Woman on Her Way

Day 6: Tandem biking along the Pacific coast

We reserved a tandem bike from our hotel room. By the time we got to the beach, it was raining and only 54º F. Determined to try riding a bike built for two, we decided to try if for at least one hour. As we peddled, the rain stopped and we had an enjoyable ride. As Dennis said, “We didn’t end up in divorce court.”

The amusement park on Santa Monika Pier in the distance.

Along the coast, there is a concrete bike path known as “The Strand” that runs from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach–about 17 miles. It is supposed to be for bicyclists but we had to contend with pedestrians and joggers who were apparently misinformed as to the purpose of the path. We rode from Venice to the historic Port Los Angeles or the Mile Long Pier. Today nothing remains of the wharf except the historical marker. With the wind at our backs, we made go time on the return trip, finishing in a little over two hours.

Looking towards the historical Pier of Los Angeles

After dropping off the bikes, we strolled along Venice Beach. Since the wind was cool, we decided to return to the hotel. Once there, we walked to the Guatemaltiera Bakery and Restaurant for a snack. It was difficult choosing what to eat. I had a cookie that was delicious with the Guatemalan coffee. Dennis had strawberry shortcake and tea.

We drove through Hollywood on our way to the Santa Monica Mountains. We passed the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium, and lots more On one corner a street band was attracting a large crowd and impeding the traffic

The Hollywood Walk of Fame comprises more than 2,600 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California

At sunset, we drove Mulholland Drive to see LA from above. We got to the Hollywood Bowl Overlook just as the sun was setting and the vistas were magnificent.

Hollywood is split by the mountains. On the other side is The Valley. Unfortunately, it was too dark to get good photos.

Day 4: Visiting the LA Natural History Museum

Rose garden entrance to the Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum (NHM) in Los Angeles is the largest natural and historical museum in the western United States, It started in 1913 as the Museum of History, Science, and Art. The main building alone is worth seeing It has massive marble-walled rooms and a domed and colonnaded rotunda,

We started with the Gem and Mineral Hall on the first level. I was fascinated by the variety of precious rocks, many found in California. We were lucky to see a special diamonds exhibit featuring four of nature’s rarest colorful diamond masterpieces. The star of this showcase was the Juliet Pink diamond, renown for its exceptional clarity, size, intense color grade, and lack of inclusions. Another of the featured gems was The Rainbow Necklace comprised of blue-grey (extremely rare), green-yellow, orange-pink, purple-pink, and brown-orange diamonds. Though the stones and settings were beautiful, I have never favored diamonds over other stones. But seeing these works of art was a great opportunity.

The African Mammal Hall is a collection of dioramas portraying the animals in natural settings. I was surprised by the giraffe’s short body; I wondered how the animal did not topple over. I was surprised to see a honey badger among the displays.

The Dinosaur Hall has 300 real fossils, and 20 complete dinosaurs and ancient sea creatures.

The Age of Mammals Hall shows the diversity of mammals featuring a total of 240 specimens, including 38 articulated mammal skeletons.

The Becoming Los Angeles exhibit tells the 500-year story of how Southern California went from tiny pueblo to sprawling metropolis. I particularly enjoyed the 1939 city model of downtown Los Angeles.

Space shuttle fuel tank outside of the California Science Museum

Although there were more levels to explore, we decided to visit the nearby California Science Museum. Entrance to this museum is free, but there was a charge to see the space shuttle Endeavor which is on permanent display. Since we had seen other shuttles, we decided to return to the hotel and then meet up later for a Korean dinner.

Tom took us to the International Food Court in Koreatown in downtown LA. It was my first time tasting Kimchi which is said to be one of the world’s healthiest foods. Kimchi is a reddish fermented cabbage (and sometimes radish) dish made with a mix of garlic, salt, vinegar, chile peppers, and other spices. It was an interesting experience. We all ordered different meals so I was able to sample spicy boiled pork, bulgogi, a barbecued beef dish, and Korean-style octopus and shrimp appetizers. For beverages, we had a Korean beer and a Korean rice wine which was sweet and fruity.

Day 3: Catalina Island

Leaving Long Beach for Avalon on Catalina Island

We left Long Beach on the Catalina Express for Avalon on the Catalina Island. In the background are snow-capped mountains. We passed the Queen Mary on our left and several cruise ships. Soon the ferry motors picked up speed for the remaining hour-long ride.

