Best of the Best 2023

Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? 

At the end of 2023, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.

Restaurants

Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North Shore, near the famous Ho'okipa Beach) to create an unforgettable dining experience using only the freshest fish caught on Maui.

At the end of 2023, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.

1. Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
2. The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
3. Lagoon Restaurant by Jean Georges, St. Regis, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia 
4. Manresa, Los Gatos, CA (3 Michelin Stars) (closed)
5. Solbar, Calistoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
6. Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
7. Ristrot Guivol, Turin, Italy
8. Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
9. Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
10. Humuhumunukunuku'apua, Maui Hawaii 
11. La Foret, San Jose, CA (Michelin Rated)
12. Bouchon, Napa, CA  (Michelin Rated)
13. Solo, Portland, Maine
14. Araxi, Whistler, BC
15. Cucina Rustica, Sedona, Arizona
16. Eataly, WTC, New York City (and Munich)
17. Tatte Bakey, Boston
    
18. La Toque Restaurant, Napa, CA

SF Bay Area Restaurants

1. The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
2. Solbar, Calistoga, CA
3. Bouchon, Napa, CA  (Michelin Rated)
4. Foreign Cinema, San Francisco (bad neighborhood)
   
5. Teleferic Barcelona, Los Gatos
   
6. ASA Restaurant, Los Gatos
7. Chez Philippe, Los Gatos
   
8. Napizza, San Francisco
9. Cote Ouest Bistro, San Francisco 
10. Red House Cafe, Monterey
11. Sotto Mare, San Francisco
12. Passionfish, Monterey
13. Cracked & Battered, Marina, San Francisco
    
14. Golden Triangle, Los Gatos
15. Lele Cake, San Jose 

SF Bay Area Coffee Shops

1. Philz, Los Gatos, CA
2. Captain + Stoker Cafe, Monterey, CA
3. Equator Coffees, San Francisco, CA
4. Blue Bottle, Los Gatos, CA
5. Coffee People, Portland, OR

SF Bay Area Bakeries

1. One65, San Francisco
2. Tartine Bakery, San Francisco
3. Bouchon, Napa
4. Arsicault Bakery, San Francisco
   
5. Schubert's Bakery, San Francisco (Cakes)
    

Dishes

• Apple Strudel: Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Bread: "Country Bread," Tartine Bakery, San Francisco, CA 
• Cakes: A tie!
• Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Extraordinary Desserts, San Diego, CA
• Croissants: "Pistachio Croissants", Thes Comptoirs Richard, Metz, France 
• Flammkuchen: Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
• Fried Chicken & Waffles: Cracked & Battered, San Francisco, CA
• Gelato: Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, Canada
• Gnocchi: Osteria Nonna Gina, Siena, Italy 
• Opah, Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
• Pancakes: "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes," Solbar, Calistoga 
• Patisserie: Gerard Mulot Patisserie, Paris, France 
• Pizza: Vesuviana, Pizzaria D'Angeli, Naples, Italy
• Ramen: Matsumoto, Japan
• Sandwiches: Small World Sandwich Shop, Amsterdam, Netherlands 
• Sushi: Shou Tsukiji Sushi, Tokyo, Japan
• Tafelspitz: Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
• Tapas: El Pinton, Seville, Spain 
  

Pizzeria

We have had pizza everywhere in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, etc.), France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan. So far, our favorite pizza restaurant is Pizzaria D'Angeli in Naples, Italy. We also had fantastic pizza in Japan - at Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli in Tokyo.

1. Pizzaria D'Angeli, Naples, Italy
2. Pizzeria Scugnizzo, Turin, Italy
3. Waikiki Pizza Restaurant, Bardonecchia, Italy
4. Bricks Restaurant Pizza, Turin, Italy
5. Don Kilo, Barcelona, Spain
6. Napizza, San Francisco, CA
7. Keste Pizza, Greenwich Village, New York City (Keste #1)
8. Eataly, World Trade Center, New York City ("Capricciosa" pizza)
9. Eataly Lingotto, Turin, Italy
10. Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli, Tokyo, Japan ("DLC winner" pizza)
11. Juliana's Pizza, Brooklyn, New York City (#1 Special)
12. Hearthstone in Red Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Gelato and Ice Cream

We also really liked Fresco Gelateria in Sorrento. We also tried many exceptional gelaterias in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, and Lucca.

1. Fresco Gelateria, Sorrento, Italy
2. Gelato in Bologna, Italy (near Piazza Maggiore)
3. Gelato in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, Lucca (Italy) 
4. Fresco Sorrento Gelato, Sorrento, Italy
5. DelaCrem, Barcelona, Spain
6. Bacio di Latte, Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA
7. Gio Gelati, San Francisco, CA
8. Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, BC 
9. Grom Gelateria, Turin, Italy
10. Grom Gelateria, New York City (also in Florence and Siena) 
11. Kamakura Gelato, Kamakura, Japan
12. Eataly, New York City (and Munich)
13. Gelateria La Romana, Turin, Italy
14. Dolce Gelato, Laguna Beach

Spas

Our favorite spa is Aquadome, in Langenfeld, Austria (near Tyrol), but we also really liked the thermal baths in San Montano in Ischia, Italy.

1. Aquadome, Langenfeld, Austria
2. San Montano Resort & Spa, Ischia, Italy
3. Friedrichsbad Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany 
4. Caracalla Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany
5. Alpentherme Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Austria 
6. Miri-Miri Spa by Clarens, St. Regis, Bora-Bora 
7. Scandinave Spa, Whistler, Canada 
8. Tabacon, Costa Rica 
9. Spa LaQua, Tokyo, Japan
10. Spa World, Osaka, Japan
11. Solage, Calistoga, CA 
12. Indian Springs, Calistoga, CA 

Hotels

Our favorite hotel is St. Regis in Bora Bora, Tahiti.

