tea for ourselves, we also ordered the shortcake. And boy oh boy, what an inspired idea that was! The strawberry shortcake was one large cake that was crammed with fresh slicved strawberries, pillows and pillows of fresh cream, a thick strawberry sauce and just the most melt-in-the-mouth texture and delectable taste. Despite the fact that all four of us shared it, it was more than enough for all of us and we ate well. It went perfectly with our mint tea and made for a really grand stop in a very modest place in a lake-side town.

And then back in our car we went for the last segment of our drive back home. AJ and Chriselle needed a couple more things from Safeway, so we went back into the supermarket before we reached home. We rustled up really delicious dinners of our roast chicken and packaged salad with toast and fresh grapes for dessert. And after dinner, we sat down to play a really fun game called Rock and Roll—a quiz game that was based on questions pertaining to music, musicians, groups, composers, etc. from the 1950s to the present. Of course, as AJ works in the music industry, he was far more well-versed about most of the questions and Chriselle was far more up-to-date with current music than Llew and I were—nevertheless, we had a really lovely time as we gave ourselves up fully to the fun of the game which was punctuated by much guess work and tons of laughter.

Yes, there was a TV set in the cabin, but, funnily enough, none of us felt the need to watch anything. As the evening grew darker and twilight gave way to night, we showered and then hunkered down in our rooms for a cozy night of sound sleep.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Discovering the Thrills of Sacramento and an Introduction to Lake Tahoe

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Napa Valley-Sacramento, California

Discovering the Thrills of Sacramento and an Introduction to Lake Tahoe

Today was another beautiful day—like all the others we’ve had on this trip. We left our Best Western Plus Hotel and motored northeast to begin our stay at the lovely Lake Tahoe about which we had heard so much but never been. But first we had to stop en route at the capital of California, Sacramento. En route, as we exited through Napa Valley, we passed by mile after mile of laden vineyards, ripe for the picking. Then, we left this idyllic part of the state behind and entered Silicon Valley where the high-tech nature of the state became evident. Clearly, it is from the revenue generated by this region that California prospers. I have a classmate from school who lives close by in Milpitas and as we passed by the exit signs on the highway for her town, I gave her a call to say hello. But that was all that we could manage as our schedule was tight.

Exploring California’s Capital, Sacramento:

We were all excited to be in Sacramento as it is the capital of California and, other than Chriselle, who had been there on work, the three of us had never even passed through the city. As it turned out, Chriselle had a good idea of where to take us and so we headed straight towards the waterfront. When we arrived there, we discovered that everything was still closed as it was about 9.30 am. Instead, we decided to drive towards the Capitol building. Its Dome was evident from a long distance because these structures are so distinctive—so it was easy to go over a bright yellow bridge towards the Dome.

As it turned out, there was an employment fair going on in the open patio area in front of the Capitol and we were among the earliest visitors. As a result, we ended up picking up a bunch of freebies in the form of lip chap stick, note pads, stress balls, ball point pens and pencils, magnifying glass and ruler combos, key rings and even a T-shirt for Llew. This was super fun for us although Chriselle and AJ chose to remain in the car.

The Capitol is an impressive building, of course, gleaming white in the early morning sun. It is surrounded by the skyscrapers of downtown Sacramento where the corporate offices of so many companies are based. The sun was bouncing off them as we drove around and received a sense of the most spiffy part of town.

But then, we were hungry as we hadn’t eaten breakfast and decided to find a place where we could buy brunch, As we had been talking about Carl Jr. for a few days (the fast food chain that seems to be very popular in California), we thought we would check it out. We ended up eating burgers there (I got a Chicken Southwestern Style grilled burger which actually turned out quite nice). With our bellies satisfied, we could turn out thoughts towards more sightseeing and this time we headed back to the Waterfront.

Exploring ‘Old Sac’, i.e. Vintage Sacramento:

It was while exploring vintage Sacramento that I picked up on a lot of historic aspects of this capital City. Sacramento was probably one of the terminating points of the long pioneering journey of those Californian predecessors who were part of the Gold Rush. It was they who set up the earliest settlement that developed into the great city it is today. To replicate the sense and ambience of this era, Old Town (or Old Sac) Sacramento has been created. It is a series of simply three or four streets that were constructed around the railroad station. The station itself can boast old steam trains that still run and give visitors rides for a fee while recreating the era of prospectors who tried their luck because they had nothing to lose. We did not take the train ride but we did hear the train enter the platform with its old-world whistles that proclaimed its presence.

