Exploring and Sharing the World!
I wrote in an earlier post about this grand hotel of Washington, D.C.: The Mayflower, a Renaissance Marriott hotel. I just stayed there again and got to see it decorated for Christmas. I’d though I’d share this beautiful photo of its lobby area decorated for the holiday season.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all!
In another post, I shared my discovery and enjoyment of Virginia wine country – in that post I mentioned how Virginia is for wine lovers. Now it is time to focus on the awesome history that I discovered on that weekend in the Virginia Piedmont – why I think Virginia is for history lovers too!
The weekend trip was anchored around Charlottesvile, VA, home of the University of Virginia, a fine higher education institution (one of the best public universities in the U.S.) with sometimes a great basketball team. The university was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, 3rd POTUS and a learned man in his time for sure. The university is the only U.S. university to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That makes it a must-see for its historic and architectural value.
The university campus is very close to downtown Charlottesville and sports many buildings with columns. Many buildings with many columns. Jefferson liked columns. And octagons. UVA’s builders over the centuries may have over-emphasized the importance of columns just a tad too much…
In any case, it is a very nice campus. My favorite part though was the quadrangle or courtyard by the iconic main building on campus – the area known as The Lawn, headed by the Rotunda, inspired and built to half the scale of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy. The buildings around The Lawn have tons of columns… One of the students told us how students apply to get to live in one of the rooms in the courtyard (a privilege) and how professors are also honored when selected to live in a space there. Of course, the professors’ digs are WAY nicer than the students’ but who cares, right?
As nice as the University of Virginia is, it pales next to the majesty of the homestead Thomas Jefferson built for himself: Monticello. Jefferson decided to build this homestead on a hill he knew from his childhood. The hilltop was flattened and over a period of many decades, and Jefferson built his home there. Assignments like Ambassador to France and the Presidency did not stop the progress on Monticello. Jefferson eventually died there, in the beauty of this estate.
We drove over from Charlottesville (Monticello is right on the outskirts of town) early on a Saturday AM to beat any crowds and make the most of our day in the area. We made it just in time for the 9:30AM house tour. A shuttle bus took us up the hill from the visitor center and the tour promptly started. (By the way, the visitor center has a museum and a short movie that should be checked out.)
The tour takes you through the main level of the house. The upper levels (2 more) are not accessible to the public and the basement is open to tour on your own, as are the rest of the grounds.
The house is set up pretty much as it had been during Jefferson’s time even if not all the objects are original. Jefferson died bankrupt and the family’s possessions were sold along the way to raise funds. Jefferson did get to live in that house until his death at an old age with his daughter and her family (Jefferson had widowed a long time before). Seeing his studio with the items of interest to him, his bed between the study and his bedroom, and the other living spaces was very special. It was incredible how this man of the 18th century was so clever in the design of everything in this house. My favorite was the wine “elevator” that would get bottles up from the wine cellar to the dining room. I can imagine how impressed his guests were whenever he pulled that trick!
Jefferson was smart about the layout of every room in the house and under the house. The basement and the side structures were cleverly used to keep out of sight the activities the family did not wish to see from inside the house. But also to take advantage of the coolness of being below ground: like for the kitchen or wine making!
So the home is a special place indeed but the grounds are equally so. Unfortunately, some of the structures that used to be around the grounds are no longer there to fully serve as witness to how life was back then in an estate, including how slaves and other workers lived. But, with the grounds completely open, the views are incredible. Especially on this fall day.
A short walk downhill, you can see from the outside the plot where the family and its descendants tend to be buried. It gives an incredible feeling to stand there and think about our nation’s very short modern history and yet how ancient Jefferson’s times feel.
Monticello is a testament to a great man of his times even if all that he was may not fit our times. Jefferson made the most of what was available in his times and his legacy lives on at Monticello, at the University of Virginia, and in the good ole US of A via that marvel of a document, the Declaration of Independence.
This past weekend, I got to explore an area most will never think of visiting when looking for wine country: Virginia! Virginia may be for lovers, but Virginia is DEFINITELY for wine lovers!
I have been very lucky as a wine lover AND a traveler to have visited some primo wine country in my travel lifetime. Bordeaux, Hunter Valley, Sonoma/Napa, Mendoza, Stellenbosch, Burgundy, Moldova, Mosel Valley, the Loire Valley, Tuscany, etc. I have never thought the U.S. had any good wine regions besides California and Oregon. And I don’t know but Virginia would have never been in my top guess list… But some Virginia friends introduced me to Virginia wine with one named Octagon from Barboursville winery, north of Charlottesville, VA. It was good!
