Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Chilling in New Zealand
After a smooth flight across the Pacific we arrived in NZ. We have been taking it very easy since, frosty mornings and warm(ish) sunny days. We have decided that you would never get tired of the view from the Fear's house and they agree. It is great to catch up with them all.
We have perused the shops in Cambridge and Hamilton and today we visited an arboretum and sculture garden, which was quite lovely if a little shady and cool. Tonight we are off to the Woodbox for dinner, which as most of the family remember, provided a lovely dinner in 2010. Back to Auckland in the morning and then home.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Farewell USA
We saw this at our fav supermarket "Wholefoods" and thought it summed up our thoughts perfectly!
Last day in USA
As luck would have it Dira was at the drugstore and stood next to one of the few Aussies we have encountered on our trip and he in turn shared his head cold with her. As a consequence, I struck out alone to walk the Golden Gate Bridge. A bus trip over the bridge saw the driver drop off myself and three Spanish speaking women at what did not even appear to be bus stop and was way past the end of the bridge. A bit of careful navigation along a non pedestrian road soon saw me joining the throng of people and cars crossing the bridge. It was a warm sunny day and even the wind was light. The traffic noise (6 lanes of non stop cars, trucks and buses) did not quite allow for the type of walk I had I mind but nothing could beat the view. After crossing I walked over to the Pacific Ocean side to see some coastline, surfers under the bridge and a huge tanker pass by. I also enjoyed great views of the city skyline and the harbour. Returning to the hotel saw Dira feeling well enough to venture out into the warm afternoon sunshine for a final bask before we head even further toward home via the Fears. We know Winter awaits us.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Mad Men
Catching the tram up to the Castro for dinner, opposite there was a man on the train who pulled down his pants and begun to play with himself, no one seemed peturbed by this, this was followed by arriving at the Castro Sqaure where two men were totally naked except for their shoes. I did not quite notice this as we stepped off the tram but nearly ran into them, they were having casual conversations and it appeared to be normal for those around them. Had a great meal at Eiji a resturant in a small room that only seated 20 diners at capacity and run by a quirky Japanese family. The tofu was hand made and we had this amazing tofu dish, sort of like a creme brûlée with a smoky miso sauce. On the way home as we got off the tram and headed back up hill to our hotel, we experienced a horror movie moment, sitting in the window at Burger King was a man with a small silver base ball bat in his hand, when he saw us he looked at us and tapped the bat in his hand, it was freaky, again nobody seemed disturbed by this.. we quickly headed back to the hotel.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Cruising the bay
With the sun shining and a soft breeze we took our favorite tram to Fishermans Wharf and walked along the bay, over the hill to the marina, where the Escape to Alcatraz triathlon was about to commence, San Francisco's finest bodies on display, we thought of joining in but fortunately for us we left our Lycra at the hotel. The homes on the waterfront were to die for and each one so different. We then wandered up the hill to Union St for lunch at Nettie's Crab House, we snacked on crab cakes, fish tacos and beet salad, with a bloody Mary as I have learned this is what you have here for lunch on the weekends. Headed up the hill a bit further to walk down the worlds crookedest street, what a sight. Back down the hill to the Wharf and back on the tram (which are amazing so old - 50's style... I may need a polka dot dress...and great colors). Travelling by public transport here is a breeze and we have the system down pat. Last day tommorow so we plan to head across the bay to Saucilito for the day, as the weather is so fine.
Freedom, peace love and happiness
Today we made our way to Castro St, a famous gay area. After trying to buy a coke in a bar of tired queens, we made our way along the street. Reminded me of Oxford street with a slightly more village feel but felt the history of Harvey Milk there. We then took the bus to Haight Ashbury. We were going to walk through the Golden Gate Park but at the sight of a large number of homelss people and their dogs, with the Police patrolling through the middle of them, we decided to walk through the town instead. We are at a loss to understand why there are so many homelss people in SF along with why so many of these seem unwell and still on the streets. Very sad indeed. The locals were certainly living the (hippie) dream, many dreadlocks, rainbow clothes and unusual people were to be found. We had lunch in an Irish pub with window seats, watching the world pass by (one of our fav pastimes). Dira chatted with Bill, a homeless man selling newspapers like the Big Issue. He had been homeless for 10 years but was a lively character. We then took the fabulous tram to the Ferry Building for dinner. Amazingly there was hardly any wind, unlike the night before where we were nearly blown back to Boston!
