Best of the Best 2021

Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? 

At the end of 2021, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.

Restaurants

Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North Shore, near the famous Ho'okipa Beach) to create an unforgettable dining experience using only the freshest fish caught on Maui.

1. Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
2. The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
3. Lagoon Restaurant by Jean Georges, St. Regis, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia 
4. Manresa, Los Gatos, CA (3 Michelin Stars)
5. Solbar, Calistoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
6. Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
7. Ristrot Guivol, Turin, Italy
8. Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
9. Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
10. Humuhumunukunuku'apua, Maui Hawaii 
11. La Foret, San Jose, CA (Michelin Rated)
12. Bouchon, Napa, CA  (Michelin Rated)
13. Araxi, Whistler, BC
14. Cucina Rustica, Sedona, Arizona
15. Eataly, WTC, New York City (and Munich)

Dishes

• Apple Strudel: Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Bread: "Country Bread," Tartine Bakery, San Francisco, CA 
• Cakes: A tie!
• Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Extraordinary Desserts, San Diego, CA
• Croissants: "Pistachio Croissants", Thes Comptoirs Richard, Metz, France 
• Flammkuchen: Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
• Gelato: Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, Canada
• Gnocchi: Osteria Nonna Gina, Siena, Italy 
• Opah, Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
• Pancakes: "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes," Solbar, Calistoga 
• Patisserie: Gerard Mulot Patisserie, Paris, France 
• Pizza: Buffalo, Pizzeria Scugnizzo, Turin, Italy
• Ramen: Matsumoto, Japan
• Sandwiches: Small World Sandwich Shop, Amsterdam, Netherlands 
• Sushi: Shou Tsukiji Sushi, Tokyo, Japan
• Tafelspitz: Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
• Tapas: El Pinton, Seville, Spain 

Pizzeria

We have had pizza everywhere in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, etc.), France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan. So far, our favorite pizza restaurant is Pizzeria Scugnizzo in Turin, Italy. We also had fantastic pizza in Japan - at Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli in Tokyo. In addition, there was an excellent small pizza restaurant in Paris with the most incredible pizza in Paris - but I cannot recall its name. I heard that the absolute world's best pizza is to be found in Naples, Italy - but I have not been there yet.

1. Pizzeria Scugnizzo, Turin, Italy
2. Waikiki Pizza Restaurant, Bardonecchia, Italy
3. Bricks Restaurant Pizza, Turin, Italy
4. Keste Pizza, Greenwich Village, New York City (Keste #1)
5. Eataly, World Trade Center, New York City ("Capricciosa" pizza)
6. Eataly Lingotto, Turin, Italy
7. Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli, Tokyo, Japan ("DLC winner" pizza)
8. Juliana's Pizza, Brooklyn, New York City (#1 Special)
9. Hearthstone in Red Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
10. Pizza My Heart, Los Gatos, CA (especially "Manresa" only available on Sundays)

Gelato and Ice Cream

Our favorite gelateria was in Bologna, Italy. We also tried many exceptional gelaterias in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, and Lucca.

1. Gelato in Bologna, Italy (near Piazza Maggiore)
2. Gelato in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, Lucca (Italy) 
3. Bacio di Latte, Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA
4. Gio Gelati, San Francisco, CA
5. Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, BC 
6. Grom Gelateria, Turin, Italy
7. Grom Gelateria, New York City (also in Florence and Siena) 
8. Kamakura Gelato, Kamakura, Japan
9. Eataly, New York City (and Munich)
10. Gelateria La Romana, Turin, Italy
11. Dolce Gelato, Laguna Beach
12. Lappert's Ice Cream, Maui, Hawaii

Spas

Our favorite spa is Aquadome, in Langenfeld, Austria (near Tyrol), but we also really liked the baths in Baden-Baden, Germany.

1. Aquadome, Langenfeld, Austria
2. Friedrichsbad Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany 
3. Caracalla Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany
4. Alpentherme Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Austria 
5. Miri-Miri Spa by Clarens, St. Regis, Bora-Bora 
6. Scandinave Spa, Whistler, Canada 
7. Tabacon, Costa Rica 
8. Spa LaQua, Tokyo, Japan
9. Spa World, Osaka, Japan
10. Solage, Calistoga, CA 
11. Indian Springs, Calistoga, CA 

Books (all-time)

1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
2. Night by Elie Wiesel
3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
4. The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
5. The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
6. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
7. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
8. 1984 by George Orwell
9. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
10. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
11. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
12. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
13. Shogun by James Clavell
14. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
15. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Books (2021)

1. The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
   
2. Basic Economics (5th Edition) by Thomas Sowell
3. Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
   
4. Defiant Courage by Astrid Karlson Scott, Tore Haug
5. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
   
6. Answered Prayers by Truman Capote
   
7. Dear Father, Dear Son by Larry Elder
8. To Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park
   
9. Witness by Ariel Burger
10. Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome
11. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
    
12. The Devil's Delusion by David Berlinski
13. Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell

Albums (2021)

1. The Battle at Garden Gate, Greta Van Fleet
2. Voyage, Abba 
3. 30, Adele
4. Time Clocks, Joe Bonamassa
   
5. Only By The Night, Kings of Leon
6. The Bridge, Sting
7. =, Ed Sheeran

Movies (all-time)

1. The Godfather (1972)
2. Schindler's List (1993)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Gone with the Wind (1939)
5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
6. Dead Poet's Society (1989)
7. High Noon (1952)
8. 12 Angry Men (1957)
9. The Lord of the Rings (2001)
10. The Matrix (1999)
11. Sophie's Choice (1982)
12. Goodfellas (1990)
13. Amadeus (1984)
14. Aliens (1986)
15. All Quiet on the Western Front (1939)
16. Good Morning Vietnam! (1987)
17. Modern Times (1936)
18. Das Boot (1981)
19. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
20. The Godfather, Part II (1974)
21. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
22. Unforgiven (1992)
23. Point Break (1991)
24. Double Indemnity (1944)
25. Some Like It Hot (1959)
26. Scarface (1983)
27. Judgment at Nurenburg (1961)
28. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
29. Seven Samurai (1954)
30. Before Sunrise (1995)

Movies (2021)

1. King Richard (2021)
2. Licorice Pizza (2021)

Miniseries (all-time)

1. The Winds of War (1983)
2. War and Remembrance  (1988)
3. Band of Brothers (2001)
4. The Pacific
5. Pride & Prejudice (1995)
6. Shogun (1980)
7. Masada (1981)
8. The Thorn Birds (1983)
9. North & South (2004)
10. Black Mirror (2011)

Rock Concerts

My favorite rock concert was Elton John's Made in England Tour at Tacoma Dome. It was my first Rock concert and a truly fantastic experience. I have been to his other concerts, i.e., the Red Piano in Las Vegas, but they did not have the same atmosphere and intensity.

1. Elton John's Made in England Tour, Tacoma Dome, Washington on 9/9/1995 
2. Leonard Cohen, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 11/7/2012. 
3. The History of the Eagles, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 1/29/2013 
4. Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road SAP Center, San Jose, 10/19/2018
5. Postmodern Jukebox, The Warfield, San Francisco, 12/13/2015 
6. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Harrah's Hotel and Casino, 5/30/2015 
7. Carlos Santana, Shoreline Amphitheater, 2002
8. Elton John's Million Dollar Piano, The Colosseum, Las Vegas, 10/13/2011
9. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Uptown Theatre, Napa, 2/23/2019
10. The Gipsy Kings, Mountain Winery, 8/27/2014. 
11. Lara Fabian 50, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 9/20/2019

Opera

My favorite opera is Carmen by Georges Bizet, due to the fantastic music and dramatic story. I am also partial to Puccini, especially Madame Butterfly.