We had talked over the last couple of years of getting together and making a trip to Virginia wine country. FINALLY, we scheduled it for this past weekend.
My friends suggested we head to the wine region in the Piedmont area, on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One of their favorite wines, the Octagon referred to above, is from the area and they had not been to the winery so I, of course, happily went along with the suggestion! Of course, going to see Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home on the countryside) and University of Virginia (founded by Thomas Jefferson) were of interest so it was a great destination choice.
After visiting Monticello, we stopped at Jefferson Vineyards since it was very close to Monticello. Of course, this likely means it is more touristy and the price tag for the wine tasting showed that (it was $10 whereas the rest of the wineries were $5; oh, and they do not take AMEX in this day and age…). However, you can take your large Riedel wine glass after the tasting which makes it an OK price.
Some of the staff was very friendly but our server, though he shared information, just seemed to be going through the motions – he was not rude by any means, just uninspiring. It was the only winery at which I did not buy a bottle (and I ended up buying no less than 3 at least per winery…). . Wineries, remember, your servers are the front line. It applies to your business as to any other business! But I did not buy wine because of him. The primary reason was that it was just not for me. Most of the wines seem too light for me. That may be what others find enjoyable in a wine but the whites and reds were not robust enough for me. Also, the wines, even the Riesling, were generally drier than my preference. However, it surely is worth a stop – you may enjoy their lighter and drier wines and end up with one of the friendlier servers.
Fortunately, the story gets better from here on! We had planned our first day (of two) in the area with two anchors: an early visit to Monticello (more about it in another post) and a late lunch at Barboursville Vineyard’s Palladio Restaurant which features northern Italian style cuisine. The lunch can be done with wine pairings but we were going to do tastings after lunch since we did not have enough time between the Monticello visit and the available slot for lunch. Therefore, we opted to save a little money by not doing the pairings with the lunch and instead going for that delicious Octagon wine of theirs. The wine tasting of 21 wines would come afterwards – but only after we walked the grounds to help push our digestion!
The good thing is that Barboursville offers more than food and wine. It also gives you a helping of history. See, Mr. Barbour was a governor of Virginia in the times around Jefferson. Jefferson designed Barbour’s house which unfortunately burnt down one Christmas Day in 1884. However, ruins remain of the skeleton of the house which allow you to see yet more columns and another octagon. Yes, Thomas Jefferson was rather predictable. (Unfortunately, Charlottesville and UVA keep thing more columns and octagons make tons of sense…) Anyway, Barboursville offers this and plenty of space and grounds to grab a bottle of wine and hang out some more.
The wines were overall very good. We also enjoyed having a lady named Jessica as one of our servers. She was extremely knowledgeable and truly shared that knowledge with us. We had a good time asking her questions people had just asked her and she obliged with a fun attitude right back – wineries, this is the kind of person you want facing your customers!
Surprisingly for me, I enjoyed Barboursville’s Chardonnay (aged in steel barrels) better than their Chardonnay Reserve (aged in oak barrels). I especially like their Cabernet Franc Reserve (intense dark fruit flavors), Octagon (which I already knew and loved), and their Malvaxia Passito Reserve dessert wine (nice!!! sweet but overly so). I departed with a good 6 bottles wishing I could take more (had to pace myself, still had 4 wineries to visit the next day!). How do they manage to make so many good wines???
We hit these two wineries first on the next day. At Cardinal Point, we enjoyed talking to the two ladies at the tasting room and found their wines nice. I ended up with a box of 3 to take home. At Veritas, we got to sit in a nice leather couch for our tasting and soak in the ambiance of the tasting room.
The winery has a large tasting room and it was built in the 2000s – the vines themselves were planted in 1999 (quite recently when you think of vineyards in Europe!!). Their White Star blend of white grapes (Viognier, Traminette, Chardonnay and Vidal Blanc) was pleasantly surprised me – low on residual sugar I think it is a wine to be enjoyed on its own for sure. Let me re-state that, it very pleasantly surprised me!
We made our way to Pollak Vineyards, which has a spacious tasting room and outdoor terrace. Its vines were planted in 2003. Casey was our server. We learned from her a good bit and enjoyed talking to her – great job! I especially enjoyed the Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Franc (nice hints of chocolate and coffee) wines.
Our final stop in wine country before going to the airport was King Family. We promised ourselves a short visit to ensure we were on time but we enjoyed our visit so much we stayed longer at the tasting room. This vineyard has a great setting and outdoor open spaces that are great to hang out – we stayed indoors sampling and talking wine though for a good 45mins to an hour (who was keeping track of time?!) (I did make it to the airport with plenty of time, by the way!). In the summertime polo matches are played Sundays on the grounds of the winery!
