Misty, But More Like Downright Wet

Jodi wondered if Niagara Falls is one of the 7 Wonders of the world, and alas it is not, but I in my opinion it should be! I lay in bed this morning not able to hear the birds singing through our open windows, considering the beauty of this natural wonder of the falls that I COULD hear.  We had a great day yesterday.  We got up, had breakfast and moseyed as it had rained and was still raining as we woke up.  Breakfast was on the sun porch at this delightful little table.

We were served a poached pear in a berry coulis with a couple of strawberries which I enjoyed later with the waffle that accompanied a veggie filled omelette.

As we sat, there is a tree in the back yard in which Jodi found the image of a squirrel as if she were cloud gazing.  

The nice thing about IAFN being in the fall is that usually, the crowds are gone.  So we bought a day pass for the Falls and our first adventure was watching a movie about the Falls.  It was pretty interesting and I always enjoy some context!  Then we headed toward the Maid of the Mist boat ride that was to take us right up to the falls.

They gave us ponchos which reminded me of big condoms!  But they did keep us dry!

The views, the sounds and the suds were amazing.  I had to say a couple of times, for old times sake, "I see Suds!".

There is a tower that lets you walk out over the water a bit and it offered a lovely view of the falls as well.

Then we took the trolley (part of the pass) to the Cave of the winds, on Goat Island.  All of this is a state park now, so fairly regulated, but not the best routes, directes, signage. It felt fairly confusing about how to use the pass and know if there was an obligatory ticket to still obtain with the pass as currency or if you could just use the cute little ticket in the pass.  

As we waited in line, I thought how multicultural this place is.  In line there were an Amish family, several Hasidic Jewish people, some women in hijab and others in saris, as well as us boring folk.  Then we go in this area and it sort of resembles a locker room and they are giving us shoes-sandal thingies.  There is a sign that says "wear these or get your shoes wet".  But not much more explanation.  With the vision of all the obviously Jewish people present, my mind went to "this confusion may be a tiny vision at what the Holocaust victims must have felt when being rounded up".

 But we changed into these surprisingly comfortable little sandals and I rolled up my pant legs as much as I possibly could (boy, was I glad!) and  reapplied my condom like poncho.

There were all sorts of interesting berries waiting to be picked and snails just hunkered down in the lovely moist rock.

 Off we went to this amazing stair way (that the elevator guy said they tear down every Fall and rebuild every Spring) to the base of the falls.

It was beautiful, astonishing and wet!  It was so wet and there was so much water that at one point I could not see for all the water that had splashed into my eyes.

Back in our shoes we headed to Terrapin point to have a good look as yet another view of the falls.  I think maybe this was my favorite view as on one side there was the American Falls and on the other was the Canadian Falls ( Horseshoe falls)

and I liked being so close to both of them.  AND we finally got to see a piece of a rainbow!

I marveled at how ignorant humans can be at throwing coins in the falls!

I had hoped to eat at the restaurant there, but it looked like it was closed for the season.

Hungry by now, we took the trolley back to  the beginning and walked to a pizza place we had seen, I did'nt read well and we ordered a large pizza (the only size). But one could have purchased by the slice.  C'est La Vie.  After lunch/supper we walked back to the B&B and then to the casino where we deposited a bit of hard earned cash.  It was fun though. The room was warm, but the windows opened easily and we had  air and the sounds of the falls to lull us to sleep.

In a Mist

This place must have been something once!  Actually it still is, we are staying at the Hillcrest Inn and it is lovely!  Out room is floral, canopied bed, and cozy.  For which I am grateful as it is pouring This morning as I write!

Our arrival was fairly boring, which is good. The trip was uneventful, I drove.  We stopped at at Waffle House for brunch/lunch, where I had cheesy eggs, hash browns and rasian toast.  Nothing like a little greasy spoon food to start our a trip, later I was to be sorry I did not eat my last piece of toast!

Jodi gave me some playful grief about my choice of dining establishments.  I drove, Jodi drove, and then at the end I drove some more.  With the most excellent help of Siri we got here, I really should quit calling her a bitch!  When she is good she's really good, and when she's not, no one can read my texts.  

Anyway, we got here,I was wowed by the place,  but we were hungry and it was only 7:30ish so off we went to the closest place to dine, the Red Coach Inn. I had looked at this place but it was booked (and incredibly expensive anyway if my memory serves me well).  But eating there sounded intriguing. It was a short walk and while there were tables galore, we had to wait.  O.K.  So we waited.  I was good though I did not tear anyone's arm off and chew on it!

Finally we got seated, the space was great, like anything one would expect right out of a old dining establishment in England.  Dark wood, pained windows, table clothes on the tables.  It stopped there though.

 The waitress finally came.  We ordered a beverage and I inquired about the vegetarian dish which, sounded devine, and she said it is really not her favorite, "the kitchen is inconsistent with it and it can come out looking doughy". SO I ordered mushroom soup and Jodi ordered mashed potatoes and green beans, sides of each.  She said she would be right back with some bread.  Good, I did not have to ask for it!  And we waited.  And we waited.  As we sat there I started wondering if we had locked the car and then I got mad as those villains in France were still affecting my life. Robbery PTSD!  Jodi asked me what I was thinking and with great trepidation I told her.  Now we were both reliving our France trip, and we waited.  Finally I said "Let's go, and Jodi sad "no , what are you going to eat?"  I said "nothing, and at this point I don't feel like eating".  So we waited a few more minutes, and I said, "really, let's leave, I am irritated, let's just pay for your drink and go."  So I asked someone who we could pay for her libation and it turned into ......   The waitress, in response to my irritation with not even getting any bread yet, said  "we normally don't serve bread with appetizers", and I said "you are not making anything better, by making excuses, you said you would e right back with bread."  At the end of the day, they comped the beverage and back we came to the car to check.  IT was locked after all.  It is amazing how much a victimization, or witnessing violence of any sort ( I still have mini moments backing out of my garage after hitting a couple of cars I my driveway) can impact our brains.  