1. Carmen, Houston Grand Opera
2. Madame Butterfly, Houston Grand Opera, 1993
3. Marriage of Figaro, San Francisco Opera, 6/21/15
4. Barber of Seville, San Francisco Opera, 11/23/13
5. La Traviata, Houston Grand Opera
6. Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera
7. La Boheme, San Francisco Opera,  11/22/14
8. The Magic Flute, San Francisco Opera
9. Lucia di Lammermoor, Houston Grand Opera
10. Elektra, Houston Grand Opera
11. Salome, Houston Grand Opera

Musical Theater

My favorite musical is Chicago (most recently seen at Ambassador Theater on Broadway), but I am a massive fan of Kander & Ebb musicals (which also include Cabaret, Liza with a Z, and Fosse). I also like Cole Porter's musicals (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate!) and George Gershwin's (Crazy for You) the most.

1. Chicago, Ambassador Theater, Broadway, New York City 12/18/2016, 9/25/2018
2. Fiddler on the Roof, Broadway Theater, New York City, 12/23/2016 
3. Cabaret, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
4. Anything Goes, Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, 1/19/2013 
5. Grease, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
6. Monty Python's Spamalot, Orpheum, San Francisco 
7. My Fair Lady, Vivian Beaumont Theater, New York City, 9/22/2018
8. Kiss Me, Kate!, Orpheum, San Francisco 
9. Saturday Night Fever, Orpheum, San Francisco 
10. 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, 7/15/2017
11. Mary Poppins, Orpheum, San Francisco, 5/12/2013 
12. The Book of Mormon, San Francisco, 1/7/2014 
13. Showboat, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 6/13/2014 
14. Aladdin, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 4/17/19
15. Mamma Mia, Orpheum, San Francisco
16. Phantom of the Opera, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/21/2015
17. Cats, Neil Simon Theater, New York City, 12/24/2016 
18. The Lion King, Orpheum, San Francisco
19. Les Miserables, Orpheum, San Francisco
20. Avenue Q, New World Stages, New York City, 9/24/2018
21. Hello Dolly!, Orpheum, San Francisco
22. Mathilda, Orpheum, San Francisco, 7/23/2015
23. Wicked!, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 8/31/2019
24. Fosse, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
25. Hamilton, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/17/2019
26. Miss Saigon, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 11/15/2019
27. Evita, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
28. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
29. Annie, Portland, Oregon

Theater (Drama & Comedy)

I am incredibly partial to William Shakespeare's dramas, especially Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Having seen them long ago, I don't have any exposure to more recent productions.

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 11/20/2019
2. Emma, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 12/4/2015 
3. Les Liaisons Dangereuses, New York City, 12/22/2016 
4. Disgraced, Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, 12/12/2015 
5. Cyrano, TheatreWorks, Mountain View, 4/24/2016 
6. Outside Mullingar, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 10/7/2016 
7. The Hard Problem, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 10/19/2016 
8. Daddy Longs Legs, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, 12/3/2016 
9. Oleanna, Houston, 1992

Hiking Trails

Half-Dome was the longest, most challenging hike I have done. It has fantastic overlooks of Yosemite Valley. However, the other hikes in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon are also great.

1. Half-Dome, Yosemite, CA 
2. Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point, Sedona, Arizona
3. Silver Falls State Park, Oregon 
4. Dipsea Trail, Sausalito, CA 
5. Devil's Bridge, Sedona, Arizona
6. Big Basin Redwoods, Boulder Creek, CA 
7. Sanborn County Park, CA
8. Castle Rock State Park, CA 
9. Mt. Shasta, CA 
10. Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 
11. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, CA 
12. Huddart County Park, Woodside, CA

Ski Resorts

My favorite place to ski and snowboard is Whistler, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler usually has great snow with minimal elevation gain, excellent, inexpensive restaurants, and a tremendous youthful vibe (with many other nearby activities such as tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, & snowmobiling). It also has a fabulous Scandinave Spa! However, I also enjoy the fantastic powder at our local Mammoth Mountain.

1. Whistler/Blackcomb, BC, Canada (best ski resort) 
2. Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA (best California powder)
3. Verbier, Switzerland
4. Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, CA (best local powder)
5. Mount Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood, Oregon
6. Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, CA
7. Mt. Bachelor, Bend, Oregon 
8. Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe 
9. Palisades Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
10. Mt. Rose, East Lake Tahoe, NV 
11. Sierra-at-Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
12. Bardonecchia, Turin, Italy (most delicious food of any resort)
13. Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, CA (closest resort) 

Mountain Biking Trails

1. Soquel Demo Forest, Santa Cruz, CA
2. John Nicholas Trail, Los Gatos, CA
3. Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, CA
4. Saratoga Gap & Long Ridge, Saratoga, CA
5. Santa Teresa County Park, San Jose, CA
6. Joseph D. Grant County Park
7. Limekiln Trail, Los Gatos, CA
8. Monte Bello OSP
9. Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA

Off-Road Motorcycling Trails

My favorite place to ride off-road dirt bikes is in Hollister SVRA. I have taken classes with Brian Garrahan and have ridden multiple 4-stroke and 2-stroke motorcycles.

1. Hollister Hills SVRA, Hollister, CA
2. Carnegie SVRA, Tracy, CA
3. Metcalf, San Jose, CA

Windsurfing Spots

My all-time favorite place for windsurfing is on the Northern shore of Maui at Spreckelsville Beach. However, I also enjoyed windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge ("The Gorge" near Hood River, Oregon) at Sherman Island in Rio Vista Coyote Point, 3rd Ave, and Crissy Field in San Francisco.

1. Spreckelsville, Maui, Hawaii
2. Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
3. Sherman Island, Rio Vista, California
4. Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz, California
5. Crissy Field, San Francisco, California
6. Swell City, Hood River, Oregon
7. Rowena, Hood River, Oregon
8. Event Site, Hood River, Oregon
9. Coyote Point, San Francisco, California
10. 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA

Surfing Spots

1. Trestles, San Clemente, CA
2. Ala Moana State Park, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
3. Rockpile Beach, Laguna Beach, CA
4. Huntington Beach, CA
5. Surfer's Point at Seaside Park, Ventura
6. "The Hook", Capitola
7. Newport Beach Pier
8. Dolores Beach, Laniakea Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
9. Pismo Beach Pier, Pismo Beach, CA
10. Pleasure Point, Capitola (great beginners spot)
11. Steamer Lane, Capitola (experts only)
12. San Clemente Pier, CA
13. Manresa State Beach, Capitola

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The Year in Sports 2021

 

How was 2021 in Sports? With Covid-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more windsurfing and mountain biking than in previous years.

Here is the link to my Strava's Year in Sports

• 77 days of playing tennis at Almaden Valley Athletic Club (AVAC)
  
• 42 days of surfing (Capitola, Rockpile Beach, Trestles)
• 20 days of windsurfing (Crissy Field)
• 3 days of snowboarding (Palisades Tahoe)
  
• 11 days of swimming at Almaden Valley Athletic Club (AVAC)
  
• 12 days of hiking (Sedona, Vasona Lake)
  
• 14 days of indoor bike riding (Keiser M3i) 
  
• 38 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park, John Nicholas Trail), with almost 60,000 feet of elevation gain!

How was 2020 in Sports? With Covid-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more surfing and mountain biking than in previous years.

• 77 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center) before Covid-19 closed it. I really miss playing tennis!
  
• 14 days of working out in the gym (City Sports) before COVID-19 locked it
  
• 46 days of surfing (Capitola, Rockpile Beach, Trestles)
• 12 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island, Waddell Creek, 3rd Ave)
• 0 days of snowboarding 
• 11 days of hiking (Vasona Lake)
• 2 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)
• 19 days of indoor bike riding (Keiser M3i) 
  
• 59 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park, John Nicholas Trail), with almost 100,000 feet of elevation gain!
  

How was 2019 in Sports? With colitis in September, I missed a lot of tennis and gym days. I did manage to enjoy many fantastic hikes. In addition, this was the most extraordinary year for snowboarding ever: Bardonecchia, Verbier, Mammoth, and Alpine Meadows!

• 124 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 66 days working out in the gym (City Sports)
• 20 days of surfing (Capitola, Oahu)
• 15 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island, Crissy Field)
• 15 days of snowboarding (Mammoth, Verbier, Alpine Meadows)
• 16 days of hiking (Yosemite, Sedona, Vasona Lake)
• 1 day of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)
• 4 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)

How was 2018 in Sports? It was my best year for windsurfing!

• 147 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 90 days working out in the gym (City Sports)
• 23 days of surfing (Capitola)
• 16 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 13 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 12 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 4 days of hiking (Santa Cruz)
• 3 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)

How was 2017 in Sports? It was my best year for gym workouts!

• 228 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 98 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 7 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 5 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 21 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 3 days of hiking (Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge)
• 6 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)

How was 2016 in Sports? It was my best year for tennis and off-road motorcycling!

• 241 days of playing tennis (Los Gatos Swim & Racquet Club)
• 0 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 0 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 1 day of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 1 day of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 0 days of hiking
• 11 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Honda CRF250R)

How was 2015 in Sports? It was not my best year.

• 0 days of playing tennis
• 0 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 1 day of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 6 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 7 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 0 days of hiking
• 2 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on Honda CR150F)

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Christmas in the Neighborhood

On Christmas Eve, Inna and I strolled through our Almaden Winery neighborhood to enjoy and delight in the elaborate Christmas ornaments set up for display.

For Christmas Eve, Inna ordered a few ethnic Russian favorites, including:

• 'Olivye' Salad
• Roasted Duck
• Holodetz
• Shuba

I really liked the Roasted Duck - it was delicious!

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Lesson 01: Tennis Backhand Lesson with Ryan Reidy

As I struggled with my consistency on my one-handed tennis backhand, Ryan Reidy from 2minutetennis evaluated my backhand and offered excellent pointers for improvement.

Here is a list of technique items to work on:

1. The backhand stroke must be initiated lower, with the top of the tennis racket being at the same height as my head (my error was in holding the racket much higher - this works for the slice backhand stroke but not for the backhand drive)
2. During the swing down, the tennis racket must be pointed down (closed), almost touching the knee
3. The left arm separates but moves with the right hand initially 
4. The left-arm separation starts when it reaches the left leg
5. The wrist never moves; it should be fixed throughout the whole stroke
6. The left arm starts swinging backward before ball contact to balance the stroke
7. The contact point is further upfront (similar to forehand drive)
8. On the finish, I must finish in a "V" with the racket pointing left

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Snowboarding at Lake Tahoe

Saturday, December 18, 2021

On Saturday, December 18, 2021, we woke at 05:30 to prepare for the long drive to North Lake Tahoe. One of our friends offered us a room at a house on Donner Lake (near Truckee), and we planned to use it as a base to snowboard at Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) and at Alpine Meadows. I pre-purchased Ikon passes for Alex and me (that I did not use last year but intended to use this year).

Although our Audi Q5 was already loaded with snowboarding gear, we also needed to move some refrigerated food items into a small cooler. After loading the SUV, we drove to Lake Tahoe at about 06:30. The drive was uneventful, with occasional traffic on 680 and 80. Still, we encountered heavy traffic reaching 89, a few miles away from Palisades Tahoe. 

On arriving at Palisades Tahoe at about 10:40, we had difficulty parking (the parking lot was overflowing), but we eventually found an open parking spot and parked. 

Since Inna was not planning to ski, she walked to the nearby Coffeebar at the Village of Palisades Tahoe, where she ordered a coffee drink and breakfast. I spent the time unloading the Audi and getting dressed for snowboarding while Alex went to find a restroom. 

Eventually, I joined Inna at the Coffeebar (munching on her Avocado Toast) while Alex was getting dressed. At about 11:30, we boarded the first gondola at 11:30 Coast Funitel. From there, we snowboarded down to Big Blue Express, which turned out to be a very slow-moving chairlift. We tried to avoid it next time and snowboarded over to use the Siberia Express.

The snow was no longer fresh and was beaten up somewhat, but there were still patches of new powder, which was enjoyable.

Here is a high-def GoPro Hero10 video I recorded on Palisades:

Getting a bit hungry, we snowboarded down to the base and met up with Inna for lunch at the Coffeebar. I ordered the following lunch items:

• Inna: Tomato Soup, Breakfast Panini
• Boris: Breakfast Burrito (Chorizo), Apple Cider Steamer
• Alex: Breakfast Burrito (Chorizo), Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies

We liked our lunch, but it was of average quality. Nothing was exciting about any of the food items.

After lunch, Alex and I boarded the Gold Coast Funitel Gondola for more snowboarding. We snowboarded until 16:00 (closing time), unsure when the 16:00 host had arrived at the Donner Lakehouse.

On the way to our Audi, we were treated to a spectacular view of the moon above the mountains.

We rested at Coffeebar for half an hour before resuming the 30-minute drive to 14660 Denton Ave on Donner Lake. It was getting dark, and the roads around Donner Lake were not well-lit or cleaned. When we finally found the house, the driveway was steep, requiring careful driving up the incline.

Once at the house, we unloaded our van and enjoyed the time with our friends, who cooked a delicious meal of beef, sausages, potatoes, and corn on the cob. We also had a fantastic time playing various board games. We also had a lot of fun playing with "Chewy" - the small 4-month-old puppy.

We talked for a long time, going to bed at around 23:00.

 Sunday, December 19, 2021

Alex and I woke at 07:30 while Inna slept at 23:00. I took a shower and shaved, getting dressed in my snowboarding clothes. Lucy made a delicious breakfast with eggs, sausage, and potatoes, and Alex and I crammed them. I also made some hot black tea, which was nice and refreshing.

At around 09:00, we drove to Alpine Meadows while our friends went to Palisades Tahoe. We encountered significant traffic at 09:00, which delayed us by 20 minutes. We arrived at Alpine Meadows around 09:40, parking at the White Wolf parking lot. It looked like another very crowded day.

Alex and I put on our snowboarding boots and hopped on the shuttle, waiting for us at White Wolf parking for a 5-minute ride to Alpine Meadows entrance.

Hopping off, we strapped on our snowboards and started to snowboard. Our first chairlift was Summit. It was very crowded, and we waited patiently in a long line to board.

Here is a high-def GoPro Hero10 video I recorded on Alpine Meadows:

Once on top, we left for the Wolverine Bowl, where we descended steep snowbanks. The snow was not bad (but it was not fresh powder). We had a fun time falling to the bottom.

After a few more runs, we descended to the lodge cafe and ordered a few items. Initially, I thought of just calling hot chocolate, but we turned out to be a bit hungry, so we ordered the following:

• Alex: Chicken Noodle Soup, Pepperoni pizza, Hot Chocolate
  
• Boris: Chicken Noodle Soup, Kitkat, Hot Chocolate

I liked the hot chocolate and the chicken noodle soup, as they warmed me up. Alex also warmed up a bit. After lunch, we continued to snowboard until 16:00.

After returning to our Audi Q5, I called Inna, and she told me that she was ordering some Thai Food from Siam Cuisine in Trucke at 16:00 and our friends at Donner Lake. When I arrived at the restaurant, the food was not ready, so I waited with Alex in the car for 20 minutes.

