If you’re into top-level tennis, watching ranked tennis players, or just want to experience tennis in the desert…head to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.
This state-of-the-art facility opened
in March of 2000.
We had the opportunity to see players
participating in the Tie Break Tens, a first ever Eisenhower Cup event. This
one-night event featured Nadal and several other ranked men, playing a
fast-paced round robin of the first to ten-point break matches.
Not only did we see fantastic tennis, we were able to wander the grounds and watch other players warming up for their upcoming matches.
Since this is the second largest tennis
stadium in the world, and a full-service year-round tennis club, you might
expect it to have the amenities. It does. Stadium 1 seats 16,100, including 44
stadium suites, broadcast and media facilities, and an 8,000 square foot food
commissary.
Stadium 2 has 8,000 seats and three
fine dining restaurants.
Keep in mind, it gets in the desert.
Especially in the summer. There are two 19,000 square-foot shade structures to
help with that.
Having said all that…it’s impressive.
Better than that…we saw major tennis
matches. Nadal, ranked #2 in the world, ended up losing in the final match.
But, what a match it was.
Do you think about identity theft when
traveling? Here are some simple tips you may or may not know about.
Some of these may bear more investigation,
depending on how you travel.
Don’t use public computers for any sensitive actions. That means avoiding internet cafes to look up your bank balances or to pay for your next day trip.
Think about using a password manager.
Those are dedicated services for storing and managing your passwords. You might
want to look into these if you travel a bunch and access several different
sites.
Do you have an anti-theft app on your
phone? If so, do you use it?
Many sites have a two-step verification
feature if you are logging in from a device different than where you normally
log in. Many times a code is sent to your phone if you are using a computer
other than your phone or laptop or tablet.
Did you know USB sticks are a great way for spreading viruses? As a security risk, it might be a good idea to avoid them unless you are positive yours is clean.
Which brings me to…do you have everything
backed up? Do you keep a copy of your documents in the cloud? Is your phone
backed up as well?
Did you know Gmail and Facebook allow you
to see any recent activity on your account? If you think your account may be
compromised, it would be a good idea to check.
I also wouldn’t suggest letting unknown
people use your laptop. Just sayin…
Simple, common sense goes a long way.
Travel smart.
So, when asked if I wanted to taste a white wine blend, of
course I said yes. Then I was told it was from Lodi. White wine from Lodi?
Don’t get me wrong. Lodi has some amazing wines. It’s just
that Lodi has been known for their Zins. Not whites. It is hot in Lodi, after
all. Not the climate you typically think of for whites. Or, is it?
Okay…let’s try it.
The first smell was not what I expected. The first sip was
even more different than I assumed it would be. In fact, it took me back to
France. Crisp and slightly fruity. Full mouth feel. Not in-your-face high
alcohol. Is this wine really from Lodi?
It turns out…yes.
The owner of Acquiesce Winery, Susan Tipton, makes her wines in the southern Rhone style. What does that mean? It means her vine cuttings started out in the famous region of Chateauneuf du Pape in France. Lodi’s sandy soils, hot days, and cool, evening Delta breeze are a great place for these vines to flourish. It means she also has to pay attention to the wines. She picks her grapes early to avoid overripe fruit.
What did we taste? Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Clairette
Blancke, Viognier, and Grenache. All stellar, well-made wines that just caress
your palette. Not an oaky Chardonnay nor a grassy Sauvignon Blanc to be found.
It’s no wonder she sells out every year.
And, Lodi. Well…before Zins were popular here, Chenin Blanc
was the leading varietal.
If you haven’t visited Lodi, you might be surprised to learn
there are 110,000 acres of wine grapes in the Lodi Appellation. That’s more
than Napa and Sonoma combined.
Translated, Le Chaudron means The Cauldron. I didn’t see any
large, metal pot with a lid, but no worries. The food is tasty, no matter how
it was cooked. And, with its open kitchen, maybe you can see the chef use one
of those large, metal pots.
This is home cooking in a small bistro. Located on a side
street, away from the main harbor area and the port, we sat and relaxed with a
glass of wine as we decided what to eat.
