A Trip to the Slopes!

Finally, I learned how to ski. When I told my patients that I had to take a day off of work to go and ski for the first time, they were all so surprised that I had never skied before. Uh.. [loosely] there is no snow in Africa people! And ironically with all the snow in Chicago, there are no mountains and not really enough or the right kind of snow nearby so you have to go a little further to find it. Back to California further in fact.. I feel insanely spoiled that I have been to California twice in the past month.. The vast state that it is, I have discovered that you can shop until you drop, drink fine wines, sun tan and ski all within a few hours of each other. We were lucky enough to stay in the small town of Truckee (15 000 people) just outside of Lake Tahoe. We were only there for 3 nights but it was enough to make me move to California (in a few years time) so that I can enjoy the sun and ski 6 months of the year. Reader beware: the videos are on the bunny slopes so by definition we're going very slowly. We did graduate to the Blue hills (bunny, green, blue, black and double black) but for footage of that, you'll have to wait. For the mean time the videos are proof that we skied and stayed upright whilst doing it :) 

 

 Good morning! This is what was waiting for us outside our bedroom window. 

 Lake Tahoe. The deepest and coldest lake in the US.

Woohoo - what a great weekend!

 At the Reno/Tahoe airport - note how the SA flag is right behind the US... for our benefit? Perhaps. Farewell Tahoe - we'll be back!

Our first trip to California! The Golden State!

California has been on my top list of destinations for the longest time. Ryan had actually travelled to San Fran last year and as soon as he returned, recounted that we should pay it a visit because it is very Cape Town-esque and it'll be a bit like going home. So with our anniversary on the horizon, it seemed fit to plan a trip to San Fran and then road trip the state a bit in order to cram in as much as we could in just 5 days. Yup, I am already planning our next trip! 

Highlights included finding an umbrella in our hotel room after squelching around for 2 days in San Fran, amazing wildlife (especially the sea otter and her baby), driving highway 101 and reminiscing about KZN rolling hills and seeing the beach! Even for me, it has been too long! Also the food in San Fran was amazing, a must for next time is Dottie's True Blue Cafe.

San Francisco - the rainy city! 

Drowned Rat - Pre-umbrella

Alcatraz

No longer a working prison, Alcatraz served as maximum security incarceration for 27 years where it was said to be escape proof. There were however a few escape attempts and only one successful mission although the escapees where never found... alive or dead..? Probably the most famous prisoner was NY/Chicago gangster, Al Capone. The eventually locked him up for tax evasion and he was sentenced to Alcatraz. He died in his mid-40s though of neurosyphilis. 

 That's me hiding in solitary confinement.. 

Golden Gate Bridge

Downtown SF

Drier Rat - Post-Umbrella.

 3 floors dedicated to Needlepoint.. This may be the city for me!

I Heart SF.

Monterey Bay
So after collecting our first rental car (on the other side of the road!) we headed for Monterey, famous for sardines, an aquarium and John Steinbeck. Although the weather was still much to be desired we did get to see a school of dolphins in the bay. Apparently this amount at one time is relatively rare so it was great to see them fishing and going at it.

 Um. For C. You know why. 

Monterey's Aquarium

I did not anticipate visiting the aquarium when we first arrived in Monterey - however, we saw some cool exhibits and some sweet animals (see turtles and penguins!), so I am very glad that we went!

1. Check surroundings

2. Gain momentum

3. Lift-off! Yippee!!!

Seahorses in love.

Flying turtles.

Putting in your own petrol into Marty (pronounced mar-di..) - big moment.

Killer squirrels.

Life's a beach. 

Finally at Big Sur

Beach with the purple sand!

California's only coastal waterfall!

Hearst Castle - built in the 1920s for William Randolph Hearst to house his extensive art collection and entertain guests Great Gatsby style. At the time it housed the world's largest private zoo. Today, you can take a 2 hour long tour and learn about what it is like to be too rich..

Cutie sea otter and her baby. Just floating around. The mom is the lilo!

Living the dream!

Santa Barbara

Ah how lovely it was to see some sun! From Santa Barbara we flew to LA and then from LA back to Chicago. Next time we'll have to stop and see the Hollywood sign and go seeing and go to the Redwoods and to Yosemite and to San Diego.. oh my gosh, there is way too much!