1. St. Regis, Bora Bora, Tahiti, French Polynesia
2. San Montano Resort e Spa, Ischia, Italy
3. The Four Seasons, Punta Mita, Mexico
4. Nayara Springs Relais & Chateaux, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
5. Makanda by the Sea, Costa Rica
6. Tabacon Thermal Spa, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
7. Hotel Davanzati, Florence, Italy

Books (all-time)

1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
2. Night by Elie Wiesel
3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
4. The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
5. The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
6. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
7. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
8. 1984 by George Orwell
9. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
10. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
11. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
12. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
13. Shogun by James Clavell
14. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
15. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
17. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada

Books (2023)

1. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
2. The Incredible Life of Hubert Wilkins by Peter FitzSimons
3. The Second World Wars by Victor David Hanson
4. James Cook: The Story Behind the Man Who Mapped the World by Peter FitzSimons
5. Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum
   
6. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
7. A War Like No Other by Victor David Hanson
8. Batavia by Peter FitzSimons
9. Nancy Wake by Peter FitzSimons
   
10. Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen by the Sinai by Matti Friedman
11. Spies of No Country by Matti Friedman
12. Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
    
13. Hitch22 by Christopher Hitchens
14. American Journey: On the Road with Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and John Burroughs by Wes Davis

 

Movies (all-time)

1. The Godfather (1972)
2. Schindler's List (1993)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Gone with the Wind (1939)
5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
6. Dead Poet's Society (1989)
7. High Noon (1952)
8. 12 Angry Men (1957)
9. The Lord of the Rings (2001)
10. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
11. The Matrix (1999)
12. Sophie's Choice (1982)
13. Goodfellas (1990)
14. Amadeus (1984)
15. Aliens (1986)
16. All Quiet on the Western Front (1939)
17. Good Morning Vietnam! (1987)
18. Modern Times (1936)
19. Das Boot (1981)
20. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
21. The Godfather, Part II (1974)
22. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
23. Unforgiven (1992)
24. Point Break (1991)
25. Double Indemnity (1944)
26. Some Like It Hot (1959)
27. Scarface (1983)
28. Judgment at Nurenburg (1961)
29. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
30. Seven Samurai (1954)
31. Groundhog Day (1993)
32. Before Sunrise (1995)

Movies (2023)

1. Oppenheimer

Miniseries (all-time)

1. The Winds of War (1983)
2. War and Remembrance  (1988)
3. Band of Brothers (2001)
4. The Pacific
5. Pride & Prejudice (1995)
6. Shogun (1980)
7. Masada (1981)
8. The Thorn Birds (1983)
9. North & South (2004)
10. Black Mirror (2011)

Rock Concerts

My favorite rock concert was Elton John's Made in England Tour at Tacoma Dome. It was my first Rock concert and a truly fantastic experience. I have been to his other concerts, i.e., the Red Piano in Las Vegas, but they had a different atmosphere and intensity.

1. Elton John's Made in England Tour, Tacoma Dome, Washington on 9/9/1995 
2. Leonard Cohen, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 11/7/2012. 
3. The History of the Eagles, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 1/29/2013 
4. Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road SAP Center, San Jose, 10/19/2018
5. Postmodern Jukebox, The Warfield, San Francisco, 12/13/2015 
6. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Harrah's Hotel and Casino, 5/30/2015 
7. Carlos Santana, Shoreline Amphitheater, 2002
8. Elton John's Million Dollar Piano, The Colosseum, Las Vegas, 10/13/2011
9. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Uptown Theatre, Napa, 2/23/2019
10. The Gipsy Kings, Mountain Winery, 8/27/2014. 
11. Lara Fabian 50, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 9/20/2019

Opera

My favorite opera is Carmen by Georges Bizet, due to the fantastic music and dramatic story. I am also partial to Puccini, especially Madame Butterfly.

1. Carmen, Houston Grand Opera
2. Madame Butterfly, Houston Grand Opera, 1993
3. Marriage of Figaro, San Francisco Opera, 6/21/15
4. Barber of Seville, San Francisco Opera, 11/23/13
5. La Traviata, Houston Grand Opera
6. Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera
7. La Boheme, San Francisco Opera,  11/22/14
8. The Magic Flute, San Francisco Opera
9. Lucia di Lammermoor, Houston Grand Opera
10. Elektra, Houston Grand Opera
11. Salome, Houston Grand Opera

Musical Theater

My favorite musical is Chicago (most recently seen at Ambassador Theater on Broadway), but I am a massive fan of Kander & Ebb musicals (which also include Cabaret, Liza with a Z, and Fosse). I also like most Cole Porter musicals (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate!) and George Gershwin (Crazy for You).

