#7 - My addiction to House Hunters International

Okay, so I just spent a couple of hours watching HHI. Are you a fan? House Hunters International? It's on about 20 times a day on HGTV. Maybe more. I set my DVR to save five episodes at a time, and if I get a quiet moment, I watch them. The show follows people as they choose one from among three houses to purchase or rent. The international version only shows houses outside of the US. It's a cool glimpse into the lives of people in foreign lands, and I love seeing the variations in house size, price, age, and style.

The episode that inspired this post featured a couple looking for an apartment with an ocean view in Dubrovnik, Croatia. I had heard that this city is beautiful and has become a more popular tourist destination in the last five to ten years. Dubrovnik, which is part of the Dalmatian region of Croatia, has gorgeous old buildings and a really dramatic, rocky coastline. Check it.

Photo by Anna Zgorelec.

Dubrovnik looks like a place I would love to explore. I would love to wander through the tiny alleyways in old town and to visit the amazing Sponza palace and Minceta tower. I don't think I would purchase a home there, but this couple fell in love with it on vacation, so I guess anything is possible!

Photo from here.

Wishful Vacation #7

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Why I imagine I would go to Dubrovnik:

Dubrovnik, the "pearl of the Adriatic," is a very old city. Evidence suggests that this area was settled sometime before the 1st century AD. The city has been under the control of many different empires through history. Coming from America, where we don't really have many ancient structures around, I love the idea of visiting the location of an ancient civilization.

In addition to being historically interesting, Dubrovnik is really beautiful. The sea is deep blue. The color of the stone buildings and terracotta tile roofs remind me of Santa Barbara, California. With more history.

Where I imagine I might stay in Dubrovnik:

I found the website that the couple from the House Hunters episode operate, Dubrovnik Apartment Source. They maintain a listing of rental properties available for vacationers in Dubrovnik. Based on their site, I found some beautiful choices for my stay. I would love to have a sea view and a really relaxing place. Let's see what I can find. . .

All photos of Villa Umbria from here.

Aha! Though this place, Villa Umbria, is located an hour north of Dubrovnik, it is spectacular! I love that the house is made of stone and the ocean view is awesome.

What!? That place is incredible. The inside of the house is also magnificent. It looks handmade and old, and has several big bedrooms. The stonework and arched windows have such great character.

The huge dining room table would be great to have a big family dinner, and there is another huge wooden table on the patio, as well. I think in this imaginary vacation I will bring the whole extended family! It would be such a nice place to hang out together. There is a minimum stay of 5 days. I think I could make that work.


What I imagine I would eat in Dubrovnik:

Dubrovnik features Mediterranean cuisine - lots of seafood, pasta, pizza, polenta - everything cooked with olive oil, garlic and parsley. Imagine coastal southern Italian food. Sounds pretty good to me! Maybe since this is an imaginary vacation, I could hire a chef to come make some food at my rental house and serve it up on the patio. That would be perfection!

Photo by Jerzy Strzelecki, Wikimedia Commons.

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Dubrovnik:

The biggest tourist attraction in Dubrovnik is the ancient city walls. The walk around the old town on the walls is a great way to get a good look at the whole city. The walls also overlook the beautiful blue sea, which would be lovely. The walls are old and some of the walk consists of steep stairways. I think I could handle the trek in order to see the views and get up close to such an interesting old structure. I can anticipate a lot of photo opportunities along the way!

Photo by Daniel Ortmann, Wikimedia Commons.

Dubrovnik sure is beautiful! Where should I go on my next imaginary adventure? What is your favorite place to dream about?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

Weekend Wish - Postcard from Lebanon

Happy Thanksgiving! - From Plimoth Plantation

Happy Thanksgiving!
For this holiday, my usual tradition is to cook a lot of food and eat it with family and friends. I think this is how most of us who celebrate Thanksgiving do it. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie, cranberries... Delicious. I thought that it might be cool to get a glimpse back in time to the historical reference point of our modern Thanksgiving.