We ordered the following dinner items:

• Thai Egg Rolls
• Cream Cheese Crab Rangoon
• Papaya Salad
• Tom Kha (chicken)
• Duck Noodle Soup
• Thai Fried Rice
• Pad Thai Special (chicken, shrimp)
• Pad See Ew (beef)
  

We arrived at the Donner Lakehouse around 17:45, and everyone sat down to eat dinner. I enjoyed the Duck Noodle Soup and Pad Thai.

After dinner, we played many board games for a long time. It was a delightful evening!

In the late evening, I boiled some hot water, and we made tea for everyone. Inna and I brought a bunch of sweets and enjoyed the Kievsky Torte.

We stayed up talking for a long time, going to bed at half past midnight.

Monday, December 20, 2021

I didn't sleep well and had to get up every hour to go to the bathroom. Perhaps I drank too much tea.

I woke up at 07:30, but almost everyone else still slept. Eventually, Alex was up, and Lucy and Pasha made us a delicious breakfast. Lucy made eggs and potatoes, while Pasha made shakshouka (a Maghrebi dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion, and garlic, commonly spiced with cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper). 

There was no new snow, so I was not excited about snowboarding again on the hard-packed snow.

 

After breakfast, Alex, Andrei, and I drove to Alpine Meadows. We arrived at close to 10:00, parking in another parking lot. Since Andrei was skiing, he needed some extra time to put on his boots and get ready. While he was getting up at 10:00, Alex and I started snowboarding at the Treeline Cirque chairlift, starting with easy runs to warm up. We snowboarded a few runs and returned to the lodge for hot chocolate. We messaged Andrei, but he just met with Pasha and didn't want to stop skiing yet.

 

While stopping for hot chocolate, we also picked up pizza. Alex ate a pepperoni pizza, while I enjoyed the vegetarian pizza. 

I tried to catch Andrei for the rest of the day, but he kept moving to different chairlifts. Eventually, I found him and Pasha drinking beer at Chalet Cafe (near Scott Chairlift). Since Andrei was not ready to stop skiing, Alex and I decided to end our snowboarding at 14:00, and we parted. Alex and I returned to the Audi Q5 and hopped for a short ride back to Donner Lake. 

While I rested, Alex played board games with the other boys.

 

At around 17:02, we ate a few of the dinner leftovers and then packed our Audi Q5 for the return drive home. The drive back was uneventful and took us about 3.5 hours. We had a fantastic snowboarding weekend!

 

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Dinner at Golden Triangle

With a Covid-19 outbreak at N.U.in London, we suggested that Alex return one week earlier from London, UK. Instead of Sunday, December 19th, we modified Alex's return flight to San Francisco for Sunday, December 12th.

His American Airlines Flight from London's Heathrow Airport arrived on time in San Francisco (thankfully, ahead of the big winter storm heading for Northern California).

Alex almost missed his flight from London, as he could not initially order an UberX car to take him to the airport. After several attempts, he finally managed to secure an Uber car! In addition, he had to pass the Covid-19 test (to prove he was not infected) before boarding the international flight. Thankfully, it all turned out well.

After picking him up at SFO, we returned home and ate dinner at one of our new favorite Thai restaurants in Los Gatos- Golden Triangle.

We arrived there for an early dinner at 17:00 and ordered the following dinner items:

• Crab Cream-Cheese Avocado Wontons
  
• Coconut Milk Soup
• Chicken Biryani
  
• Drunken Noodles
• Clay Pot

We really enjoyed the unique presentation and the delicious taste of the Crab Cream-Cheese Avocado Wontons. The Coconut Milk Soup was also quite delicious!

In addition, everyone really liked the Chicken Biryani and the spicy Drunken Noodles. We were already quite full and didn't have much space left for the seafood in the Clay Pot.

We enjoyed our dinner, but Alex was exhausted from his long flight, so we returned home around 18:30.

 

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More Tennis Thoughts

 Forehand Notes

1. Initiating the stroke below the ball increases overall topspin (but is more challenging to time on fastballs)
2. Hitting in front of the right shoulder really helps
3. Accelerating the arm through the ball for more power (watch the follow-through)
   
4. Keeping the wrist firm (not loose)
5. Left hand going up
6. Initiating the stroke after the bounce
7. If you need to hit harder, you need more topspin to keep the ball on the court.

Forehand Technique

1. Preparation
• Elbow elevated
2. Elbow Extension
   

Forehand Videos

 

 Serve Notes

1. Grip
2. Stance
3. Take Back
4. Timing the Leg Drive 
5. Racquet Entry
• The racquet edge coming at your ear
  
6. The Sweep
7. Elbow Up and Forward
8. Edge In, Edge Out
9. The Edge
10. Pronation
11. Outside Back to Inside
12. Follow-through
    

 

Serve Videos:

1. On Court With USPTA: Mechanics Of The Serve With Rick Macci

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Review: Pink Martini

Inna found out about a Pink Martini Concert in Palo Alto (for which tickets were sold out), but she purchased excellent seats for a concert at SF Jazz (201 Franklin St, San Francisco).

After driving to San Francisco, we decided to park at the Performing Arts Garage, where I parked my van. It seemed safer than the other parking lots nearby (due to all the unsavory characters and homeless).

Since we arrived early for the 2:00pm concert, we decided to eat a quick lunch at Kantine (a Scandinavian eatery). After waiting in line, we ordered the following lunch items:

• 7 Item Brunch board:
• Rye bread
• Scrambled Eggs
• Runny Eggs
• Bacon
• Trout
• Havarti
• Yogurt
• Pastries: Tebirkes, Sweat Seasonal Danish (Cranberry Jam with Chamomille)
• Boris: Mocha
• Inna: Latte

We liked the freshly baked pastries, especially the Tebirkes and the Danish. On the Brunch board, I wanted my scrambled eggs and Trout, but not the Rye bread. 

Inna really enjoyed her Yogurt, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, and Trout. We only had about 10 minutes to eat our food since Kantine was relatively slow, so we rushed back to SF Jazz for our show.

We had to show our ID and Vaccination cards to enter the venue. After sitting down, we liked our seats and the clear view of the stage.

Although I was familiar with a few songs from the band, I did not realize the vast number of languages they can sing in (25 at least).

The band features the following members:

• Thomas Lauderdale - piano
• China Forbes - vocals
• Antonis Andreou - trombone

In addition to the prominent members, there were a few new additions, including:

• Edna Vasquez - vocals (from Mexico)
• Jimmie Herod - vocals

Today's set included the following songs:

• Let's Never Stop Falling in Love
• Sympathique (Je ne veus pas travailler)
• Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Little Candles)
• Kikuchiyo to Mohshimasu
• Hang on, Little Tomato
• Joy to the World
• Hey Eugene!
• Pata Pata
• Tomorrow (from Annie, The Musical), sung by Jimmie Herod

The band sang songs in multiple languages, including:

• English
• French
• Romanian
• Japanese
• Arabic
  

I enjoyed the concert and the professionalism of the band. They were all excellent musicians. Jimmie had an incredibly high voice (for a man).

After the concert ended at around 3:50pm, we walked around briefly before sitting down for an early dinner at Doppio Zero Pizzeria. We ordered the following items from the dinner menu:

• Shared: Pera (Pear Salad), Fungo (Mushroom Pizza)
• Boris: Hot Tea
• Inna: Golden State Cider, Hot Tea

We enjoyed the Pera salad and the Fungo pizza. Inna also really liked her Golden State Apple Cider.

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Tennis Serve Evaluation with Ryan Reidy

As I struggled with my tennis serve, Ryan Reidy from 2minutetennis evaluated my serve and offered excellent pointers for improvement.

