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.

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

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

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 15:50, 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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