Self-care

To help unwind the travel kinks, I visited a kinetherapist.  This is the walk from her office to the tram.

Then I went to my osteopath nearby.  There is a bakery across from the bus stop.

Now I have a more flexible body and pastries to keep it happy.

Summer lunch

Grenoble has been having changeble weather–one day hot, the next cold and rainy.  Saturday settled on perfect Indian summer–sunny and 72.  So I went for lunch on the terrace of the sushi restaurant in the park.

And sat in the shade afterwards to watch the fountains.

Return

Waiting for the flight

Dutch mother and daughter returning from vacation in San Francisco.

Transfer in Amsterdam’s Schiphol.

Dawn from my window.

End bits

I got to visit my hostess’s studio.  She does beautiful sculptures.

Then I dropped by the restaurant where Marie works.  We sat out front where there is a view of downtown Redwood Estates.

She really has a great location in the beautiful mountains.

Today I met Erich Keefe for lunch in Berkeley.

Now I am at the airport hotel, watching tennis on my laptop and eating leftovers.  Tomorrow I fly home with good memories.

Up the peninsula

I drove over the Santa Cruz Mountains to Palo Alto.  It is a beautiful drive through the redwoods.

I found a nice Mexican restaurant in the ahopping district.

Then I walked around the Stanford campus.  It is spacious and modern.

There is a small art museum.

With a Rodin sculpture garden.

Worth the trip.

Not Big Sur

I was going to drive there for lunch in my memory lane.  Hwy 1 was closed just north of Big Sur, due to a fire.

I called the restaurant.  The hostess said cheerily that they were closed, but they would be fine.

The drive down the coast is stunning.

I stopped in Monterey for lunch.

Belgian  crepes!

And the historic port.

And back to sit in the sun in the back yard.

Redwoods

Today I spent with my friend of about 50 years, Marie.  She took me out for birthday lunch in Los Gatos.

Fresh made baklava

Chocolate for me

It is such a nice small town.

Then we hung out at her house.

And went across the street to the restaurant where she works.  I had wine and pizza and watched the neighbors while Marie worked as cashier.

What a relaxing day.  So much variety too.  I am grateful.

The Estate

When I rented this cottage on VRBO, it was described as being on an estate.  But I was not prepared for the extent and beauty of the gardens.  It can be rented for a wedding.  But it is private and peaceful now.

View from our porch

Another house on grounds

The main house in the back

The front entrance

California cuisine

The first night, when Kevin and I arrived in Soquel, we went to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Quite a good start.

Yesterday we went to Santa Cruz for lunch.

And strolled downtown.

Gorgeous weather.  Laid back vibe.  Feels familiar.

Retreat

Susan drove us up the coast a bit to a monastery where she had done some classes and retreats.  That section of Highway 1 is especially rugged and pristine.

The monastery grounds are arranged for meditation.

And we had a quiet picnic on the deck of an unoccupied cabin.

The morning before we parted, we had a picnic by Moonstone Beach.  The perfect close to a too short trip.