Travels – Book Barmy

Fabulous Fjords

Sorry for the delay, are you ready to hear about our trip? If so, keep reading

If not – totally understand – skip this post. There will be books to tell you about over the next days.

We started with a few days in Edinburgh to acclimate to the time change before sailing. Had a lovely B&B run by a great couple who had lots of ideas and served the most incredible breakfast. It rained off and on but we went out anyway with no schedule or agenda – hopped on a bus and stumbled into old town, wandered around, discovered a hidden garden, and had tea in a little tea room.

Sorry we didn’t take many photos as the weather was so dreary. When it came time for our departure, we discovered our ship left from a dock just near where the Britannia is docked – so we dashed over and took a tour. The Britannia was the Queen’s favorite place to relax and many important events were held there. It felt very comfortable and relaxed. I would have been most happy guest – had I ever been invited aboard.

As we finished the tour of the Britannia, we got a good view of our ship ~~The Star Legend. It’s a smaller cruise ship carrying only 200 passengers. Note second photo is a publicity photo from Windstar ~~ as I wanted to show it’s a very pretty ship.

Here’s a map of our cruise itinerary. Such a wonderful trip, which went by all too swiftly.

I created a very amateur video with the photo highlights. Full disclosure, we are not very good at remembering to take photos – we tend to go exploring and forget all about taking pictures.

Photos range from our very nice ship’s cabin, to the tiny Norwegian towns, the amazing fjords, waterfalls – lots of waterfalls, a train trip up into the hills, and ends up in Copenhagen, where we spent our last night touring Tivoli Gardens, after the crowds had left, and with wonderful lights.

To play this very amateur video ~~ Click HERE

Fear not, we’re still barmy about books here. Between this trip and the recent bout with COVID, I have a stack of recent reads to tell you about. Be back soon.

Down and out with Covid

Hello, thanks for all your well wishes, It seems we’re not alone, many are also suffering from Covid.

This was our first time, others, we hear, are experiencing it for the second or third time…poor dears. And we were/are fully vaccinated.

I think we’re back with the living – feeling a bit better, still coughing, very, very tired, and still testing positive (arghhh).

And so we wait it out. Wearing masks both indoors and out…remember doing that?

Not fun, not fun at all.

Friends and neighbors have been wonderful – made us soup, brought groceries, lovely flowers – even pie.

We are very fortunate to have such a group of loved ones – we are so appreciative and feeling the care.

But for now, I’m going to take a break until I feel better and gather my thoughts to bore you with our recent trip – it seems so long ago now.

Be back soon.

As you can imagine, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

I know, it’s been a long while and I have lots to tell you…

There was a once in lifetime trip – involving this lovely ship

And beautiful fjords, in sometimes dicey weather

Full admission, I stole that photo from the internet and I am not up to going through all our photos right now….

Why, you may ask?

Two days after arriving home I came down with COVID – I successfully dodged it up until now…getting all and every vaccination and booster.

Then, this morning Husband came down with it too. We are very rarely sick at the same time, always one to take care of the other – not this time.

We are a pitiful sight – endless cups of tea, sounds of coughing from separate bedrooms, protecting our separate dishes, tissue boxes everywhere, and all the over the counter cough and pain relievers we could find from our medicine chest. However, as one dear friend pointed out, it’s good thing we didn’t come down with this while traveling ~~ always a silver living.

On the way home from picking up our Paxlovid* – we stopped at our favorite neighborhood restaurant and got enough varied Chinese dishes to last us three or four days. Why is it when you’re sick, Chinese seems the only cure?

Sorry to say, there will be an recovery interval before I am back to myself and eager to tell you all about everything. It was indeed a trip of a lifetime, and yes, there were books which I read on the trip and now during this illness.

But for right now, my only trip is to repair to my chambers with more tea, a book – and yet another nap.

In case you haven’t ascertained – I am a lousy sick person.

*while effective, turns out to be a wretched drug – giving a variety of unwelcome side effects and a constant horrid taste in your mouth.

Westlake Anniversary

While this was a major milestone anniversary — 45 years — we kept it low key as we’re celebrating this summer with a big trip, (more on that when it’s closer).

We went to Westlake, a quirky suburb just south of us, in Daly City.

We like to walk this neighborhood, admiring the unique mid-century homes…

Developed by Henry Doelger, Westlake is notable for its 1950’s architecture, created by a team of designers to encompass nearly every building in the development. While there are many unique homes like the ones above, the majority of homes are known for architectural blandness, exemplified by its endless rows of boxy houses, which were the inspiration for the folk song “Little Boxes” an anti-conformity anthem of the 1960’s.

