Wanderlust Wednesdays: Geyserville (by which I mean the Coppola pool)

 

Geyserville, California.

Travel time from San Francisco by car: About 1.5 hours. Ideal trip length: A long, lazy day. They have bocce. Nice to haves: discretionary income, the NY Times, oversized sunglasses. Directions: Take the US-101 North, over the Golden Gate Bridge about 70 miles until you hit Independence lane, then turn left. Continue onto Souverain Rd. and stop in the massive disneyland parking lot at 300 Via Archimedes.

It's been a bit gloomy in San Francisco these past few days. I love the rain, the mist, the 'cidimidi' as they say in the Basque Country, but sometimes you gotta sunbathe. And forget the sand, just get to the gist of it: pool, aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, wine, and bocce.

You really don't need to go that far if you live in the Bay, there are plenty of resorts in warm weather climates with amazing pools. I suggest the Francis Ford Coppola Winery Pool because it is fun, there's a winery for tastings, a movie gallery for Coppola aficionados, excellent poolside service (niçoise salad, thank you) and little Cabines (pronounced 'ka-beens') to lock up your stuff. They provide towels, as to keep up the minimalist decor. Nope, no cartoon beach blankets here. There really aren't any reservations available until August, and then it's just early in the weeks at that--no weekends. BUT it is totally worth calling in sick and making a day trip. So book now, even those few spots will fill up quickly.

go for the wedding, stay for the sun...

Palo Alto. March. 2013.

It is wedding season. As we await the decisions of Prop 8, it is hard to celebrate nuptials that are legally sanctioned without thinking about all those that are unable to do the same. Of course, anyone can throw a party in celebration, but the recognition of a union between two people that want to share the rest of there lives together, and all the pleasure, pain and tax deductions that come with it, should be universal regardless of sexual identity. I have been to quite a few weddings, and the diversity in ceremonies is vast, further highlighting that unions are already consummated (pun intended) in a variety of ways, be it religious, secular, or something in between. Why then is marriage stuck to this very strict and antiquated definition that it's main purpose is pro-creation? Moreover, why isn't the act of raising children, even if not biological, not considered an important necessity to continue the human race?

Let's hope for the best for all humanity and assume there will be lots more weddings in the future, giving you reason to travel and stay at hotels. And maybe some of them will be in Palo Alto. And maybe you will have to share a hotel room with two friends to afford to stay the night. And maybe you will be rushing to the wedding because your ride is late.

And maybe you will let tears run down the side of your face as you beam with happiness when the priest announces Husband and Wife. And maybe you will have an amazing time chatting up fresh in-laws and family friends of the Bride at the reception. And maybe you will reminisce about all the dance floors you dominated as a career flower girl circa 1992. And maybe watching the young girl dancing with the Bride will bring you to tears, because you miss being a little girl dreaming about being a grown up bride, even if you realize you don't think you ever did that.

And maybe the Bride and Groom will have an endless glow that surrounds them as they take photographs, entertain and start their new lives as a married couple. And maybe they will also have a sweet suite on the top floor where you might be able to have a classic hotel after party. And maybe the Bride calls down for a lot of champagne classes and plastic cups. And maybe you talk about playing beer bong. And maybe you realize you can no longer party like you used to and you instead find pleasure in unwrapping all the little things in the hotel room and going to sleep in a fluffy robe in a giant bed. And maybe you just like looking at the bath tub. And maybe you don't work out in the hotel gym, even though you brought your clothes.

And maybe you stand in awe at the hotel attendants ability to pack all you and your friends' (along with the centerpiece you took from the wedding) bags into your car perfectly. And maybe you leave the Four Seasons and instead spend the next day at the Rosewood Sandhill resort pool and bask in the sun to get over your champagne hang over. And maybe, you'll be laying out next to your best friends. And maybe you dream about the chance that someday they, too, can tie the knot, and then you can do it all over again.