First Italian Festival in downtown Vacaville. Definitely take the cannoli!
Vacaville Italian Festival
Jessup Cellars
Fun and educational time last night at Jessup Cellars.
Tasted 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Pinot, 2009 Table for Four, and 2009 Juel. Listened to Sandor Katz talk about fermentation from his latest book, Art of Fermentation. This is all part of the TasteMaker Series. Sunset Magazine food editor Margo True and Sandor did an amazing job of bringing the subject of fermentation to foods we eat and drink.
Afterwards, we sampled food from the Cultured Pickle, Bar Tartine, and Shed. Art was provided by Cynthia Carey, Michael O’Brient, and Mikki McClure.
Wonderful way to spend an evening…
Packing Tip
When you want to pack a necklace or bracelet that is relatively thin and often tangles in your jewelry case, try threading each one through a drinking straw. You can easily secure the clasp and the straw will fit nicely in your carry on bag.
Jessup Cellars Wine Tasting
Looking forward to tasting wines and learning more about “The Ancient Art of Fermentation” tonight at Jessup Cellars in Yountville.
Stay tuned…
More Practical Travel Tips
Didn’t pack a lint brush? Use the destination luggage stickers off of your suitcase.
Ever left something in a hotel safe? Try putting your shoes in the safe before you go to bed at night. You probably won’t walk out of the room without checking the safe first.
Practical Travel Tips
Perhaps you really want to pack your exfoliating scrub the next time you travel, but don’t have room. No worries. Use one or two of the sugar packets from your favorite coffee shop and mix them with just a drop or two of lotion. Rub the mixture into your hands or feet. Make sure you rinse well with water and pat dry. Voila…softer skin.
Off the Beaten Path
When you travel, do you venture off the beaten path? Do you eat where the locals eat? Do you sit at a sidewalk cafe that’s listed in the guidebooks? Or, do you search out one most tourists wouldn’t find?
I know what I do…how about you?
Trip Plans
When you plan your trip, where do you start? Do you plan the trip you really want? Or, do you plan what you think you should see and do while there? There are famous sites, museums, art galleries, monuments, and beaches all over the world. If you are only going to the site or the museum because you think you should…not because you really want to…do you think you will enjoy it?
Maybe or maybe not. This is your trip. You should plan it to get the best experience for you. What do you think?
Check Your Luggage or Carry It On?
Can You Travel With Only a Carry-on?
Want to avoid the waiting game at the luggage carousel? You can with these tips…
Opt for a great bag
First, you want a bag that’s easy to carry when you’re rushing through terminals and easy enough to place in an overhead bin or under your seat. A quality rectangular bag that’s soft and lightweight might be your best bet. Most airlines have a size limit for carry-on bags, which is often 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches.
Pay attention to what you pack
Do you really need everything you think you do? Probably not. Make your list of clothes, including those you can easily mix and match for multiple days or events. You probably can’t have only the pair of shoes you’re wearing, but try to only take two distinct pairs. These will cover most occasions. You can always throw in a pair of flip-flops that don’t take up much room. Check with the hotel to see if they have hairdryers or any other appliance that takes up valuable room in your bag.
Compression bags can come in handy
For saving space, these bags can either be rolled up or vacuumed to suck out every last bit of air, leaving you with the most compact travel bag possible. Once they are compressed down, you’ll have more room in your bag.
Guide books versus tablets and apps
Instead of packing the entire guide book, pack your tablet or gadget with its wide variety of sites you’ve previously bookmarked. If there are some pages in your favorite guide book that you just can’t travel without…tear them out and bring only those pages.
Are you traveling with a friend, partner, or spouse?
You can save room by only one of you packing the toothpaste, contact solution, and shampoo. Decide who has what and you’ll save a bunch of room. Plus, you can always purchase more if you run out.
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Visiting a City for the First Time?
When visiting a city for the first time, do you spend several days there? Or, do you think you can see it all in one day? Especially if you are going someplace like Rome, Florence, Paris, or Cambridge…spend more than just a day. That way you’ll have time to wander around, enjoy the views from a sidewalk cafe, see more than just the tourist spots, and of course people watch.
Cambridge phone booths…
Taking time to sit by the water provides great photos as well as a chance to rest your feet from walking around the city. In Cambridge, pubs provide great spots to relax with a mug of beer. Or, is it a pint? Finding good wine was a challenge…but I managed to do it.
Once rejuvenated…take a punt on the river.