NAPA VALLEY VISIT TO JULIE ... Jan 30 to Feb 4th, 2015

Off again on VIRGIN AMERICA, my favorite airline, to San francisco. Departed Saturday morning, Jan 30th in Bitter cold , windy weather. BBrrrrrrr!! Ray is planning to drive to Montreal for the weekend to visit his family there.

I'm at the Ambrose Bierce House B&B in downtown St. Helena and it's charming. Did I mention I got off the plane to find sunshine and 75 degrees? Extremely warm here for January, but we will take it!!

Dinner Saturday night with Julie and Stephen at SUSHI MAMBO in Calistoga. Good spot and super busy for dinner.

Sunday Brunch with my lovely daughter at ARCHETYPE in St Helena. Massages in Calistoga later in the afternoon, then on to Forestville to visit Dan and Joey for dinner.

Monday was another gorgeous day in Paradise. I shopped St Helena while Julie was in School. Lunch at MARKET restaurant. Went by campus to watch her chocolate class through huge glass windows.
Dinner with Julie and 2 girlfriends at Duck and Goose.

Tuesday was house day..... with a final dinner at The Farmstead Restaurant, then that lovely 3 hour drive next morning to the San Francisco Airport and back home. It was a really good visit.

2015 WINTER VISIT TO VIENNA

February 9 to 15, 2015

When business calls us to Europe , we GO and stay a while. Ray has business in Vienna! Bravo Ray!!
We are at the Sofitel Hotel in Downtown Vienna. Very contemporary and quite French which makes us feel at home. On the 18th floor is a fantastic French Restaurant called "LE LOFT"... excellent menu and a panoramic view of the entire old City across the Danube River.

We toured the historic spots: The Imperial Palace ( Hofburg), Schoenbrunn, the Hapsburg Emperor's Summer Palace, And The Spanish Riding School, Drove around the Ring road which is the modern location of the old City walls. Dinner at Dombiesl on Friday night was fabulous and on Saturday we tried a small place called Loca. They did a lovely 5 course prix fixe.

The view of Vienna from Hotel Sofitel

A temporary exhibit at the Belvedere Palace

Winter Gardens at Belvedere

A weird Sculpture at Belvedere

The Hundertwasser Village... currently used as an apartment Building

Inside the famous Cafe Central

A view of Vienna's Famous St Stephen's Cathedral from the modern hotel ( Haas House) across the street

Inside St Stephen's

Our Equine buddies trying to stay warm

Nice light on the Cathedral

The famous Spanish Riding School

Winter Saturday in front of City Hall

A classic Viennese Coffee house. We had lunch there.

Farewell Vienna

CANYON RANCH, LENOX, MASS in January 2015

What a GREAT way to start the new year. With a 2 week CLEANSE ( I followed Melissa Costello's book " Clean in 14 Detox".... she guides you through it every step. But you have to be prepared to take the time in the kitchen to prep your meals )  and a restorative visit to Canyon Ranch Health Resort and Spa with my girlfriend Katherine.

We arrived in a Snowstorm and stayed cozy and pampered for 2 whole days. Also worked out a bit and walked a lot just to get around the place. I think that is the idea. Attended a session on Qui Gong,
the ancient Chinese form of meditation and movement. Also on Metabolic types ( are we hunters or Farmers? ) and best diets for different types. Did water aerobics, spinning, and yoga. The food there is delicious and very healthy.
We both left the place feeling fresh and new.

Check it out on line .. you'll be amazed!