I have heard the tales of the English settlers in the New World eating peacefully with the native people, learning about which foods they could eat and how to prepare them. They all sat at a big table and ate together or something like that. If I want to take a trip to confirm or contest any of my prior knowledge about Thanksgiving, it's gotta be to Plimoth Plantation, the Smithsonian Institute-affiliated historic site.

 Photo from here.

A trip to Plimoth Plantation would be an amazing educational vacation to take with my children. Contained within the site are a 17th century English village, a Wampanoag homesite, and the Mayflower II, a recreation of the original Mayflower ship. Each area has role players or experts in the field to answer any questions about life in those colonial days. The native people who reside in the Wampanoag homesite are all from various modern day tribes, and they speak about the experience from a modern point of view. Role players in the English village (Pilgrims) all pretend to have no knowledge of life after 1627. It would be crazy to talk to them about their lives!

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day with the ones you love!

Happy travels!

xoxo  - Erika

#6 - More Sushi, Please!

Have I mentioned that I love sushi? I thought I might have. It's actually on my mind most of the time. My husband and I have a silly conversation whenever dinner or lunch plans are in question. He says, "What do you want to eat?" I say, "You know. It's always the same." He says, "Sushi." And then we usually decide that it's too expensive to have right now or we don't have time to go get it. I am simply unable to answer the question "What do you want to eat?" honestly without saying, "Sushi." That's just how it is.

We lived in Los Angeles for 8 years. During that time, I heard people say that LA actually has more sushi and better sushi than Japan. I heard people say that Japanese people don't even eat that much sushi at all and that the people of LA (and certainly other US cities) eat sushi much more regularly. That, I suppose, I believe. Especially if I was included in those statistics.

I suppose I could just believe what these people say. Maybe Japan is not the place to go for sushi. But I don't know for sure, now do I? And how do you explain this, the front page of the Tokyo tourism website?

You see that? That is SUSHI! That is the most prominent picture on their website and I want to eat it!
So, in order to see for myself, I think I have no choice, really. For my next imaginary vacation, I choose

Wishful Vacation #6

Tokyo, Japan

Why I imagine I would go to Tokyo:

Ummm.. see above. And below.

Photo by Michael Maggs, Wikimedia Commons

Beyond sushi, though, I am definitely interested in Japanese culture and Tokyo's modern feel. I would like to experience some Japanese shopping downtown. I am a big fan of video games, and my husband is pretty much in love with Sony, so it would be cool to check out some Japanese technology. Sony has a building in the Ginza area where I would be able to see new products in the showroom and buy international models of Sony products. Awwww yeeah.

I have really enjoyed my time in Japanese shops in San Francisco, Boston, (dare I say it) Epcot.. and I would love to visit some Japanese shops in Japan. It may be touristy of me, but I think I would have to check out the huge Sanrio World store. I love me some Hello Kitty. I just went to their website and one of the ads says, "A castle of chocolate, full of sweet dreams." Who wouldn't like that?

Where I imagine I might stay:

This imaginary trip is another good chance to stay in the center of it all. I choose the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo in Chuo. The reviews are fantastic, and the rooms look amazing. I love floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the city! This is a Mandarin Suite. Sounds perfect.

Image from here.

See that cute little seat by the window? That's where I would like to be. The corner suites have such awesome views.

Though it's not an original part of my plan, I couldn't help but notice that the Mandarin has a lovely spa with special rooms for massages. Check this out.

Image from here.

Certainly I could find time to have a massage in that amazing place, right?

What I imagine I would eat:

In reading about the sushi in Tokyo, it seems like each restaurant or sushi chef would be a completely different experience, and a completely different focus. I know in LA, the focus is often on the crazy rolls - lots of ingredients rolled up together. A lot of people complain about that because it's not authentic, but I think it's delicious. On the other hand, I also think simple sushi - super fresh fish with sparse accompaniment - is also delicious. I'm not that picky about the type of sushi. I just want it to be fresh.

I would want to try out several restaurants to see what I like best. This method also allows me to eat sushi for multiple meals, which I think is a good idea. Since this is an imaginary trip, I don't have to worry about the remote possibility that I become tired of eating sushi.