1. Chicago, Ambassador Theater, Broadway, New York City 12/18/2016, 9/25/2018
2. Fiddler on the Roof, Broadway Theater, New York City, 12/23/2016 
3. Cabaret, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
4. Anything Goes, Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, 1/19/2013 
5. Grease, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
6. Monty Python's Spamalot, Orpheum, San Francisco 
7. My Fair Lady, Vivian Beaumont Theater, New York City, 9/22/2018
8. Kiss Me, Kate!, Orpheum, San Francisco 
9. Saturday Night Fever, Orpheum, San Francisco 
10. 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, 7/15/2017
11. Mary Poppins, Orpheum, San Francisco, 5/12/2013 
12. The Book of Mormon, San Francisco, 1/7/2014 
13. Showboat, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 6/13/2014 
14. Aladdin, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 4/17/19
15. Mamma Mia, Orpheum, San Francisco
16. Phantom of the Opera, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/21/2015
17. Cats, Neil Simon Theater, New York City, 12/24/2016 
18. The Lion King, Orpheum, San Francisco
19. Les Miserables, Orpheum, San Francisco
20. Avenue Q, New World Stages, New York City, 9/24/2018
21. Hello Dolly!, Orpheum, San Francisco
22. Mathilda, Orpheum, San Francisco, 7/23/2015
23. Wicked!, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 8/31/2019
24. Fosse, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
25. Hamilton, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/17/2019
26. Miss Saigon, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 11/15/2019
27. Evita, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
28. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
29. Annie, Portland, Oregon

Theater (Drama & Comedy)

I am incredibly partial to William Shakespeare's dramas, especially Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Having seen them long ago, I have yet to be exposed to more recent productions.

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 11/20/2019
2. Emma, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 12/4/2015 
3. Les Liaisons Dangereuses, New York City, 12/22/2016 
4. Disgraced, Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, 12/12/2015 
5. Cyrano, TheatreWorks, Mountain View, 4/24/2016 
6. Outside Mullingar, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 10/7/2016 
7. The Hard Problem, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 10/19/2016 
8. Daddy Longs Legs, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, 12/3/2016 
9. Oleanna, Houston, 1992

Hiking Trails

Half-Dome was the longest, most challenging hike I have done. It has fantastic overlooks of Yosemite Valley. However, the other hikes in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon are also excellent.

1. Half-Dome, Yosemite, CA 
2. Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point, Sedona, Arizona
3. Silver Falls State Park, Oregon 
4. Dipsea Trail, Sausalito, CA 
5. Devil's Bridge, Sedona, Arizona
6. Big Basin Redwoods, Boulder Creek, CA 
7. Sanborn County Park, CA
8. Castle Rock State Park, CA 
9. Mt. Shasta, CA 
10. Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 
11. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, CA 
12. Huddart County Park, Woodside, CA

Ski Resorts

My favorite place to ski and snowboard is Whistler, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler usually has great snow with minimal elevation gain, excellent, inexpensive restaurants, and a tremendous youthful vibe (with many other nearby activities such as tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, & snowmobiling). It also has a fabulous Scandinave Spa! However, I also enjoy the fantastic powder at our local Mammoth Mountain.

1. Whistler/Blackcomb, BC, Canada (best ski resort) 
2. Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA (best California powder)
3. Verbier, Switzerland
4. Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, CA (best local powder)
5. Mount Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood, Oregon
6. Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, CA
7. Mt. Bachelor, Bend, Oregon 
8. Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe 
9. Palisades Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
10. Mt. Rose, East Lake Tahoe, NV 
11. Sierra-at-Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
12. Bardonecchia, Turin, Italy (most delicious food of any resort)
13. Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, CA (closest resort) 

Mountain Biking Trails

1. Soquel Demo Forest, Santa Cruz, CA
2. John Nicholas Trail, Los Gatos, CA
3. Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, CA
4. Saratoga Gap & Long Ridge, Saratoga, CA
5. Santa Teresa County Park, San Jose, CA
6. Joseph D. Grant County Park
7. Limekiln Trail, Los Gatos, CA
8. Monte Bello OSP
9. Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA

Off-Road Motorcycling Trails

My favorite place to ride off-road dirt bikes is in Hollister SVRA. I have taken classes with Brian Garrahan and have ridden multiple 4-stroke and 2-stroke motorcycles.

1. Hollister Hills SVRA, Hollister, CA
2. Carnegie SVRA, Tracy, CA
3. Metcalf, San Jose, CA

Windsurfing/Wing Foiling Spots

My all-time favorite place for windsurfing is on the Northern shore of Maui at Spreckelsville Beach. However, I also enjoyed windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge ("The Gorge" near Hood River, Oregon) at Sherman Island in Rio Vista Coyote Point, 3rd Ave, and Crissy Field in San Francisco.

1. Spreckelsville, Maui, Hawaii
2. Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
3. Crissy Field, San Francisco, California
4. Sherman Island, Rio Vista, California
   
5. Swell City, Hood River, Oregon
6. Rowena, Hood River, Oregon
7. Event Site, Hood River, Oregon
8. Coyote Point, San Francisco, California
9. 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA
10. Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz, California

Surfing Spots

1. Trestles, San Clemente, CA
2. Ala Moana State Park, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
3. Rockpile Beach, Laguna Beach, CA
4. Huntington Beach, CA
5. Surfer's Point at Seaside Park, Ventura
6. "The Hook", Capitola
7. Newport Beach Pier
8. Dolores Beach, Laniakea Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
9. Pismo Beach Pier, Pismo Beach, CA
10. Pleasure Point, Capitola (great beginners spot)
11. Steamer Lane, Capitola (experts only)
12. San Clemente Pier, CA
13. Manresa State Beach, Capitola

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The Year in Sports 2023

 

 

How was 2023 in Sports? Except for tennis, I was less active than in previous years.

• 78 days of playing tennis at Almaden Valley Athletic Club
  
• 12 days of surfing (Capitola, Lihue's Kalapaki Beach)
  
• 10 days of wing foiling (Crissy Field)
• 0 days of snowboarding
  
• 5 days of swimming at Almaden Valley Athletic Club
  
• 5 days of hiking in Sedona
  
• 10 days of indoor bike riding (Keiser M3i) 
  
• 2 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)

How was 2022 in Sports? Except for tennis, I was less active than in previous years.