Friday, June 8, 2012
San Francisco
A few episodes of Mad Men, amazing views of the snow capped mountains around Denver to the deserts of Navada we had an amazing smooth trip into San Frnacisco this afternoon. We knew that this city had a few hills but did not realize that down town is very hilly.
After checking in we took a trip to fishermans wharf had a wander around, and soaked in the views of the bay. We caught the tram back to our hotel that was fun going up and down all the hills. Can't wait to explore this city tommorow.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Ptown
Michael arranged to take us for an overnight trip to Provincetown. This is an amazing town at the very end of Cape Cod, where in the summer it is gayest place in Massachusetts! The weather we had brought to Boston followed us, cold, wet and a bit windy. That said we enjoyed every minute of this wonderful place and vowed to come back in the real summertime. We stayed at Michael's friend Bill's house, just a few minutes from the main street of Ptown. The architecture was gorgeous, the water scenes amazing, we have fallen in love with weatherboard houses and the lush gardens continue to inspire us.
Yesterday we spent in Boston city, taking a Duck tour which is an amphibious vehicle so we went on the Charles River as well as along the streets. It was a great (and fun) way to see Boston in a short time and hear some of the history of the early Americans. We then went along Newbury St, poking into the shops along the way :)
Out for dinner to have hibatchi, which was fun! The cats are finally deciding we are Ok and Buddy still beleives that Dira will let him pinch a dog cookie again if he gives her his sad look. We are reluctant to leave here, one because we would love to stay longer and see more of the New England area and two, we are now heading west for the first time which means we are on our way home...
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Atlantic Ocean - Cape Cod
It was a cold day when I dipped my fingers into the Atlantic on the USA side for the first time.
Salt Marsh sea wall
This wall stretches for a mile across the harbor protecting a grass salt marsh. It was high tide when we went there so not a blade of grass to be seen but Michael assured us it was true!
Boston
Great bus trip from NYC to Boston, very warm welcome to Michael and Jo's home flags out, flowers in our room and chocolate on our bed what more could we girls want. Greeting then with the furry animals of the house, not too sure the cats were happy to have a few more females in the house, Kelsey and Katoo are serious cats with attitudes. Buddy and Iyox two big boy German Shepherds are the best behaved dogs I have ever met, Buddy puts himself into the kennel for the night lock up. Sunday morning we drove into Cambrige for brunch, keeping with our new brunch tradition a Bloody Mary to start the day. We then headed over to Harvard University and spent time waking through the campus and Harvard Square, really beautiful grounds and impressive buildings. Tommorow Michael is taking us to Province Town at the top of Cape Cod to stay the night at a friends condo.
Guest blog by Izac
The feast at Two Rivers Country Club
Nestled at the intersection of the James and Chickahominy rivers, lies the Two Rivers Country Club, a stunning club with panoramic views stretching across a vast 8 mile swathe of water, draped in evening sun it was the scene of our final holiday meal.
We arrived and sat outside on the great white veranda, as the sun began to set the days final strands of light crept back across the water. We drank a few pre-dinner aperitifs while Jim educated us on the various Generals and Admirals that lived at Governors Land. I had never met a General before but in the space of ten minutes we had met one and were learning about two more.
As we drank and listened a young boy teed off from the 18th hole that spans the waterfront next to the clubhouse, I watched in envy as his drive found the fairway, much straighter than the one I sliced on the same whole the previous day. I then smiled with great pleasure as he shanked his next and went on to record a double bogey.
After polishing off our final drink we were seated in the clubhouse where we all decided on the buffet. To call the meal a buffet is a disservice to all of the real honest buffets out there, the kind where teeming plates nurtured by heat lamps begin to grow and morph into something unintended.
This was more akin to an ancient Roman feast but of infinitely higher class, and I as began to plan out the path of my meal (crab, rib eye, maybe a little more crab, definitely crme brulee), I felt like a Roman emperor, minus the women of questionable employment and without the vomitorium which after 5 minutes of Wiki education I have been led to believe is a common misconception of ancient times http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomitorium.
The centerpiece was undoubtedly the crab, two large bain-maries stacked with what must have been ¼ or ½ crab torsos, that if reassembled would have certainly been large enough to scare small children and polish off the na•ve domestic pet that wandered too close to the water.