At King Family we were treated to awesome wines. I liked just about each of the wines I tasted! The Viognier had nice mango/peach overtones. The Chardonnay, though aged in oak, was very enjoyable for me (a rarity). Their Cabernet Franc was lighter than I expected and, as I prefer fuller-bodied wines, was not one I would have bought definitely had good flavors so I would drink it. The next 4 wines were all outstanding: the Meritage (a Bordeaux-style existing mainly in the U.S., created to not infringe on the French region’s ownership of the destination of origin), the Seven (a red wine with hints of dark chocolate and vanilla), the Loreley (excellent level of sweetness: some but not too much), and the Petit Verdot (incredible power!!).
Well, as you may glean, I enjoyed it! However, with a visit to 6 wineries I have barely scratched the surface of wine country in Virginia. I love Virginia and its wines!
Have you visited wine country anywhere in the U.S. or abroad? Which ones? How did you find the experience, the wineries, and the wines??
As I often travel to Washington, D.C. for business, I seek a place to stay where I find both convenience (including very close to work), comfort, and an overall great experience. The Mayflower Hotel, a Renaissance hotel, is one of my favorites as it combines all these key aspects.
I normally do not write a post focused only in a hotel but since I have stayed here so many times, and since I enjoy my stays there, I decided it merited a post. (This is an unsolicited and non-compensated post in any way, shape, or form!) There are many good reviews of hotels in D.C. out there so if you are looking for more info (the real scoop) on a hotel, all you need to do is a search!
This hotel, the longest running hotel in the capital, has quite a story. Located about four blocks away north of the White House, it was built in the 1920s and opened in 1925. It is supposed to be the largest luxury hotel in D.C. and that is quite impressive given some other strong challengers in the category that I have not explored.
Many famous events have taken place here or many famous guests/residents have stayed here. The hotel has signs in many places outlining some of its history – it is pretty neat to read them. The hotel used to have a part that was dedicated to apartments where, for example, Sen. John F. Kennedy stayed. Calvin Coolidge’s Inaugural Ball was held here and, since FDR days, the hotel has hosted inauguration day parties. Truman stayed here as President during some of the repairs of the White House that took place during his time. J. Edgar Hoover had lunch here regularly during his prime. Lots of history make this hotel quite unique.
Of course, some of the history is notorious… including that it allegedly hosted JFK’s mistress, where Monica Lewinsky stayed at some point when the scandal with Clinton was unfolding, and where then Governor of NY, Eliot Spitzer paid for a high-end prostitute’s services… These don’t have signs around the hotel – that I have found anyway!
The hotel, currently in the midst of major renovations in the front of the house (the new check-in counters are finished, now they are working on the ground level bar/café), has a style that does take one back to the glamor and style of the era in which it was born (or thereabouts). Nothing like the ground level of the hotel or the elevator area to the former apartment section of the building to appreciate the elegance characteristic of this hotel. A lot of these details were hidden in renovations done a long time ago as an effort to modernize the hotel but, fortunately, the beautiful original details have been uncovered and restored.
The rooms, though renovated, are detailed to connect well with the rest of the building. A great example are the cabinets around the bathroom sinks.
One of my most prized features as a frequent business traveler is access to a nice lounge where I can get water, perhaps a simple breakfast, and if I am lucky free drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The Mayflower’s has most of these but, like other Marriott chain hotels in the U.S., wine and beer are not free (this is different than international properties and, for that, I am thankful!). But then the hors d’oeuvres sometimes are like a real meal. So, on a busy day, I don’t have to bother going on or ordering from the room service menu (which gets rather repetitive).
But my favorite part about this lounge versus others is how large it is! As large as it is, some mornings it can be hard to find a table to sit at but more often than not, that is not a problem. The spaciousness of the lounge makes it a great place to hang out as it also has a couch and couple of related chairs.
I will never forget that after the quake of 2011, when the office building I worked at closed, it was the lounge I came to to avoid sitting around in my room for more hours than were necessary!
One of the features that most hotels get so wrong is their gym. I can count with half the fingers in one hand hotels whose gyms are better than the average hotel. Granted, this does not mean they are gyms I would choose to normally go but it is certainly nice to see hotels that beat that nasty stereotype of a gym hotel (usually a former room converted by placing mirrors on all the walls and then having exercise equipment from the times before exercising was important!).
The Mayflower’s gym is certainly spacious. While the aerobic equipment (treadmill, bikes, etc.) could be better, it is adequate and there are plenty – all with TVs. There are also a number of weight training machines and equipment. Finally, there is space to place mats and stretch, do abs, etc. Apples, water, towels, and -for the really daring- a scale!