 

Photo from here.

One option that has good reviews is Sushi Bun. The translation of the web page doesn't make much sense, but the fish looks good! I think the best course of action would be to trust the sushi chefs of Tokyo to choose a good selection of fish for me. I can't wait!

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity:

I have read about Japan's express trains, and I think it would be fun to take a train to Kyoto to visit some of the ancient architecture there. Check out this gorgeous building - the Golden Pavilion. It is a Zen Buddhist temple originally created in 1397. Whoa.

Photo by Keith Pomakis, Wikimedia Commons

I also found a sushi school in Tokyo that looks a little touristy, but also authentic. Does that make sense? I know that I would have fun trying my hand at sushi making.

Japan is a trip that I hope to take sometime in the future. In the meantime, I'll settle for imagining it and maybe a quick trip to the Japanese restaurant! Are you in love with sushi, too?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

Weekend Wish - Postcard from China

#5 - It is a journey, not a destination

Sometimes when things are really crazy, it is nice to remember that Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, "Life is a journey, not a destination." I am lucky that my husband and I agree on most things. We definitely agree that our work should allow us to do more with our family, and not take us away from them. The daily times we share with each other are the best part of life!
Having said that, it's rough when I'm exhausted and my baby won't sleep! It happens to all of us and it makes me want to go on a journey of the relaxing kind. So, with Emerson's quote in mind, I present for your consideration:

Wishful Vacation #5

Transatlantic Crossing aboard Queen Mary 2

Why I imagine I would go:

On a short trip to Long Beach, CA, my husband and I checked out the old Queen Mary ship. This huge ship was famous for making extremely fast Atlantic crossings, back when that was the only option. Now it is permanently moored in Long Beach and acts as a hotel and tourist destination. My husband and I stayed on board for the night. It was quiet and a little eery. The deco style of the bars and shops and the sense of history I felt there was extraordinary.

The original Queen Mary - photo from here.

Once air travel made ocean crossings nearly irrelevant, there was no longer a competition for fastest passenger ship. Today, the Cunard line ship Queen Mary 2 can make the trip in a week, sailing from New York, NY to Southampton, England (the port nearest London).

I would love to take a transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2 because it would give me time to relax and rejuvenate. The trip would also give me a better idea about the width of the Atlantic ocean. I love imagining how things were "back in the day," and this trip would show me how the wealthy used to be able to make the trip across the ocean in style.

Where I imagine I might stay:

The Queen Mary 2's most luxurious accommodations are called Queens Grill suites. Each level of accommodation is connected to a specific restaurant, and these fancy rooms all come with the chance to dine in the Queens Grill restaurant. Booking a Queens Grill suite also allows for early check-in and a snack of champagne and strawberries on arrival to the room. Yes, please!

The picture below shows a Princess Grill suite, but it gives you an idea of how the rooms are furnished. It looks very comfortable and pretty.

Although it's not the largest suite, I like the look of the penthouse suite. It has a nice big balcony for lounging the day away. It looks like the perfect sized room!

What I imagine I would eat:

The Queens Grill restaurant would have a table for two reserved for my husband and me at our designated time in the evening. They have a sample dinner menu on their website. I love reading menus! For my appetizer I would choose Symphony of Salmon Tartar, Shrimp Ceviche on Trumpet Mushroom & Green Asparagus. Sounds pretty fancy. Symphony of some seafood? I'll take it! My salad would be Endive Salad with Asparagus, Honey Ginger Dressing. Endive is one of my faves. My entree selection would be Lobster Américaine Flambé with Cognac, Truffle, Wild Mushroom Risotto and for dessert?? I guess I would have the Chocolate and Raspberry Crêpe Soufflé with Oranges, Vanilla Sauce. Are you hungry yet? I am!

I'm sad to say, I can't find pictures of any of this luscious-sounding food. I guess my imagination will have to do for now.

In addition to the Queens Grill, I could also eat at the Todd English restaurant, or the Golden Lion, which is a British pub-styled restaurant. I'm a fan of Todd English and fish and chips, so I think I would have to try both of those.