• 146 days of playing tennis at Almaden Valley Athletic Club
  
• 18 days of surfing (Capitola, Lihue's Kalapaki Beach)
  
• 19 days of windsurfing and wing foiling (Crissy Field)
• 0 days of snowboarding
  
• 5 days of swimming at Almaden Valley Athletic Club
  
• 0 days of hiking
  
• 10 days of indoor bike riding (Keiser M3i) 
  
• 10 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)

How was 2021 in Sports? With Covid-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more surfing and mountain biking than in previous years.

• 77 days of playing tennis at Almaden Valley Athletic Club
  
• 42 days of surfing (Capitola, Rockpile Beach, Trestles)
• 20 days of windsurfing (Crissy Field)
• 3 days of snowboarding (Palisades Tahoe)
  
• 11 days of swimming at Almaden Valley Athletic Club
  
• 12 days of hiking (Sedona, Vasona Lake)
  
• 14 days of indoor bike riding (Keiser M3i) 
  
• 38 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park, John Nicholas Trail), with almost 60,000 feet of elevation gain!

How was 2020 in Sports? With Covid-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more surfing and mountain biking than in previous years.

• 77 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center) before Covid-19 closed it. I really miss playing tennis!
  
• 14 days of working out in the gym (City Sports) before Covid-19 locked it
  
• 46 days of surfing (Capitola, Rockpile Beach, Trestles)
• 12 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island, Waddell Creek, 3rd Ave)
• 0 days of snowboarding 
• 11 days of hiking (Vasona Lake)
• 2 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)
• 19 days of indoor bike riding (Keiser M3i) 
  
• 59 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park, John Nicholas Trail), with almost 100,000 feet of elevation gain!
  

How was 2019 in Sports? With colitis in September, I missed a lot of tennis and gym days. I did manage to enjoy many fantastic hikes. In addition, this was the most incredible year for snowboarding: Bardonecchia, Verbier, Mammoth, and Alpine Meadows!

• 124 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 66 days working out in the gym (City Sports)
• 20 days of surfing (Capitola, Oahu)
• 15 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island, Crissy Field)
• 15 days of snowboarding (Mammoth, Verbier, Alpine Meadows)
• 16 days of hiking (Yosemite, Sedona, Vasona Lake)
• 1 day of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)
• 4 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)

How was 2018 in Sports? It was my best year for windsurfing!

• 147 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 90 days working out in the gym (City Sports)
• 23 days of surfing (Capitola)
• 16 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 13 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 12 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 4 days of hiking (Santa Cruz)
• 3 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)

How was 2017 in Sports? It was my best year for gym workouts!

• 228 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 98 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 7 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 5 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 21 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 3 days of hiking (Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge)
• 6 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)

How was 2016 in Sports? It was my best year for tennis and off-road motorcycling!

• 241 days of playing tennis (Los Gatos Swim & Racquet Club)
• 0 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 0 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 1 day of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 1 day of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 0 days of hiking
• 11 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Honda CRF250R)

How was 2015 in Sports? It was not my best year.

• 0 days of playing tennis
• 0 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 1 day of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 6 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 7 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 0 days of hiking
• 2 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Honda CR150F)

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Lesson 02: Tennis with Greg Jordao - Spacing

During today's lesson with Gary, I focused on improving my forehand and backhand spacing. I have developed a bad habit of getting too close to the ball. I need have more space between me and the incoming tennis ball, so that I can execute a full forehand or backhand stroke.

Forehand

1. Prepare early!
   
2. Work on staying further away
3. Keep feet further apart (wide stance)
   
4. Bend the knees
5. On low balls, bends the knees even further!
   
6. Breathe out during the stroke
7. Look at the ball

 Backhand 

1. Prepare early!
   
2. Work staying further away
3. Keep feet further apart (wide stance)
   
4. Bend the knees
5. Make sure to continue the stroke low to high without stopping

Video Recordings

• Part 1

• Part 2

• Part 3

• Part 4

• Part 5

 

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Lesson 13: Tennis Serve Lesson with Ryan Reidy

After discussing multiple problems with Ryan Reidy, he made the following recommendations:

 Serve

1. To add power and add a flatter serve to my repertoire, point the front foot more diagonal (when beginning the serve motion)
   
2. To give you more time with the racket drop, hold the tennis racket upright (in an "L")  immediately before the Trophy Pose. Do not flex the wrist or let the racket stay sideways.
   
3. Use the left arm to stop the rotation of the body (to avoid over-rotation)
   

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Tennis Ball Machine at AVAC

 Reviewing the Gopro Hero7 video of my tennis strokes, I observed the following errors:

 

1. Forehand
• Use a wider stance (should be sitting down)
• Not twisting enough before ball contact
• The left (non-playing) hand drops down during the stroke
• Stand on your toes (not flat-footed)
• Move more
2. Two-handed backhand
• Preload (twist) more
• Start with the racket high up, before initiating the loop
  
3. One-handed backhand
• Stay sideways through the shot
  
4. Backhand Slice
• For more power, you can hop forward on the front leg
• Use continental grip (bevel 2 on the index knuckle)
• The ball will travel in the direction of the racket (chopping low, and the ball will go low)
5. Volley
• Do not swing the racket
• Hit the ball before the foot touches down
  
6. Serve
• Racket drop is still incorrect
• The right arm should be palm down during the beginning of the swing
  

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Review: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

On Saturday, December 23, Inna and I decided to visit nearby Santana Row and watch the latest Hunger Games movie - The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Both of us have read the Hunger Games series of books by Suzanne Collins and enjoyed the first Hunger Games movie, starring Jennifer Lawrence.

