Category: Travel

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SF Ballet’s Lively, Lyrical Frankenstein

San Francisco Ballet’s Frankenstein, running through May 4, is billed as offering a “visceral, emotionally charged journey into life, death, love, and identity,”

Reader, they’re not lying.

I went Saturday night and I. was. blown. away.
The dancing was beautiful, with lovely, tender passages between Victor Frankenstein and his childhood sweetheart. And the miming was so clear I was able to follow the story even though this was my first time seeing this ballet, choreographed by Liam Scarlett for the UK’s Royal Ballet.

(I am a very big fan of Young Frankenstein, but that was not that helpful in this instance. I was saying, “Frankenstein-shtEEN” in my head a little bit, though.)

The flash-bang pyrotechnics of the lab where Frankenstein creates his monster were a lot of fun, kind of like watching the chandelier do its thing in Phantom of the Opera, only with a lot more razzle dazzle. But the real fireworks happened whenever the Creature took the stage. Cavan Conley danced the role Saturday, and he was amazing. Graceful and strong one minute, twitchy and unraveling the next. Menacing (and casually murderous) and yet at the same time so desperately craving love and connection. At the end of the performance, Artistic Director Tamara Rojo announced Conley’s promotion to principal dancer, which was a fun little behind-the-scenes peek into the company.

So, if you’re in the Bay Area this week, highly recommend. Weeknight performances are half off with promo code ALIVE.

Getting there: Public transport or ride services are the way, friends. Driving into the city and finding parking is no fun.

Pro tip: Get there early to walk around, enjoy the decorations and take photos if you want to, and set yourself up with an intermission snack and beverage; it’s great to skip the lines and tuck right in.

Dress code: Anything goes but if you feel like going goth, now’s the time.

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Fall For Tahoe

Fringed by snow or gleaming cobalt blue under sunny skies, Lake Tahoe is a favorite in summer and winter. But there’s a third side to Tahoe: fall.

As crowds thin out, the region seems to take a breath as it prepares for the seasonal switchover from camping and sailing to ski runs and cozy chalet evenings. Trails are roomier, rates cheaper and the lake waters are beautiful but bracing. All this and leaf-peeping, too.

Here are some suggestions.

Click here to READ MORE of this story, published by Associated Press

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Zoom in on Zaragoza

 

ZARAGOZA, Spain — Stepping out on a lazy Sunday, I stroll past remnants of a Roman wall and watch couples taking selfies with a statue of city namesake Caesar Augustus. Then I’m brought up short by the shimmering reflection of a 16th-century tower caught on the sleek glass walls of a very modern fountain celebrating the Hispanic world.

That’s 2,000-odd years of history in about a block, and just one of the reasons Zaragoza should be on your list of Spanish cities to explore.

Sure, it may be best known as the halfway point between Madrid and Barcelona. But with its treasure trove of architecture, art (and tapas, too), Zaragoza is worth a closer look.

Click here to read this story, published by Associated Press.

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Summer of Love

 

Much has changed since the Summer of Love blossomed 50 years ago, bringing thousands of young people to San Francisco, drawn by an underground culture embracing love, peace and music.

Today San Francisco is known more as an incubator of tech startups than as a cradle of counterculture. The shabby Victorians along Haight Street that were once low-rent havens for the likes of the Grateful Dead now go for well over $1 million.

Even a half century ago, the quest for utopia was fleeting. By October, the “death of the hippie” was marked with a mock funeral in the Haight.

But there are still traces of that psychedelic season, along with a few new attractions rolled out specifically for the anniversary. If you’re going to San Francisco, with or without a flower in your hair, here are a few ways to tune in to the spirit of ’67.

Click here to read this story, published by Newsday.

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Wardrobe report: Zaragoza

Just got back from a week exploring Zaragoza and the surrounding area in the Spanish region of Aragon and I thought I’d report in on things that worked and didn’t work, wardrobe wise.

I had a challenge going in because I was looking at temperatures from the 40s to high 70s with light rain as well as occasions ranging from tramping through vineyards to city sightseeing to relatively fancy dinners.

I did not entirely meet that challenge.

Continue reading “Wardrobe report: Zaragoza”

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Scotch Hop

ABERLOUR, Scotland (AP) — Forget the three Rs. I went to Speyside, Scotland’s “single-malt capital of the world,” to brush up on the three Ws: whisky, wool and walking.

And it was while striding beside the River Spey on a misty afternoon, a warm sweater from a local mill wrapped around my shoulders, an even warmer dram of whisky awaiting me at my hotel ahead, I realized I’d reached peak Speyside status.

Educational mission accomplished. Or, to quote Scottish poet and noted whisky fan Robert Burns, “Gie me ae spark of Nature’s fire/That’s a’ the learning I desire.”

Dreaming of drams and doing a little whisky wandering of your own? Here are a few pointers to the Speyside region’s must-sees.

Click here to read more of this story, published by the Associated Press.

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Riding that (Caledonian) train …

 

I’ve wanted to book a private sleeper berth on a train ever since I saw North by Northwest , and read The Mystery of the Blue Train, Murder on the Orient Express, etc., etc. So, when I found myself needing to travel from Inverness to London my thoughts immediately turned to the Caledonian Sleeper. A private compartment came to somewhere around $350 which was comparable and probably even a bit cheaper than paying for airfare and a night in a hotel so I booked it. (If you are traveling as a couple the price will be much cheaper than airfare/hotel, so that’s something to think about, too.)

And … it was pretty fun although not quite as glamorous as the website would have you believe. The train runs from Inverness to Euston station in London, and leaves around 8-9 p.m. There’s a lounge across the street from the station where you can wait. It was OK, but not really luxe. I was way early so had a really long afternoon tea at the Royal Highland Hotel next to the station. Lobby was quite stately, and would have been statelier if they’d run a Hoover over the carpet sometime in the last decade; scones were leaden enough to qualify for the periodic table.  Continue reading “Riding that (Caledonian) train …”