There is a tea room for traditional afternoon tea. Love that. My husband and I once enjoyed high tea at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, BC. The food is so adorable and it's fun feeling fancy, too.

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity:

Cunard created a cheat sheet of things to do while traveling across the ocean. I don't think I would have a problem keeping myself entertained on the ship. They have a guided tour of the trip, which would be a good way to start the journey. I definitely would want to have a massage or two at the Canyon Ranch spa.

I would love to take a cooking class at the Chef's Galley and to enjoy a 12-course tasting menu of Asian food at Lotus restaurant.

I think the best idea of all (and I'd have some work to do convincing my husband of this) is to get dressed up and participate in the Black and White Ball! I rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to wear a ball gown and to "feel like royalty" as they say. I think this would be my chance! How fun would that be? (Maybe my husband can spend some time playing virtual golf at Pebble Beach in the golf simulator as a fair trade for me getting to go to the ball!)

Have you taken a cruise? This would be my first. Where else should my imagination take me?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

Weekend Wish - Postcard from Kenya

#4 - Pacific Northwest Jaunt

Sometimes when it gets hot and sticky outside, and the mosquitoes and sandflies come over just to bite me, I like to imagine a vacation to the Pacific Northwest. My husband is from Seattle, so I've been there to visit several times. It's beautiful and has a nice vibe. I've heard wonderful things about Vancouver, as well, but haven't been yet! I think it's about time that I take a look at what the city of glass has to offer.


Wishful Vacation #4
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Why I imagine I would go to Vancouver:

Upon further investigation, I am a fan of a lot of what Vancouver has to offer - clean city, seafood, cool weather, incredible design. Vancouver is located in the province of British Columbia, and is the 8th most populous city in Canada. It is sometimes called the "city of glass" in reference to its many glass-faced downtown high-rises, most built in the 1970s.

When I lived in Los Angeles, I often heard Vancouver referred to as the Hollywood of Canada because of all of the productions that choose to shoot there. The port of Vancouver is large and active, and the city is a center of software development, aerospace, and bio-technology.

Image by Matthew Field.

The city has a densely populated downtown center, which is a feature that I love. I like when cities use smart urban planning to get the most out of the land without so much sprawl. The city planners also put a heavy emphasis on environmental awareness and sustainability. Love it!

Vancouver was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. I love watching the crazy winter sports on TV. I think my favorite is the ski jump!

Image from here.

Where I imagine I would stay:

I really want to experience downtown life in Vancouver, so I would stay at The Fairmont Vancouver. The hotel is gorgeous, even from the outside. The building first opened in 1939, just in time for a visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The hotel was remodeled in the mid-1990s.

I love the look of the Morningside Suite, which is on the 14th floor and has a parlor area overlooking the city. The color scheme totally makes me feel relaxed just looking at it. Check it!

What I imagine I would eat:

Vancouver has a large number of Japanese eateries, and I would definitely take advantage of that! I love sushi. It brings joy to my life that I cannot put into words. Seriously. So, I would like to spend at least one of my dinners in Vancouver at an incredible sushi restaurant. I choose Tojo's.

Of course I would have to have the omakase (chef's tasting menu). Omakase almost always means delicious food plus the excitement of not knowing what to expect! World-renowned sushi chef Hidekazu Tojo's omakase emphasizes local produce and seafood and includes cold and hot dishes.

Picture from here.

I'm so hungry just thinking about this delicious meal!

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity:

Vancouver offers a good assortment of outdoorsy activities, festivals, and cultural events. I would be looking forward most to a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium. Why? Two words - beluga whales. My son and I have a thing for "Baby Beluga," and I think that those smooth white whales are just the cutest things. Have you seen a beluga? Well I will, when I go to the aquarium. I may even get to feed one! And I'm psyched! Can you tell?!

Photo of Delphinapterus leucas (beluga) at the Vancouver Aquarium, taken July 2005 by Stan Shebs

Beluga whales have excellent hearing and may be able to echolocate better than dolphins. They communicate with each other using an array of clicking noises. The blubber that insulates them from the frigid arctic waters is 10-15 centimeters thick!