Here is a list of technique items to work on:

1. The tossing arm should be pointing straight up
2. During the toss, when releasing the ball, the tennis racket should be pointing down
3. The right arm should be much closer to my head (relative to touching my tossing arm) during the "Trophy" stance
4. After the serve motion, my tossing arm should be tucked in
   

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Back to Sedona

On November 20, 2021, Inna and I revisited Sedona, Arizona. We last visited Sedona on November 28, 2019 (before COVID-19) and were eager to revisit some of our favorite hikes.

Since the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock was much more expensive, Inna and I decided to try the Lantern Light Inn instead. We also booked Southwest Airlines Flight #2316 from SJC to PHX, departing at 07:35 PST.

Saturday, November 20, 2021

With my iPad alarm ringing at 05:15, we woke up and dressed. I ordered a Lyft standard car at 05:40 instead of UberX (UberX price went from $28 to $72 for the short drive from our home to San Jose Airport). Our Lyft driver arrived at 05:48, and we quickly loaded the car. We packed two suitcases and two backpacks for our short flight to Phoenix.

When we arrived at the San Jose Airport, there were very long lines to get through security. We printed our two Southwest Airlines boarding passes and then joined the long queue to get through security. After a lengthy wait, we proceeded to our departure gate.

Our Southwest Airlines Flight #2316 departed on time at 07:35; we landed earlier than expected, at 10:10 in Phoenix. After deplaning, we ordered UberX to take us to the parking lot where the BMW GT was parked. I specifically requested to pick up the BMW at the airport, but my Turo guide told me that this was not possible (at the last minute).

Our UberX Blue Prius arrived at 10:40. We drove to the designated parking lot where the BMW was parked. However, on the way there, Leslie (our UberX driver) had to pull over because she ran out of gas. Thankfully, this was a short delay.

I reserved the 2014 BMW 328i GT for our trip using Turo because reserving rental cars was challenging due to their low availability and high price. Rental car agencies stopped renting cars during the COVID-19 epidemic, and few rental cars were available.

The BMW 328i GT was unique, and I needed time to adjust to its peculiarities. The first item I noticed was the lack of a rear backup camera. The lack of a rearview camera makes parallel parking more challenging.

We arrived at Lantern Light Inn in Sedona around 13:35. Usually, Lantern Light Inn allows check-ins from 15:00 - 19:00. However, Inna called the phone number and checked in earlier. We brought our suitcases to our room and decided to hurry to lunch.

The first lunch place we tried - Sedona Crepes - was supposed to be open on Saturday until 15:00, but when we walked over, we noticed that lights were out, which was obviously closed. We decided to walk over across the street to try Layla's Bakery-Cafe. Unfortunately, the kitchen at Layla's closed at 14:00, so we could not order any sandwiches. We decided to try Cafe Jose, which was highly recommended by our Lantern Light Inn host.

We were quickly seated in Cafe Jose and ordered the following items:

• Boris: Denver Scramble, Coffee
• Inna: Rio Grande, Coffee

I really liked my Denver Scramble. It reminded me of when my mom made me a Denver Omelette at Neal's Oyster Bar (the restaurant my mom and dad owned). 

After we finished our lunch at 15:00, we decided to try hiking the West Fork Oak Trail (an easy trail highly recommended by our Lantern Light Inn host). Encountering heavy congestion, we eventually reached the West Fork Oak Trailhead at around 15:45, parked (paying an $11 fee), and began our hike.

Here is the Strava log of our West Fork Oak hike.

It was a beautiful trail with many water crossings and beautiful scenery. We hiked for 3.52 miles, returning to our parking lot at 17:45. The hike took us 1:45 (elapsed time) with an elevation gain of 147 feet.

We decided to eat dinner on the way back before returning to our Lantern Light Inn. Being a Saturday night, all the restaurants were bustling. We were eventually able to get seated at Open Range Grill & Tavern. We ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Cornbread (shared)
  
• Boris: Blonde Draft Beer, Chicken Fajitas
  
• Inna: Prickly Pear Margarita, Quesadilla

The Fajitas were delicious but not at the same level as the ones served at Carmelitas in Laguna Beach. I was slightly disappointed about cornbread - I expected something comparable to what Black Eyed Peas serves in Houston.

After dinner, we returned to Room #111 in Lantern Light Inn. I lit the fire pit on our patio and talked to Steve Stolper (who left me a message). I started reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles on my Kindle Paperwhite.

We didn't sleep well at night because the room's heater kept turning on very loudly and waking us up until Inna had the good sense to turn it off permanently.

 

Sunday, November 21, 2021

In the morning, I woke at 07:00 to my alarm playing music. However, both Inna and I were still very tired, so we continued sleeping until 08:40. I took a shower, shaved, and dressed for our morning hike. Inna also woke up reluctantly, showered, and dressed. 

Initially, we thought of stopping for breakfast before our hike. I considered eating at nearby Sedona Crepes and called to confirm it was open. However, my phone call was re-directed to voicemail, so I assumed it was closed. However, Inna tried again and got to a live person, who explained that the restaurant was open for breakfast.

We walked to Sedona Crepes and noticed a few people waiting to be seated. Inna put our name on the list, but the wait was 20 minutes. At this rate, we might not be able to make much progress with hiking at Bell Rock, so we decided to skip breakfast and drive directly to the Courthouse Loop South Trailhead, which we prefer for hiking to Bell Rock.

On the drive, my BMW 328i GT started complaining about low tire pressure. I stopped by the nearby Shell Station and pumped up both tires, resetting the TPM monitoring system afterward. It worked, as I saw no new warnings (but only time will tell).

Encountering heavy traffic, we eventually reached the Courthouse Loop South Trailhead and tried to park. Initially, we could not find any open parking spaces, but ultimately, we found an available parking space as a Jeep pulled out. I purchased the weekly parking pass ($15) and parked the BMW.

Since it was already quite warm, I decided not to bring a warm jacket. Inna got her backpack with a water bottle, while I just wore the fanny pack. Our plan was to follow the Big Park Loop trail.

Initially, we walked North and then East counter-clockwise, following the Bell Rock Pathway, the Courthouse Butte Loop, Bell Rock Climb, and Bell Rock Pathway. The hike was 6.00 miles long and took 3 hours (with a few rest stops). We were exhausted after the hike and decided to eat lunch.

At first, we tried lunch at Creekside American Bistro, but it was fully booked and had a 90-minute wait for seating. We decided to try the Hideaway House (where we dined 2 years ago), which had a 20-minute wait. 

We were seated outside (with beautiful views of surrounding peaks) at around 15:00 and ordered a few items:

• Boris: Gnocchi Vegetable soup, Nathan's Harvest Ginger Beer
• Inna: French Onion soup, Prickly Pear Lemonade
• Share: 14' Peach & Panchet Pizza
• Dessert: Peach & Pecan Cobbler

I liked the Peach & Panchet Pizza, while the soup was tolerable. The Peach & Pecan Cobbler was delicious.

After lunch, we returned to our room in Lantern Light Inn to rest. Both Inna and I were very tired and took a short nap. After the nap, we quickly dressed for our dinner at Cucina Rustica. Since we were running late (our dinner reservations were for 17:54), Inna called to warn the restaurant. We arrived around 18:15 and promptly sat at our "usual" table.

After looking at the new dinner menu and the wine menu, Inna and I ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Bruschetta
• Boris: Firestone Walker 805 Blonde Ale, Gnocchi Della Nonna
• Inna: BTG Eroica Riesling, Chilean Sea Bass, Hot Tea
• Dessert: Apple Budino

Inna's Chilean Sea Bass was marvelous, and I liked the Apple Budino dessert. My gnocchi was delicious, but I wasn't in the right mood to enjoy them.