The weather was ideal with cloudless skies and warm enough for me to ride on the open upper deck without a jacket.

We passed a pod of forty dolphins. As I looked back towards Long Beach miles away, L could see an orange-brown mist hovering over the valley. It reminded me of the nicotine stains that mom and I would wash off the walls and furniture back when everyone smoked. I can’t imagine how the smog would look without the existing emissions control.

Dennis leaving the ferry, Catalina Express

Entrance to the Casino which is not a gambling but an entertainment center. The Catalina Casino opened on May 29, 1929.and has been the venue for great entertainers, Broadway productions, and first-run motion pictures.

The Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden is Santa Catalina Island, California, is a memorial to William Wrigley Jr. To get here, we had a 30-minute walk up Avalon Canyon from downtown Avalon.

We were lucky to see The Catalina Island fox (Urocyon littoralis catalinae) a species indigenous to the island for at least 4,000 years. It is tiny, weighing only about 5 pounds.

There are many unusual cacti in the botanical gardens. This is the Black Aeonium

View from the top of the memorial. In the distance is the snow-covered Mount Baldy, is the highest peak of the San Gabriel Mountains, and the highest point in Los Angeles County, California.

After returning to Avalon, we ate the Bluewater Grill before returning to the marina for our ride back to LA.

Day 2: Touring downtown LA

This morning we met our son Tom at his place of work. After checking out the place and meeting some of his fellow artisans, we went to Cafe 50 for lunch. This is a quaint retro eatery that has walls covered in 50s memorabilia. The menu was typical of 50’s dinner, but the back page listed about 40 different milkshakes. Dennis and Tom both had a strawberry shake for dessert. The waiter placed their cherry-topped beverage on the table and then returned with what was left in the blender. With such an ample serving, the almost waddled out the door.

We took our first LA metro ride to downtown LA. Tom really knows the city and took us to some interesting spots Here are some of the things we saw.

City Hall, built in 1928, is often seen in movies.

The LA public library serves the largest population of any publicly funded library system in the United States. The Tom Bradley Wing contains a number of art projects commissioned by the Department of Cultural Affairs. In the atrium, three massive chandeliers created by Therman Statom hang from the ceiling Eighteen feet in diameter and brightly colored they are fun to look down on from the third floor.

The building is a major architectural landmark in downtown LA. It was originally built 1926. In 1993, the Tom Bradley addition was added. Though there are free docent tours of the building and its art, we did it on our own.

We also visited the many parks in the area, the Bradbury Building and Union Station. We saw the country’s shortest, Angels Flight— that runs up and down the hill between Hill and Olive streets. It does not run often, but many of you may recognize it from the movie, LA LA Land.

After traipsing around in downtown LA, we stopped at the Grand Central Market for a quenching brew. This emporium has hosted food vendors & florists, plus game nights, movies & other events, since 1917. We stopped at the Golden Road and had a Back Home Stout. The beer was dark with a strong taste of hops and molasses. It also had an APV of 11.25%. Wow!

La Placita Church is one of the original Catholic churches in downtown LA

Enjoying a refreshing beer at the Central Market

Frank Gehry-designed the Disney Concert Hall (on left) with striking steel architecture & pristine acoustics.Note the mountains in the background.

Victor Clothing Company mural depicts Anthony Quinn in the 1964 movie “Zorba the Greek.” It was painted on the side of the Victor Clothing Building in 1985 by Eloy Torrez and was recently restored.

Day 1 in LA

Our predawn departure for LA meant traveling without coffee. I was surprised to get a delicious cup of Starbucks coffee on the leg from Sarasota to Atlanta. It tasted great with the biscotti they served.

The plane flew lower than normal to evade the headwinds, but from my window, I could only see clouds until we were over a desert just before the Continental Divide. I can’t imagine what it was like for the settlers to cross that region and I have a lot of admiration for their stamina.

At LAX, we sat on the tarmac for over an hour. The pilot said that the plane that was currently at our gate was having trouble departing. Later at the restaurant, someone told us that there was suspicious activity at the airport that prevented planes from arriving/departing, though I could not confirm the validity of this statement, it makes sense especially with all the airport security since 911.

LAX is not as pretty as other airports but is was efficient, and we were soon on our way. Though we had not planned to check our bags, we were forced to do so in Atlanta because the overhead luggage compartments were full. Since airlines now charge to check bags, more people carry them on. When there is not enough room, the last one’s to board the plane are forced to check the luggage. Of course, since you have to remove medicine, computers, and lithium batteries before checking the bags, Dennis and I had to unpack everything. Fortunately, I carry a small Sea-to-Summit day pack which I used to stow our belongings.

LA with snow on the mountains, Photo from the LA Weekly

I am stunned by the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains that frame LA on the east. Their starkness contrasts with the city’s skyline.

We arrived at the Avenue Hotel too early for the 3:00 pm check-in and so we went for lunch at the nearby Mexican Village Restaurant. They are renown for their margaritas as well as their food. As tired as we were, we decided to return for the beverages during a future happy hour and just had wonderfully tasty authentic food. If you come to LA, I recommend this restaurant, though Tom tells me the Mexican food sold on the food trucks is fantastic. I’ll have to compare the “roach coach” food to that of the restaurant’s.

In the evening we walked the East Hollywood neighborhood and stopped at the Guatemalteca Bakery and Restaurant. It was deciding on a treat but with the help of a customer I picked a cookie that would taste great with coffee and Dennis chose a cheesecake. I also bought a Faraon chia seed mango juice just because it was unusual. I think this drink would taste even better with rum.

We ended the day early with expectations of visiting with our son, Tom, in the morning. The weather will be warm on Thursday and Friday and then change for colder and wetter. I want to do our outdoor adventures with temperatures in the high 70s instead of low the 60s.

California Dreaming—exploring LA, the City of Flowers and Sunshine

LA’s beautiful parks

My wanderlust has been in full bloom for months and I am finally going to scratch that itch with a trip to LA. Los Angeles has several nicknames: The Big Orange, The City of Angels, La La Land, and the City of Flowers and Sunshine. I’m not interested in the glitz of stardom, so I won’t be visiting the “glorious Hollywood” scenes. For me, the art, history, and beauty of the environs have greater appeal. And since my son has been living there for about ten years, I am hoping he will lead us to the less touristy and more flavorful sites.

For the next ten days, the weather in LA will range from lows in the 40s to highs in the lower 70’s. Coming from Sarasota, that temperature range is cool for me and I will have to pack “warm” clothing and, most likely, will not take a bathing suit. I may bring bike clothes because Dennis and I would like to rent a tandem. With my lack of balance, having Dennis in control may prevent a fall, but that is no guarantee since we have never ridden a bicycle built for two.

We leave before dawn on Wednesday, Mar 1 and arrive in LAX eight hours later. With the three hour time difference, I’m sure Dennis will need a nap before we meet our son for dinner. It’s been a long while since we’ve seen him and I’m sure our week’s visit will go by too quickly.

As the week progresses, I will tell you more about the places we visit and the people we meet. I hope you will follow along or our little adventure to the west coast.

Snorkling in Nassau

Day 7, Friday, September 16, 2016

Last port of call on this voyage, Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. We arrived midday. Fortunately, we docked with our room on the shady side so mom was able to enjoy the balcony while I went on shore. I had to stand in the hot afternoon sun for about a half hour while the excursion leader collected tickets and brought the group to the dock where we boarded the catamaran. I was glad I had slathered on sunscreen before leaving.

Seahorse Sail and Snorkel

I went on a Seahorse Sail and Snorkel excursion, sitting on the net at the end of the boat. The sail was down on our 35-minute ride to the coral reef, but it was up on the return. Dennis and I had been on this reef before, but it was still beautiful. In addition to the Caribbean fish, I saw a stingray and what I think was a grouper or a garfish. We had one hour to explore the reef and I did not board the catamaran a second early—I was enjoying myself so much. The crew offered us a rum punch on the return trip, but it was like Kool-Aid and I did not like it. The taste didn’t stop the majority of the passengers from consuming multiple glassfuls. Why is it that people over indulge when things are free, even when not good? I guess I am either too old to let my hair down or more discriminating.

After mom cashed in her casino winnings, we packed our bags and sat on the balcony as the Harvest Supermoon rose over the water. Even in Miami the next morning, the large moon was visible.

Disembarkation in the morning was well-organized and we were soon on our bus heading home. Even though the experienced driver knew the way, we didn’t arrive in Sarasota until 3:40 PM.

