One of the many benefits of being a student is having a “winter break”. My program gave me a whopping 6 weeks off – from mid December all the way to the end of January. Tania was also able to cash in on some well deserved accumulated vacation time and we took full advantage of the time together.... after all, who knows when we’ll be able to take this much time to travel again? Retirement?
It all began with a week at home with my family in Sidney, BC for Christmas. We spent the time eating, drinking, and telling stories – with Granma managing to paint pictures of parties, road-trips and picnics dating back half a century.
We were then lucky to be joined by two friends that we met in Bologna two years ago. Niraj came up from Seattle and Scott from LA. We inducted them into Vancouver culture by somehow convincing them to join us for the annual New Years Day “Polar Bear Swim”. This involves thousands of crazy Canadians jumping in the icy water to welcome in the new year. It was painful. It was cold. But we were quick to admit it was a thrilling success!
In true Vancouver fashion we migrated effortlessly from the beach to the mountains. We scraped together gear from our ever-generous Vancouverite friends and set off to show the Yankees how to snow-shoe. We were a motley crew to say the least. Niraj (aka “White Paw”) needed white plastic bags on his feet to waterproof his running shoes. Scott (aka “Amundsen”) sported the aviator +ringed touque look of an antarctic explorer. Tania (aka “Double Bubble”) bundled up in a bublegum coloured down jacket to fight off the cold.
From there it was off to Seattle where we wandered the famous Pikes Market and feasted with the Bryans – more good friends from the Bologna days.
Then Tania and I set off on our own to San Francisco. We were ecstatic to find out it stays very mild there in the winter. After a few days of riding the trolleys, biking the shoreline and eating great food, we began to ask ourselves if we should have studied computer science to find a job in Silicon Valley. Perhaps we can become development consultants for Facebook?
Tania met up with her friend and former roommate Adelin from when she lived in Norway. They hadn’t seen each other since 2001 and it was a very happy reunion!
Once again, we were unbelievably fortunate to be put-up by our friend Allan. Not only did we get to stay in his wonderful apartment, but we also used his car (he was away on business). Taking full advantage of this,we set off for Sonoma valley where we explored an old Russian fort on the coastline before spending an afternoon leisurely visiting wineries on our way back to San Francisco. One day we should really take a wine tasting course.Until then, we’ll continue to claim that we can detect “traces of melon” or“aromas of earthy citrus”. I’m sure nobody suspects a thing.
We then rented a car and headed south down the fabled #1 highway which spectacularly (and frighteningly) hugs the ragged coastline. For three days we explored the sights of Monterrey, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo and everything in between. Being low-season, we had the trails to ourselves. But that didn’t mean we were alone. As we sat gazing out to sea, we were twice greeted by grey whales as they slipped past the coastline, inching ever closer Baja California – the end of their yearly migration from Alaska to Mexico.
Before we reached LA, we stopped in Ventura to hang out with a friend of mine from my exchange year to Mexico (way back in 2004). It was great to see you Tim!
In LA, we were treated to three days of sightseeing, people watching, vegan eating and more by our tour guide Scott (yes, the same one who was with us in Vancouver just two weeks prior). We were chauffeured everywhere- from the chic streets of Beverly Hills, to the golden beaches of Malibu, and the boulevards of Santa Monica. One of the biggest highlights was watching the Lakers beat the Cavaliers live in the Staples Center. Kobe Bryant had 42 points. Yep, 42 – and I don’t even think he was trying that hard. We also waved at Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson seated courtside. They pretended not to see us – these Hollywood actors are so vain these days!
From LA, the trip wasn’t over yet – but we’ll save the final week for another post. Thanks to all who made this wonderful trip possible!
