August 27 - September 4, 2007
VISITS with RENÉ & IMELDA, CLAUDIA & HARISH; REUNIONS with TITA, MYRNA, & CORA, and with RORIE, IRENE & RENÉ
Monday, August 27
MARTINEZ~LAKE TAHOE
René picked me up at Oakland Airport and we stopped for seafood lunch before going to their house in Martinez. We had wine in his backyard patio where I admired his pear tree which was overflowing with fruit. When Imelda came home from work, we had dinner, then we set out for Lake Tahoe. Felt very sleepy on the road but was afraid to close my eyes due to the zig-zag roads. 
Checked in at Harrah's Casino & Hotel where we were given a very nice suite with gorgeous views, comp due to my highrolling friends! They tried their hands at slots but I was too tired so I went back up to sleep.Tuesday, August 28
LAKE TAHOE~SACRAMENTO~MARTINEZ
Went down for a nice buffet brunch, tried my luck at black jack, they're back at the slots, quit after an hour, won about a hundred, checked out, went for a scenic drive.
Drove up the mountains and enjoyed the cool, fresh air and the beautiful pine forests. Here are some pictures.
Went up to Inspiration Point, 
Emerald Bay, and other scenic spots in the area.
After satisfying our eyes with nature's beauty, we started to drive back down the mountains. VISIT WITH CLAUDIA & HARISH
Drove towards Sacramento to visit my friends Claudia and Harish who used to live in New York a while back.
Enjoyed our visit thoroughly, Claudes served some great-tasting ice cream. We had to cut short our visit since it was getting quite late and still a long drive home. I'll see them again in mid-May in New York on their way to Barcelona.
Wednesday, August 29
NAPA VALLEY
René and I drove to Napa Valley to sample some California wines. We started at the Beringer Winery. 
Then on to the V. Sattui Winery, and finally the Mondavi Winery. It was extremely hot that day, over 100 degrees.
I drove back until we reached Concord where I picked up my rental car for the trip to Big Sur and San Francisco.Imelda had delicious barbeque ready when we got home.
Thursday, August 30
MARTINEZ~MONTEREY~BIG SUR
It's time to meet up with my elementary school classmates and friends from our hometown of Calasiao, Pangasinan. I drove to Cora's brother's house in Fremont to pick her and Myrna up for our trip. Thanks to René's GPS, navigation was so much easier.
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
Drove on to Monterey where we went to the famous Monterey Aquarium. The world-famous aquarium was so fascinating, teeming with sea creatures from all over the world.
After lunch at the cafeteria, we watched the feeding of the sea otters, then saw Cora got hatched. Picked up the car and drove
through the beautiful 17-Mile Drive, passed the famous Lone Cypress, on our way to Big Sur.
BIG SUR: TREEBONES RESORT
65 winding miles of spectacular views later, we arrived at Treebones Resort, situated on a cliff above Highway 1, 
with expansive views of the Pacific, and were shown to Yurt #13 (a yurt is a round, fabric-covered tent similar to those used by nomadic Mongolians)
which has 2 queen size beds with patchwork quilts, clear skydome for star-gazing, stove for cool nights, polished knotty pine floor, 
outdoor sitting area with four chairs along the yurt, facing the ocean. 
Dinner that night was at the round main lodge which had a massive fireplace. 
Then we star-gazed and reminisced about our lives in Calasiao decades ago.Friday, August 31
BIG SUR: TREEBONES
Breakfast consisting of coffee and waffles was at the dining room of the main lodge. SAND DOLLAR BEACH
Drove to Sand Dollar Beach where we walked down several flights of stairs to reach the beach, explored a few caves, looked for sea life in tidal pools, and watched surfers. Lunch at a very nice restaurant by the sea. Facing the ocean we enjoyed our seafood salads while gazing at the waves.
LIMEKILN STATE PARK
Next we went to Limekiln State Park, a secluded campground with trails to Limekiln Falls and the actual kilns that were used to produce lime in the 19th century. We hiked through the redwoods and through streams to get to the falls.
Back at Treebones. The pool and hot tub just outside the dining room beckoned. Enjoyed a beer by the spa.
We had a very nice dinner that night at the main lodge. Good food and good wine!
See the effect of half a glass of red wine on three senior citizens?Saturday, September 1
BIG SUR~SAN FRANCISCO
After breakfast at the main lodge, we packed and checked out.
Drove to San Francisco where we found Tita waiting for us at the Beresford Arms Hotel lobby.DINNER AT CAPP'S CORNER ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Capp's Corner Restorante Famiglia, right next door to the Club Fugazy. BEACH BLANKET BABYLON
Then went to see Beach Blanket Babylon at Club Fugazy in San Francisco's North Beach district. Beach Blanket Babylon, a long-running musical revue, is a zany musical spoof of pop culture with extravagant costumes and outrageously huge hats.
Sunday, September 2
SAN FRANCISCO~TIBURON~SAN FRANCISCO
After breakfast at the hotel, I walked to Union Square to meet up with Rorie, Irene and her husband René for a quick visit. The day was gorgeous and so nice to see good old friends!
Tita, Myrna, and Cora came strolling by so I introduced everyone since I am the common bond.
TIBURON: GUAYMAS RESTAURANT
Next stop was Tiburon in Marin County. Headed towards the waterfront and had lunch at Guaymas, a Mexican restaurant with spectacular views of San Francisco and the bay. We enjoyed their house specialties that included grilled seafood and tamales, chili rellenos; house-made tortillas with salsa were served in lieu of chips. Much thanks to Tita who insisted on footing the bill!
Back in San Francisco, we dropped off Tita at the Bart station on Market Street. It was such a nice but very short reunion with Tita.
Monday, September 3
SAN FRANCISCO~MARTINEZ
Myrna and Cora were picked up by Myrna's brother this morning thus ending our get-together. I drove back to Martinez and returned the rental car. Had dinner with Rene and Imelda before I finished packing for my trip back home to the Big Apple in the morning.
To view additional pictures from this trip please click here.
To check my other travel blogs, please click on any trip listed on the uppermost right hand box above. Thank you for viewing my travel blog.