I have not actually tried the main restaurant itself but have sampled the room service menu which is consistent with the menus in other Renaissance properties in the U.S. (I do wish for a little more variety or at least a re-do of the menu every few months… However, the hotel’s chef is more than ready to take special requests and I am forever thankful!)
———————————————————————————————————————————-
The Mayflower is most definitely a landmark in this city of landmarks. If you have a chance, stay. But, if not, walk in, check it out and imagine all the history this magnificent grand dame has seen!!
Note: I paid a public rate for my stay. I received no special services or attention in return for this post. I wrote it because I like this hotel.
Most people would NEVER think Atlanta is anything but a southern city that hosts CNN, the place where Coca-Cola was invented, and where Delta, one of the largest airlines in the world, operates from. And perhaps that it has one of the top two airports in the world (which, to me, a taxpayer in Atlanta will ONLY be Hartsfield airport). But people do not think of Atlanta typically as an international city.
Today, I took my Mom, stepdad, aunt, and uncle to a place that belies the view that Atlanta is just a southern provincial capital (which it was back in the 80s when I got here!): the Buford Highway Farmer’s Market on Buford Highway right outside I-285. I am not sure who the owners are but I find it more “real” than the more popular Dekalb Farmer’s Market where it feels people go just to show they are “cosmopolitan” and hip. It is full of people from all ethnic backgrounds and I am not just talking about the staff.
In any case, my visitors were astounded by the great variety of Latin products (every product they know and/or use in cooking Cuban food; quenepas/mamoncillo that I used to eat as a kid; papaya, one of my Mom’s favorites; etc.), the large Eastern European section (with its incredible Russian product suite including ice cream!), and the incredible Asian section with aisles (one or more) for each of the following: Korea, Japan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, and on and on. The ONLY thing I begrudge is the too-limited wine section. I expected to find Bulgarian, Chilean, Greek, and other wines. The wine section was tiny and with only the typical countries represented (Chile was but only a handful of wines).
Though I have been there before to buy all the ingredients for the Easter lunch I make for my friends or Christmas Eve dinner for my family (Cuban pernil), I had never stepped back to really gape at the diversity. Sometimes, you have to see things through others’ eyes to discover them!! As I had not expected to want to take pictures, I did not take my camera so the pictures I ended up taking were with my smartphone. I include them here to share some of the sights at this awesome place – and I have special pictures that I hope my friend Pola will recognize… Enjoy!
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE THE FULL IMAGE!
Though it was on my recently crafted bucket list, I can’t claim that going on a tour of the White House, in Washington, D.C., was a childhood dream of mine. I didn’t quite understand, nor probably care, about the significance of the White House back then. I understand the significance now – or better yet – the symbolism, what it stands for, even if my faith in its occupants is is not always there… IMHO, only warped egos nursing psychological gaps stemming from their childhood would endure the hell it takes to get there. But I digress, I meant to write about a White House visit. And I am not a mental health professional… 🙂
I approached the White House from the north side coming from work by crossing Lafayette Square, a great place to bring your lunch and sit to watch people and one of the most important residences in the world!
Since taking a camera is not allowed and there are no lockers, the pictures you will see are from my smartphone (though you cannot take pictures during the tour) – excuse the lower quality!
You may think after my VIP Delta treatment that I am now being recognized EVERYWHERE for the VIP that I am (in my own mind). No, no, I wasn’t invited to the White House. That is reserved for big donors or poster-children of age, race, gender/orientation, or other politically-convenient traits. I did it the good ol’ way: I contacted a congressman’s office and requested a tour, a White House tour. And it wasn’t a 3-hour tour. More like 30-45 mins…
A visit requires planning if you are an out-of-towner. I am one of those except I work in DC on a very frequent basis. After 1.5 yrs of this, I realized the foolishness of my ways:
So, I decided to just send the darned email, fill out the silly little Excel spreadsheet (less than 10 fields to complete), and then sit and wait for the date and time of my “appointment.”
I eventually got my confirmation and so I waited. I waited for this tour that is not a tour. You walk yourself around a pre-defined path while no one is describing anything for you. However, you are encouraged to ask questions of the people stationed in every room or area you visit for information about the room/area (you do get a National Parks brochure describing the visit too). These folks are not your average docent/guardian at a museum room. These are Secret Service folks. Why? Had we not been cleared well enough in advance? Well, I am sure there is always a risk a visitor could do something requiring the training a Secret Service person has received but there is a more important reason. At some points in your tour, you COULD BE within 6-12 ft of POTUS (this word always makes me giggle), the President of the United States! You may not know it, and it may not matter if he (“she”, by the time someone reads this many years from now?) is there but they have to handle as if. Pretty neat if you think about it.
These Secret Service folks, though, are not unfriendly. A tad rigid maybe but I am sure they are being quite vigilant. However, they gladly answer questions and even offer information – I was astonished that they went “above expectations” so kudos, Secret Service dudes and dudettes – most bodacious!
So the tour actually begins outside and you are warned to have gone potty and maybe bring something to eat plus water. Not that you can consume them inside but so that you have for the waiting in line before you hit the security checkpoint.
Perhaps being off-season, I did not encounter any line at all. Which I was happy for (my friend Leah will need to forgive the 2 faults I know this sentence has). I first went through some weird checkpoint (maybe sensing powder/dust or chemicals?), then I went through the more standard metal detector and bag conveyor. Of course, you are not allowed to bring many things on this tour, including cameras (cellphones are allowed to be carried in but cannot be used) and the instructions tell you all this so you are not taken by surprise.
Buyer beware: Once you enter the White House no electronic devices can be used until you exit the White House through the front door and exit the large portico.
OK, so you enter the White House from the east, one floor below the street in the front but at the level of the gardens facing south. Large paintings of First Ladies and POTUSes {double giggle} await. As you walk down this gallery, you see some photographs of presidents current and past doing the most mundane presidential things: meeting prime ministers from other countries, playing with visiting children, and all the cute things POTUSes {giggle} do.
Then you can see the china chosen by different residents in the China Room and the hallway, and also peek at the Library (all books by key American authors). You can also see here the Vermeil Room, so called because of the large amount of gilded silver;. This room holds portraits of recent First Ladies and was at some point a former billiard room – or the White House man-cave, I suppose. There are other rooms in the ground floor, like the Diplomatic Reception Room, that are not included in the tour. The ground floor is interesting but nothing that wowed me other than knowing many greats (American or otherwise) have been there.
Before I keep detailing the tour, allow me a historical detour {wow, that was brilliant}… It is important to know that the White House, which was built between 1792 and 1800, has undergone renovations throughout its history. The rooms are not exactly as they were after it got rebuilt after the fire set by the British in 1814 during the 1812 War. This fire destroyed the interior, but not the structure, of the White House.
So this was news to me: did you know the White House was designed by an Irish-American architect named James Hoban (and namesake of a favorite bar of mine in D.C.)? George Washington had seen his work while visiting Charleston, S.C. and chose him to design the President’s residence in the future capital (in the meantime, Washington lived as President in the then-capital of Philadelphia). As you may know, Washington was the only President to have never lived in the White House.
Hoban did not design all of what you see today (for example, the porticos were built later as were the East and West wings). The third floor attic had the roof line changed in 1927 to convert the space to living quarters. Finally, the actual structure itself underwent serious changes during the Truman years since the internal wooden beams among other things were found to be close to failure. Truman actually had to move out of the White House for months while the internal rooms were dismantled, steel beams installed, and the rooms re-established.
You move on up, like the Jeffersons (as in the TV show, not the President), and hit the State Floor (or the main floor). On this, the last floor included in the tour,you get to see some neat spaces: the Green Room (once Jefferson’s dining room; Thomas, not the TV show in this case), the Blue Room (often used by the President to receive guests), the Red Room (a favorite of the ladies, the First Ladies that is), the State Dining Room (which fools you because it can seat up to 130 people) and the East Room. This last room is a large ballroom-like space that has seen even several weddings. Also, the bodies of 7 Presidents have laid in state here. The East Room contains probably the most important painting in the complex: the 1797 (ancient by U.S. standards!) full portrait of George Washington that made Dolly Madison (a First Lady) famous. See, when the White House was burning in 1814, good ol’ Dolly rushed to take this painting out of the White House to save it. I appreciate her efforts but I wonder if, without such an effort, she would just be more of a footnote in history as are some other first ladies, whose names I cannot recall…
After seeing these rooms, you move to the large foyer/lobby where you are summarily “shown the door”. The Secret Service individual standing at the door was actually quite informative and shared how he has seen the current and last Presidents in very private moments – being very human as they move about their abode after hours (or before hours for the early risers…). From here, you walk out the north door to the massive portico we are used to seeing anytime shots of the White House appear on TV from the north side. Once you step out of the portico, that smartphone camera can come out and you can snap away the photo you have been dying to take: one of you at the White House!
