California, February 18-28, 2022

Posted: May 23rd, 2023 | Filed under: Out Of Town

February 18, 2022
Flew across the country to the Bay Area and by 2:30 in the afternoon had already finished lunch in Half Moon Bay:

Barbara's Fishtrap, 281 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay, California, February 18, 2022

Stayed down the road in Santa Cruz near the boardwalk:

Aqua Breeze Inn, 204 2nd Street, Santa Cruz, California, February 18, 2022

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California, February 18, 2022

February 19, 2022
Monterey Bay Aquarium:

Giant Pacific Octopus, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California, February 19, 2022

Great Tide Pool, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California, February 19, 2022

Northern Anchovy Fish, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California, February 19, 2022

Then drove around in the sunny weather to see the striking Northern California coast in our boss red Dodge Charger:

17-Mile Drive, Monterey County, California, February 19, 2022

17-Mile Drive, Monterey County, California, February 19, 2022

Cabrillo Highway Near Carmel Highlands, Monterey County, California, February 19, 2022

And later on back in Santa Cruz, The Mystery Spot:

The Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz, California, February 19, 2022

The Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz, California, February 19, 2022

February 20, 2022
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and the Apple Park Visitor Center on our way to San Francisco, where we ditched the rental car . . .

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz County, California, February 20, 2022

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz County, California, February 20, 2022

Apple Park Visitor Center, 10600 North Tantau Avenue, Cupertino, California, February 20, 2022

NÜ Car Rentals San Francisco, 1409 Rollins Road, Burlingame, California, February 20, 2022

February 21-22, 2022
To San Francisco, enjoyed blue skies walking through Fort Mason toward Fisherman’s Wharf:

Golden Gate Bridge From Great Meadow, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California, February 21, 2022

…and at Lands End:

Sutro Baths Ruins, Lands End, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California, February 22, 2022

And whole fried crab at R&G Lounge:

Fried Whole Crab, R&G Lounge, 631 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California, February 22, 2022

February 23, 2022
Went across the bay to Oakland Jack London Square Station to catch the Coast Starlight Amtrak train to Los Angeles:

Oakland Jack London Square Station, 245 2nd Street, Oakland, California, February 23, 2022

Pacific Ocean From Amtrak Coast Starlight, California, February 23, 2022

Sunset, Pacific Ocean From Amtrak Coast Starlight, California, February 23, 2022

February 25, 2022
Disneyland!

Main Street, U.S.A., Disneyland, Anaheim, California, February 25, 2022

Disneyland, Anaheim, California, February 25, 2022

It's A Small World, Disneyland, Anaheim, California, February 25, 2022

R2D2, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Disneyland, Anaheim, California, February 25, 2022

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Disneyland, Anaheim, California, February 25, 2022

Main Street, U.S.A., Disneyland, Anaheim, California, February 25, 2022

February 26, 2022
Brunch at Magic Castle:

Magic Castle, 7001 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California, February 26, 2022

February 27, 2022
LA Galaxy vs. NYCFC at Dignity Health Sports Park in nearby Carson:

LA Galaxy vs. NYCFC, Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, February 27, 2022

And Cambodian food for dinner in Long Beach at Sophy’s Restaurant:

Sophy's Restaurant, Long Beach, California, February 27, 2022

London, April 8-17, 2023

Posted: May 17th, 2023 | Filed under: Out Of Town

April 8, 2023
We landed first thing in the morning flying in from NYC so the thing to do was stay up.
Novelty Automation in Holborn helped keep us engaged:

Travel By Tube Machine, Novelty Automation, Holborn, London, England, April 8, 2023

Then headed around the block to The Fryer’s Delight, wasting no time getting our fish and chips box ticked:

The Fryer's Delight, 19 Theobald's Road, Holborn, London, England, April 8, 2023

Fish and Chips, The Fryer's Delight, Holborn, London, England, April 8, 2023

From there wandered down toward Westminster via the Strand:

Temple Bar Memorial, Strand, City of Westminster, London, England, April 8, 2023

And finally to Trafalgar Square:

Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, London, England, April 8, 2023

And everyone stayed awake!