The newest Hunger Games movie is a prequel and focused on the character of Coriolanus Snow.

According to Wikipedia excellent plot summary:

In the dystopian, war-ravaged country of Panem, the noble Snow family's patriarch, General Crassus Snow, dies during the First Rebellion between the Capitol and the Districts. Thirteen years later, Crassus' eighteen-year-old son, Coriolanus, is one of twenty-four Academy students selected to mentor a tribute in the 10th Annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus determines to restore his family's prosperity by earning the Plinth Prize scholarship. Games creator and Academy dean, Casca Highbottom, advises mentors to focus on entertaining viewers rather than tributes winning the Games.

Coriolanus is assigned to mentor District 12 female tribute Lucy Gray Baird. During the reaping ceremony, she charms Capitol viewers by singing and slipping a snake into Mayor Lipp's cruel daughter Mayfair's dress. While fellow mentor Arachne Crane taunts her tribute, who then kills her, Coriolanus earns Lucy Gray's trust, riding with her to the Capitol Zoo, and helps her win Capitol citizens' sympathy, much to Highbottom's displeasure, as he paired Coriolanus with a District 12 tribute so he would fail.

Coriolanus proposes a sponsorship scheme to Head Gamemaker, Dr. Volumnia Gaul, whereby Capitol viewers donate supplies to tributes via their mentors during the Games to increase viewership. Coriolanus' classmate, Clemensia Dovecote, takes the credit. Gaul places the proposal document into a tank of genetically modified snakes that do not attack familiar scents. Gaul has Clemensia retrieve it. Not recognizing Clemensia's scent, the snakes critically wound her – confirming it was Coriolanus' proposal.

During a Games arena tour, rebel bombs explode, killing several mentors including the President's son, Felix Ravinstill, and tributes. When Lucy Gray saves Coriolanus from falling debris, he gifts her with rat poison to use as a weapon. The Games begin with several tributes dying in the initial bloodbath. Lucy Gray escapes through an explosion-caused hole, hiding in a service tunnel with fellow District 12 tribute Jessup. Coriolanus' wealthy friend and fellow mentor, Sejanus Plinth, resenting the Games' cruelty, sneaks into the arena and mourns next to his fallen tribute Marcus, a former District 2 classmate. Gaul persuades Coriolanus to retrieve Sejanus from the arena. When tributes attack them, Coriolanus kills one.

To avenge Felix's death, Gaul releases snakes into the arena, killing every tribute but Lucy Gray; Coriolanus had secretly put a handkerchief bearing her scent into the snake tank. Gaul refuses to declare her the victor until Capitol viewers pressure Gaul. After the victory celebration, Highbottom confronts Coriolanus with the handkerchief and poison and sentences him to serve twenty years as a Peacekeeper for cheating. Sejanus volunteers as a Peacekeeper to join him. Coriolanus bribes an officer to transfer him to District 12, where he and Sejanus begin Peacekeeper training.

After a man is hanged, inspiring Lucy Gray's "The Hanging Tree" song, Coriolanus and Sejanus visit the Hob bar where Lucy Gray performs with the Covey, a nomadic band. Coriolanus overhears Sejanus helping rebels planning to escape. He then confronts Sejanus and uses a jabberjay to record his confession and sends it to Gaul. Coriolanus later finds Sejanus talking to rebel Spruce, Lucy Gray's ex-boyfriend Billy Taupe, and his girlfriend Mayfair, leading to an altercation. Coriolanus fatally shoots Mayfair and Spruce kills Billy. Sejanus and Spruce are subsequently hanged for treason while Lucy Gray and Coriolanus escape.

Heading north, Coriolanus finds Spruce's weapons hidden in a lakeside cabin. Lucy Gray runs away after realizing she was the only loose end to stop Coriolanus from returning to the Capitol. As Coriolanus pursues her, a snake set in a trap bites him. Disoriented, he shoots his rifle blindly after hearing jabberjays mimicking Lucy Gray's voice. Coriolanus is unsure if she was hit, leaving her fate unknown.

Coriolanus returns to the Capitol, where Gaul reveals she had him honorably discharged and enrolls him at the university. Sejanus' parents, unaware he caused their son's death, make him their heir, restoring the Snows' wealth. Coriolanus visits Highbottom, who confesses the Games were never intended to be reality; they were merely his drunken idea Coriolanus's father, Crassus, had stolen, and he set Coriolanus up as revenge for the bloodshed he indirectly caused. Coriolanus kills Highbottom by slipping poison into his morphling stash. Gaul later trains Coriolanus as a Gamemaker, beginning his rise to power.

 I thought that the movie was too long and did not have enough dialogue.

The Hunger Games Movie Review

Highlights

• The reclining seats in the movie theater were excellent
• The special effects were well executed
  

Lowlights

• Having to watch 25-minutes of awful movie previews. For a movie scheduled at 18:35, the main event did not start until 19:00
• The movie was too long, with not enough dialogue
• The movie staff gave us "Senior" discount (I didn't realize I was old!)
  

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Return to Almaden Quicksilver

Earlier this year, the Almaden Quicksilver trail was closed due to intense rain that washed away the trail. Trail repair took many months, and I could finally return to the trail today.

Though I struggled during ascents, I had an excellent ride on my Specialized S-Works FSR mountain bike.

The weather was perfect - 50 Fahrenheit - with no wind and few people on the trail. I only encountered a few other mountain bikers and hikers with dogs.