Yes, I am getting all formal, after all I am writing about THE White House. Not the Pink House in Buenos Aires, or some other colored-named house. In conclusion {drum roll}, the visit to this most important abode is way too short and way too limited. Heck, I am paying for a lot of stuff in that place. I want to see the Lincoln bedroom, perhaps enjoy a pillow fight there (nope, I did not even get to take a peek at the room! pillow fight there remains in the bucket list). I want to see the Oval Office even if not allowed in (the POTUS is not ALWAYS there, come on!). But, I am thankful that, at least, us regular folks get to enter the precinct that is the home of the President of the United States of America and for a very short moment take a peek at a place that has seen a lot of greats (and a lot more so-sos… no names…) lead this country or visit those who have led this country. Check it out if you can!
No politicians were harmed in the writing of this post.
Last May, I participated in the Windy City Travel Tweetup. Met some “old” friends (Lola and Leah) and some new ones (Francesca, Pola, Aaron, and Ted) – by the way, check those blogs out! As part of any tweetup, we like to hit some neat local spots and discover the unique places in a city. So, it was exciting to run into a list of the best doughnut places in the U.S. that had been published by Food & Wine as one of the places WAS in Chicago: the Doughnut Vault.
The story has been eloquently told with awesome pictures here. But I thought it’d be good to tell the story from my side…
Our fellow tweetupers, Leah and Aaron, volunteered to grab doughnuts at the Doughnut Vault and get some coffee for the rest of the gang; key word is volunteered – which made them my favorite people, of course. Not being one to pass an opportunity for yummy doughnuts AND sleep in a little, I accepted. Lo and behold, the doughnut place had a line that took our friends an 1.5 hrs to clear! Leah texted me informing me of the horrible situation (it was also raining some) they were in. I offered to join them after a leisurely shower but Leah very kindly told me to not worry so I didn’t. Now, I have to go a step further and show some evidence as I have to show my thoughtfulness… (I learned this trick from a lunatic blogger a little over a month ago…)
Notice how I expressed my appreciation up there?
When they got to the hotel, we were eager to try the doughnuts. I was almost salivating looking at the doughnut and was dying to try it.
As I took a bite a few pictures were taken. Leah showed the non-airbrushed picture in her post but here is my preferred shot:
OK, so I take a bite and… it was OK. Inside my head neurons start wildly spinning trying all branches of logic to see what the right statement was going to be. My programmers didn’t factor in the Leah factor…
I was in trepidation at saying anything other than “ausgezeichnet! wunderbar! completely out of this world; I have never had a doughnut like that and will never again” yet I couldn’t lie to a friend either. What to do, what to do?? Amperes were flowing through my brain’s electrical wiring seeking the coded instructions to no avail; it was an IF statement without a proper switch for the current situation. It finally hit the ELSE statement and “it’s OK” came out of my I/O device: my vocal cords.
Action in the room froze. I detected a slight shaking in some of those present. Leah’s eyes became red. A red that only the core of the sun has. Lightning flashed in front of her.
And then I had a sip of my coffee. Cold as an iceberg. The heat of the glare evaporated as this not-intended-to-be-cold cold coffee worked its way down my esophagus. Now THEREIN the real crime in the morning with nary a microwave in sight.
I hope my post clarifies some of the finer points of the morning, adding to what Leah shared. Leah who so generously gave of her time (along with Aaron) so we could try those doughnuts. Further, I hope this post communicates the extreme duress I was under with the pressure to LOVE the doughnut and with having to drink that hyper-cold intended-to-be-hot coffee.
We have learned something here. We all have, dear reader, haven’t we? What have we learned out of all this? Do not trust all “”best” X lists you read and watch out for the Doughnut Vault: they don’t take cash and don’t tell until you approach the door an hour + after you get in line!
(No pets or children were harmed in the production of this post.)The Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia is a 4th of July tradition since the race was started in 1970. It grew to be the largest 10K in the world with over 55,000 in 2007 and then it lost that title. But for years, it was the largest one and it still feels like the largest one.
The runners cover a challenging course with steep hills and usually heat and humidity. I ran the Peachtree Road Race for 10 yrs in a row and decided to break the streak last year. See, I didn’t want to be one of those people who cannot go out of town that weekend of the 4th because they have been doing the Peachtree for the last X yrs, with X ranging from the teens to the low 30s in number of years. I wanted to break that streak and also save myself the waking up somewhere between 5-6AM to then tackle those steep hills and heat and humidity. This year, I decided to pass up the opportunity to run again 🙂
That opportunity (in the form of a race number) is not easy to get. To get a number for the Peachtree Road Race, the best way is to have run a qualifying race. But it is not only about getting a number but getting placed in a group ahead of the masses who likely will do a little more walking – and then slow down the folks who want to run it and maybe improve their time. Be aware that the “walk to the sides and leave the middle open” rule is not observed to the great annoyance of most runners, especially when folks decide to stop running all of a sudden and the runner behind then has to do whatever to avoid running into them (no comment…).