After watching plates of food make their way to other
diners, we made our choices. And, we weren’t disappointed. My husband’s fish
was fresh and cooked to perfection…meaning it fell off the bones with just a
little help. My first course of the chef’s special onion tart, squash terrine,
and lightly dressed frisee salad almost filled me up. Almost.
Savory, tender pieces of chicken in a spicy, whole grain
mustard and peppercorn sauce followed. Again, almost filled up. Until I
remembered dessert came with my three-course meal.
Mango mousse on top of a crispy, shortbread crust filled in
all the spots I had left. Nicely…very nicely.
French Rose from a nearby wine area known for its Roses
accompanied every bite. It didn’t overpower anything. Yet, it stood up to all
the tastes we had. A wonderful combination that I’ll try to recreate at home.
Wish me luck.
If You Go: Le Chaudron is located at 4 Rue Aldophe Thiers,
13260 Cassis, France. Reservations are suggested.
Travel 20 or
so kilometers from the bustling city of Bordeaux and you’re surrounded by
vineyards. Some of the world’s most famous vineyards, these were planted here
in Roman times.
Spend a day
in Saint-Emilion, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Eglise
Monolithe. This church carved out of the rocky hillside in the 11th
century is now one of the largest of its kind in Europe, with its underground
caverns and catacombs.
For a true wine tasting experience, set up a wine tasting class where you will learn about the subtle differences in wines where the same type of grapes are grown only a few feet from each other.
Bottom of the slopes, gravel terraces, sandy soils, limestone, high, low…all produce a slightly different taste. Cru, Grand Cru, large estates, small estates, non-classified, Premier Cru…there’s so much to learn! But, it sure is fun.
I’ve covered some of these tips before. Many of them bear repeating…especially if you happen to be a first-time traveler to Europe.
Let’s start with packing… You don’t need to overpack. Huge suitcases are
no fun to drag down a cobblestone street, lug onto a train, or cram into a
small car’s trunk. Heavy ones create more problems than you can imagine. Just
pack the essentials. Plan your clothes around one or two colors. Take items
that can be easily laundered…either by you or at a facility. If you absolutely
need something you didn’t bring…go shopping.
Remember to use public transportation. Subway, Metro, The Tube…are easy
to negotiate and more reasonable than taking a cab everywhere. High speed
trains are an amazing way to travel.
If you are in Europe for the first time, you may think you can cover a lot of ground. After all, it looks smaller on the map. Right? Keep in mind, there is so much to see and do in almost every city, town, and village. In order to have a truly fun vacation, don’t overdo it. Decide what is most important to you. Trust me…you aren’t going to see it all in one visit.
Do your homework on local customs. Learn a few polite phrases.
Understand what is acceptable or what isn’t. Learn how to read a map, street
signs, and your bill at the restaurant.
Experiences in the desert are interesting. Succulents and
cacti, both large and small, look different from dawn to dusk. Desert blooms
offer a whole other look to the sometimes-barren landscape.
Visiting the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix promised to
be interesting since we were going at night. Why at night?
For the light show.
We thought we’d see some great lights. Maybe, we’d see some
spectacular cacti lit up. Oh no. It was so much more than that.
Music greeted us as we entered the garden. Soft lights led
us along one of seven different paths. Rounding the first corner, giant neon
cacti looked like enormous green crystals reaching for the dark, night sky.
The light and sound experience at the Desert Botanical
Garden in Phoenix is like nothing we had seen before. We weren’t even sure we
were still in the desert or the garden.
More than just a show, the entire desert garden was a living canvas. Complete with music.
Down one path, light played on a forest of Organ Pipe cactus.
They appeared to be swaying to the music. They weren’t.
Another path where the entire floor was covered with snakes. Not a snake fan, I had a hard time watching. They weren’t really snakes…just lights on the succulents. But…I wasn’t convinced. Moving on…
Heading over to the light show on the butte in the distance,
we thought we were in the middle of a thunderstorm. Is that rain? Was that
lightning? Nope. Just lights. Amazing lights.
Walking through another area, barrel cactus seemed to dance
to the music right in front of us. Then, they stopped, changed colors, and
danced again. Around every bend, more lights, more music, and performing
plants.
Giant saguaro, many decades old, were washed in light. With
over 4,000 species here, everywhere we turned we caught a glimpse of lights and
plants. Imagine walking through a desert and feeling like you’re in a musical
stage production. That’s kind of what we felt like.