April 9, 2023
This being Sunday we had to visit Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park:

Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park, Westminster, London, England, April 9, 2023

The Serpentine, Hyde Park, Westminster, London, England, April 9, 2023

Walked around Kensington:

Kynance Mews, Kensington, London, England, April 9, 2023

And then hit up The World’s End in Finsbury Park for Sunday Roast while watching Arsenal tie Liverpool:

Sunday Roast, The World's End, Finsbury Park, London, England, April 9, 2023

April 10, 2023
A tour of Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC:

Stamford Bridge Stadium Tour, Fulham, London, England, April 10, 2023

Premier League Trophies, Trophy Room, Chelsea FC Museum, Stamford Bridge Stadium, Fulham, London, England, April 10, 2023

Nearby, the Harrods food hall:

Meat Pies, Food Hall, Harrods, Knightsbridge, London, England, April 10, 2023

And why stop with one Premier League stadium? Fron there we checked in with Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium:

Emirates Stadium, Holloway, London, England, April 10, 2023

Gunnersaurus Plush Dolls, The Armoury Team Shop, Emirates Stadium, Holloway, London, England, April 10, 2023

April 11, 2023
Morning run along Regent’s Canal in Islington near where we stayed in Canonbury:

Regent's Canal Near Islington Tunnel, London, England, April 11, 2023

Later, passing by St Paul’s Cathedral on our way across the River Thames:

St Paul's Cathedral, City of London, London, England, April 11, 2023

…on our way to the Tate Modern:

Turbine Hall, Tate Modern, Bankside, London, England, April 11, 2023

Cildo Meireles' Babel, Tate Modern, Bankside, London, England, April 11, 2023

The Queen’s Walk:

Southwark Bridge and City of London From The Queen's Walk, Bankside, London, England, April 11, 2023

…toward Borough Market:

Furness Fish Market, Borough Market, Bankside, London, England, April 11, 2023

April 12, 2023
We and seeming every other tourist in London attended the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace:

Buckingham Palace, City of Westminster, London, England, April 12, 2023

Buckingham Palace, City of Westminster, London, England, April 12, 2023

…followed by a Full English Breakfast at Regency Cafe:

Regency Cafe, 17-19 Regency Street, Westminster, London, England, April 12, 2023

Full English Breakfast, Regency Cafe, Westminster, London, England, April 12, 2023

The checkerboard pattern of the Edwin Lutyens-designed Grosvenor Estate Social Housing on Page Street is really striking:

Grosvenor Estate Social Housing, Page Street, City of Westminster, London, England, April 12, 2023

Camden Market:
Camden Market, Camden Town, London, England, April 12, 2023

That evening, we saw The Tempest at Shakespeare’s Globe:

Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside, London, England, April 12, 2023

April 13, 2023
Piccadilly Circus for some shopping:

Piccadilly Circus, City of Westminster, London, England, April 13, 2023

Fortnum & Mason:

Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St James's, London, England, April 13, 2023

Tea Sets, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St James's, London, England, April 13, 2023

Nearby Chinatown:

Looking Down Macclesfield Street From Shaftesbury Avenue, Chinatown, City of Westminster, London, England, April 13, 2023

Tea and Tattle in Bloomsbury before a visit to the British Museum:

Tea and Tattle, 41 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England, April 13, 2023

Great Court, British Museum, London, England, April 13, 2023

Rosetta Stone, British Museum, London, England, April 13, 2023

April 14, 2023
Kew Gardens:

Palm House, Kew Gardens, Richmond, London, England, April 14, 2023

Jade Vine, Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew Gardens, Richmond, London, England, April 14, 2023

Temperate House, Kew Gardens, Richmond, London, England, April 14, 2023

And Ted Lasso lives just down the road in Richmond:

Paved Court, Richmond, London, England, April 14, 2023

Reale Camiceria Italian Embroidery, 10 Paved Court, Richmond, London, England, April 14, 2023

…and his local:

The Prince's Head, 28 The Green, Richmond, London, England, April 14, 2023

Had to get back across town to see the strange and wonderful Viktor Wynd Museum:

The Viktor Wynd Museum, Hackney, London, England, April 14, 2023

The Viktor Wynd Museum, Hackney, London, England, April 14, 2023

April 15, 2023
A trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to catch a Premier League match:

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham, London, England, April 15, 2023

Tottenham Hotspur vs. AFC Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham, London, England, April 15, 2023

A Hackney rainbow:

Amhurst Road at Kenmure Road, Hackney, London, England, April 15, 2023

April 16, 2023
The Monument:

Fish Street Hill, Monument to the Great Fire of London, City of London, London, England, April 16, 2023

Sunday Roast at Blacklock City:

Sunday Roast, Blacklock City, 13 Philpot Lane, City of London, London, England, April 16, 2023

Brick Lane:

Brick Lane, East End, London, England, April 16, 2023

Banglatown Arch, Brick Lane at Hopetown Street, East End, London, England, April 16, 2023

Costa Rica, December 26-31, 2021

Posted: November 17th, 2022 | Filed under: Out Of Town

Basically got a good last-minute package deal to Guanacaste, Costa Rica between Christmas and New Year’s. Easy flight down direct to the airport in Liberia and fun mix of warm beach/relaxation and cool stuff to see. The country’s motto is “pura vida,” “pure life,” a sort of an optimistic affirmation (that apparently comes from a 1950s Mexican film featuring an unflappable happy-go-lucky protagonist) and the warm, dry desert-y vibe of Guanacaste certainly feels that way:
La Gran Nicoya Artisanal Touristic Center, Guardia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021

La Gran Nicoya Artisanal Touristic Center, Guardia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021

December 27, 2021
Beachside pool (access via the residence club we spent the week at) at Coco Beach in Playas del Coco, a lovely spot:

Coco Beach, Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 27, 2021

Coco Beach, Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 27, 2021

Coco Beach, Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 27, 2021

December 28, 2021
Hacienda El Viejo combination cultural tasting (sugar cane products and tortillas, etc.) and boat tour along the Tempisque River, where you see monkeys, birds and crocodiles:

Sugar Cane, Hacienda El Viejo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 28, 2021

Tempisque River, Hacienda El Viejo National Wildlife Refuge, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 28, 2021

Capuchin Monkey, Tempisque River, Hacienda El Viejo National Wildlife Refuge, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 28, 2021

Crocodile, Tempisque River, Hacienda El Viejo National Wildlife Refuge, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 28, 2021

December 29, 2021
The charming Llanos del Cortés Waterfall:

Llanos del Cortés, Bagaces, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 29, 2011

Llanos del Cortés, Bagaces, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 29, 2011

Looking at their official Facebook page, it seems that you can’t always swim there if there’s too much rain but we were there on a nice day.

December 30, 2021
Just over the border Alajuela Province in the rain forest region near the Volcán Tenorio is Spring Paradise Bijagua, a private reserve where you can see sloths up in the trees:

Spring Paradise Bijagua, Bijagua, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021

Spring Paradise Bijagua, Bijagua, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021

Sleeping Sloth, Spring Paradise Bijagua, Bijagua, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021

Costa Rica is known for its birding and there are lots of birds to see around the country, including at Spring Paradise Bijagua:

Spring Paradise Bijagua, Bijagua, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021

This overpass in Liberia is part of the Pan-American Highway, which we drove back and forth on:

Ruta Nacional #1 and Carretera Hacia Nicoya, Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021

We didn’t eat out a lot in Costa Rica but did have a nice seafood meal at Restaurante Mar Azul in Coco:

Restaurante Mar Azul, Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 30, 2021