It is not unusual at the end of June or early July to hear around town “know anyone with a number for the Peachtree who is not going to use it?”. Why? Why not just run the course with the numbered runners? Well, you are right that the feeling of accomplishment would be the same but you may not know that the REAL reward is one of the prized t-shirts. People do whatever to get one of those: apply for the race & run it, get it from the spouse, buy it in eBay afterwards, or… get a number and join in on mile 1, 2, or 3 as you need the number to claim the shirt at the end of the race. Dante’s inferno now has a tenth circle for the cheaters in that last group… At least walk the whole thing! It is perfectly fine to walk it!!!
In my opinion, not all the designs over the last dozen years are THAT good. I only have like two favorites in the group of t-shirts I have – and, no, none are for sale 🙂
Now, we have to talk about the lovingly-name Cardiac Hill which is around mile 3.5 and is conveniently situated by Piedmont Hospital. That hill is BRUTAL. It makes little boys of grown men. Depending on my conditioning on a given year, I could run it all the way and STILL keep running after it. But even then it was NEVER easy. Get it? NEVER. On bad years, I walked for a minute or I would make it to the top and then breakdown and walk for a few minutes. The pictures you will see here are all taken RIGHT when the runners have finished Cardiac Hill whether running it or walking it. You can see it in their faces. The later in the race, the more the ratio of walkers to runners goes to the walkers (the people in the front qualified so are more likely to have better conditioning). But even in the years when I could do Cardiac Hill and the immediate aftermath, there was a subtle hill around mile 4 that was worse for me. Though it wasn’t as steep as Cardiac Hill, it seemed to be never-endingly long. That’s the one that challenged me every single year. I have run the Peachtree end-to-end without walking but that hill always tested me…
So, if not running it now, what do I do? I spectate (sounds too much like Kaopectate..). Spectators line up Peachtree Street (THE Peachtree Street, not one of the 100 or so impostors scattered around the city) from Lenox Mall down to Piedmont Park. They make noise, cheer runners, high five runners, and on occasion imbibe their favorite drinks… hey, the offer them to runners too – I recall being offered beer when I ran it (never partook).
In any case, the Peachtree Road Race is great way to celebrate the good ole U.S. of A.’s birthday and share as a city a good time whether running or spectating (oh, or volunteering! it takes a lot of them and I thank them!)
Enjoy the pictures showing the grit, effort, joy, and tiredness of the runners! Click on the picture to open a new window with the full picture!
Tampa, Florida may not be at the top of your destination list but being close to great beaches and other attractions such as Busch Gardens – and close enough to Orlando – it may be a place you will visit some day. And if you do, do NOT miss out on the great hole-in-the-wall Cuban food places in the city! I have been going to Tampa regularly for over 20 yrs. and I enjoy eating the real stuff.
Masitas de cerdo! (Photo credit: http://necessaryindulgences.com/2010/12/el-ambia-cubano/)
———————————————————————————————————————————
La Teresita (http://www.lateresitarestaurant.com/) (in Columbus Ave.) used to be the grand dame of Cuban restaurants in Tampa about 20 yrs ago. Grand dame does NOT mean elegant or fancy. That would be all wrong for a Cuban restaurant. But it was the place with the best food and where everyone went. However, somewhere down the road, it became different. Other places came up. And some of us stopped going.
Florida Bakery (http://local.yahoo.com/info-14447698-florida-bakery-tampa) (also in Columbus Ave.) has been a long standing place to go to for typical Cuban pastries, cakes, and sandwiches such as the famous Cuban sandwiches. Of course, Cuban coffee too; nothing like a cortadito (expreso with leche).
But other alternatives have come up so the typical places are not the ONLY ones around town anymore. And the other places are, in my opinion, better.
Arco Iris (http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/30/340198/restaurant/Tampa-Bay/West-Tampa/Arco-Iris-Tampa), also in Columbus Ave. and almost next door to Florida Bakery, offers really good food in a very homestyle environment. It is spacious and I typically haven’t had a problem getting a table.
Las Margaritas (http://www.allmenus.com/fl/tampa/60687-las-margaritas/menu/) in Hillsborough Ave. is a much smaller place and no frills. But the food is delicious – and cheap!
Pipo’s (http://pipos.com/) which, at last count, has 2 locations offers simple choices that are delicious. It has been around for a while and always consistent. Walk to the counter so you see what’s available and they serve you cafeteria style.
