Christmas Trip 2010: Central & Northern, CA

Posted on February 17, 2011 by surrealist11

It is the day after Christmas and we’re departing the Courtyard Marriott (A: 600 E. Esplanade, Oxnard, CA  93036.  P: 805-988-3600.  W: marriott.com).  We had a splendid Christmas at dad’s house featuring grilled Cornish game hen, homemade gnocchi, homemade pesto sauce and homemade marinara sauce containing Italian sausage and mushroom.  It was our first Christmas without mom so it was a tad bittersweet but we had a nice celebration nevertheless.

Continue reading →

Posted in Food Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“OH CANADA!”: Travel Essay…

Posted on September 11, 2010 by surrealist11

Per Wikipedia.com, Banff (pronounced /bæɱf/) is the largest town in Banff National Park, in Alberta’s Rockies, Canada. It is the first incorporated municipality located within a Canadian national park, and at 4,800 ft it is the town with the second highest elevation in Canada, the highest being Lake Louise. It is surrounded by mountains, notably Mount Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, and Cascade Mountain, and is situated above Bow Falls near the junction of the Bow and Spray Rivers. Banff is located 78 miles west of Calgary and 36 miles east of Lake Louise, on the Trans-Canada Highway. The town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership.

Banff is a resort town and one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs. It is a major destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing areas within the region. Two ski resorts are located in close proximity: Sunshine Village and Ski Norquay.

Continue reading →

Posted in Food Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Taiwan: “Dirty Food = Strong Stomach”

Posted on February 17, 2010 by surrealist11

“American consumers have no problem with carcinogens, but they will not purchase any product, including floor wax, that has fat in it.”
— Dave Barry

Some may once again find my title curious but I will do my best to justify it.  First, if you know anything about the Taiwanese (including other Asian cultures) you know they’ll often eat or are willing to try eating nearly any plant, fish, animal or insect.  I consider myself pretty open-minded in regards to cuisine and became much more so after meeting and eventually marrying a Taiwanese girl. Continue reading →

Posted in Food Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holiday Trip: Cambria & Carmel, CA

Posted on January 31, 2010 by surrealist11

 

After a great Christmas celebration with the family in Oxnard we’re playing with our new toys in our room at the Courtyard by Marriott (A: 600 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard, CA 93036.  P: 805-988-3600.  W: Marriott.com/oxrvo).  Bella received an I-pod and I’m looking forward to using my new ergonomically designed Nikon S-630 point-and-shoot camera Bella bought me.  I’m anticipating better results and less low-light issues than I had with my older camera. Continue reading →

Posted in Food Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Our Los Angeles Anniversary Excursion”

Posted on January 31, 2010 by surrealist11

“Strike an average between what a woman thinks of her husband a month before she marries him and what she thinks of him a year afterward and you will have the truth about him.”

 

 

(H.L. Mencken, A Book of Burlesques, 1916)

Bella and I are celebrating our 3-year anniversary and have decided to return to our old stomping grounds.  We begin our trip by making our way to our new Sonic Drive-in in Lake Forest.  A breakfast burrito, a beverage and we’re on our way to L.A.

Continue reading →

Posted in Food Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment