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’…

A Terrific First Day of Motoring Adventure in California—Brunch in Irvine, Pausing in Montecito ad Santa Barbara and Arriving at Morro Bay

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Los Angeles-Morro Bay, California

A Terrific First Day of Motoring Adventure in California—Brunch in Irvine, Pausing in Montecito ad Santa Barbara and Arriving at Morro Bay

And so the day dawned when we began our driving tour of Northern California. We awoke, showered and got dressed for a long drive ahead. But just as we were checking out, we discovered that our room included breakfast in the adjoining restaurant. Hence, we made our way to the restaurant at The Glenmark and ordered decaff coffee for the two of us and Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon for me and Eggs Over Easy with Hash Browns and Sausages for Llew. As Chriselle and AJ arrived just before we were seated, they shared our breakfast which was humongous to begin with and would leave all of us room for brunch as that was where we were headed.

Brunch With Friends in Irvine:

Yes, indeed. The next item son our agenda was Brunch in Irvine at the home of our Bombay landlandy, Annu, who had graciously invited us for a meal while en route northwards. Annu was accompanied by her daughters Deepti and Ritu and her spouse Kinshook and her cute little grandson, Vir. Of course, we had a very happy reunion with them as they are extremely hospitable and gracious and treated us like royalty. Brunch was a variety of Indo-Western foods: Annu had taken the trouble to make us idlis with sambar and coconut chutney (as a first course, as it were) and followed it up with masala omlettes served over hot, buttered toast with semolina pudding or sheera together with fruit. Gosh, were we stuffed! But, best of all, we really got to catch up as Chriselle was meeting Ritu and Kinshook for the first time while re-connecting with Deepti whom we had all met last year. Vir has grown up so sweetly. We loved their new home with its spaciousness and its outdoor space and the quiet environs of their locality. After we had also discussed some business matters very cordially, we had to take our leave of our generous hosts and continue on our long way northwards. What a lovely break it was and how delighted we were to have had the opportunity to squeeze in a visit with them!

The Drive Northwards Continues--Montecito and Santa Barabara:

And so, as our journey continued, we made our way along the scenic route, occasionally going past the blue of the Pacific Ocean as at landmark spots such as Malibu. The Pacific Coast Highway is always a joy to drive along and we truly enjoyed it. We had good music in the car to entertain us and we kept our travel spirits up. Just before we got to Santa Barbara (which we had visited before), I requested we drive through Montecito as I have suddenly heard so much about it, being the US residence of Prince Harry. Since it was a Sunday, the place was particularly quieter than usual, but it was still quite interesting to drive around it, to take in the multi-million dollar properties with their high gates, manicured lawns and sprawling gardens. We stopped at a gas station to fill up. The place was called Milpas Motors. We used the facilities and took a few pictures of the antique cars that were parked there for sale—quite swanky indeed--before we continued on our way. As we were all so full, we did not have any intentions of stopping for lunch but kept ourselves snacking healthily on nuts.

Since Santa Barbara was so close by and I was looking for a soap and hand lotion caddied set in TJ Maxx, we stopped in the main street of the pretty town. However, I did not find the items and moved quickly on. Just before we left Santa Barbara, we passed by a Mexican mariachi band crossing the street which provided us with an interesting photo op.

The route was generally quite stimulating visually especially when we passed occasional bodies of water. Of these, Cachuma Lake was especially vast and pretty as we made our way towards Morro Bay. It was not too long before we reached our destination and our accommodation—a place called The Landing at Morro Bay. Yes, it offered wonderful sea views of a very pretty part of California.

Viewing Morro Bay, Glimpsing Morro Rock and Dinner while watching the Buffalo Bills Play:

Just before we arrived at our lodging for the night, we had stopped at In ‘N Out Burgers to pick up dinner as once we reached the hotel, we knew we’d stay put. The Bills were playing tonight and AJ is a huge fan. He and Llew looked forward to catching it on TV. Hence, as soon as we checked in, Llew fiddled around with the TV channels and found the game. The four of us then sat in the same room watching the game as we munched on our burgers and fries and sodas—a true-blue American meal, if ever there was one, as we undertook a true-blue American past-time.

At the end of the day, all that was left was to marvel at our location and to hope that we would explore the huge Morro Rock for which the place is known, on the morrow, in daylight. And on that happy note, we went to bed.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Goodbye Connecticut and Hiya California: Phase Four of My Travels Begins

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Fairfield, Connecticut

Goodbye Connecticut and Hiya California: Phase Four of My Travels Begins

The day dawned for our departure from Connecticut. Neither Llew nor I could believe how quickly our week in Fairfield had passed. But we felt a sese of Mission Accomplished as all our doctors’ appointments had been successfully carried out, we had seen most of the friends we wanted to meet, had eaten our favorite dishes at our favorite local restaurants and had even managed to spend a day in New York City. Still, despite the fact that we had yet another long stint of travel to which to look forward, there is always a bitter-sweetness to the departure from a place especially one you have lived in and loved for a very long time.

We had breakfast of bagels and cream cheese. In fact, I also had a pistachio muffin which I had bought from Stop and Shop (another one of my favorite things to eat in Connecticut).We then had two trips to make: one to Mary-Lauren’s porch as she had left some items for me to carry back to Bombay that had been lying in her basement for a while and secondly to our friend, Cathy’s house to pick up bottles of alcohol that had also been left behind with her. With these things in our car, we carried them into Swapna’s place so that we could set down to the daunting task of packing and distributing weight equally among our four suitcases and two carry-ons to make sure we were not overweight. This took a good part of our morning as our suitcases were left downstairs in Swapna’s living room and packing involved bringing all our things downstairs—hence, several trips. However, slowly but surely, we got everything done.

In fact, by the time we finished, it was close to lunch-time. We told Swapna that we wanted to take her and Parth out for lunch, but sadly, she had already made plans to meet a friend for lunch and could not take us up on our offer. However, she was hospitable enough to leave a frozen pizza out for us and in no time at all, Llew and I a pizza lunch as we relaxed until it was time for us to take our showers and leave. Of course, we had said our goodbyes and thanks to Swapna and Parth before they set off for their lunch appointment.