This was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Founded in 2003, Klip Collective is an experiential video
shop that uses virtual reality, projection mapping, storytelling and
soundscapes to create this captivating sensory experience. They offer these
around the world.
If You Go: The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre
botanical garden located in Popago at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix.
When I travel, I see other travelers with dogs. Some are in carriers. Some on leashes. Some are definitely service dogs. Others are pets.
I’ve
often wondered what you do if you have a dog in an airport terminal.
I found several airports with places for your furry pooch. There are probably more. Do you have any favorites?
Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport
The
Pet Patch is located east of Terminal 2. The Pet Paw Pad can be found in
Terminal 3, outside on the West End. The Bone Yard can be found on the west
side of Terminal 4, near baggage claim.
Nearby
PHX Sky train stations, pet relief areas are also available. The East Economy
Park & Bark is near the East Economy parking garages and The Park ‘n Play
is on the northwest corner of the 44th Street PHX Sky Train station.
San Diego International Airport
Seven
different pet relief stations are available. You’ll find artificial turf and
waste bags. These pet relief stations can be found throughout the terminals outside
of the airport, as well as indoor at Terminal 2 West.
Philadelphia International
Airport
At
Philadelphia International Airport, there are seven Service Animal Relief
Areas, called Pet Ports. These relief areas have a mulch surface, a bench,
biodegradable pet waste bags, and a garbage can. All stations are available for
both service animals and pets.
Boston Logan International
Airport
In Boston,
the relief areas are no-frills, but plentiful. These rest areas are located on
the arrivals level curb outside every terminal. There is also a pet-relief area
located in Terminal E, after security, and near Gate E7.
Denver International Airport
Denver
International Airport has spots for pets with artificial turf, bags, and a sink
on each concourse as well as right outside Jeppesen Terminal. After security, these
are located in the center cores of A, B and C Gates. A pre-security pet
restroom area is located just outside door 200 on the west side of the Jeppesen
Terminal.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport
Indoor
Service Animal Relief Areas here are available throughout the airport and can
be used by service animals and other traveling pets. They can be found in every
concourse. This airport also has a dog park, located in the Ground
Transportation area on Domestic Terminal South. This fully fenced-in park
offers biodegradable bags along with benches.
Reno-Tahoe International
Airport
This
airport has three dog parks available. Gate K-9 Bark Parks are fenced, ADA
accessible, and have running water, mutt mitts for cleanup, and a canopied area
for when the weather isn’t so great. Indoors, an area is available on the
second floor of the terminal building.
At first glance, Agay, France could be a beach town in any number of countries.
There’s a mostly sandy beach dotted with beach towels, sun worshippers, and kids playing in the sand and water. Bright sun bounces off the clear blue water, creating a backdrop worthy of a postcard. Simple, fishing boats vie with yachts bobbing in the harbor of this sheltered natural bay.
Here’s where you know you’re not just at any beach. Dark red cliffs of the Massif de l’Esterel rise up out of the water, making the sand an interesting shade of red.
Water so clear and blue, this might give you a clue where
you are. They don’t call it Cote d’Azur for no reason. This coastal resort is
between Saint-Raphael and Theoule-sur-Mer. Cannes is not far away. Now, you get
the picture. This is the south of France.
Village shops, cafes, restaurants, and water sports rentals
line the street. This is a much smaller, quieter beach resort than its more
famous neighbors up and down the coast.
Slightly off the beach is a restaurant I would recommend for lunch, dinner, drinks, dessert…or all of the above. Restaurant La Galere is worth looking for. Locals and visitors both love it here. You’ll find plenty of locals eating here. Always a good sign.
Just outside of Agay is a WWII Memorial to US soldiers
involved in the defense of this part of France. Operation Dragoon is part of the
forgotten invasion of Southern France. More about that in another review…
Why come to this small town along the famous coast? For
starters, views here are just as magnificent as anywhere along the coast. Maybe
better… For another reason, there aren’t as many tourists. Photo ops…they’re
everywhere you turn. Seduction…this village will entice you to return.
Agay, France…you just have to experience it. Don’t forget to
indulge at Le Galere. Trust me, it’s worth it.
