EASTER WEEKEND 2014 IN NAPA VALLEY

LOVELY CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY WEEKEND WITH OUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER!!!  Ray and I made a plan to visit Julie in the wine country for Easter weekend. WE flew out on Friday morning the 18th of April. On the way up from the Airport, we decided to stop off in the City for some lunch. As we were headed for the Golden Gate Bridge, we chose the BALBOA CAFE in the Marina. We met there in March of 1980, 34 years ago!!! Oh, my this called for a drink! We had a really reflective and romantic lunch at our old stomping ground which has been transformed into a pretty upscale/ trendy place with good food. Years ago it was a burger joint.

Selfie at the Balboa Cafe

After checking into our little cottage at the MEADOWOOD RESORT, we drove to Julies and enjoyed a home cooked meal on her patio. It is SO great to be with her! We had not seen our girl since Christmas and that's too long! She played her new guitar and we sang a few songs together.
Good Harmonies!

Julie with one of her cats, Suri ( named for Surya, a Hindu Sun God )

 Julie joined us for breakfast at the hotel. Saturday afternoon we messed around in the sunshine.

Family Breakfast shots

Saturday afternoon we messed around in the sunshine. We did some shopping and driving around to enjoy the Napa valley scenery.

Napa's Amarosa vineyard with Tuscan style Castle

Flower Garden At the Hall Rutherford Winery

Bridget, Julie, and Cyn

For Dinner saturday evening, I planned a mini family reunion. Craig and Bridget came,
and Dan, our nephew, came with a couple of friends of his who were visiting him for the weekend,
plus Ray, Julie and me.  We dined in a private room, The White Room, at CINDY'S BACKSTREET KITCHEN. With a group of 9, it's so nice to have the room alone, and the food was very nice. We learned that Cindy, the owner had been in a bad car accident and was recovering in Hospital from her injuries. So Sad!

Easter Sunday morning Ray and I had brunch at the Meadowood Grill with Craig and Bridget. Nice to relax and catch up with them! Then they headed home for their own R&R...
 Julie was helping a friend serve food at a food truck event on the Presidio called "Off The Grid". Their truck served barbecue and it was called "Le Cochon Volant". There were many vendors there and Quite a lively crowd picnicking and partying SF style all over the Presidio Green. We went to check out the scene, taste some barbecue ( YUM!!) and visit the Walt Disney Museum right on the Green at the Presidio.

Julie prepping Cole Slaw to go with the Barbecue at "Cochon Volant"

 Ray and I then drove down to the Ferry building food court and enjoyed the wine bar.  We love all those foodie shops, many of which were closed at that time on Easter Sunday........

Here's to That Beautiful California Wine!!!

Julie met us for dinner at LE CONTINENTAL, a Vietnamese restaurant in the City, then we drove to Fisherman's Wharf to meet her friend Stephen's dad and girlfriend who were visiting from Vermont! We couldn't stay long as it was still a 2 hour drive back to our hotel!! We got home after midnight......

Monday was a very slow start and we hung around the Napa area. Had lunch and shopped.....
I found a great health food store and Ray's foot was hurting so he sat in a cafe....
Julie returned from the City in the afternoon, and we met in a bakery to chat and say goodbye.
She had to get busy on her schoolwork before returning to school on Tuesday.

In the Garden at Julie's house

Meadowood is a beautiful place. Ray caught a shot of this guy working on the
tree right outside our cottage there. It was a "habitat tree" frequented by woodpeckers. 

Ray and I drove to the city and had a great dinner at BOULEVARD Restaurant. We sat at the bar in front of the chefs line and watched the cooking action. The food and ambience were great!!! We'll be back!! We ended the day by driving to our Airport Hotel to sleep so we could make our morning flight home. We got home on Tuesday the 22nd in the afternoon.... a cold and dreary day in Hanover.
What a let down after the California Sun!!!!