Leaving Connecticut and Arriving at Kennedy Airport:

As our flight departed from Kennedy airport at 7.00 pm, we needed to be at the check-in counter by 5.00 pm. Since we had to give up our rental car at Budget at the airport, we intended to reach the airport at 4.00 pm. and because everyone had told us how awful the traffic on the I-95 is at weekends, we decided to leave the house by 2.30 pm in order to enjoy a last, stress-free drive. I was at the wheel and we did make good time.

When we arrived at the Delta Terminal at JFK, we unloaded our baggage and I stood guard over it outside, while Llew raced off to return our car. It took him almost an hour to return, but when he did, we were able to check in at the drop-off area itself, get our boarding passes, have our baggage weighed and were able to proceed straight to Security. We were still well in time for our flight and sat down to enjoy it fully.

Flight to Los Angeles and a Great Reunion:

It was a smooth and comfortable flight to Los Angeles with darkness falling over the land just about an hour after we were airborne. I did not feel the passage of time at all as I was fully absorbed by Season Five of Yellowstone which I devoured voraciously. I really do enjoy this show very much and binge-watching it is just the way to absorb it. Soft drinks and snacks were passed out but that was it.

We had thick cloud cover upon entry into Los Angeles so that as soon as it cleared, we were on the runway. We were at the baggage carousel retrieving our bags when Chriselle and AJ and their new dog, Gracie, joined us. It was a happy reunion with hugs and kisses and the usual bustle of ensuring all baggage had been received, a cart procured and the walk to the parking lot could be undertaken. It was great to see the new dog who is rumbunctious and full of energy and curiosity (as all puppies are). Before long, we were leaving the airport with AJ behind the wheel. As we had not eaten dinner, we decided to stop at In ‘N Out Burger to pick up burgers (as they are really delicious) and with them in tow, we arrived at our hotel for the night, The Glenmark in Glendale where we had a very comfortable room for the night. We checked in and asked the hotel if we could leave four of our big bags in their storage for the next week as we’d be returning there to check in again in a week’s time. The hotel gladly agreed and we were much relieved as all we had to do was pack small carry-on bags for us to take on our trip. Chriselle and AJ had brought some gifts for us and a care package of nuts and gin and wine and with those thoughtful items left behind for us to enjoy, they bid us goodbye. They would be back at 9.00 am in time to pick us up for the start of our great North Californian Discovery Tour.

And with that, we called it a night and set our alarms to awake in time tomorrow for yet another day of travel adventure.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Our Great American Driving Adventure Begins: From California through Nevada and Into Utah, we arrive at Avalanche Ranch in Kamas, Utah.

Monday, August 12, 2024

Our Great American Driving Adventure Begins: From California through Nevada and Into Utah, we arrive at Avalanche Ranch in Kamas, Utah.

Our Great American Driving Adventure began on a lovely, sunny day in Southern California (as all days are!) when we awoke early (by 6.30 am) to get ourselves ready. By 7.00 am, Chriselle and AJ were knocking on the door of our hotel room at The Glenmark in Glendale, California. They had arrived to give us a ride to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) from where we would pick up our rental car from the office of Budget Car Rentals. AJ helped us carry our suitcases down into the car (using the bell hop’s trolley) and by the time we were all loaded up, it was about 7.30 am. We arrived at LAX, an hour later, went through the formalities involved in renting a car in the USA and found ourselves handed the keys of a Kia Forte. This is a mid-sized car that was easily able to accommodate our cases in the booth. We also had a bag of snacks and drinks provided by Chriselle and AJ and, not having eaten any breakfast, we set off to conquer the highways.

It was very hard to say goodbye to our newly-weds after our happy times with them. But all good things must come to an end and after warm hugs and promises to call and send pictures etc., we were off and away.

On the Road to Utah:

When I had planned out our itinerary, I had expected us to leave LA by 6.00 am as I knew we had a 14 hour drive ahead of us before we stopped for the night in Utah. However, leaving at 6.00 am, would have involved dragging Chriselle and AJ out of bed (to give us a ride to LAX) at 4.00 am! This was, of course, expecting too much. So, in the end, we were 90 minutes behind schedule as we left LA at 8.30 am. It took Llew at least an hour to get to grips with the new car and its controls as I navigated our way out of Los Angeles. We were hugely fortunate that Chriselle gave us the use of an extra phone which carried unlimited data for use in the USA. This made it super easy for us to use Waves, a driving app, to enter the address in Kamas, Utah, where we’d be spending the night. When I look back on it now, I really wonder how we could possibly have made this trip without her phone. It proved to be indispensable to us. Yes, both of us did have a roaming package on our phones (that we had purchased in Bombay), but we had no idea how limited its data package was. Llew ran out of data on his package really soon—at which point, I began to conserve my data (and, fortunately, had enough-- with 60 minutes to spare--by the time we returned to Bombay).

The first part of our drive that took us out of LA and into the desert surrounding the city was nothing to write home about. Urban settlements followed us everywhere. Once Llew got a hang of the car’s controls and we began to feel hunger pangs (as we were both on an empty stomach), I used the many snacks and drinks in our snack bag to keep us going—there were any number of nuts, cookies, energy (cereal) bars, etc. to nibble on as the miles went by.

Lunch in Las Vegas:

However, by the time we reached Las Vegas, it was almost 2.00 pm and we were well and truly hungry. I began to long for one of those All-You-Can-Eat lunches for which Vegas is famed (as I could well eat a horse, by this point). However, I knew that we could not afford the time as we had started out late and Llew was not too happy about driving an unfamiliar car in the dark. We were determined to get to our destination before nightfall.

Hence, although I googled possible choices for a suitable restaurant, we drew a blank as we were led to a place that was not what we had in mind. Still, it was good to stretch our legs after our long confinement in the car and get out in the city. However, I have to say that it was frightfully hot and not at all comfortable to walk on the streets (after we parked in a public parking lot) to go out in search of lunch. We eventually made our way to ‘The Golden Nugget’ casino which was in Downtown Las Vegas (not on the famous Strip) to eat at ‘Chick Fil-A’ (of all places!). This used to be Llew’s Go-To choice for lunch when we was still working in Manhattan. I was not familiar with the fast food chain or with its offerings, so I was quite happy to try something new. We ended up getting Spicey Chicken Sandwiches that were very good indeed and which we ate while seated back in our car. Meanwhile, we did walk right through ‘The Golden Nugget’ which is a hotel (with a crowded pool) as well as a casino, but time did not permit us to stop and try our luck in Sin City! (PS: We would do so in a casino at Niagara Falls, several weeks later).

Back on the Road to Utah:

The drive through the state of Nevada and into Arizona was much more interesting, landscape-wise, than our morning’s route had been. This time round, we were out in Wild West Country. There were solid rock canyons through which our highway cut. It made for superb photo opportunities from the front seat of our car. We passed through mainly desert scrubland with occasional mesas and mountains that followed us everywhere.

About an hour out of Las Vegas, with the highway ahead of us clear of all human and vehicular traffic, we switched sides and I took the steering wheel. I was rather tentative in my first attempts at driving again (as I was driving after a whole year); plus I was in a strange car. However, the fact that the road ahead of me (and behind) was devoid of traffic did a lot for my self-confidence and distance judgement. Before long, I realized that it really does come back very quickly and my confidence swelled as the miles were eaten up quickly. We stopped occasionally for gas and for a cool drink, but that aside, we kept going as we were driving against the clock.

Soon, the terrain changed as did the weather. To our bad luck, we were engulfed by a thunderstorm that brought rain beating against our windshield. Llew took the wheel again and expertly negotiated his way through the rain. And when the grey clouds had passed, we saw the most stunning double rainbows on the horizon that followed us for several miles, growing more vivid and then more faint, as time passed by. Needless to say, I took many pictures of sun’s rays filtering valiantly through grey storm clouds as we gradually made our way eastwards.

Towards the end of our ride, things got really hairy. We lost light by 8.00 pm but were still nowhere close to our destination. Kamas County, in Utah, is about 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City. It had been my original intention to stop in the city (in which neither one of us had been) to take in its Mormon influence and building monuments. But it soon become evident to both of us that we could not afford to stop in the city or even to pass through it. We’d need to go straight to our destination if we wanted to reach by dinner time.

Sadly, we were caught in another rainstorm not far from Kamas. As we passed through the city of Provo, we stopped at ‘Wendy’s’ to buy chilli and crackers. We ate this really quickly in the parking lot so as to save time. Leaving ‘Wendy’s’, we were on the last leg of our journey, but this was the most challenging. We had to go through hairpin bends in the Wasach Mountains that ring Kamas. The terrain, the pitch darkness and the rain combined to create really difficult driving conditions and poor Llew had to grip the steering wheel so tightly to keep control of the car that his wrists hurt for days on end as he tried to bring us safely to our accommodation for the night. Meanwhile, our friend, Kathy was on the phone with us constantly, to find out where we were and to guide us to our ranch—a sprawling piece of extensive acreage at the foot of the mountains. Somehow, at about 9.00 pm. we were at Avalanche Ranch, where Kathy is based, and to whose gate she drove out to meet us. Yes, we finally said hullo to her in the darkness of the night with only a few lamps to shed some light on our accommodation for the next two nights.

A Most Charming Cottage on Avalanche Ranch:

Kathy helped us move our backpacks—the only things we would need during our road trip as the bulk of the items we did not need would stay in our suitcases in the trunk of our car. She gave us a brief tour of the cottage we would occupy, showed us light switches, shower controls, kitchen supplies, etc. and left for the night with promises to meet us. the next day, for a more extensive tour of her home.

It was absolute love at first sight in our cottage. It had a spacious Great Room that included a Living area, a Dining area and a fully-equipped, modern kitchen with full-size appliances. Apart from picking up the wifi code, however, and doing a bit of unpacking, we were ready to hit the attached bedroom and bathroom for hot showers and some much-needed rest. We were too tired even to take in the delightfully decorated space. That pleasure would have to wait till the morrow. It had taken us 14 hours to get to Avalanche and we were ready to hit the sack. All exploration would be postponed until the morrow.

Until then, cheerio…

An Unforgettable Day Trip to Santa Catalina Island, California:

Sunday, August 11, 2024

An Unforgettable Day Trip to Santa Catalina Island, California:

The very day after Chriselle’s wedding was the day we’d chosen to spend with the newly-married bridal couple (they have postponed their honeymoon until October when they will embark on a Mediterranean cruise). As our time with them would be limited and AJ still had his family from Rochester, New York, to attend to in California, they devoted this one special day to us.

Accordingly, we had a very quick, make-shift breakfast of Trader Joe’s packaged croissants (thoughtfully provided by Chriselle) and coffee from the machine in our room, before we met them in our hotel lobby. We were all eager and excited to begin an excursion to Santa Catalina Island (popularly known simply as ‘Catalina’) for a day trip. It involved a one-hour ride on a ferry (for which we had booked tickets online a month in advance--$75 round-trip).

AJ drove us in his car to Long Beach (about 45 minutes’ away) as this is the ferry port for Catalina. It was really lovely to be back in our Subaru Outback again which the couple has refurbished and modernized beautifully. Before the evening was through, I was happy to get back behind the wheel and do a bit of driving myself, after a whole year. It was very heartwarming for me to be back in our favorite car again.