After dinner, we returned to our room, stopping at Whole Foods to pick up yogurt, water, and snacks.

I lit the fire pit on our patio, and Inna enjoyed sitting outdoors, enjoying the warm flame and the fresh evening air. I sat outside for some time, but as I got cold, I moved indoors. Inna sat out until 23:30, listening to her meditations. I continued reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles on my Kindle Paperwhite.

Monday, November 22, 2021

Workday!

I woke up at 07:00 but was still sleepy and slept until 08:00. I showered, dressed, and ate a small cashew vanilla yogurt. I also made coffee in the room using the Lantern Light Inn's Keurig coffee maker. I lit the fire pit and drank my coffee while working on multiple work-related items.

Inna woke around 08:40 and decided to try hiking the Boynton Canyon Trail. She would try trekking 5 miles to visit the Birthing Cave. 

She packed a few essentials, including yogurt, crackers, and water. It was her first time driving the BMW 328i GT, and I hoped she would get used to it.

Inna enjoyed a long hike, taking over 6 hours to traverse multiple paths on the Boynton Canyon Trail. 

When she returned at 16:15, she was exhausted but proud of reaching the subway caves and completing such a long and arduous hike.

After resting a bit, we spent the rest of the day drinking wine and eating cheese & crackers on our   Lantern Light Inn patio, with the fire pit providing heat and illumination. We tried to make dinner reservations at multiple restaurants and eventually succeeded in reserving Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant for 20:00.

We arrived at Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant at about 20:00 and waited a few minutes before being seated close to the piano (no one was playing). After looking at the dinner menu (which seemed to mirror Cucina Rustica), we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Burrata Special, Bread with Olive Oil
  
• Boris: Classico Bolognese, Hot Tea
  
• Inna: Pesce Reale (Chilean Sea Bass), Hot Tea
  
• Dessert: Luscious Lemon Cheesecake
  

The Burrata Special was delicious, and Inna's Chilean Sea Bass was well prepared. 

I liked my Classico Bolognese too. The Luscious Lemon Cheesecake with Lemoncello was exquisite. We liked our dinner at Dahl & Di Luca and plan to return for Thanksgiving at 17:45.

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Workday!

I woke at 07:30 in the morning, showered, shaved, and dressed. Inna and I ate a small breakfast at the nearby Layla's Bakery Cafe (closed on Sunday and Monday). There was already a long line When we arrived (a 5-minute walk from our Inn).

We ordered the following items from the menu:

• Boris: Small Mocha, Cheese Danish
  
• Inna: Butterbeer Latte, Apple Danish, Ham & Cheese Croissant

All of the pastries were extremely well-baked and delicious. They were superior to our Los Gatos' Fleur de Cocoa Patisserie. We hope to return to Layla's again!

While I worked on the patio with the fire pit, Inna attended to her appointments. She visited the Crescent Moon Ranch and crossed some deep streams.

I had lots of work to do. At around 10:00, light showers started to come down, but I was dry on the patio with the plexiglass-covered roof and continued to work.

For lunch, I reheated Inna's quesadilla leftovers in the microwave. 

At around 15:30, Inna returned from her activities, and we decided to try coffee at the Starbites Coffee Cafe. There was hefty traffic on 89A, and it took us 20 minutes to drive 3 miles! Eventually, we parked near the cafe and ordered a few items:

• Boris: Mocha, Apple Fritter
• Inna: London Fog, Egg Sandwich

The mocha was really delicious, and I liked the Apple Fritter. Since the coffee shop closed at 17:00, we left and explored the nearby Visions Fine Art gallery. We especially liked the colorful sculptures of Dramocha and other animals by Nano Lopez and the fascinating paintings of Octavio Ocampo.

For dinner, we decided to try Pisa Lisa, a few minutes away from our Lantern Light Inn. We arrived at around 17:30 and were added to the waiting list. We gave our cell phone numbers and were told that our table would be ready in 30-40 minutes. We returned home and waited but never received the text message. Thus, we decided to return to Pisa Lisa and stay there. 

We arrived and parked our car in the small parking lot. We waited 10-15 minutes more before being seated at a communal table (where two other people were already dining). The big-screen TV showed the latest NBA game between LA Lakers and NY Nicks, with the Nicks leading most of the way. After looking at the menu, we ordered the following items:

• Boris: Ace Apple Cider, Greca (Greek Salad)
• Inna: Ace Pear Cider, Burrata Caprese
• Shared: Funghi Decadente (Mushroom Pizza)

I liked my Greek Salad, and the Mushroom Pizza was delicious, baked on a super-thin crust. We couldn't finish the pizza, so we brought a few slices home to eat later.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

I woke at 07:30 in the morning, showered, and dressed. Inna also woke up and dressed. It was chilly, with the morning air hovering at 40 Fahrenheit. 

We dressed warmly and walked over to the nearby Layla's Bakery Cafe. Surprisingly, Layla's was not busy at 08:15, and we quickly ordered the following breakfast items:

• Boris: Mocha (12 oz) + Whipped Cream, Apple Danish
• Inna: Latte (12 oz), Ham & Cheddar Croissant, Kouign-Amann

The mocha was delightful, and I especially enjoyed the chocolate-covered whipped cream. In addition, the Apple Danish was freshly baked, crispy, and delicious. Inna also enjoyed her Ham & Cheese Croissant and her mocha.

After breakfast, we returned to the Lantern Lighthouse Inn. I had to return to work while Inna decided to try a short hike on the Boynton Canyon Trail. She planned to return at around noon for lunch with me. During her hike, she ran into the guy who plays the flute. 

Inna returned home before noon and caught up with Alex in London using Apple's Facetime. Alex was doing well in London and was considering what to do during the upcoming weekend. A visit to York?

At noon, we decided to eat at Layla's Bakery Cafe for the last time (as it would be closed from November 25 - November 30. We both initially ordered Butternut Squash soups but did not like them. We thought they would be a paste, but they tasted like vegetable soups. Instead, Inna exchanged them for salads.

• Boris: Caesar Baby Kale Salad, Lemonade 
• Inna: Strawberry Salad, Lemonade, Bulletproof Coffee

After lunch, we decided to hike the Airport Loop Trail at Airport Mesa. The hike was supposed to be 3.2 miles long, but much longer - 6.0 miles. We saw many beautiful overlooks of the surrounding mountains. We rested and shared the Kouign-Amann from Layla's Bakery when we reached the highest point. 

After the hike, we drove to the nearby Starbites Coffee Cafe, where Inna ordered London Fog and an Earl Grey tea with a small snack. Since the coffee shop closed at 17:00, we returned to our Lighthouse Lantern Inn and rested. Since we were tired and dirty from the long hike, both Inna and I showered. I felt much better after the hot shower.

For dinner, we drove to Cucina Rustica (about 23 minutes away) for our 18:30. OpenTable reservation. 

After arriving, we were promptly seated., handed menus, and offered water. We ordered the following dinner items:

• Boris: Hot Tea, Greca (Greek Salad), Angelica (linguini with shrimp)
• Inna: Hot Tea, BTG Eroica Riesling, Burrata Plate, Vitelllo Saltimbocca (Veal)
• Dessert: Budino

On the return drive home, we stopped at the local Whole Foods to purchase fresh organic apples, yogurt, chocolate, crackers, and spring water.

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving!

I woke at 07:30, showered, dressed, and made coffee using Lantern Light Inn's Keurig coffee maker in our room. I lit the outdoor fire pit, and Inna and I ate a small breakfast consisting of:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Greek yogurt with fruit (marionberry, passion fruit)
• Brioche rolls

After breakfast, we dressed warmly for our upcoming hike to Soldier Pass. After a short 5-minute drive, we were directed to park near the pool - because there was the 12th Annual Sedona Turkey Trot. There was a shuttle ferrying hikers to Soldier Pass Trailhead, but it was running relatively slow due to all of the runners.

Initially, we thought about going forward with the hike, but the strong, cold, gusty wind (gusting to 25+ knots) and the cold temperatures made us reconsider. We decided to try another hike with less wind and settled on the West Oak Fork Trail. After a 2-minute drive, we reached the trailhead and paid the $11 parking fee at about 10:00.

Although it was pretty cold - 42 degrees Fahrenheit - the wind was far less intense, and we started our 3.2-mile hike on the West Oak Fork Trail. Since it's rated as an easy hike, it should take 90 minutes each way. It took much longer because we ended up stopping quite often to take photographs of the beautiful scenery.

Looking at my Apple Watch (I used Strava to record the hike), it took us 4.2 miles to reach the very end (an area where the steep cliffs are narrow and only water continues, making hiking impossible). This portion of the hike took us about two hours. We had to cross streams 13 times and almost got our feet wet on multiple occasions.

The way back was much quicker, as we did not stop to take photos.

We reached our BMW 328i at about 15:00 (5 hours after we started our hike.) We were exhausted and a bit famished. Since it was Thanksgiving, most coffee shops and restaurants were closed. We thought to stop at any place that was still open. On the drive back to our Lantern Light Inn, we stopped at one restaurant - but it only accepted seating with pre-existing reservations.

After reaching our Lantern Inn, I lit the fire pit, warmed up the 3 slices of leftover Pizza Funghi (from Pisa Lisa), and brewed fresh coffee. It was a small, simple lunch, but it helped to make us feel better.

At 17:40, we dressed for our dinner at  Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant. Although we could not sit in the main dining room, we enjoyed dinner near the bar. We ordered the following items from the Thanksgiving Dinner Menu:

• Boris: Soup of the Day(Yam Bisque), Salmone al Limoncello, Hot Tea
• Inna: Seafood Bruschetta, Agnello Scottadito (Lamb), Hot Tea
• Dessert: Classic Tiramisu

Our dinner was delicious, and I especially enjoyed the Tiramisu. The Salmon was delicious, but I could not taste any Lemoncello. Inna really enjoyed her rack of lamb.

Friday, November 26, 2021

I woke at 07:30, showered, dressed, and checked whether Sedona Crepes was open next door. I called the restaurant, but no one picked up the phone, and I was transferred to voice mail. While Inna was getting dressed, I walked over and found it closed.

I made breakfast in our room and brewed two cups of coffee using the Keurig Coffee maker. I lit the patio fire pit (it was pretty chilly outside), and Inna and I ate our morning breakfast, which included the following:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Greek yogurt with fruit (marionberry, passion fruit)
• Brioche rolls

After breakfast, Inna and I decided to hike the Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point. The drive to the Little Horse trailhead was a short 12-minute drive, as there was very little traffic. I did have to stop by the Shell Station to pump up the front left tire of the BMW 328i GT (as the car's Tire Pressure System was complaining).

We had difficulty finding parking when we arrived at the Little Horse Trailhead. Eventually, a Jeep pulled out, and we were able to park. We started our hike, noticing the myriads of other hikers and mountain bikers on this trail.

As I recall, last time (2 years ago), when Inna and I hiked Little Horse, we were pretty tired when we reached Chicken Point. However, today, we could walk quickly to Chicken Point, reaching it in an hour. At the top, we enjoyed fantastic views of the surrounding cliffs. We sat on one of the giant boulders and enjoyed a quick snack of fresh organic Honeycrisp apples.

The return trip to Little Horse Trailhead was fast, with our descent taking less than an hour. On the way down, we saw many mountain bikers descending quite quickly. I could try this trail on a mountain bike.

We loaded our BMW 328i GT with our hiking boots, and I started the drive to Uptown Sedona. There was a lot of congestion, and it took us 40 minutes to drive a few miles. 

Eventually, we parked near the Hike House. We walked over to the Hike House and looked at their vast selection of hiking boots. I was hungry and did not want to wait for a sales rep (who was working with another customer). Thus, we left the Hike House and walked north toward Hideaway House. On the way there, we briefly stopped at the Pump Station restaurant (but did not like their lunch menu). 

Next, we stopped at Creekside American Bistro, hoping a lunch table would be available. Luckily, Creekside had a free table for indoor seating, and we sat down. 

After looking at the menu, we ordered the following lunch items:

• Appetizer: 5 Freshly-baked croissants
• Boris: Crab Cake Combo (with Brie Soup), Hot Tea
• Inna: N/A Prickly Spritzer,  Brie Soup, Eggs Benedict, Hot Tea

After lunch, we drove to the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park to see Buddha statues. After exploring the small park and looking at the statues, we decided to hike the Chimney Rock Pass. It was a trail with a significant ascent. We enjoyed the beautiful views of the surrounding vistas.

At about 17:00, we returned to our car and drove back to our Lantern Light Inn. We were both a bit tired and took showers to wash off the hiking dust and get refreshed.

For dinner, Inna made reservations at Cucina Rustica for 19:30. With the heavy traffic in North Sedona, we were initially concerned about the long drive required to get to Cucina Rustica. However, at around 19:00, the traffic congestion had vanished, and our drive to Cucina Rustica took only 22 minutes.

After checking in, we were seated at a table and offered menus. After reviewing the menu, we selected the following dinner items:

• Boris: Greca (Greek Salad), Don Quixote Pasta with Chicken, Hot Tea
• Inna: Zuppa di Giorno (Tomato Bisque), Ravioli Paradiso, Hot Tea
• Dessert: Sogno di Cioccolato

We enjoyed another lovely dinner at Cucina Rustica. I especially enjoyed the Greca (Greek Salad) and the Signo di Cioccolato dessert. Inna raved about her delicious Ravioli Paradiso.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

We woke at 08:00 in the morning, and I showered, shaved, and dressed. I decided to check whether  Sedona Crepes was open and walked over there. It looked empty, and the wait for a table was only 10 minutes long. However, I didn't like the way it looked inside, so Inna and I decided to eat our own breakfast.

I  brewed two cups of coffee using the Keurig Coffee maker and lit the patio fire pit (it was pretty chilly outside), and Inna and I ate our morning breakfast, including:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Italian Fruitcake
• Yogurt 

After breakfast, we drove over to the Soldier Pass Trailhead but could not find a parking spot (it only has spots for 14 cars) despite waiting 30 minutes. Instead, we decided to park by the Sedona Community Pool. 

From there, we called Debbie at (928) 592-2011, and she arrived quickly to pick us up and take us to the Soldier Pass Trailhead. (We tried using UberX, but Inna could not find a car).

We started our Soldier Pass hike from the small car parking lot and, in a few minutes, arrived at Devil's Kitchen. It's a giant sinkhole in the ground. We saw many hikers strolling around and many mountain bikers and Jeeps.

From Devil's Kitchen, we walked North for about 1/2 mile and arrived at the Seven Sacred Pools. They were small pools of water and not very impressive.

We continued northward to the Soldier Pass Cave and Soldier Arch. This was not very well marked on the trail, and we only found it because Debbie told us to look for the "Wilderness Sign" and turn right, heading upwards toward the caves.

It was a steep ascent to the cave, requiring careful scrambling. Once we reached the cave, scrambling into the cave was quite a challenge. Once inside, the view was amazing. We carefully descended after marveling at the view inside and taking multiple photos.

The return trip to the Seven Sacred Pools was relatively easy, and then we continued to Devil's Kitchen and the parking lot. At the parking lot, we called Debbie, and she picked us up.