Walking through the streets of the town gave us the opportunity to buy our magnet as well as gifts for a few people in Bombay who have been helping us keep an eye on our loved ones while we are on holiday as the shops had some interesting merchandize. There were wonderfully old-fashioned shops selling old-fashioned candy, ice-cream, T-shirts, souvenirs, distinctive clothing, footwear and the like. It really was a fun place to explore. We ended up buying some salt water taffy as well as ice-cream and getting a sense of the area and its offerings and after a very leisurely time spent in this quite fascinating space, we returned to our car.

Longish Drive to Lake Tahoe and Exploring Truckee:

All that was left then was for us to make the mileage that would take us further north to Lake Tahoe. It was not that long a drive before we started to enter Alpine Country. Indeed, the roads leading up to Lake Tahoe offer as much stirring visual interest as the Lake area itself. The tall coniferous forests mingled with the famous Sequoia (or California Redwoods) are plentiful in this area as are eucalyptus trees. We could actually smell the fragrance of these glorious pine-family trees as we inched closer.

Eventually, we arrived at a town called Truckee where we decided to take a break in order to explore it on foot. We parked out car and decided to explore the shops. Of course, we did see magnets, post cards and the usual souvenirs that one finds at every tour stop but we also saw a train station (for people can reach this spot by train) as well as eateries and ice-cream parlors. Yes, it was nice to get out and stretch our legs and, at the same time, to take in the mountain ambience of this place. I soon realized that, like Jackson, Wyoming, and many of the towns in the Montana region, the interior décor and design of the homes in this area are influenced by the Lake and the beautiful mountains that surround it. And so, it was fun it to take in the artistic motifs that bring class to this area.

Finding our Air B ad B At Kings Beach:

Leaving Truckee behind us, we continued along our route and found ourselves being treated to our first glimpses of the Lake—a lake that is so vast that it seemed like a sea ahead of us. The ring road that circles the periphery of the lake is visually interesting as it is punctuated by thick green, coniferous vegetation and a series of structures that form homes and, only occasionally, tiny, one-horse towns. Eventually, after receiving our first views of what the next couple of days would be like, we found our way to our Air B and B on Anderson Street in the town of Kings Beach in the north of Lake Tahoe where we would stay for the next three nights.

But, having found the place, we decided to stop at the Safeway supermarket which was fairly close to us to pick up some provisions for the next three days as we had been eating fast food and fancy meals in restaurants for so long that we had reached a point when we wanted something simpler.

And so, at the local Safeway, close at hand, just about five minutes’ drive away, we picked up staples such as bagels, cream cheese, bread, cheese, cold cuts and packaged salads—with these items, we’d have meals for the next few days.

Before we ended our day, as there was still somewhat pretty light emanating off the lake, Llew and I decided to go out for a walk down to the waterfront to enjoy the sound of lake waters lapping the shore. And so, off we went, into a really lovely twilight to take in our first real sights of the lake. It was quite lovely and we enjoyed sitting there amid the quiet serenity, as night fell quietly about us.

When we did return to our lovely cabin (which, by the way, was most charmingly furnished and decorated, we put together a dinner of our store-bought food and then made our way to bed.

It has been another lovely day—punctuated by a visit to a huge city (a capital, in fact) and ending with entry into the most bucolic area which promised us mountains, forest and lakes.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

More Napa Valley Treats: Visiting the Petrified Forest in Calistoga, Sauntering through St. Helena, Wine-Tasting at BV (Beaulieu Vineyards), Late Lunch at Burgers and Half Bottles in Yountville, Napa Riverfront Walk, Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Coppia.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

More Napa Valley Treats: Visiting the Petrified Forest in Calistoga, Sauntering through St. Helena, Wine-Tasting at BV (Beaulieu Vineyards), Late Lunch at Burgers and Half Bottles in Yountville, Napa Riverfront Walk, Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Coppia.