Once we arrived at the ferry that is referred to as “the Catalina Express,” went smoothly. It was very exciting as we climbed to the top deck and settled ourselves in for the hour-long ride. We had a beautiful day for an island excursion and the packed deck reflected the enthusiasm of the various passengers. Just a few minutes into our boat ride, we passed by the iconic steamer, ‘The Queen AngleMary’, one of the world’s most famous liners. It had sailed the world carrying royalty to global ports, but has been dry-docked at Long Beach for several decades. I was very fortunate to take a tour of it, many years ago, when I was a Rotary International Fellow in Los Angeles. It gives one a brilliant idea of the kind of luxury cruise travel that the privileged were permitted long before cruising became as easily accessible as it is today to far-less wealthy passengers.

Arrival and Exploration of Catalina:

An hour later, we were at Avalon, which is the ferry port on Catalina. We disembarked and immediately took pictures at a milestone structure that proclaims the island’s name and age. For those who have been to such resorts, Catalina is the West Coast’s answer to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island or Cape Cod—all of which are popular East Coast sites in the summer. Catalina has all the trappings of an island holiday venue. The private boats of hobbyist sailors lie in the port adding coloring and charm to the place. The turquoise blue waters of the Pacific Ocean are breath-taking. On land, as soon as one disembarks, shops entice with their regular merchandise of cheap and designer clothing: from casual T-shirts to evening and lounge wear. There are souvenir shops selling nominally-priced and highly artistic take-home reminders of a classy resort. We bought our magnet, of course, but window-shopped with regards to other merchandise. Kid’s beach paraphernalia like buckets and boogey-boards were plentiful and kids were plentiful themselves. They were everywhere—in the water, in the shops and underfoot at every turn. There is a small beach right at Avalon and a lot of people were either swimming or sun-bathing. The place was crowded by American standards but there was an air of vacation spirit at every turn. They certainly had the perfect day for such pursuits.

Lunch at ‘The Lobster Trap’:

Avalon offers numerous choices for hungry visitors. While there are no chain fast-food eateries, there are several Mom and Pop places as well as more high-end establishments so that the limits of all pockets can be met. As Chriselle and AJ wanted this entire day to be our treat from them, they spent on everything: from the ferry to lunch and then the golf cart that we rented, after lunch, with which to explore the island. They made it a really fabulous day for us and we enjoyed every minute.

Their treat, in fact, extended to a lobster lunch and, it was at their suggestion, that we strolled to ‘The Lobster Trap’, a very casual place with a Southern Florida feel in its ambience and décor. Renowned for its lobster rolls, the items fly off their menu cards. Naturally, we too placed our order for Lobster Rolls but also tried out the Lobster Tacos and a Spinach and Lobster Salad—all of which were absolutely delicious. The heat of the day also called for cold beer and we enjoyed our lager in the shade on the upper level of the restaurant while overlooking other patrons below us. During lunch, we talked about how beautifully their wedding had gone off and how much everyone enjoyed themselves. We also talked about their plans going forward and our own—as we were headed out, the next day, at the start of our road trip.

A Golf Cart Tour of the Island:

At AJ’s suggestion, we then headed to the center from which golf carts could be hired for an hour at a time to allow those unable to walk

too far to enjoy the furthest reaches of the island. Although it is a small island, it is tiring to climb up to the peak for great views of the ocean. The golf cart is a fine solution and AJ had a quick grip on manipulating it by following the set route that is mapped out for all renters of the little vehicle. As expected, we had a lovely tour of the place as we climbed to the highest peak, took a lot of pictures of the surrounding azure waters, moved through the snazzy little settlements that are filled with clubs and night-time sites for entertainment. The houses, hotels and B&Bs are very quaint and colorful and add to the Caribbean feel of the place. It was a superb way for us to start our own travels in North America and we were really pleased to get the island atmosphere as we would soon be in the mountains—a completely different ambience altogether.

After our golf ride, we had just enough time to get chocolate and pralines and cream ice-cream from one of the many ice-cream parlors on the island and then make our leisurely way to the dock for our 3.30 pm ferry. It would take us an hour to get back to the mainland again and we did not want to be too late as we did have plans for the evening. We did enjoy the ferry ride back from the ferry port at Avalon, where there was an orderly line waiting to board—as the uniqueness of being on the water on a daytrip has its own charms. It had been a brilliantly interesting day and we felt so fortunate that we were able to get to Catalina (which had been on my Bucket List for a long time) on such a fine day.

Trip to Irvine, California:

Right after we arrived at Long Beach, we walked to the parking lot to pick up our car and with AJ behind the wheel, we made our way to Irvine in Orange County. Among the few folks that we could have met in Southern California, we were really keen to meet our landlady, Annu, who relocated from Bombay to the USA and now lives with her daughter. The drive was very pleasant as we passed by many of the unique palm trees that give Southern California in general and LA, in particular, its quite distinctive look. In the secluded gated community in which she lives, we spent the next hour or so.

We had a really nice reunion with Annu, her daughter, son-in-law, and biggest treat of all, her little grandson who is about nine months old. Little Vir, very much the apple of his parents’ and grandmother’s eye, was the center of attention as we made his acquaintance, got to know his parents better and watched him have his own meal—all while Annu provided us with tea and a vast variety of eats. Indeed, her kindness and generosity know no bounds. They were quite charmed to discovery that Chriselle and AJ had married only the precious day and they were warm in their congratulations. We also caught up on their own share of news and exchanged some tidbits about Bandra life with them—as they do miss Bandra and the enjoyable life they had led there. After more than an hour and after warning cups of herbal tea and their delicious snacks, it was time to say goodbye to them.

Dinner at ‘Pinks’:

AJ took the wheel, once again, as we drove to Glendale, California, towards our hotel. As we would be parting after dinner, we decided to find a place where we could buy something light, but something typically Los Angelenos. It was AJ who thought about ‘Pinks’, which he described as “an LA Institution”. I had never heard of it and neither had Llew. It was, therefore, with great enthusiasm that we made our way to the place—a very modest shack-like establishment which has been frequented by every Hollywood celebrity you can name. We discovered that the only items on the menu were hot dogs, fries, onion rings, milkshakes and soda pop.