You can see why ~~ here’s a photo (not mine) from the air.

There’s even a very cool book about the development.

Westlake is also home to one of our favorite restaurants ~~ Westlake Joe’s.

Opened since 1956, it went through an extensive renovation a few years back, which kept and enhanced the original style and mid-century feel.

It still has much of it’s original menu, known for steaks, classic Italian, and retro cocktails.

It seems most of the Bay Area flocks to Westlake Joe’s as reservations are almost impossible. So, we clean up, don our best duds and walk-in ~~ we’re never turned away.

Just take a look at the interior… classic bar, plush seating, even the old menu covers have been re-created.

The food is always great and yes, it’s expensive, what restaurant isn’t these days? For such a special occasion – we threw the budget out the window and enjoyed glasses of red wine, a nice perfectly cooked, small steak (me) and a huge plate of lasagna (Husband). We ended our meal with the best dessert I have ever eaten – really my absolute favorite. Warm butter cake – sigh.

So what does 45 years together feel like?

Well, it certainly doesn’t seem like 45 years ago we were this young and excited.

I’m laughing because Husband hurt his ring finger playing volleyball a few days before, and it was still sore. He winced and was in pain when I put his wedding ring on. Later, as we were formally posing for the photo above he said he hoped it wasn’t a warning.

Happy Anniversary to my cute Husband, partner, friend ~~ still making me laugh every day.

On the Road

We’ve been on a road trip. We decided to drive to Arizona to spend a week in Sedona – a favorite place. An area of red rocks, mountain air, and warm sun. If you’ve never been, you may want to put it on your travel list – see why below.

As always, when arriving in town, we gasp at the views.

Took a not-so-short hike … as some clouds drifted in.

Wandered another day to see Coffee Pot Rock – see it?

On a previous visit to Sedona, someone told us about the restaurant at the Sedona Airport – seems an odd choice for dining — we remembered it was great. It did not disappoint – great view and lovely food.

Husband found a local brewery nestled into the red rocks.

One day, we explored Oak Creek Canyon

Visited an Indian market, sanctioned by the Arizona State Parks, with proceeds going towards the Native American artists and education programs in the Sedona area.

We had a great time — good food, hikes, desert air and even some reading time.

Lots to see driving – especially back home along the coast ~ California poppies are in bloom everywhere.

Now, off to to do laundry and wash the red dust off our clothes.

Field trip anyone?

I’ve just recently been made aware of this hotel in New York City…

Husband and I were in NYC last May, but alas, didn’t know of this book lovers paradise. I’ve happily browsed their website and have to share some lovely images.

Books abound — in the bar, in the lobby, in the hallways, and of course there is a dedicated reading room — where I would order my food and drink delivered.

From their website:

The Library Hotel’s collection of over 6,000 books is organized by the Dewey Decimal Classification Each of the 10 guestroom floors honors one of the 10 categories of the Dewey Decimal Classification and our 60 rooms are uniquely adorned with about 50-150 books and artwork exploring a distinctive topic within the category it belongs to.

Isn’t that something? Be still my Book Barmy heart…

And here is a typical room with books, of course, provided. The Library Hotel is pricey, but not out of line for New York City

So who among you barmy book lovers would like to join me on a field trip?

I promise we will explore the city but only after we’ve gotten a fill of the hotel

Library Hotel Website HERE

N.B. It won’t ruin it for me, but it does rankle me that they charge a $25 per daily resort fee which covers a range of so-called extras (when did WiFi become an extra?) – one of which is access to their library 24 hours a day. It seems a bit chintzy of them, but I guess they have to cover any losses, you know, those that may try to smuggle books home in their luggage …

not me ~~ but I’d be sorely tempted.

Another Anniversary

Husband and I had our anniversary a few days ago – 43 years — if that can be possible. We decided to get away, but not far. We went to Point Reyes which is only an hour northwest of us, but seems like further. We can actually see the lighthouse on a clear day from our house…that’s how close it is.

With apologies to readers on the East coast, we had beautiful weather.

We hiked, ate good food, stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast…

even had a picnic lunch with a heron…

It felt like we had journeyed far, far away.

And speaking of far, far away — a friend back East found this photo of us – we’d only been married a year.

Check out that beard… still the cutest guy ever.

Happy Anniversary

I finished one book

and am halfway through another

Back to books, reading, and regular programming next time.

Welcome Back

Our beloved cable cars shut in the spring of last year due to the pandemic and remained out of service ever since. During this down time they worked on the cable system under the streets, as well as the cars themselves.

Now they’re back and for the month of August free to all (normally an astounding $8 each ride). One beautiful sunny day last week, Husband and I donned our masks and rode every cable car line.

First thing we noticed was how empty downtown was – this area is normally wall-to-wall pedestrians and traffic – eerie.

First we reviewed the new cautionary signs on how to ride a cable car. No such rules before — we laughed at how we used to run for the car as it was moving and hang on the outside. A bygone era it seems.

It was fun to play tourist in our own city and we noticed just a few of our actual tourists are back.

The Buena Vista has opened and serving their famous Irish Coffee – outside under the tent. But we didn’t stop this time.

The cars were relatively empty and everyone wore masks.

We had lunch at the famous Sears Fine Food – a San Francisco institution since 1938. Normally, it’s packed with a long waiting line out front. Not this day.

We went up and down the hills of San Francisco – our trusty cable cars pulling us up and gripping us down.

The fog waited until we were done to start rolling in.

It was one of those great days – wish you were here.

Can you see the Golden Gate Bridge just there in the fog?

Vaccination Vacation

We both got both our shots, waited the obligatory two weeks and then took a short vacation down to Carmel by-the-Sea — and yes, that’s its official name.

When coming into the village we immediately felt safe as the signs were very clear – the yellow sign in background warns of $100 fine for not wearing a mask.

We had a cute little place right in town, so parked the car and walked everywhere. Exploring the storybook architecture – unique to Carmel.

And all the little alleys ~~

There was a few rest spots during our wanderings. This one we had to try.

And, of course the ocean views.

It was a lovely couple of days. Wonderful to get out and stay somewhere else.

Not to mention having meals someone else prepared in an idyllic setting that was not our own kitchen or dining room.

Ahh — Asheville

Just got back from a trip to the Southeast.

First was our family reunion in Virginia, where we rented two condos and were able to cook and eat together. There were walks in the woods, water aerobics at the indoor pool and some toured an underground cavern (not me ugh – everyone else).

We looked at old family photos (matching pajamas caused howls of laughter), played pool (Dad beat everyone), and generally just enjoyed the conversations. There were photos taken – but will spare you the evidence, as we are the least photogenic family ever. We’re all scattered now, so it was good to catch up on everyone’s lives. And in the end — no one lost an eye.

Then Husband and I went down to Asheville, North Carolina. We had a home exchange with a house in Biltmore Forest and took our time exploring the city and beyond. We’d been here before for a short visit and found it a great city. Good bookstore, great food, and lots and lots of art gallery and craft workshops. Here’s just a few photos:

As always you can click on the photos to see larger image.

We followed the somewhat obscure Urban Walk in Asheville, and once we cracked the code of path symbols on the sidewalks we were on our way.

Here’s one of the sidewalk symbols you follow…they change by district.

There were interesting and often surprising sculptures here and about —

Interesting architecture and cobbled back streets —

Stumbled upon Thomas Wolf’s home

And much to Husband’s delight — Asheville is known for its abundance of craft brew pubs.

We took a day trip to the famous Penland School of Crafts about an hour outside of Asheville.

Penland School of Craft was started by a remarkable woman named Lucy Morgan, who first came to Penland, North Carolina in 1920 as a teacher at the Appalachian School. In 1923, she spent three months at Berea College learning to weave. When she returned to Penland she began the Penland Weavers, a cottage industry which provided local women with looms and materials and then marketed their handwoven goods. The School has now expanded to include artists workshops and residencies in books and paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles, and wood.

It was a beautiful drive and the school setting is breathtaking. We wandered the grounds — peeking into workshops, studios and saw some of the residences from the outside. We also browsed – Did Not Purchase — their exquisite gallery.

The Penland school is well worth a visit and they give tours if you book ahead.

Are we bored yet? Just one last group of photos to show y’all before I let you go.

One day dawned very foggy and damp so decided to do something indoors (other than visit yet another craft beer pub). We ventured out to Carl Sandburg’s estate. Which, supposedly has a beautiful view of a lake, but as you can see not so much on this day.

We took a tour inside the house and the entire collection of Sandburg’s books and magazines have been meticulously cataloged and returned to their original locations in the house. I felt the kindred spirit of a fellow reader and book ~~hoarder~~ lover.

Note that Mr. Sandburg’s typewriter in his office is on an orange crate – he said if Lincoln could compose the Gettysburg Address on a crate from the battlefield, so could he.

I’ll leave you with my favorite sign from one of the craft brew pubs we visited. Made me laugh out loud.

Stay tuned — books have been read, are being read, and will be read.