San Francisco and Northern California – New Years 2013-4

My second visit to the Bay Area and beyond took place over the New Year’s holiday in 2013. Once again, I was spending time with my friends Jeff and Nikki who were staying in Trinidad California. We spent New Year’s in San Francisco and then toured the Eureka/Arcadia region near the California-Oregon border. What a great week.

Favourite moments

• Riding the San Francisco cable cars with  my friends on New Year’s Day
• Being temporarily trapped in the middle of a herd of wild elk on Pacific 1 Highway.
• Watching North by Northwest with my friends at the historic Castro Theatre
• Aiming a 4-inch gun at Alcatraz from the deck of the USS Jeremiah O’Brien.
• Hiking among the redwoods on the Ladybird Johnson trail
• driving a car through the center of an ancient Redwood.
• touring the massive redwoods in the Avenue of the Giants
• Strolling the awesome desolation of California’s Lost Coast
• Watching two bull elks duke it out within the Elk Meadow
• Walking the length of the Golden Gate Bridge
• Capturing a Pacific Sunset from the Patrick’s Point

New Orleans January 2011

New Orleans is a city that is rich in history music, culture and cuisine. There is no other place quite like it, and you are reminded of it everywhere you go. I had the good fortune to visit it back in 2011 for about a week and have a lot of good memories.

Favourite moments

• Savouring the bitter chicory coffee and sweet pastries at Café Du Monde
• Sipping a Sazurak while listening to authentic ragtime piano on the river steamer Natchez 
• Watching the bartender mix drinks at the Napoleon House
• Visiting the awesome World War II Museum in the Warehouse District
• Enjoying dueling pianos and a Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s
• Checking out STYX at the house of blues
• Taking in an authentic New Orleans jazz performance at Maison Bourbon

Trip Notes

Situated on the curving north bank of the Mississippi River Delta, New Orleans occupies the limited high ground on a bend in the river. New Orleans has several distinct regions. The centre of most holidays is the French Quarter, which is the oldest part of the city and has the bulk of its famous restaurants. To the immediate west, the warehouse district is actually the central business and administrative region in New Orleans, which is rich in museums. Further west is the opulent Garden District, which features the city’s universities and its most picturesque houses. Of course, New Orleans is much larger than just these three districts, and there is plenty of things to do in the neighbouring areas. Sadly, New Orleans had not quite recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina when I visited, although by now I’m sure it is much changed.

I visited Canada’s second largest city on a chilly October weekend in 2010. Always intended to go back but have yet to return. I will eventually because there is a lot to see and do. Montréal is among Canada’s oldest settlements, and there is a tremendous amount of history, but it is also among the most picturesque of Canadian cities. I was fortunate enough to get some nice views of the fall colours in the city park as well as at the Jardain Botanique. Montréal has a little something to offer everyone including the charm of the old city hall on the waterfront, where you can enjoy some great food.

Favourite moments

• taking in the panorama of downtown Montréal from the overlook in the city park
• exploring the ancient foundations of Montréal at the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History
• exploring the wooden Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
• eating a Queen Elizabeth (figuratively speaking) at Coin Delices Du Monde
• photographing the fall colours at the beautiful Montreal Botanical Garden
• enjoying dinner at Maggie Oakes amid the ambience of Place Jacques-Cartier
• perusing the collection at the Montréal Museum of Art
• Downing an authentic Reuben sandwich at Dunn’s

Italy October 2007

My first extended holiday came in October 2007 when I joined the Best of Italy tour offered by GAP Adventures (now called G adventures). Best of Italy is a good example of a tour that bridges escorted and self directed experiences. The tour leader is responsible for managing transportation and getting you to your hotel, and in some cases arranging for meals. They provide a brief orientation upon arrival at every new destination, but otherwise you are on your own as to how you want to spend your time. This particular holiday began in Rome where I spent a few days before picking up the GAP Adventures tour.

Favourite moments

Taking in an opera performance in Lucca

Riding a gondola through the canals of Venice

Wine Tasting in Asti

This particular holiday occupies a special place for me, since it was my first solo adventure, and my first extended holiday. It was not a particularly happy period in my life since at that moment, my sister in law was terminally ill with cancer. This hung over the planning of this holiday to the point where I considered cancelling it.  In the end, I did go, and was glad of it.

If there is one place I would like to return to someday, its Rome. Although I had a few days there, I could have spent a couple weeks or more.