After that fiasco we walked back down to the falls and wondered at the natural falls, the mist and the craziness that man has applied in the periphery.

This morning didn't really dawn so much  as poured in.  It is falling down in buckets, making me glad for the hiking shoes and rain coat in the car.  This is the sort of place I have always wanted to live, but have been too big a chicken.  I lack the repairman skills it would require.  Fortunately Jodi is o.k. with my proclivity for B&Bs and I get to at least spend a few nights here and there in fabulous old houses.  Maybe it is better this way, I get some variety.

Kitchen, Kitchen, Cuchina

I didn't even try the coffee in the room as it was deplorable when I made it yesterday.  Breakfast here in the hotel was eggs benedict for me and a buffet for CC and Michelle.  The morning lecture on cultural competency was useful and kept me engaged.   But until the peer review piece I was floundering.  This course  would be great for a nurse that was struggling a bit but for an experienced SANE it is remedial!

Lunch was  (sharing) a Chicken Caprese sandwich and it was delish!

I walked a minute outside, the sun was shining down in the water so nice!

Interesting flora.

After the conference tonight was a "hosted" get together which interprets to wine and cheese.  It was nice and we had good conversation with other SANEs.

Dinner was at  Riva Cuchina (http://www.rivacucina.com/dinner/)and Robin drove to the restaurant.

I had  PASSATELLI ALLA SALSICCIA which is :Parmigiano, egg & breadcrumb pasta sautéed with housemade Italian sausage, butter, sage & cream.  

Dessert was Panna Cotta with strawberries & shaved chocolate, pretty good!

Bed time!

Sent from my iPhone

"And all shall be well,

  And all shall be well, 

    And all manner of things shall 

         be well.".     

                   Julian of Norwich

Going,Going, Gone

I swear one should just go back to bed when there is a morning coffee failure.  I got up this morning, made coffee in the little coffee pot in my room and eew!  So I got ready and went down to the conference,

 no breakfast there, so I bought an almond croissant and it was pretty, well,nothing.

At lunch I hear the door of my oppportunity to do a fabulous meal  at Chez Panisse slamming shut.  

Monday, September 25 $75

Cannard Farm tomato salad with roasted pepper and eggplant caponata,

hand-stretched mozzarella, and mint

Poulet à la broche aux girolles: Spit-roasted Riverdog chicken

with creamy chanterelle mushroom sauce,hand-cut herb noodles,

green beans, and wild rocket salad

Belle de Boskoop apple and quince galette with raspberry ice cream.  Sounds like an orgasm waiting to happen to me!

Our conference goes until 7 and the only reservation available is 6:00PM.  I thought a dream was going to come through but my colleagues want to be good little girls and  stay at the conference hosted reception (which will turn out to be cheese, fruit and you buy it wine and beer, a glad of after was $5.00 so the cheese did not slide down very well.) I pray it is good as it is going to take a lot Photography tips to trump Alice Waters reputedly wonderful  meals.

Brie and cherries and uninteresting wine at $9.00/glass. That was my trade off.  

We ended up at a restaurant with a beautiful view called Skates. MY special of the day was scallops and they were delicious.  

The bread pudding we shared for dessert.... Well let's just say,mine is better. 

    And all manner of things shall 

         be well.".     

                   Julian of Norwich

Sent from my iPhone

"And all shall be well,

  And all shall be well, 

    And all manner of things shall 

         be well.".     

                   Julian of Norwich

IND to ORD to SFO

Parking, airport and re yak car went fairly smoothly.  Off we were u til, rather soon,  we sat in what we all believe about California highway parking g lots.  People drive crazy here worse than an Italian and French man rolled into one!  

At last we got off the parking lot/freeway and Ibaean to recognize street names, and then I began t o recognize loaves!  I discouraged Vinasa but they wanted to go so,

we stopped, it is a lovely venue, but I did not remember the wine being all that good.  

BUT I was to be surprised.  They have wood oven pizzas and I chatted in Spaniseh with the guy behind the counter and he recommended a Snagiovese and it was Devine, perfectly smooth! (Viansa.com).  We were hungry and so Cathy and I shared a Sausage pizza and it was very good!  

Next we ran onto Cline VIneyard and we stopped there too and did a tasting,I bough a bottle for later.   BUt The wines they currently had did not beat the Snagiovvese. 

Across the street was the Olive Press and it was a fun change of pace to visit there too.

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We decided to get to St Fancis Viineyard,,but we got there just as it closed!  But we boldly had a gander before leaving. 

It about killed me, as they have some good wines,but one can't argue with being closed.

We drove on to Ledford ,

But they were closed too.

So we moseyed on to Healdsburg,and then took the freeway back to the Doubletree Marina where we had rather a goat rodeo about our rooms, but finally sort of got it arranged.  Michelle and I took the car to the Oaklland Airport, and I 80 was STILL a parkin\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\