The London Tube

I love the Tube. It's efficient, clean and easy to use. On our first day we purchased our Oyster cards and rode into London from Kew Gardens.  If you drive your car into the city you'll be assessed a £100.00 fine, so traveling via the Tube is all the more popular and much more economical. Plus, who wants to deal with the traffic that clogs every major city on our planet. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Once you have a card you can easily top it off at any tube station or convenience store that sells them.

Last night we took a short trip over to Ealing Common from Kew Gardens for sushi at Kiraku. It's run by a Japanese family who wanted to offer fresh delicious sushi at more reasonable prices than what you find in central London so they settled here. It's easily assessable via the District and Piccadilly lines and it's well worth the trip. They're fish is fresh and they offer a slew of menu choices. They also have  a nice selection of cooked entrees and udon soups.

On our ride back I strolled around the station and noticed some of the little details that make this mode of public transportation so attractive.  These thin wires keep the birds off the ledges thereby cutting down on the amount of bird excrement. Nice touch!

Help is available at the push of a button.

Like driving, people go to the left when climbing or decending the stairs.

Imported from New York City:

The advertisements are helpful and informative:

Safety is always top of mind:

Mallory's Bridal Shower

It's all in the details, really. That's what makes a celebration special, and the moment I walked into the Mansfield Music and Arts Society for Mallory's bridal shower I knew I was in for a treat.  That's pretty much the case with any event that's hosted by a member of my Italian family. You're guaranteed great food, delicious homemade desserts, engaging conversation and unconditional love.  Add to that the wellspring of creative talent that's prolific in my family and voilà...

 Pink lemonade in mason jars

The theme, every elegant shower has one, was peonies. It started with a clever invitation created by Mallory's sister, Johnna, and was carried over to the event by Kathy, mother of the bride, who made these lovely tissue paper peonies. They gave the room a feminine and romantic feel. Strings of photos of the happy couple and other family members were interspered with hand painted pennant flags sending out good wishes for the big day.

One of the benefits of being part of an Italian family is the quality of the food that's served. It's always the best.

The veggie wraps looked so nice wrapped in bright white paper.

The homemade savory ricotta pies were mouth-watering.

And the fresh Asian spring rolls were a big hit!

There's always a green salad, lightly dressed, with oil and vinegar. The perfect 'brush for the tummy.'

The exquisite desserts were prepared and displayed by our very talented cousin, Debbie. Everything she makes is delicious and beautiful to look at. I told you there's a wellspring of talent in this family and Debbie is our go to person for desserts.

Happy birthday wishes to Johnna,  sister of the bride and maid of honor extraordinaire, was a sweet and thoughtful touch.

Anise flavored pizzelles are a Palanza family favorite.

The family pound cake (made by Auntie Mary Joan) always makes an appearance.

The art in the main gallery provided a colorful backdrop for the homemade Limoncello and wedding dress cookies. What a great venue and such a cute and celebratory party favor.

Is that a Vera Wang?

There was even a stage for the unveiling of the shower of gifts.

The attention to detail was impeccable and made  for a truly memorable event for all the guests and especially our lovely bride, Mallory.  We're all looking forward to the Cape Cod wedding in September.

Kathy, Mallory and Johnna

Sedona, Arizona

I loved it the moment I saw it. Sitting at an elevation of 4500 feet, Sedona is situated amongst the breathtaking red rock formations at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon. As we drove in on the Red Rock Scenic Byway I was in awe of the natural beauty of the Coconino National Forest, and amazed at the attention to detail the went into planning this unique community.

The colors of the houses match the colors found in the rocks and the surrounding landscape. While driving around in the evening I wondered if there might be a giant dimmer on all the exterior lighting as everything was perfectly lit to enhance and not overpower. A place this special takes a well thought out zoning plan along with an ongoing commitment to planning.

I found this vision for the city on the City of Sedona site:

The vision that the citizens have for the future of their city is . . . 

To be a city that is constantly vigilant over the preservation of its natural beauty, scenic vistas, pristine environment and cultural heritage.

To be a city that retains its small-town character and creates its manmade improvements in strict harmony with nature.

To be a city that is animated by the arts, and lives with a spirit of volunteerism to help achieve our common goals.

To be a city that offers equal opportunities for all and fosters a sense of community.

To be a city that welcomes and accommodates all of its visitors and future residents with a spirit of fellowship. 

To be a city that retains and enhances a strong and vital economy which preserves existing lifestyles without exploiting the natural beauty.

And finally, 

To be a city that lives up to the challenge of proper stewardship of one of the earth's great treasures.

Based on what I saw, they're doing a fine job living up to their vision. The main street is charming and filled with locally owned businesses run by shopkeepers who are friendly and helpful. I met a lovely Swiss gentleman in one shop who told me that he moved here 30 years ago. He traveled back to Switzerland for years to visit his family, "but now that they're gone," he said with a big smile on his face, "this is my home." He loves the clean air, the gorgeous scenery and the charming people. What's not to love?

There's a wonderful arts and crafts village just outside of town called Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pak-keh). It was built in the style of a traditional Mexican village and is filled with art galleries, interesting shops and some nice restaurants. The Rene Taylor Gallery displays these enchanting wind sculptures designed by local artist, Lyman Whitaker.  I could have watched them spin all day. 

Ally and I each picked out a collection of clay beads, reminiscent of the southwest, from a vast selection at this charming shop. I wanted to bring the entire store home to my friend Donna, The Bead Muse.

A gentleman playing a wooden flute in the courtyard caused people to slow down and enjoy the moment.

We had a leisurely lunch at El Rincon. They claim to make a world famous Margarita with their special homemade sour mix. It's deserving of the title. If you don't drink, then just order the sour mix and think of it as homemade limeade. Yum!

My mother, who's on a quest to have chili rellenos at every Mexican restaurant she visits, kept to her goal and said these were right up there with some of her favorites.

Their homemade corn chips and salsa were worthy of seconds, so we did.

Our short list for dinner included Rene's so we took a quick peek at the menu and it moved right to the top of the list. It's a lovely French restaurant with attentive service and delicious food. We had a perfect sole meuniere!

Art is everywhere in Sedona, especially outdoors, with interesting sculptures just about everywhere you look.

Some more serious than others...

Once you're ready to explore the areas outside of town there's the ever popular Pink Jeep Tours. We took a short drive to Slide Rock State Park, a 43 acre historic apple farm, just north of Sedona on Rt. 17. It's a great destination for a picnic and a swim during the summer months. 

As we explored this magnificent area I was continually reminded of how a community of people brought a vision to life, and continue to maintain it, for all of us to enjoy. Keeping that intricate balance between humans and nature is no small feat, and it's what makes Sedona so special.  I can't wait to go back.