While size doesnÕt always matterÉ it does when it comes to crab, too much work for too little meat can ruin the experience. Fortunately these claws were not only bountiful but also delicate and very sweet, dipped in melted butter the meat dissolved like sea candy on the tongue. I opted on the side of caution and took one portion but felt a little outdone as Akiko took two huge portions, that were easily twice the size of her head.
There were various plates of vegetables and pastas at the salad bar, the pick of which was a rare tuna and seaweed salad, but why use precious space when you have unlimited crab, rib eye and desert to accommodate.
The rib eye was roasted in huge 10-12 LB pieces, sliced to order and served with Jus and horseradish cream. By the time I had polished off my crab the remaining piece of rib eye at the carving station was a little well done, so Phyl and I wisely waited and in around 15 minutes we were presented with our 10-12 LB piece that was perfectly rare. The others at our table proclaimed that it was too rare but this was a perfect example of why America really is the steak country, deep pink and juicy.
At this point its fair to say I was a little stuffed, the desert bar seemed to be have been well raided and the crme brulees gone for the night, I consoled myself with some coconut cake and ice cream, which completed my burgeoning belly nicely. High on crab, meat and sugar I was about to take a post dinner nap, when a waiter arrived and announced there were actually more crme brulees. It would have been rude not to right?
A truly memorable feast.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Lunch in Greenwich Village
Famous for their lobster rolls (Dira ate one) and I had the biggest fish sandwich I have ever ever seen!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Last day in NYC
Today we visited the 9/11 Memorial. It is a marvelous memorial to the people who died on that day. The waterfall is 30 feet high and the inner waterfall seems to go to the centre of the earth. The names of all who died are inscribed around the two waterfalls which sit on the footprints of the two World Trade Centre building sites. You can't help but be moved by the place. It is surrounded by construction workbuilding new skyscrapers around the area. We then went to Greenwich Village, passing by Magnolia Bakery of Sex in the City fame in Bleeker St. We then met up with Izac and Akiko for a final dinner in Williamsburg at a resturant named Gwenell St which has a former WD50 chef running it. We then went to the Angel bar for cocktails where we met a man investing in a hummus resturant. Dira and Izac suggested he concentrate on babganosh instead! He don't seem to think that was a great idea. we then went to Izac's home bar where he convinced Dira to have a Pickleback. This is a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice. So not my thing! We left Izac and Akiko to head back for one final night cap on the roof of the hotel bar.
Our final night at the hotel was quite an adventure, we decided that it was time for a sleep in as we were not going anywhere in a hurry. At 1am we were woken to a fire alarm quite a piercing noise that could not be turned off till the fire fighters turned up, it appeared to be a false alarm, back to sleep to have this repeated at 2 am, getting a bit spare by ths time. Back to sleep till 5.30 am, then again at 8am so it was up get packed and get out of there. I felt very sorry for the poor manager who greeted all the guests as they came down, well we did get a 50% discount. Off for breakfast to meet Izac and Akiko at Freeman's a quirky resturaunt with stuffed animals on the walls, a bloody Mary, hot artichoke dip then a taxi up to 53rd and 6th to catch the bus to Boston.
We just love New York City, I don't think we have ever been in a city like it, will definitely return, sad to leave Izac and Akiko had the best holiday with them both but a god excuse to return and discover more.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Brownstones and Bridges
Today we went to Brooklyn. Took the F train over and emerged on the corner of Prospect Park. We then walked through Park Slopes, leafy green streets full of that classic brownstone architecture. Beautiful and amazingly quiet, even one block off the main roads. So different from Manhattan... We continued on our long walk through Cobble Hill where basic terrace houses are 2.5 million and we couldnt even guess at the cost of those that faced the promenade and had views across the East River back to Manhattan. We finally made it to the Brooklyn Bridge. A short stair climb saw us on the walkway back to Manhattan. Fantastic views if a little hot. It was hard not to think about 9/11 and what must have gone on and how people responded. We remember seeing footage of people fleeing over this bridge which really is only a narrow pathway about 4 meters wide. We are going to Ground zero tomorrow.
Back to LES and a good recommendation for lunch saw us at Inotecha, great italian food and cold peroni beer. Met up with Izac for dinner at a new Greek resturant Boudis and then up to "our" bar for nightcaps. Last day tomorrow, could do another week easily as we have not seen everything that we would like to, we are reviewing the bucket list daily.
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