You can bet we could not resist ordering the hot dogs that came with all sorts of toppings and fixings. We chose chilli in order to make super chilli dogs although Chriselle also had relish with her’s. I was amazed at how tasty they were and how substantial. Just one chilli dog later, washed down with iced Cokes, we were well and truly full. Meanwhile, we had the best time chatting casually about the events of the day and the amazing experience we’d had.

By the end of a long and very fruitful day, we were ready to call it a day. Llew and I needed to return to our hotel to pack up our bags for the start of our Great American Road Trip Adventure. Chriselle and AJ had taken the next day off and would be picking us up in the morning from our hotel.

We parted at the hotel lobby where we requested the Receptionist to keep our bill ready as we would be checking out early tomorrow. That done, we said our goodbyes to Chriselle and AJ and made our way back to our rooms to bed down for the night after packing and keeping our bags together for early morning departure.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

D-Day Dawns: It’s a Wowie Wedding!

Saturday, August 10, 2024

D-Day Dawns: It’s a Wowie Wedding!

Finally D-Day (or as I like to call it), W-Day Dawned! W for Wow, W for Wonderful, W for Wondrous, W for Wunderbar… We awoke in The Glenmark Hotel and decided to go down to the Restaurant to have ourselves a substantial breakfast as we knew that our next big meal of the day would probably be dinner, at the wedding reception of our lovely daughter, Chriselle to the dashing AJ. Accordingly, I ordered Shahshuka Eggs which came with thick slices of Ciabatta Toast and hash browns, while Llew chose a Ham and Cheese Omelet which was accompanied by toast and the same hash browns—all washed down with decaff coffee. Good job we did eat well, because, as I had expected, it would be ages before we sat down again to eat—so quickly did the day fly.

We spent the morning in our hotel room getting our clothes ready for the big occasion—ironing was one item that took time. We showered and, as instructed, were ready in the hotel lobby at 1.00 pm. Chriselle looked lovely in her bridal gown with pearl ear-rings and a string of pearls at her neck (both gifted to her by Llew and me for her 16th and 21st birthdays respectively). She was bubbling with her usual zest and vigor. It was also good to find that AJ’s family, the Briggs’, had arrived there on time. We greeted each other and met other familiar faces. I was very pleased, for example, to greet Brie, Chriselle’s Matron of Honor, who had arrived late the previous evening from New Jersey. As she used to be Chriselle’s roommate and her best friend during their undergraduate college years at the University of Connecticut, I knew her well but it was several years before I had last seen her. She had arrived with her husband, Roger, whom I was also happy to meet again.

Slowly, but surely, we made our way up to the rooftop where we met the official photographer, Emily, who immediately set us all at ease. For the next one hour, we placed ourselves in her hands as she directed us through multiple group pictures that Chriselle had planned on a long list. Emily chose backdrops in keeping with the strength of the light and the backgrounds and, eventually, all official pictures were taken. Of course, all of us put our phones to work and clicked informal pictures of each other as well. I chose to wear a Dana Buchman suit in gold damask with a matching fascinator which I had ‘doctored’ in Bombay to make it more fetching and to match the color of my outfit. Llew wore a tuxedo and found that he matched little Ferris, their dog, who was also in a tux!

Off to Church:

When all pictures were taken on the hotel rooftop, Chriselle and AJ ushered the crowd towards their individual modes of transport to the next venue: the Church. Llew and I had the privilege of riding in the Bridal Car and, about an hour later, we were at Bethlehem Lutheran Church which is the one that Chriselle has been attending for the past several years. As the pastor of the church, Megan Freyling is her best friend in Los Angeles, it was a no-brainer that she would officiate at the wedding nuptials. It was lovely to meet Megan (whom we have known for about ten years) again and to greet her husband too. I loved the very casual vibe of the whole wedding. There was nothing stiff or cold about it as everyone was super friendly and super casual.

The Wedding Nuptials:

Chriselle and AJ’s wedding was themed around a line from the Gospel of St. Matthew (6:28): “Look at the Wildflowers: How Much More He will Care for You.” Accordingly, Chriselle wore a wreath made up of vibrantly-colored fresh flowers which were echoed in her bridal bouquet, the boutonnieres and the corsages that were on the wrists of the ladies including Moi as Mother of the Bride. As the wedding procession was simple—just one Bridesmaid and Best Man—there had been no rehearsal as such, the previous evening, as is traditional. Instead Chriselle had merely invited both Llew and me to walk her down the aisle—which, of course, we felt honored to do. The guests took their places in their pews as the large video screen in the church came to life and the sounds of Schubert’s “Ave Maria” filled the air. The singer was my brother Roger’s daughter, Anaya, who was accompanied on the piano by her brother, Arav. They had recorded the duet and sent it across to be incorporated into the wedding service. All the Readings in the Church were chosen personally by the couple whose tastes are eclectic—the Beatles’ anthem “All You Need is Love” was part of the theme. Chriselle had invited me to do the First Reading from a Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1:13--“Love is Patient; Love is Kind”). Brie did a Reading from Khalil Gibran’s “On Marriage” and AJ’s Uncle Keith (his mother’s brother—a professional actor too) recited Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 (“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments…”). The couple’s dog, Ferris, was discreetly present at the wedding, especially at the recitation of the vows—both the ecclesiastical ones (administered by Pastor Megan) and the ones the two of them composed and recited to each other. The singer was just wonderful as he sang classic American hymns such as “Amazing Grace” as well 70’s folks hits such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s, “Our House” and “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke. Chriselle made a very radiant bride and AJ was an emotional groom. During Holy Communion, we all prayed hard for a lovely couple who were clearly devoted to each other and wished to pledge the rest of their lives to their happiness and fulfilment. After Holy Communion, there was an engaging video showing stills and video snatches of their many travels together through the years and across continents. It was all very romantic and quite seamlessly orchestrated. People were bathed in smiles, their hearts lightened by the presence of love in the air and optimistic hope for the future. There was also a light-heartedness about a couple that were very relaxed in the knowledge that everyone present loved them, were rooting for their success and that no one judged them. Each person involved did a fantastic job—including Chriselle’s friend, Mary, who decorated the church, the videographer Grace who captured the entire service and Pastor Megan whose eye for detail covered every aspect of the ceremony over which she presided with great feeling as was evident in the lovely homily she preached. I was very proud of what Chriselle and AJ had achieved in the first part of their wedding service and I had little doubt that the celebration that would follow would be every bit as wonderful.