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Lesson 01: Tennis with Gary Jordao - Prepare Early

After playing against Gary Jordao in Paul Moore Park, he identified several deficiencies in my tennis game.

We rallied and played for 30 minutes before transitioning to lessons. We had many long rallies, and I could tell he had excellent technique and control of the ball.

Top Observed Errors

• Preparing too late. 
• You need to start preparation as soon as you identify whether the ball is going to your forehand or backhand.
• Getting too close to the ball. 
• Need to stay farther away from the ball on both the forehand and backhand. You are getting jammed, and this could cause injury (using too much of the arm instead of the body)
• When serving, you are tossing the ball too low. 
• Try tossing just a few inches higher.
• When hitting the two-handed backhand, your arms are not swinging low to high.
• You must swing low to high to create topspin on the backhand. 
• You are also too close to the ball.
• The footwork is clumsy.
  

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Review: Elixir of Love at SF Opera

 L'Elisir d'Amore

Opera in two acts by Gateano Donizetti

Libretto by Felice Romani

We were not planning to see The Elixir of Love, but a chance to purchase inexpensive Box Seats ($10/seat) changed our minds.

On the day of the Opera, Inna suffered from a migraine, so she did not enjoy the Opera as much as she had wanted to.

The story is silly, but the music by Donizetti is enchanting. It really complements the singing and does not distract. The highlight of the Opera was the aria: "Una furtiva lagrima". It was the highlight of the Opera.

Slavka Zamecnikova, as Adina, played her role quite well, and her singing was quite enjoyable.

Pene Pati, as Nemorino, acted well (and danced too!) However, his singing was not at the level of Luciano Pavarotti.

The setting in the 1950s was perfect, and the scooters and hot air balloon were just icing on the cake! The set and the costumes were of exceedingly high quality. 

I enjoyed the Opera, though it was a bit too long (at 2.5 hours).

SUMMARY

In Vino Veritas. Riviera Style.

With no money, no confidence, and no hope of winning the hand of the alluring hotel owner Adina, the young waiter Nemorino entrusts his chance of romance to a quack salesman and a dubious bottle of. . . magic elixir.

Passions bubble to the surface in Gaetano Donizetti’s effervescent comedy The Elixir of Love, a quest for passion and romance on the sunny Mediterranean Riviera.

Director Daniel Slater and designer Robert Innes Hopkins create a sun-soaked world of pleasure where cocktails flow freely and hot-air balloons glide across the sky—a harkening back to Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, brought to musical life under the baton of conductor Ramón Tebar in his company debut.

CAST

• Giannetta:  Arianna Rodriguez
• Nemorino: Pene Pati
• Adina: Slavka Zamecnikova
• Sergeant Belcore: David Bizic
• Dulcamara: Renato Girolami
• The Mate: Randy Lee

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Review: Storm Large Holiday Ordeal

Today, we attended Storm Large's Holiday Ordeal concert at Bing Concert Hall in Stanford, CA.

What better way to spend a holiday than with Storm Large? Storm will love you, leave you, delight you and abuse you with wicked charm and stunning vocals ‘till you’re begging for more. Holiday Ordeal is a night of music, gags, and gifts, with songs ranging from “2000 Miles,” “Hallelujah,” and “Sock it to Me Santa,” to the greatest holiday song never written for the holidays, “Somebody to Love.”

Before the concert, we met our friends at 19:10 at Rangoon Ruby Burmese Restaurant in Palo Alto, where we ordered several dinner entrees, including the following:

• Coconut Noodle Soup (Ohnon Kaw Swe)
• Biryani
• Tea Leaf Salad (Romaine, Dry Shrimp)
• Hot Tea

The service was sluggish, but the entrees were delicious. I really enjoyed the Tea Leaf Salad and Biryani.

After dinner, we drove to Bing Concert Hall in Stanford, parking nearby. We found some tables for us and our friends inside the Studio - a small venue downstairs. I purchased some bottled water and waited for the concert to begin.

I had never heard of Storm Large before, though I was told that she was a backup singer for Pink Martini. I have noticed a few videos on YouTube, and her voice sounded clear. 

The band came on stage, followed by Storm Large, dressed in a sheer dress with a Christmas hat (and blue-colored hair).

She sang the following songs during the 60-minute concert at 21:00. She sometimes played her tiny guitar/ukulele.

• "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" is a song written by the team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans that was first published in 1955
• "A Hazy Shade of Winter" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on October 22, 1966
• "River" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell from her 1971 album Blue.
• "You can take my clothes off." by Storm Large.
• "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1974 song written by English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe.
• Silent Night
• "O Holy Night" (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a sacred song for Christmas performance. Originally based on a French-language poem by poet Placide Cappeau, written in 1843
• "Dream On" is a power ballad^[3] by Aerosmith from their 1973 eponymous debut album.^[4] Written by lead singer Steven Tyler,
• "True Colors" is a song written by American songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.
• "My Vagina" by Storm Large
• "Stand up for me" by Storm Large

I really liked her rendition of "River," "Dream On," "O Holy Night," and "True Colors."

She has an excellent voice, though it sounded raspy on some songs. She was also dressed a bit raunchy (in her sheer dress) and acted the part.

After the concert, we decided to stop by for some hot drinks at Cafe Venetia in Palo Alto.

Inna ordered a Bicerin, while I selected a Hot Chocolate with Cardomam. 

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A Day trip to the Grand Canyon

While visiting Sedona and staying at the Hilton Sedona at Bell Rock on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, 2023, we decided to visit the famous Grand Canyon.

