Los Angeles Retreat

Thanks to the support of my wife, I got a respite before the respite, for an extended weekend with friends in my favorite destination... Silverlake. Hotel250. Tropicál and Figaro for breakfast. The real Red Lion (to watch el classico). Hiking Griffith park to the observatory. Ridiculous amount of alfalfa and avocado at Trails. Ridiculous amount of beef at La Livre & La Chris Allison. La lots of sleep. But I miss my wife and babies and desperately need to see them.

Blackwood Farm - Hempstead, TX

A 45 minute drive north and west took us to a whole other world. Wildflowers were in full bloom as we arrived at Blackwood. http://blackwoodland.org/

Several manicured acres of organic farmland, ponds, gardens, and even a labyrinth! Perfect weather and great company (Manuel, Abra, Jennie, and Alex) with kids in tow. Lunch was amazing and grown on site. Corn souffle, roasted tomatoes, red cabbage slaw with pomegranate.

Can't wait to come back!

Catalonia trip prep starts now!

Long time, no blog. Next big journey...Sitges! Many posts to come...

VANCOUVER, BC - MAY 2009

ROMANCITO'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY!

SAN ANTONIO - MARCH 20009

ROAD TRIP WITH THE G-PARENTS. A LITTLE CENTRAL TEXAS, ARABIC FOOD, GAMBLING, AND VIOLET. ROMAN LEARNED THE FAMILY BUSINESS, AND I'M NOT TALKING DOCTORIN'...

THE DRIVEWAY WAS OVERWHELMED WITH THE LOCAL FAUNA. NONE WERE EXECUTED DURING THEIR VISIT.

VIOLET AND HER DOLMA AS GOOD AS EVER.

YOSEMITE VALLEY, NAPA, SONOMA, SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 2009

Second National Park, First California Trip - slated to be a week long adventure in Yosemite with Anthony Ledakis.

Our favorite resort, the Yosemite Bug was not exactly the W in Midtown. Also, it was freakin' snowing in Yosemite Valley.

Romancito's first time to see snow. He slept through the whole thing.

Slight change of plans takes us to San Fran and then to the wine country. Everything smells so much better up here. Even the dirt. Romancito is smitten with Anthony, and vice-versa. Muir Woods, cathedral and Muir Beach...stunning.

Easter weekend in the wine country...not exactly ruffing it.

What was
the name of that punk kid at the Muir Woods...he was a punk!

HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, ARKANSAS - MARCH 2009

ROMANCITO'S FIRST TRIP INTO THE WILDERNESS. SHORT FLIGHT. HE SLEPT A LOT MORE THOSE DAYS. OUR FIRST HIKE WAS ALMOST A DISASTER THANKS TO STONED DUDE NEAR THE WATER TOWER POINTING US DOWN THE WRONG TRAIL! SHOUT OUT TO YA, STONED DUDE! WE SURVIVED ANYWAY...HA!

FORTUNATELY, LITTLE DUDE SLEPT FOR 2.5 HOURS IN THE BABY BJORN.

BED AND BREAKFAST WAS NICE. IN THE WOODS NICE FOLIAGE. GREAT BREAKFAST. Bartee Meadow B&B…….In The Woods. WE GOT BATHROBES.

THEN OFF TO MAMA'S HOMETOWN TO MEET THE FAM. EVERYBODY LOVES ROMAN! VISTA DEL STIGLER.