When the nuptials came to an end, the couple took many pictures at the altar and then walked jubilantly down the aisle to sign the marriage register, in keeping with California State Law. I used the short lull time to enter the spacious dressing room in the church to change into a more formal outfit for the cocktails and dinner reception that followed. I had chosen a sage green, cocktail-length dress in chiffon with sequined hand-embroidered highlights and glittering diamante jewelry to match. The shoes and matching bag I chose went well with the outfit (but I must admit that not having worn high heels in a long while, I was not very comfortable).

Off to Cocktails and Dinner at The Odyssey:

As soon as everyone’s picture was taken with the couple, we were ushered into waiting transport—Llew and I were in the Bridal Car again—and ferried off to nearby Granada Hills for the reception which took place at ‘The Odyssey’, a beautifully-located restaurant structured in several tiers, each offering privacy and stunning views of the San Fernando Valley spread beneath. Emily, the photographer, had reached the venue and we spent the next half hour having pictures taken in various locations that offered ample opportunity for scenic clicks.

When the couple’s and group portraits were taken, we made our way to a private section of the restaurant overlooking the city. Champagne was served to each of us upon entry for imbibing during the toast (proposed, as is traditional, by the Best Man, Kevin). Seating was assigned and we found our names and a copy of the menu at each table. The glowing couple took their own seats as the sun marched low towards the Western horizon. We caught its fading rays as speeches were made, amusing incidents were recalled, laughs were had and glasses of bubbly were clinked. More drinks flowed in the open bar and the special cocktails that the couple had concocted. Then Appetizers appeared: all sorts of delectable morsels from grilled shrimp and crab cakes to an artichoke-spinach dip and a crunchy Caesar Salad. We thoroughly enjoyed being spoiled by the wait staff who hovered around refilling our glasses. Chriselle and AJ cut their beautiful cake—themed around the colors and pattern of wildflowers. Guests could not make up their minds whether to indulge in entrees of filet mignon, roast breast of chicken or Icelandic salmon, with a wild mushroom pappardelle available for vegetarians. We ate our fill of really delicious food—it’s always great to have a wedding reception at a reputed restaurant because you can be sure that the fancy food will also taste really terrific!

By the time dessert was served, everyone was circulating, looking at phone pictures, tossing back more champers and, in general, feeling the bonhomie of the situation. We barely had any room for the Sticky Toffee Pudding served with candied pecans and Dulce de Leche Ice-cream ( an overdose of yumminess!) before thick slices of Red Velvet Wedding Cake made the rounds for us to express secret wishes on behalf of the couple, as we polished it all off. Indeed, the sun had set over the beaches of Los Angeles, by this point, and lights twinkled in the valley below, presenting a magical carpet, as it were, at our feet. Strings of fairy lights also glowed throughout the restaurant as we said our goodbyes at the end of a really enchanted evening. Llew and I had made many friends during the day and became better known to AJ’s side of the family. Ferris, by the way, had stayed put under the table and was happy to receive luxuriant wedding scraps, as the evening marched on.

It was very clear that the couple had enjoyed their wedding as much as they enjoyed entertaining the small, select band of close relatives and friends they had invited. We were super happy for them. To know that all the months of planning (ever since they had become officially engaged) had paid off was a very gratifying feeling and we were grateful to the Lord who had graced their wedding, with His silent presence, for the abundant blessings he had showered on them and would, no doubt, continue to do so in the years to come. For our part, Llew and I were pleased to receive the warm congratulations of everyone present and to revel in our roles as Parents of the Bride. We were also thrilled to have been able (despite various worrying odds, including the fragile health of my 94-year old Dad in Bombay) to be able to give the couple our blessings in person and to see them off on their united lives together. Tired, but very happy, at close to midnight, we took pictures in the very elegant lobby of the restaurant where we said goodbye to all our new friends before getting a ride back to our hotel. It has been an unforgettable day—made even classier by the enormous amount of planning that had gone into every aspect of it: from the church programs to the design of the menus; from the flowers to the music; from the place cards at the reception to the take-home favors: tiny terracotta pots with packets of wildflower seeds cushioned in them. The caption on each packet said, “Let Love Grow.” And to that, all I can add is “Amen”. Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Two Important Pre-Wedding Events: A Poolside Taco Party in Santa Clarita and a Late-Evening Rooftop Cocktail Party Gets the Wedding Festivity Going.

Los Angeles: Friday, August 9, 2024 Two Important Pre-Wedding Events: A Poolside Taco Party in Santa Clarita and a Late-Evening Rooftop Cocktail Party Gets the Wedding Festivity Going.

Today was a bit hectic as we had a few major appointments We had a very comfortable night in The Glenmark, had our showers and then ate croissants that Chriselle had brought us yesterday together with coffee from the coffee machine in our room. We wanted to stay light as we knew there was a lot of eating to do as the day progressed.

Chriselle had brought us a big pack of pistachios from Trader Joes, but because they were salted, we decided to stroll two blocks down to exchange them for a bag of the unsalted kind—no one needs to consume more salt than absolutely essential. We accomplished this task very easily and then, on our way back, made a short visit at the Episcopal Church next door to the hotel which has a charming courtyard, a beautiful interior and a very English feel to it. A little later, we returned to the hotel lobby to await the arrival of Ashish, son of our friends, Denzil and Ruth in Bombay, who had sent a large parcel of food items for him. He arrived on schedule at 9.30 am which gave us a chance to meet him for the first time. After a very nice visit in the lobby itself (he was on his way to work), we said goodbye to him and made our way up to our room. Just a little later, Chriselle and AJ joined us in our room as we had informed them that we had gifts we wished to give them.