Have you been to Vancouver or anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest? Do you love sushi? Do you love beluga whales? Where should I "go" next?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

Weekend Wish - Postcard from Barcelona

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#3 - "There is only one lord of the rings"

My husband owns a large, talking Gandalf figurine from the Lord of the Rings movie series. It says lines from the movie (in the voice of Ian McKellan of course) like "You ... shall not ... paaaassss!" 

It's terrifying for a toddler (and actually a little intimidating to me, as well). As awesome and creepy as it is, looking at the figurine reminds me of how much I wish I could take a trip to New Zealand to visit those gorgeous locations from the films. There are such diverse landscapes! So, in honor of scary figurine Gandalf, today I choose

Wishful Vacation #3 
New Zealand (as seen in the LOTR movies)

Why I imagine I would go to New Zealand:

I think I want to go to New Zealand more than one time. I want to go on a Lord of the Rings tour, but I also would love to take a look at the cities and the beaches. I would like to get a feel for the place that spawned Flight of the Conchords. Love them! Maybe they would want to join me on my trip. Wishful vacationing, indeed!

On this imaginary adventure, I choose to travel with Red Carpet Tours for a full-on, crazy-geeky, LOTR tour-stravaganza. Or something. Red Carpet offers a 12-day tour, starting in Auckland and ending on the south island. The tour includes stops in Hobbiton, Weta workshop, past the film studio, all the way to the River Anduin. I like that they also include visits to natural wonders and tourist attractions which are not included in the movies. This tour actually sounds like a good way to experience the highlights of outdoor New Zealand in one trip.

Image from here.

New Zealand is an island country in the south Pacific. Originally settled by Polynesians, the population is now mainly of European descent. Maori people make up the largest minority group in the country. New Zealand and Australia are both at such a great distance from other bodies of land that they have quite a unique set of animals and plants, and I would be very interested in seeing some of those interesting species.

Where I imagine I would stay:

Since this is a 12-day tour of the whole country, there are many hotels on the agenda. Exciting! I'll mention here a couple that sound cool.

In Ruapehu, I would stay at the Powderhorn Chateau, where actors from the film stayed. It looks really cute! I love the wooden walls and ceilings in the guest rooms.

Image from here.

In Te Anau, I would stay at Distinction Luxmore Hotel. The hotel looks nice and the surrounding scenery is absolutely incredible. Te Anau is adjacent to Fiordland National Park. Check it!

Image from here.

What I imagine I would eat:

Red Carpet Tours schedules a traditional Maori hangi meal on one of the first nights. A hangi is an underground pit oven that is used to cook many traditional dishes. Chicken, fish and root vegetables would almost certainly be included in the bounty. The food takes 3-4 hours to cook, which makes it tender and moist, with an earthy aroma. That sounds amazing!

Photo by Einalem, Wikimedia Commons

On the last night of the tour, the group takes a gondola ride up to Bob's peak, where there is a restaurant called Skyline. They have a huge buffet of New Zealand food, with lots of seafood. Yum! The spread includes salmon, roasted meats, various curries and salads, and a dessert of Kiwifruit Pavlova. I would love this dinner, and the view can't be beat!

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity:

Where do I begin!? In addition to all of the movie location sight-seeing and the geeky stops at the studio and Weta workshop, there are many chances on the agenda to explore New Zealand's wild side. I would love to visit the Rotorua Polynesian Spa Pools, one of Conde Nast's top 10 natural spas.
There are small waterfalls and pools of varying temperatures, and the spa is surrounded by native plants. It sounds like it would be the perfect antidote to all of the hiking I would experience on this trip!

Image from here.

An optional excursion toward the end of the trip takes travelers to the glowworm caves in Te Anau. At evening time, a boat takes groups over to the cave's entrance, and then the guides row a small boat through the cave. In pitch blackness, the glowworms can be seen all over the cave walls. This adventure sounds really magical to me!

Image from here.

New Zealand is definitely on my short list of top destinations. I hope I get to take an amazing vacation there one day. Have you been? What locations are on your short list?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika