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Archive for Get Aways

A Night at the Ritz

Posted by Elva 
· December 15, 2015 

Our Christmas getaway now seems much like dreams of a childhood Santa Claus. How did we become overnight guests at the splendid Ritz Carlton Hotel on the shores of a blustery Pacific Ocean at the tiny town of Half Moon Bay? It started with Scott Angeletti, a creative tour director for Sports Leisure Travel. He had hosted trips to the Ritz Hotel at Lake Tahoe as well as tours along the coast to Monterey and Carmel. He wondered if it would be possible to create a two night-three day trip to the Bay Area and negotiate an affordable stay at the Ritz on one of those nights. He succeeded.

We signed up for the trip in May so we had half a year to look forward to it. It far exceeded our expectations. On Saturday Scott served box lunches on the bus. Our first stop was at Filoli Gardens mansion. For nine days in December nearly two thousand volunteers turn the ground floor of the mansion into an upscale Christmas store to raise money to keep the gardens open to the public.

After two hours of shopping we headed to the San Jose Fairmont Hotel located next to the Ceasar Chavez Park which had been turned into a delightful Christmas park with a couple of hundred decorated Christmas trees, rides for the children, scenes of elves and Santa Claus preparing for Christmas, an outdoor ice skating rink, carnival rides, food stations and vendors. Many families enjoyed the excitement and splendor. Lost in this two block wonderland was one nativity scene. I wondered how many of those children know why we celebrate Christmas.

Two blocks north of the Fairmont Hotel the grand Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph hosted the debut Gaude choral group concert at 8 o’clock that night. Four men and four women made up the group. They sang old German songs written as far back as the fifteenth century. The excellent acoustics in the magnificent cathedral accented the perfect harmony of the singers. A great experience!

The following day we ate an amazing brunch at the Hayes Mansion, another place with a fascinating Bay area family story. Waiting for us that evening on the grand plaza by the sea was the lighting of the Christmas tree. Seats were set up in rows and the large fire pits were lit early. A local high school boys choir entertained with Christmas songs, no traditional carols. The MC announced the winners
of the gingerbread houses lining the hotel halls. Santa Claus rode down the hill by the ocean in a golf cart. With a couple of children from the audience he lit the Christmas tree. Christmas messages and pictures were projected onto the large hotel wall.

We arrived home Monday evening full of Christmas, but looking for a missing “Merry Christmas” after being saturated with “Happy Holidays” for three days. I wish my readers a Merry Christmas and of course Happy Holidays as well.

Categories : Get Aways

Back to the Sea

Posted by Elva 
· November 7, 2015 

 

As we headed to the Northern California coast after our longest absence, I could feel any tension or anxious thoughts disappear into the misty cloudy fog that had our windshield wipers active after a long summer rest. “So which route shall we take?” I asked my husband. “You’re driving. You decide.”

I decided to drive west through the middle of the old town of Petaluma divided by Hiwy 101. It was a cloudy moody day. The usually lush green farmland was so dry the cattle and sheep no longer looked like the pampered animals in television ads.

We met dozens of campers and cars pulling trailers leaving the coast. Not much traffic going west. A fork in the road pointing south to picturesque Pt. Reyes always tempts me to go that way. Sometimes I do, but on this day I hung tight to the steering wheel and turned north on Hiwy l through Tamales, best known as the place to turn toward popular Dillon Beach.

Ten miles north on Hiwy l we came to Bodega Bay where we had lunch at the Tides which has windows facing the Bay. A curtain of fog rose from the water blocking the view. The Tides is expensive so we had breakfast for the second time.

As we drove the familiar curves of this famous ocean highway I couldn’t resist rolling down my window to let in the sounds, the smell, and the feel of the wonderful Pacific Ocean. On through Jenner, over the cliffs toward Ft. Ross, Salt Point, past Sea Ranch to Gualala and the Sea Cliff  Motel where we would spend two wonderful nights bathed in the wonder of this magical place.

California got its first really soaking rain after a long dry spell. The next morning the fog was gone. The sun turned the sky into a beautiful blue with white fluffy clouds. The ocean matched it with its own blue with white capped waves. We took a long walk beside this noisy beauty intoxicated by the stimulation of all of our senses. I love the ocean. For me it is the perfect getaway every time..

Categories : Get Aways

Lake Tahoe Timeshare GetAway

Posted by Elva 
· October 12, 2015 

 

Little church in Genoa

Sunshine in October warmed our bodies and spirits as we relaxed at Tahoe Ridge last week. Travelers winding their way up Kingsbury Grade believe the Tower building at the Ridge is a fairy castle guarding the lush green Carson Valley seven thousand feet below. Relaxing in our seventh floor apartment makes it easy to let go of the pressure of appointments, deadlines, meetings, and assorted obligations of every day life.

We brought books and writing material. Everett read Matthew and Mark in the New Testament, something he had been wanting to do again. I read my mother’s diaries from 1943 and 1944. I realized I had some revising to do on the memoir I am writing.

Glorious sunrises and sunsets entertained us. We had spectacular views from our bedroom, living room, and balcony. At night, lights turn the valley into a fairy land impossible to capture with our little camera. Car headlights turn into eyes of wild animals creeping up the seven mile grade. They disappear around the curves.

The highlight of the week came when our daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters joined us for the weekend. On Sunday morning we all went to a tiny church in Genoa at the base of the mountain range. We got the last row of empty seats. The pastor invited Emily and Kendra to ring the bell. The girls were enchanted. “It’s just like the little house on the prairie,” they said. We felt the warmth and love of the strangers who amazingly are our brothers and sisters.

Get-aways are good for relationship!
Categories : Get Aways

Kauai Coast Resort–Everett’s Version

Posted by Elva 
· April 26, 2015 

The idea of Elva and I both writing about our getaway to Kauai didn’t appeal to me at first. We have been to Kauai before, but this was different. We had a suite overlooking the ocean near Wailua at the Kauai Coast Resort. We have always enjoyed the ocean. I often say the waves rolling in on the beach and going back out to the sea are like a mental massage that takes our cares away. We sit on our balcony, feel the cool ocean breeze and watch the waves relentlessly wash up on the shore.

It is a place like this where we talk to each other the most and share our inner feelings. On this trip I finished “The Story” which is a condensation of the entire Bible. I also read Elva’s book, “Becoming Soul Mates” from cover to cover. I had read parts of it before. I am amazed at how close we’ve become over the last 60 years. I can hardly believe I was ever as young as I was when some of the things she wrote about happened. It has been good to refresh my memories. I am very glad Elva said yes to me when I proposed to her so long ago. Getaways are wonderful!!

Categories : Get Aways

Getaway to Kauai Coast Resort

Posted by Elva 
· April 26, 2015 

 

 Ours is the closest balcony on the 3rd floor.

By the time I was 45 years old I had visited 16 countries, but I had never been to Hawaii. One day the mail brought a brochure from the Psychiatric Congress advertising an interesting workshop to be held in the spring. This was a chance to go to Hawaii and pick up half of my 36 required CEU’s at the same time. I signed up and talked my husband into joining me.

The day we arrived in Lihue I remember smelling the exotic fragrance of thousands of flowers. All the way from the airport to our hotel at Poipu Beach I was catching my breath in awe at the beauty surrounding us. By the time we reached the Tunnel of Trees, I had run out of words to adequately match my feelings of wonder. Paradise is an overworked word on the island of Kauai.

We have just returned from another week in Kauai. In spite of the devastation caused by a hurricane in 1992, the island looks much the same. The biggest change since we were here a few years ago is the increase in traffic. I don’t know whether it is because of an increase in population, an increase in the number of tourists, or because more residents can afford cars; maybe all of those things.

This getaway has been as close to heaven as anything I can imagine. Our third floor ocean front unit at Kauai Coast Resort with its balcony just 50 to 60 feet from the ocean is truly a memory creating place. We have filled it with hugs and kisses, words of love, and expressoins of joy. Hawaii is truly a place where love comes easily.

Categories : Get Aways

California Coast Getaway

Posted by Elva 
· April 1, 2015 

 

by Guest Blogger–Michele Penn Zumwalt
Yesterday morning while John Zumwalt was sleeping, I decided to look at our route for today. We had planned to drive up the California coast and I was secretly worried about the roads and CLIFFS we would be driving. As I scanned the blue line up Hwy 1, all along the coast, my heart started to pound and my hands got sweaty. I decided right then and there. I was NOT going on that road.
When John woke up, I had two routes to Carmel all laid out for him. My argument for the second route looked like this: The original route along the coast would take an HOUR longer than just heading back to the inland Hwy 101 and going straight up.
I said. “It will be much faster and then we can spend more time in Carmel.”
After 21 years of marriage, I cannot hide much and persuasion is easy. He simply said, “Baby, I’ll
go whichever way you want to go, but I thought you wanted to see this part of the coastline.”
He left the decision to me. Encouraging me to face my fears  and promising to drive SLOW. we said prayers and began the most beautiful drive we’ve ever been on together. When we reached Carmel , I told Johnny Z. all of the things I would NEVER have done without him: scuba diving, karate, and much more. I told him how grateful I am for his gentle, encouraging way and his constant confidence in me.
This morning I woke up thanking God once again for opening my mind, for trying new things and for a husband who says, YOU CAN DO IT, and it will be FUN. You know what? It always is.
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Categories : Get Aways

Ahwahnee Hotel at Yosemite

Posted by Elva 
· February 22, 2015 

 

Yosemite! The word instantly brings back memories. A little girl looking forward to camping with her family. Watching the magic of falls made of fire after listening to “Let the Fire Fall” ring out through the valley. Wet hikes beside torrents of sparkling water. Mesmerized in a fairyland called “The Happy Isles” wondering what it would be like to jump into the water and let it take me along on all of the secret places it explores.

Other memories of waking up on a rainy night to hear and smell a bear in our tent. Hanging on to the tent pole to keep the tent from collapsing while our visitor noisily ate up all of our food and its containers. Cleaning cabins in the summer and on weekends at Camp Curry while I was a college student.

Nineteen-fifty-one was the year my friends and I visited the Ahwahnee and made the wish; some day I want to stay here overnight. That some day happened two weeks ago when my husband and I joined a Sports Leisure two day tour to the Ahwanhee Hotel in Yosemite.

It was just as magic as I hoped it would be. No snow, but enough rain to put on a great waterfalls and river show, new falls competing with the famous old ones. We could see Yosemite Falls from our hotel window.

We sat by a roaring fire in the giant lobby fireplace, ate in the magnificent dining room, admired Indian handiwork, took the hotel tour, this time as guests! All of this was arranged and managed for us by our tour director, Ramona Goodge who shared stories about the people, places, and history of this beautiful National Park.

To top it all off, when at dinner my husband, Everett, requested our song, “Indian Love Call”, the pianist knew it. We had had to adopt a new song because musicians would tell us they had never heard of “Indian Love Call.” Looking into each other’s eyes, listening to “our song” we both agreed crossing off getaways on our bucket list excites us.

Categories : Get Aways

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