A Surprise Gift of Oil Paintings:

The gift opening was fun because both of them were really surprised by the oil paintings that I had done in Bombay and carried to them—individual portraits of the two of them. They really did love them very much and were most impressed, moved and delighted by my efforts. We took pictures of them opening the paintings and then posing with them. Gift-giving and card-exchanging done, there was only enough time left for us to get dressed and move on to the next item on our day’s agenda,—the Poolside Taco Party.

A Poolside Taco Party in Santa Clarita:

As neither Llew nor I had met AJ’s family members before, the bridal couple planned a Poolside Taco Party that would take place for just the members of the two immediate families. AJ’s entire family had traveled from Rochester, New York, for the wedding—his parents, Greg and Robin, his sister, her partner and her three kids (two girls and a boy). They had chosen to stay together in a large Air B&B Mansion that comprised about five bedrooms and offered a beautifully landscaped pool in Santa Clarity, about a half hour away from Glendale.

Well, Santa Clarita happened to be at least 10 degrees hotter than Los Angeles and it was sizzling when we left the car. I was grateful for the full pure cotton midi dress I had bought from Anokhi in Bombay for the occasion, as it was very cool and very comfy. Our first introductions went off well with everyone friendly and eager to mingle. We exchanged gifts, of course, and found some members of the family very reluctant to be photographed. Meanwhile, the caterer was staying busy as she set up the buffet station that provided many opportunities. It was all meant to be set up by the pool; but since it was so hot, all of us preferred to stay indoors with the convenience of air-conditioning. The buffet was laid out on the kitchen counter instead. Drinks made the rounds as AJ and Chriselle kept a close eye on detail and managed to take care of everyone’s individual needs. I had a refreshing gin and tonic, others had vodka and whiskey and wine. We drifted in and out of the house, towards the pool which made a picturesque backdrop for photos. When it was lunch time, I helped myself to carne asada (tacos with pulled beef), Chicken Tingue (a kind of barbecued chicken) and grilled shrimp tostadas (delicious). There were also all the trimmings: guacamole, sour cream, grated cheese, tomato salsa, lime wedges, and a big green salad. With a full plate, we sat down to eat and enjoy each other’s company while cracking jokes and looking back on the past. Happy times were had by all. Before we called an end to the afternoon, we assembled on the deck and set the camera up for a self-timed photo that included every member of the two families. It was really fabulous and we were all really happy that the ice had broken so easily.

About three hours after our arrival, we set out for our return to the hotel again. We had a very short rest (a quick nap, really) before we needed to get ready for the next social engagement.

A Cocktail Party on the Rooftop of The Glenmar

Dressing for these occasions was half the fun of them as I had a chance to break out the new wardrobe in which I had invested for my daughter’s wedding and the accompanying events that were part of the festivities. The midi full floral printed dress I had chosen for the evening’s occasion was just lovely and went perfectly with the SoCal vibe—smart, casual, characterized by light florals in summer pastel colors. It was a bit of a nuisance to cart out all these clothes from India with their accompanying accessories (shoes, bag, jewelry), but the finished effect was so cool that it seemed entirely worthwhile.

Most of the other guests (restricted to Out-Of-Townies) were already on the rooftop of our hotel when we arrived there. Kevin, AJ’s brother, who is the General Manager of the hotel, had cordoned off a large corner section of the Rooftop restaurant so that we could claim it for ourselves. As soon as we arrived there, more introductions were made to AJ’s friends who had arrived from as far away as Tallin in Estonia, Yannis and Yanna. AJ’s family members were also present—everyone had dressed in semi-formal style, a far cry from the shorts, T-shirts, tank tops and swimming suits of the afternoon’s brunch. Everyone looked so smart and so festive and ready to pose for a million pictures. Passed hors d’oeuvres made the rounds: grilled shrimp, beef sliders, chicken wings. There was an open bar and most of us, ladies, opted for frozen margaritas as the weather lent itself perfectly to such a choice. The sun was high up in the sky when the evening began at 6.00 pm, but as the evening marched on, it turned far less fierce. The surrounding San Rafael Mountains made the perfect backdrop for the occasion and the sunset, when it did occur, was picture perfect and led to everyone pulling out their phones to take photos. All the time, we kept replenishing our glasses and stuffing ourselves with the vast amount of appetizers that kept us well-filled during a really terrific cocktail party that banished all thoughts of dinner from our minds. By the time, it was about 10.00 pm, the rooftop was filed with other local guests who had come there for dinner. The lights had come on as did the fires in the pillar heaters that punctuated the space. It was a really lovely ambience and the perfect way to get ready for the Big Day ahead of us.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

A Long Layover in London and A Comfortable Flight Stateside

London-Los Angeles: Thursday, August 8, 2024 A Long Layover in London and A Comfortable Flight Stateside

When we first took stock of our itinerary, I had seriously considered the idea of leaving Heathrow airport and wandering around Hounslow High Street as we had seven full hours to kill on a layover in London before it was time to board our connecting flight to California. However, as we had arrived in London at 7.00 am and would probably find no shops open until 10.00 am, we figured we’d only have about two hours to browse or shop before it was time to return to Heathrow to board our connecting flight. Hence, we finally resolved to stay put at the airport and make the most of our time there. Fortunately, British Airways uses Terminal 5, which is like a shopping mall in and of itself, offers marvelous options for shopping, browsing, dining, charging cell phones, etc. One must always be aware, however, that the Terminal is huge and changing flights there invariably involves a monorail train ride past a few stations before one arrives at the correct gates. This is time-consuming and a real nightmare if one is running late for a flight.