After we returned to our Lantern Inn room #111, we showered and rested for half an hour. Then, we dressed and initially headed for Pisa Lisa for a late lunch. However, Pisa Lisa was quite busy (with a 20-40 minute wait), so we decided to continue to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Center despite the insane traffic. It took us over 30 minutes to drive a couple of miles.

We parked our BMW 328i GT there and decided to eat lunch at Creekside American Bistro (as Inna was able to make online reservations for 16:30.) We sat down indoors and ordered the following lunch items:

• Boris: Ahi Tuna Burger
• Inna: Brie Soup, Beet Salad

I liked my Ahi Tuna Burger and shared half with Inna. Although she enjoyed her Brie Soup, she was not enthusiastic about her Beet Salad. 

She loved my Ahi Tuna Burger! The curly fries with the Ahi Tuna Burger were unique and tasty.

After lunch, we walked around the various shops in the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Center. We explored several art galleries, and Inna stopped by a few other shops. We stopped by the Chai Spot to order some Coconut Rose Chai for Inna and me.

Our aromatic Coconut Rose Chai is the favorite of many. This black tea is brewed in coconut milk with cinnamon and sugar, and garnished with nutmeg

We sipped our chai while sitting on a sofa, listening to multiple groups of Indians drinking tea. Since the Chai Spot closed at 18:00, we had to leave by 18:30. We wandered around Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Center for a bit and then drove to Shorebird for our 19:30 dinner reservation.

We arrived at Shorebird at 19:00, a bit earlier than expected, and waited to be seated at our table. Once seated, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Avocado Fries (delicious!)
• Boris:  Prickly Pear Cider
• Inna: Tomato Soup, White Peach Sangria
• Shared: Lido Roll, Balboa Roll

The Avocado Fries were unique and delicious, providing a delightful start to our dinner at Shorebird. Inna also liked her Tomato Soup (which came with a lovely mozzarella sandwich). 

The two sushi rolls - Lido Rolls and Balboa Roll - were also delicious. Inna liked her White Peach Sangria, but I was not enthusiastic about the Prickly Pear Cider (from Corvallis, Oregon).

Sunday, November 28, 2021

We woke up at an early 06:20 to get ready for the long drive to Antelope Canyon. Inna purchased two tickets aboard Pink Jeep Tours for a guided tour of Antelope Canyon (located on Navajo land).

Take a bucket-list tour to Lower Antelope Canyon with a hike to Horseshoe Bend on this exciting day trip from Sedona. You’ll see the Painted Desert and Navajo Nation, have lunch at Glen Canyon Dam and shop at Cameron Trading Post.

Jessica, our Pink Jeep Tour driver, picked us up at our Lantern Lighthouse Inn at 07:00. We were the first couple to board the large Pink Jeep van. For the next 20 minutes, Jessica drove around various Sedona hotels to pick up the other participants, including Kristen & Cameron, Genie & Doug, and others.

Our first major stop was the hike to Horseshoe Bend, and on the way there, Jessica stopped at the Cameron Trading Post for restrooms and Navajo gifts. Inna purchased a lovely Owl figurine here and a couple of refrigerator magnets for Vladik.

About an hour later (at 11:00), we pulled into the Horseshoe Bend parking lot, where we hiked 1.5 miles (for about 20 minutes) to Horseshoe Bend. Many tourists were here, and we took multiple photos of Horseshoe Bend. The Colorado River looked very dry around the bend.

Our next stop was lunch at the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook in Page (which overlooks the man-made Lake Powell). Jessica purchased some delicious sandwiches for us, and we ate them while looking over the giant Glen Canyon Dam.

After lunch, we stopped for restrooms and drinks at Shell and continued to Lower Antelope Canyon. We had to wait until 13:45 for our Navajo tour guide to start the tour. We had to wear COVID-19 masks for the entire time and were not allowed backpacks. 

We descended multiple steep ladders deep into the Lower Antelope Canyon. Seeing the many shades of sandstone walls was just a fantastic experience. It was a photographer's dream! 

There were so many stunning shots of canyon walls, crevices, etc. Inna and I took hundreds of photos as we walked deep into the heart of the Lower Antelope Canyon. Our Navajo guide was extremely valuable; he took many photos of us and helped us compose pictures on Inna's iPhone. I was very impressed with the Antelope Canyon and wished I had more time to take more photos!

After we climbed the final ladder out of the canyon, we boarded our Pink Jeep and returned to Sedona, stopping at a Shell Gas station and Cameron for restrooms. We arrived at  Lantern Light Inn at about 19:15.

Since Inna had made dinner reservations at Shorebird for 19:30, she called the restaurant to warn them of our slight delay. We quickly changed our hiking clothes and drove to Shorebird, 7 minutes away.

After reviewing the Shorebird dinner menu, we ordered the following:

• Share: Catalina Roll (Blue crab, cucumbers, topped w/ yellowtail, avocado, pickled red Fresno chili, shaved scallions)
• Boris:  San Marzano Tomato Soup
• Inna: White Peach Sangria, San Marzano Tomato Soup, Halibut
• Dessert: Valrhona Chocolate Brownie

I really liked the San Marzano Tomato Soup with the accompanying mozzarella sandwich. The Catalina Roll was also quite delicious. Inna really liked her Halibut. The Valrhona Chocolate Brownie was also outstanding.

Monday, November 29, 2021

Returning back home to San Jose!

With a Southwest 21:25 return flight to San Jose, we needed to drop off the Turo-rented BMW 328i GT at the Airport Garage.

We woke around 08:00, dressed, showered, and packed our belongings, loading them into our BMW 328i. I returned the room's keys to the host and bid our wonderful hotel adieu.

For breakfast, we decided to try Theia's Coffee in uptown Sedona. We parked our BMW nearby and set up our laptops for our work. Inna ordered a London Fog for herself and an English Breakfast tea for me. She also ordered a bagel with cream cheese while I enjoyed a Bear Claw.

We continued to work at Theia until lunch, when we decided to try eating at The Vault (uptown nearby). Both Inna and I ordered the following:

• Boris: Chicken Salad Sandwich with Salad
• Inna: Chicken Salad Sandwich with Salad

We liked our sandwiches and the spectacular view of the surrounding red rocks from our patio. I had a headache and took two Tylenol (in the hope of relieving my migraine).

After, Inna decided to explore nearby shops while I returned to Theia's Coffee to continue work. Inna started our drive to the airport around 17:00, arriving in Phoenix at about 18:30. I dropped off the BMW 328i at the Airport Long Term Parking lot and took the tram to the airport terminal.

Our Southwest Airlines Flight #1468 took off from Phoenix at 21:25 (on time) and landed in San Jose at 22:20 PST. There was some surge pricing on UberX, and we paid $60 for the short ride from the airport to our home.

Sedona Trip Report

Day trips:

1. Lower Antelope Canyon (amazing!)

Hikes:

1. Little Horse Trail - easy hike with fantastic views from Chicken Point Overlook
2. West Oak Fork Trail. - an easy but long hike with fantastic views and stream crossings
3. Soldier Pass Trail (impressive cavern, natural wonders)
4. Bell Rock Trail (from Courthouse Loop South Trailhead)
5. Boynton Canyon Trail

Restaurants

1. Cucina Rustica (best food, best ambiance,  waiter service)
2. Shorebird (sushi, tomato soup)
3. Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant (live piano on weekends)
4. The Vault (sandwiches)
5. Hideaway House (lunch)
6. Creekside American Bistro (ahi tuna sandwich)
7. Pisa Lisa (no reservations needed, thin-crust pizza)
8. Cafe Jose (fast service, American food)

Cafes

1. Layla's Bakery Cafe (best mocha, delicious croissants & pastries)
2. Theia's Coffee
3. Starbites Coffee Cafe

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