Catch the Fever while out at sea

Day 6, Thursday, September 15, 2016

On our last day at sea, we sat in the hot tub talking with a man who was enjoying his fourth mimosa of the day—and it wasn’t even 10 A.M. He told us that he had taken The Ultimate Beverage Package as a perk and was enjoying the free drinks. According to his calculations, he and his wife had consumed more than 140 drinks and there was still a day to go. There is no way I could consume enough liquor in a day to make that package worth my while.

Though there were lots of activities on board the ship, mom and I just enjoyed the Atlantic serenity from our balcony. Mom treated herself to a banana split for lunch and amazingly ate it all. For such a tiny person, she eats a lot. I hope that when I am her age I am just as spry and full of gusto for life as she is.

Though mom did not take any excursions, she did enjoy playing the slot machines. She found one, Catch the Fever, that she enjoyed. Whenever she rolled three or more Fever symbols, the game went into an automatic six-spin cycle. She would giggle as the money piled up.

Catch the Fever

Tortola and the rope course

Day 5, Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Mom and I had both been to Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands. Since none of the excursions tempted us, we stayed on the ship and enjoyed sitting alone on the 17^th deck forward hot spa while admiring the beautify vista of contrasting white sand and green mountains. Tortola is among a series of tortoise-looking islands.

While in port, the ship has all sorts of activities for those who stay onboard. I couldn’t talk mom into pampering herself with a relaxing massage or facial. She’s almost 90 and didn’t feel the need for the TLC. There was a Flash Mob Class, but I couldn’t see myself starting one of these. Nor did I have an interest in making an Origami Samurai hat. Of course, there were the usual game shows for those who enjoyed that type of activity. For me, it was pleasurable to kick off my sandals on the deck and read a good book.

In the afternoon, I walked the gangplank hovering 164 ft about the water. After doing Tree-Ump, this rope course was easy. The z-line was the width of the ship, not very long. For those who have never experienced this type of activity, it was scary and thrilling. I guess I just can’t feel scared when I’m tethered to the course; without the danger, even my fear of heights doesn’t kick in. I wish I had this bravado when facing other risky situations.

In the Manhattan Dining Room and were treated to a soulful love revue by the same group that performed After Midnight. I enjoyed their singing here more than the performance the other night because their single was clearer.

The Levity Entertainment Group was a bust. Comedy can be hard depending on the audience and tonight’s punchlines didn’t strike up much laughter. I felt sorry for the entertainers.

SNUBA in St. Thomas

Day 4, Tuesday, September 13, 2016

I was on the dock in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas by 8:20 and on my way to a SNUBA adventure at Coral World Ocean Park. This was a first for me, and I looked forward to it. I was not disappointed. Except for being tethered to the oxygen, SNUBA is similar to snorkeling, but at a deeper depth. Since my body is very buoyant, I wore 11-pound weights to keep me at around 20 to 25 feet below the surface, about one atmosphere below sea level. My ears popped and it took most of the rest of the day to equalize the air pressure in my sinuses. Even so, the experience was worth the discomfort.

Turtle pool at Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas

After the SNUBA, I visited the 42-acre park. There were turtle pools, birds, demonstrations with various aquatic animals such as sharks and sea lions. The park has an open-water system where water flows through each of the exhibits and back out to the ocean. After exploring the park, I sat on the beach people watching. There were a lot of islanders on the beach, and I enjoyed listening to the Creole, Spanish, and melodic English. As I was walking along, I stepped on an iguana’s tail and jumped when I felt it move. I’m glad the Florida reptiles are not this size. These herbivores have spines on their back and down their tails. Like many other lizards, iguanas will grow a second tail if the original one breaks off in a defensive maneuver. Iguanas have a dewlap, the flap of skin below their chin, that helps regulate body temperature. Apparently, female iguanas find the dewlap attractive. Though not eaten on St. Thomas, the iguana is eaten, and, you guessed it, tastes like chicken.

Later in the day, mom and I sat in the hot spa, sipping a Painkiller Cocktail, a rum concoction that was the drink of the day. I took a tube ride down the water slide, just to say I did. I didn’t think at my age that it was wise to take a ride down the other slide where you stood on a platform that opened and dropped you almost vertically. Do you think you would have enjoyed that free-fall sensation?

At night we went to the show, For the Record: The Brat Pack. This musical production of The Breakfast Club featured the music of the 80s. The strobing lights, the choreography, and the vocal quality made this the best performance on this ship. In fact, it exceeded anything I have seen recently. For being on vacation, mom and I keep busy.