Today, we had a full, exciting and extremely varied day. Our day began when we woke up in our Best Western Plus Hotel, got ourselves coffee, picked up Everything Bagels with cream cheese from Einstein Bagels next door and then set out for the first item on a very long day’s agenda—a drive up north to Calistoga.

Exploring the Petrified Forest in Calistoga:

The thing about touring on your own (without the assistance of a tour operator or a travel agent) is that you do your research online and my source is always Lonely Planet. It was this website that extolled the virtues of the Petrified Forest in Calistoga as one of the not-to-miss sites in the area. And so, it was at the top of our agenda as Calistoga is also in the extreme north of the wine-growing region of Napa and it takes about 45 minutes to drive there at a leisurely place (from our hotel).

Along the route, you will pass mile after mile of vineyards, all proclaiming ownership by various well-known wine-label manufacturers. They were fully laden with fruit, as we were there just in the harvest season: vines were drooping with purple grapes in such abundant, luscious bunches as to make us stop to actually pluck then for our eating pleasure (but, of course, we did nothing of the sort). We did stop, a little later in the day, to frolic in the vineyards and take some pictures surrounded by the fruitful vines.

In a short while, we were at the entrance to the Petrified Forest. We parked out car, watched a couple of deer saunter around and then made our way to the ticket counter to buy our tickets ($14 per head which included a guided walk with a naturalist). We browsed around the shop which was actually filled with really lovely merchandise, all based on the earth’s natural materials, and then our guide Nancy, was ready to begin our walk.

The walk turned out to be highly enlightening. We were joined by about three other couples and together we made a small but merry group as we followed her to the various nooks and crannies of a vastly sprawling property. From what I gathered, this area has seen a great deal of geological activity of various kinds through the millennia and these have created the natural conditions that turn trees into stone—this is what is meant by their becoming petrified. Fire, volcanic activity, flood, etc. contribute to this phenomenon and, eventually, fallen trees, which remain untouched for generations end up looking like wood. From some of them semi-precious stones, as we recognize or understand them, can be extracted. Overall, it was a really fascinating experience and we ended up learning a whole lot, looking at a lot of specimen trees that have been left in situ to demonstrate their evolution to visitors, etc. I have not seen anything quite like this before (none of us had)—so it was really an educational experience. It lasted over an hour, by which time we were ready to use the facilities and move on. It was very misty and a tad chilly, but luckily we were all clothed warmly and did not mind the lack of sun on that nippy morning.

Strolling Through the Town of St. Helena:

Since we had some time to spare before our next appointment—a wine-tasting reservation at a nearby vineyard—we parked our car in the cute town of St. Helena and decided to stroll through it. All the Napa towns (Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena, Rutherford, Yountville) in this area are super snazzy and upscale. They attract a certain type of clientele—the deep-pocketed type. As a result, the shops and merchandise offered in this area are ultra sophisticated. There are one-of-a-kind boutiques, designer jewelry stores, fancy housewares offered in kitchen shops, and antiques shops galore. I left the others for about ten minutes to browse through an absolutely divine antiques store that was not only filled with the most desirable treasures but was so beautifully laid out, the contents so classily grouped or set up together, that I was totally enchanted. We strolled at leisure through these lovely streets with their pretty shop-windows and enticing displays until we actually came upon a consignment store! And then after just a little while’s browsing, Chriselle found a beautiful pair of sunglasses and a really lovely shawl and I found a stunning necklace in two toned gold and silver which I absolutely loved. This became our souvenirs of the region although we did buy our magnet of St. Helena, as usual. Then, we got back into our car and made our way to the Beaulieu Vinery.

Wine-Tasting at Beaulieu Vineyards (BV):

The Beaulieu Vineyard (commonly known as BV) is one of the oldest vineyards and vineries in the Napa region. It is particularly known for the wines it makes out of the Cabernet grape and it was in this context that Chriselle chose this place for a wine-tasting as Llew is a great fan of these particular reds. Like all these properties, this one too was charming. We were seated on a shaded patio where a table was laid out for us. We had a small plate of complimentary charcuterie put out for our nibbling pleasure and indeed we were glad to see it. Then, we were placed in the hands of a wonderful sommelier named Jeff who was affable, knowledgeable, amusing and patient. He introduced us to each of the six wines that made up our flight and told us what made them unique. We thoroughly enjoyed our education in his hands and also enjoyed the taste of the wines. Cabernets are full-bodied, very rich wines that go well with red meats and cold weather. Llew certainly enjoyed the experience while the rest of us nibbled on dried apricots, bread sticks and delicious wine-soaked cheese. At the end of the session, we used the facilities again, then posed by the entrance and moved on. Yes, we were enjoying the full Napa experience and were savoring every stage of it.