Though we have stayed in Sedona twice before, we never found time to visit the Grand Canyon, a mere 2.5 hours away by car. On one occasion, it snowed during Thanksgiving, and the roads to the Grand Canyon were closed.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Today, after waking up, we initially intended to do the West Fork hike in Sedona. Still, the outdoor weather was freezing (40 Fahrenheit), and Inna did not sleep well. She still suffered from some remnants of dizziness, and we decided to postpone the West Fork hike for another day.

 

Instead, after eating a late breakfast at the Shadowbrook Tap + Table Restaurant at Hilton Sedona (where we ordered Avocado Toast and coffee), we decided to see the Grand Canyon. Alex was still unwell and chose not to join us.

We drove to the Grand Canyon's South Entrance Visitor Center around 11:00, making rapid progress, as the road was mostly empty on the way there. Arriving around 13:15, we parked our Toyota RAV4 at the South Entrance Visitor Center near Mather Point.

 

It was cold outside, and we had not expected the weather to be so frigid. I reviewed the weather forecast before planning the Las Vegas and Sedona trip. The actual temperatures were much lower than the ones predicted. 

I put on an extra fleece and jacket, and we started hiking on the Rim Trail. We immediately noticed the beautiful scenery and began to take lots of photos. Our walk started from Mather Point and continued eastward toward Pipe Creek Vista (which took an additional 25 minutes).

At Pipe Creek Vista Overlook, we took many photos and caught the park shuttle back to the Visitor Center, saving us valuable walking time. At the South Entrance Visitor Center, we found an eatery renting bikes - Bright Angels Bike & Cafe. We waited in a long line to purchase snacks, including the following items:

• Inna: "Everything" Bagel with Cream Cheese, granola bars, hot tea, potato chips (salt & vinegar)
• Boris: Blueberry Muffin, Mocha, potato chips (salt & vinegar)

Since Inna purchased a bagel, it came unsliced and untoasted. We had to slice and toast the bagel ourselves. I was surprised that the cafe did nothing before serving it. The blueberry muffin was tolerable. 

 

 

Inna found a table outside where we ate our food. The warm mocha helped prepare me for the next part of the hike. During one moment, a giant squirrel jumped on our table and refused to leave. I had to frighten it away with the bag of potato chips. It had no fear of people. 

 

We resumed our hike, walking eastwards this time. We continued taking lots of photos while walking toward the Yavapai Geology Museum. As it was already getting late, we had yet to reach it and turned back at 15:55. After stopping at the restroom, we started our long drive back to the Hilton Sedona.

There was much heavier car traffic on the way back, and I started getting tired. I pulled over, and Inna drove the Toyota RAV4 for the trip. It began to get really dark at 18:00, and it was hard to go in total darkness as the roads were not well-illuminated.

 

We reached our Hilton Sedona at 18:30. Alex was still unwell but improving. Inna was feeling much better, and her dizziness had subsided.

Grand Canyon Trip Report

Highlights

• Seeing all the gorgeous Rocky Hills of the Grand Canyon from multiple viewing locations
• Shuttles run every 15 minutes, making it convenient to quickly get around the park (even without a bicycle)
• Bike rentals are available, and the Rim trail is nicely paved for bike riding.

Lowlights

• Mediocre food at Bright Angels Bike & Cafe (next time, we may pack our own lunch)
• Freezing weather in late November. Next time, ignore the weather forecast and bring warm jackets, hats, and gloves.