Angelito’s Bakery (http://www.cakes.com/bakeries/angelitos-at-la-caridad-bkry-5386/, where the former La Caridad was; the street sign still exists for La Caridad) has phenomenal pastries and seems a lot cleaner than Florida Bakery. And this one is in Hillsborough as well.
Mr. Empanada (several locations http://www.mrempanada.com/), while not strictly Cuban, deserves a mention. The fried empanadas are very similar to the ones I would eat for lunch in high school (ground beef, cheese, or pizza fillings). Except here, besides the ground beef ones, they have fillings I didn’t have as an option in high school such as guava, and cream cheese.
———————————
So if you go to Tampa, be ready to eat GOOD Cuban food and eat well – I do!
Any other favorite Cuban places in Tampa that you like? I am sure there are plenty I haven’t even discovered yet!
Salvador Dali, one of the most interesting painters of the 20th century was, let’s say, a tad eccentric – but a genius nevertheless. The new Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL does a great job of presenting of how Salvador Dali evolved his style in a way that a layperson like me can grasp and enjoy. Guided tour and/or audio guide are included in the price of the ticket which makes it an easy decision – and makes the experience and appreciation VASTLY more meaningful. I left with a better understanding of Dali, his motivators, and his evolution.
Here are some pix of the museum and its grounds (but none of the art!).
The cars at the entrance of the museum (not sure the purpose)
The entrance to the museum on a beautiful day
The top of the spiral staircase which reminded me of the tip of Dali’s mustache
Looking towards the staircase and the ceiling on the 3rd floor
The glass ceiling
Trying out Dali’s mustache
The back of the museum
This serranita sandwich at the museum cafe was good but those olives were really outstanding!!
Entry wrist tags at the wish tree – clever idea to avoid trash around the parking lot!
I discovered a hidden gem in Chicago: The Palmer House! After the neat architecture boat tour of the city that my fellow travel bloggers and I did in our tweeetup, and after walking through Millenium Park admiring the Cloud Gate, the water statues (whatever they are called), etc., one of our local tweetuppers suggested that we headed to the Palmer House to give our legs a rest and have a drink in a unique place in Chicago.
Of course, that sounded good to all of us so we said yes not fully knowing what to expect (blessed ignorance!). We were in for a REAL treat. The Palmer House has one of the more elegant hotel lobbies I have seen in a while! Sitting there to have drinks (and people watch) was a nice break from the more visitor sightseeing we had done that day. It was elegant, magnificent, and alive – tons of people either for the wedding receptions going on, guests of the hotel, or short-term visitors like us. It is the third reincarnation of the hotel originally built by someone rich for his bride-to-be. The first building burned down in the famous Chicago fire days after opening…
The ceiling of that lobby area is a delight to look at and, to me, the centerpiece of the place. It reminds me of the ceilings around the Vatican Museum or The Hermitage in St. Petersburg. I wish I knew where exactly the building’s architect/designer got their inspiration from. I felt a little inspired myself…
… so I ordered rye Old Fashioned. No, the drink is not on the ceiling but on a mirror-top table – it made for a great contrast with the ceiling as well as for some neat pix of the folks around the table.
While it was definitely great to discover a gem like this without any research (thanks Pola from @jettingaround!), it does highlight a couple of things:
1. Serendipity can lead to great experiences – not having hard plans for every hour of the afternoon, we allowed for opportunities like this to come based on the mood of the moment; or serendipity in other cases can be just simply meandering the lesser streets in a city and pop in to any establishment that catches your eye!
2. Locals can give you some of the best insights on those places off the beaten path!
I don’t know that we found this gem. I certainly didn’t find it. But it “found” me! If you ever go to Chicago, put this on your list of places to sit at and chill – and admire.
Read more about the good times we had in Chicago and how I got to high places.
Do you know other gems like this in Chicago? Please share!
Pink macaron has Angelina Jolie lips. The purple macaron has macaron-envy. The pink macaron sticks its tongue out. Instigator. The wine glass stays out of it – so Switzerland.
From the Sofitel Water Tower in Chicago during the Windy City Tweetup.
Barranco Wall – A Great Challenge | Kilimanjaro Day 4
Preparing to Hike Kilimanjaro: More than Training & Gear
Descending from Kilimanjaro’s Summit | Kilimanjaro Day 6 and 7
Jordan’s Wadi Rum: Not Just for Lawrence of Arabia
On the Machame Route | Kilimanjaro Day 1
Tanzania’s Lake Manyara: A Cool and Easy Safari
Gear for Climbing Kilimanjaro | Clothing
A Fourth of July Celebration – Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race
A Few Good Things to Do in Willemstad, Curacao
Photo Essay of the Center of Moldova’s Capital: Chisinau