Nibbles and Tasters at V. Sattui:

Talking of savoring, I had remembered that, on a previous trip to Napa, several years ago, I had come in a tour bus from San Francisco that had stopped at V. Sattui, a very charming place that combined a vineyard with a winery, a grocery store, a restaurant, etc. I was keen that the group should experience this place and when we passed by it, I suggested that we stop there, As it turned out, the company has very recently renovated their grocery store which is now called Mercato and which is huge. We parked our car and walked through the property which was still as charming as I remembered it to be with a wishing well, a building with a Tuscan stone façade and turreted red tile roof, blooming gardens filled with flowers, bees and butterflies, a cool avenue or alle under which one could walk until we reached the big barn doors of the Mercato.

And, inside, a real treat awaited us. Yes, it is a sprawling space selling wine and everything wine-related from implements to bottle openers, from cheese boards to table linen, even candles. There was a whole sampling section and there we stopped to taste olive oils and vinegars, crackers with a variety of creamy dips, both savory and sweet, cheese samples and olives. Indeed, there was enough to make us feel slightly full. It was all very delicious and a perfect opening to what would be a really wonderful meal that would follow. So, I was glad we did make the stop and that each one of us found something we enjoyed tasting. It was what the French call ‘degustation’ and I enjoyed it fully.

Late Lunch of Thomas Keller’s Burgers:

every foodie or gastronomist knows that the most famous restaurant in America is in Napa Valey—it is called The French Laundry and is founded and run by a chef called Thomas Keller in a town called Yountville. However, it is next to impossible to get reservations at The French Laundry and so we had to ensure that we partook of this chef’s genius through one of his more modest eateries. Jessie, at Nicholson Ranch, had told us yesterday that Keller has a number of other smaller, less fancy and far more modestly priced restaurant such as Buchon in the area and a really sweet burger place called Burgers and Half Bottles. And so, I thought that we could stop at it and partake of one of his burgers. And so, this was our next stop.

Having stuffed our faces with the nibbles at V.Sattui, we were not really very hungry when we arrived at Yountville to find Burger and Half Bottles. But, of course, we had to buy something—so Chriselle and AJ decided to share a Lobster Roll and Llew and I decided to share one of the burgers. And, I have to say, that it was a burger to remember. My favorite burgers, so far, have been the Shack Stack at Shake Shack, but these were a notch above those to be sure. Not only was the patty perfectly charred with the caramelized onion adding a whole new layer of flavor but there were also sour cucumber pickles that added crispness, texture and taste and made the burger memorable. I was so glad we had a chance to experience Keller’s genius.

A Walk Along the Napa River Promenade:

And with that stop made and that desire satisfied, we were able to drive further south towards the town of Napa. We were keen to take another one of the highlights that Lonely Planet had extolled—the Napa River Promenade Walk. But before we arrived there, we stopped at the Public Market which was also pointed out as a pleasant place to explore. We found it to be like a Victorian covered market or like the Milwaukee Public Market that I had just seen in Wisconsin with Marielou or like the famous Covered Market in Oxford (only much smaller). We walked through the various sections to take in the wares on display and for sale: cold cuts, deli items, cheese, fresh produce, enticing fruit and veg, a milk bar, an ice-cream parlor, a place selling kitchenware including beautiful candles, etc. Having taken all this in, we moved on.

AJ and Chriselle decided to sit out the pleasure of joining us on the walk as Chriselle’s feet are still prone to fatigue following plantar fascittis. But Llew and I could not wait to explore the riverfront which lay just a little ahead of us. We crossed the railway tracks and, in the process, saw an old-fashioned, steam train, and then made our way towards the pretty buildings in pastel colors which housed some unique shops and boutiques. This, and a number of water-front eateries and restaurants made up the sum total of this pretty walking route. As the season is past, there were just a few straggling visitors everywhere we went and we enjoyed the quietness and the emptiness of the space. We walked all the way to the water’s edge which allowed us to see the river meandering away into the distance, its banks lined on both sides by autumnal-hued trees that are gradually putting on their Fall splendour. Of course, it was a beautiful walk and we were very glad we took it.

Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Coppia:

And finally, after we strolled back to the Public Market where Chriselle and AJ were waiting for us, we had reached the final item on our agenda for today—dinner at the CIA at Coppia. Yes, Chriselle had made reservations for us and we were all set to enjoy a meal at the restaurant called The Grove. This is in a vast property that comprises fountains, sculpture, kitchen gardens or potagers filled with herbs and vegetable that are used in their creations, etc. As we were a tad early, we enjoyed lingering in these spaces until, eventually, we arrived at the restaurant, met the maître d’ and were seated. Yes, we had arrived early and were the first patrons of the evening, but as the day parched on, we were joined by other diners at adjoining tables.

And what of the food? Well, like all CIA restaurants, it is prepared by chefs-in-the-making under the supervision of masterchefs as part of their practical tutorials. In keeping with that concept, there was a glass partition behind which the crew worked and we could see the novices (dressed in black) and the instructors (dressed in white) as they worked their magic. The menus are always on par with those you’d find at any fine restaurant with produce usually picked freshly from their adjoining gardens.

And so, from their menu (which, I believe, changes almost daily), we picked the Roasted Bone Marrow with Braised Oxtail and Shitake Marmalade, Bagna Couda and Foccaccia Toast. Llew and I decided to share this masterpiece which was first inspired by the creation of chef Fergus Henderson of London’s St. John’s Bar and Restaurant at Farringdon (where I had first tasted, it several years ago). Needless to say, it was very good indeed. Chriselle and AJ chose the Belfiore Burrata which came with heirloom tomatoes, lemon cucumber and focaccia panzanella, Jimmy Nardella puree (we had seen and eaten these red peppers at Chez Panisse a couple of nights ago) and Salsa Verde. We also ordered a Salad for the Table and we received an absolutely humongous one filled with nixed greens and grated parmesan cheese. When it came time to pick our mains, Llew and I shared the Porcini Rigatoni Carbonara with egg yolk, guanaciale (pork cheek), Spring Peas, Pecorino Romano and Sarawak Black Pepper while Chriselle and AJ chose the Oven-Roasted California Monkfish with Penn Cove Mussels, Grilled Fennel, Vermouth-Saffron Brodo and Crème Fraiche. Our desserts were Mascapone Cheesecake with Balsamic Cherry Sauce, Amarena Cherries and Crème Fraiche with Whipped Cream and the Strawberry White Chocolate Mousse with Shortbread Cookie Crumble, Fresh Strawberries, Mascapone Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings. Well…it was a meal fit for a king, I’m sure you’d agree and we took our time savoring each morsel and enjoying the talents of the chefs-to-be among whom, no doubt, one day, could well be our next Thomas Keller or Alice Waters.

A Visit to the Museum of Culinary Arts:

It was while we were clearing up our bill that the waitress decided to let us into a little secret. She told us to take the elevator one floor upstairs to a most unusual (almost secret) museum. We followed her lead and ended up in an Alladin’s Cave of such amazement as to leave us slack-jawed. We were in a Museum of Culinary Arts that contained the entire lifetime’s collection of cookery implements of the famous Chuck Williams, of the famous Williams-Sonoma chain of houseware stores. Honestly, I cannot even begin to describe the variety and extent of this collection that occupies one large gallery and then spills over into the corridors in innumerable vitrines, all of which contain items he sources from various parts of Europe. Suffice it to say that there is every possible kind of pot and pan and dish not to mention instruments such as peelers and graters, food mills and presses, weights and measures—I think you get the idea. It was simply too much for the foodie in me to take in and, believe me, the evening could not possibly have ended on a more gratifying note for me…great food and a museum to boot! Wow! For me, this was a marriage made in heaven.

All that was left was for us to pile back into our car and drive to the Best Western Plus where we hunkered down for the night after another incredible day in Napa.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…