Bridges and Tunnels

We drove the Grande Corniche from Nice, over Monaco. We then drove through Menton, along the Mediterranean, to Italy. It was Andy and Jill’s first time in Italy – new country alert for them.

We found a Mediterranean café and had some proper Italian food – lasagna and spaghetti.

We decided to take the highway back to France. The A10 in Italy connects to the A8 in France. This road is a series of tunnels and bridges. Very high bridges! We never drove on normal road. It was an odd and unique experience. I admit to being anxious, probably because I wasn’t driving. And it was raining. I kept thinking of Princess Grace and her horrible death.

California 2004 - LA

We went to LA with my brother, Bruce, and his wife, Jodi. It was Jodi's first trip to CA, and Bruce's first trip since he was 8-years-old.

Highlights:
Santa Monica Pier - saw dolphins
Universal Studios
Sitting in traffic
Pacific Coast Highway
Chinatown
Tar pits (remember seeing a guy with an NRA cap sitting on a bench "reading" Playboy)
Beverly Hills
Hollywood
Mulholland Drive

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

San Simeon - Hearst castle

We went to Mr. Chow's again. I remember the food this time, and it was fabulous. Jason Bateman was leaving as we arrived. The best part of the night was when Stevie Wonder and his family was seated next to us. It was everything I could do to keep my SIL from jumping over the table and accosting this poor man. We also saw Robert DeNiro and Denis Leary.

California 1990

My third trip to CA was, sadly, also in a car. I was doing a good deed though and helped a girlfriend move from MN to CA.

I hit 3 places from "the book" during this trip.
1. Monterey Peninsula
2. The Pacific Coast Highway
3. Tour on San Francisco's cable cars

My first trip to California as an adult. And, now that I know better, it was the last time I made my way to California in a car.

I also visited Carmel, CA and ate at a restaurant that was then owned by Clint Eastwood. I dipped my toes in the Pacific Ocean. I went kayaking.

It was probably this trip when I realized that I love being near the ocean.

Travel Problem

I have one, smallish, problem when I travel. I really miss my pets. Sushi is good on road trips, as pictured here. Give her a blanket and a seat and she will sleep. However, I have not yet introduced her to airplane travel. She is too big to fit under the seat in front of me; and is probably too badly behaved to pass for a working dog. I think she would be fine on a plane, especially if she could sit on my lap. I would really like to bring her and/or Tallie, my cat, on every trip; but for now...they stay home.

I guess she doesn't know what she is missing. But, I really miss Sushi, Tallie and Hobbs.