We used our seven hours at Heathrow quite profitably indeed. First of all, I went in search of the cosmetics and toiletries on my list—such as Dove body wash in Nourishing Silk fragrance (available only in Europe), Badedas Three-in-One Shampoo, Conditioner and Shower Gel, Rimmel Nail Polish, Max Factor lipsticks, etc. Sadly, all I could find were lipsticks and nail polish (which I stockpiled) and in W.H. Smith, we saw tins of toffees, sweets and biscuits that commemorated recent royal milestones: The Queens’ Golden Jubilee, King Charles’ Accession to the Throne, etc. We bought some of those goodies and then went in search of some place where we could sit down at leisure and have a good meal.

We found that spot at The Crown Rivers, a Wetherspoon Pub at Terminal Five itself, that was fully set up to take drinks orders as well as cater any food needs. Llew and I chose to have a drink each (A Cabernet for him, Guinness draught stout for me) and on finding out what the contents of a Full English Breakfast would be (as we had missed it on our flight into London), we decided to share one—and what a good job we did! Even with the two of us sharing the enormous platter, it was overwhelming. We had two scrambled eggs, two rashers of bacon, two pork sausages, two hash browns, a small bowl of baked beans, a serving of grilled mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, two slices of buttered toast. No marks for guessing that everything was super filling and super delicious. With all the time in the world to enjoy our meal, we feasted like royalty. Believe me, it was the start of unmitigated overeating for the next six weeks that saw me gain a whole dress size by the time I was back on Indian soil again. Good job, Chriselle’s wedding was right at the beginning of our travel (and eating) adventure or else the wardrobe I had carried for the different events that comprised the wedding, would never have fit me.

And so, we passed seven whole hours at Heathrow. When Llew was too tired (or bored) to walk around the upscale designer showrooms, I left him seated somewhere to play his phone word games while I browsed through the duty-free offerings of my favorite designers: Burberry, Coach, Hermes, Cartier, Dior, Ted Baker as well as less expensive stores such as Accessorize and Boots. By 1.00 pm, after our onward flight was announced and its gate made known, we caught the monorail train that took us to our gate and were off on schedule at 2.00 pm (London local time). All went well with our on-going flight on the London-Los Angeles (direct) sector as I tried to watch yet another couple of movies before

I was lulled to sleep by the smooth flight that offered absolutely no turbulence. I was amazed at how quickly the hours slid by as we were wined and dined on board. Llew enjoyed the wine selections while I had Tanqueray Gin Fizz cocktails and enjoyed the Continental meals involving Roast Breast of Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, a creamy Mushroom sauce and Sauteed Beans, a small green salad and Chocolate Mousse Cake for dessert. Another meal involved Rigatoni in Tomato Cream Sauce, a bread roll with butter and a Wild Berry Crumble with Custard for dessert. Our arrival at Los Angeles airport was smooth and worry free at 5.15 pm local time. With our touch down in the city, Phase One of our travels began.

Obtaining my Global Entry Network Pass:

As soon as I arrived in California and while Llew raced off to the conveyor belt to claim our baggage, I found the counter for in-person interviews for the renewal of my Global Entry Card. (As mine had expired, I had reapplied, had been approved and was told to make myself available for an interview on re-entering the US). This, of course, occurred at LAX (Los Angeles International airport)—so, of course, I had my interview there. It took only a few minutes for my personal credentials to be back-checked and my documents scanned before I was informed that my card would come in the mail any time after three weeks had passed. I hoped sincerely that I would be able to pick it up from my Connecticut home before I left the US; but it had not arrived by the time I left, over a month later. However, as it had been approved already and was entered into the computer, I was easily able to go through Pre-TSA Approved lines from that time onwards.

A Long-Awaited, Happy Reunion:

It was not long before we picked up our baggage and made our way to the Arrivals foyer where we had a joyous reunion with our daughter, Chriselle, her soon-to-be husband, AJ and their dog, Ferris. Sadly, we found that, at fifteen years of age, he has aged visibly and is no longer the gregarious puppy we had once raised during his first year of life. Still, we had an affectionate reunion with him, a very subdued and confused pet (who hates crowds, noise, traffic—all the ingredients we encountered at the airport and outside).

By the time, I had my Global Entry interview and we picked up our baggage, it was past 6.00 pm. as we made our way into Chriselle’s car to start the one-hour drive along Los Angeles’ famous freeways. It was uncanny but although we had been away for a whole year (for me) and almost two years (for Llew), within five minutes of being on a US freeway, with well-lit skyscrapers whizzing past me, I felt as if I had never left the USA. In fact, it felt as if I had reached home again—our second home, that is. I loved that feeling of immediate comfort and familiarity as soon as we were back in La La Land.

Check-in At The Glenmark and In N Out Burgers for Dinner:

With AJ at the wheel of their Subaru Outback, we arrived at the lobby of The Glenmark Hotel in Glendale, California, about a twenty minute drive from downtown LA. As we had stayed at this same hotel about two years ago, we also felt comfortably at home upon entering the lobby. Check-in was smooth because AJ’s brother, Kevin, happens to be the General Manager. He made sure we had an especially comfy room with a good view made available to us and with the lovely care package that Chriselle and AJ had put together, we were charmed. Inside, we found a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin, many different bottles of tonic water, a bottle of Cabernet for Llew, energy cereal bars, plus all kinds of nuts and nibbles from Trader Joes together with small chocolate covered dried fruit that came in very handy for the days we were on the road, .We were very grateful at their thoughtfulness and said so before they joined us for dinner. In N Out Burger, a real LA Institution, was chosen to provide our evening meal, We each went for the ionic burgers that are slightly larger than most. Served with a magic sauce, we had our hamburgers wrapped up with the idea of eating them in our room. Back in the hotel, that was exactly what we did and when all formalities were done, we sat down to enjoy our In N Out Burger. One item on my US To-Do List down, countless to still go through,

By the time it was 9.00 pm, we were tired and sleepy and ready to call it a night. We knew we had a very busy next day and we wanted to get some beauty sleep to be fresh and relaxed for it.

Until tomorrow, cheerio..