Santa Cruz Mountains is not the direction most people think of while visiting this eccentric coastal town in California. Visitors flock to its famous Boardwalk to chill on the beach, soaking in the scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes it is forgotten that Santa Cruz also borders Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwood State Parks. Two of the largest in the state! And, of course, the Pogonip Open Space where our Sunday trip started. Pogonip Open Space Our neighbor and former long-time Santa Cruz resident recommended checking out the old lime kilns and the rock garden in Pogonip. Now we understand why. After chatting with a couple of students…
-
-
Stonehenge: A Mystery, History, and Magic Day Trip from London
Stonehenge was the number one destination during our first visit to the United Kingdom. And how could it not? Shrouded in mystery, popularized in literature and movies, it’s like the Holy Grail forged in Stone. However, our friends in the UK proclaimed our visit to Stonehenge to be “the last time they take anybody there again.” Why, might you wonder? Well, let’s start with this tidbit of information on transportation options and what to expect when you visit this 5,000-year-old mystical site. DISCLAIMER: We visited Stonehenge before Covid-19. Check their website for opening times and tours. Transportation We piled into our friends’ car in Twickenham, a charming suburban town southwest of London…
-
100 Things We Want to Do in 2021
As many of you know, a few years ago we created our first list of “100 Things We Want to Do This Year”. It’s become a family tradition to sit down together on New Year’s Eve and cross off all the items we accomplished in the past year. Then, on New Year’s Day, we compose a new list of goals and activities for the next twelve months. Usually, this is a lot of fun, except for reviewing the 2020 list. 😊 But guess what? We are SO looking forward to creating a new one for 2021, and, hope you do too! This year we are gifting you FOUR templates. There…
-
Quick and Easy Baby Bok Choy Recipe
This quick and easy baby bok choy recipe makes a great side dish with virtually any main protein, especially when the main dish requires a longer time and more effort to cook. Ready in 10 minutes, this sauteed baby bok choy is easy to prep and impossible to mess up (trust us — we tried 😊). By the way, bok choy is a cruciferous vegetable (like cabbage, cauliflower, or broccoli), tracing its origins to China. Low in calories, it packs a TON of good stuff in a small package: vitamin A, C, K, B6, E, calcium, folate, and beta-carotene. Bok choy is at the top of multiple lists of ‘healthiest…
-
Barnyard Cutlets
A few years ago, we traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the City history, culture, and of course, the food scene! One of the dishes we tried there was called курячі котлети (or kuryachi kotlety). When translated, it means ‘chicken cutlets’ — tender, juicy, flavor-packed mini meatloaves! But for now, let’s just call them cutlets. In the San Francisco Bay Area, California, there are a few stores that carry ingredients and food (including home-made) from Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union Republics, including Ukrainian and Russian. One of the stores we frequent offers borscht, caviar, and these round chicken cutlets, just like the ones we had in Ukraine.…
-
Agnews Museum: Memories of Great Asylum for The Insane
We discovered the Agnews Historic Cemetery and Museum, purely by chance! In a quiet residential area of Santa Clara, hidden amongst townhouses and condos, stands an unassuming one-story house with a small grassy field adjacent to it. Blink and you’ll miss it. Driving to lunch one fine Friday afternoon, we happened to catch a glimpse of it, looked at each other, and said “What’s that?”. So, we spun the car around, found a spot to park, and got out for a closer look. Agnews Museum To our delight, Agnews Museum was open (every Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, but temporarily closed for Covid-19 reasons right now). The admission…
-
USS Hornet Museum Ship: “The Grey Ghost” of the Pacific
How many people can boast that they have a historic WWII-built aircraft carrier in their backyard? That is also responsible for the successful recovery of Apollo astronauts’ on their return to Earth, AND known as the most haunted ship in the United States? Guess what? We can! 😊 We were granted permission to board the famous USS Hornet, and have awesome stories to share! The USS Hornet is anchored at the pier in Alameda, just a short drive across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. This is your chance to explore this US Navy’s lovingly restored ship, take a peek into the life of the sailors who lived within her…
-
Spanish Tapas: Chorizo Al Vino
One of the perks of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is the exposure to so many different cultures and cuisine. In our particular area, we have some phenomenal Spanish restaurants that serve great authentic tapas. (Shoutout to our all-time favorite spot, La Catalana in San Jose – you’re awesome!) Even before traveling to Spain, Chorizo Al Vino (also known as Chorizo Al Tinto) was always our first choice when it came to tapas. On our trip to Barcelona, we literally ate this dish on a daily basis, and from every place that had it on their menu. Though each restaurant had its own take on the recipe, they…
-
Spanish Tapas: Beans a La Catalana Recipe
One of the things we particularly look forward to while traveling is sampling the local cuisine of the area we are visiting. During our stay in Barcelona, we discovered restaurant Taller De Tapas in the Born district. For its compact size, its menu was quite extensive, with many items to choose from. Though neither of us is a huge beans fan, one of the dishes we decided to order was the “Garbanzos con espinacas frescas y pancetta iberica”, a popular bean dish served in Barcelona. These chickpeas with fresh spinach and Iberian pancetta, along with quite a few other tapa dishes were delicious! Plus, while we were waiting, an energetic group of…
-
San Juan Bautista – The City of History
What do Alfred Hitchcock, the grim tale of the Donner Party, and a historic Catholic Mission have in common? Visit San Juan Bautista, California, and discover this curious connection! Cruising along Highway 101 in the Greater SF Bay Area, some of you might be familiar with Highway 156 WEST going through Castroville (The Artichoke Capital of the World) and out to the coastal villages of Monterey County. But just 3 miles EAST on Hwy 156 you’ll find San Juan Bautista, a town where 19th century California comes to life! Once upon a time (1850-1880), San Juan Bautista was a bustling town. Home to The Coast Line Stage Company, it was…