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Top 10 Sedona Hikes

 The Top 10 Sedona Hikes

1. Devil's Bridge
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179, approx 7.6 miles. 
• Turn left onto SR89A to Dry Creek Road
• Turn right onto Dry Creek Road. 
• Turn right on Long Canyon Road. 
• Parking on the right.
• Trail Info: 
• A moderate to strenuous 4.2-mile out-and-back trail starts with a winding trail through an old-growth juniper and cypress forest, leading to a steep climb to the main event, the awe-inspiring Devil's Bridge.
2. Fay Canyon
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx. 7.6 miles
• Turn left onto SR89A
• Drive west approx 3 miles to Dry Creek Road
• Turn right into Dry Creek Road
• Continue to Boynton Pass Road and turn left
• Continue west on Boynton Pass Road for 2.1 miles to the paved parking lot on the left.
• The trail starts on the north side of Boynton Pass Road
• Trail Info
• An easy 2.4-mile round trip out and back trail is excellent for the whole family. This trail is relatively flat and offers views of high red rock cliff walls and old-growth alligator juniper trees.
• There is a short, separate path to see the hidden Arch off the trail (that requires some scrambling up rocks)
3. Boynton Canyon
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx 7.6 miles
• Turn left onto SR89A
• Drive west to Dry Creek Road
• Turn right and continue to Boynton Pass Road and turn left
• Continue west on Boynton Pass Road to Boynton Canyon Road
• Turn right
• Parking will be on the right, just before the Enchantment Resort
• Trail Info
• This is a moderate 6.4-mile round trip out and back trail through a picturesque canyon. For a short hike of 1.2 miles, start from the Boynton Canyon trail and take the Boynton Vista Trail to the Kachina Woman Spire, recognized as a vortex site.
• There is a magnificent hike to the Subway Cave, off the main trail
4. West Fork
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx. 7.6 miles
• Turn left onto SR89A
• Continue north approx 10.5 miles to West Fork Trailhead
• Park on the left side
• The parking fee is $10 per vehicle
• Trail Info
• A moderate 6.4-mile round trip out and back trail that captures beauty, towering cliffs, and 13 stream crossings. 
• This hike is incredibly scenic during fall foliage.
5. Marg's Draw
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx. 7.3 miles to Schnebly Hill Road
• Turn right and drive up Schnebly Hill Road for approximately 1.0 miles to the parking lot on the left.
• The hike starts at Schnebly Hill Trailhead
• Trail Info
• A moderate 4.0-mile round trip out and back trail with views of Snoopy Rock and Munds Wilderness
6. Bell Rock Pathway
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 1.5 miles, and turn right into the Bell Rock Vista parking lot, just past the Circle K convenience market.
• The mid-point of this hike is the Courthouse Vista parking lot.
• This trail is perfect for the family.
• Trail Info
• An easy 2.8-mile roundtrip trail with Bell Rock prominently featured
7. Courthouse Loop
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx. 2.5 miles, and turn right into the Courthouse Vista Parking lot
• Trail Info
• A moderate 4.2-mile loop trail around Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock. 
• The elevation change is 451 feet.
• Views of Rabiit Ears and season stream on the SE side
8. Little Horse
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx. 4.1 miles, turn right into Little Horse parking lot
• Trail Info
• An easy to moderate 3.4-mile round trip out and back trail with rolling terrain that crescendos atop Chicken Point. Beautiful views of Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, and Chapel
9. Cathedral Rock
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx. 4.3 miles
• Turn left onto Back O' Beyond Road
• Drive West approx. 0.7 miles to Cathedral Rock Trailhead parking lot on the left
• Trail Info
• A difficult 1.6-mile round trip out and back trail with an elevation gain of 711 feet.
• Enjoy breathtaking views 
10. Baldwin Loop
• Directions from Hilton Sedona
• Drive north on Hwy 179 approx. 0.3 miles
• Turn left on Verde Valley School Road
• Drive west approx 0.5 miles (1 mile is a graded dirt road) to the forest service parking lot on the left.
• The trail starts directly across the road
• Trail Info
• An easy-to-moderate 4.5-mile loop trail (includes a side trail to Oak Creek), Cathedral Rock is prominently featured. 
• Enjoy a short detour to Oak Cree
• Elevation change is less than 200 feet.

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Return to Sedona

I made car rental reservations at Avis Car Rental using Costco Travel. The Avis Car Rental booth is conveniently located next to our Vdara Hotel in Bellagio, Las Vegas. I reserved a mid-size SUV, intending to pick it up on Wednesday morning, November 22. I planned to drive to Sedona with a stop in Grand Canyon and eventual car drop-off at Phoenix's airport.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

As I continue my blog from Back to Las Vegas, I just started the drive to Sedona from Las Vegas, using the black Toyota RAV4 AWD.

I started the engine and used a parking ticket (given to me by Avis) to exit the Bellagio parking garage structure. The Apple CarPlay navigation screen came up, and we started our long, 4.5-hour drive to Sedona, Arizona. We decided to skip the Grand Canyon since Alex was still unwell, and visiting the Grand Canyon would extend the driving time by many additional hours.

Our first stop was at But First Liquid Cafe in Kingman, Arizona, along the famous Route 66. We ordered a few breakfast items and rested for 30 minutes. All three of us ordered Avocado Toast, while Inna and Alex ordered Lattes. I ordered a French Press coffee, but it was too bitter. The warm Apple Cider was delicious, and I drank it instead of the bitter coffee.

After the brief stop, we resumed our drive to Sedona. As I felt exhausted, I asked Inna to drive the remainder. Nearing Sedona, we pulled over at Chevron to purchase fuel. I noticed that gas prices in Arizona were $2.00/gallon cheaper than in California (in Arizona, 1 gallon of 87-octane unleaded gasoline was selling for $3.89. In California, it was selling for $5.60)

Before reaching our Hilton Sedona at Bell Rock, I stopped at a nearby ranger station to purchase a weekly Sedona parking pass for $15.00. We reached the Hilton Sedona at Bell Rock in a few more minutes. We unloaded our black Toyota RAV4 and waited in line to check in. The line was moving slowly, as only one agent was working (and I was impatient).

After checking into Hilton Sedona Room #1072 on the first floor, we dropped off our bags and returned to Hilton's Shadowrock Tap + Table for lunch. We decided to sit outdoors, by the firepit, selecting the following items:

• Alex: Ahi Poke Bowl, Hot Tea
• Inna: Ahi Poke Bowl, Hot Tea, 20-oz Apple Cider
• Boris: Tacos with Chicken, Hot Tea

The tacos were excellent, and Inna's Ahi Poke bowl was delicious. The strawberry Apple Cider was surprisingly tasty, too.

After lunch, we decided to hike around Bell Rock, which was only a few miles away. I changed into sweatpants and hiking boots, and we quickly drove to the Bell Rock Trailhead parking lot. We followed a route around Bell Rock (clockwise). The hike was excellent, with beautiful views of Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. Alex, despite being unwell, managed to keep pace with us.

However, we should have started the hike earlier. During the last 30 minutes of the hike, the sun had set, and we needed to use our iPhone flashlights to see the trail ahead.

After the hike ended, we decided to stop by for dinner at Pisa Lisa Pizzeria. However, there was a 45-minute wait, and we were added to the waiting list. We decided to try the nearby Butterfly Burger next door, but it also had a 35-minute wait. We counted ourselves on the waiting list and returned to our Hilton Sedona Hotel at Bell Rock.

In a few minutes, we received a message from Butterfly Burger that our Table was ready. We returned to Butterfly Burger and ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Butterfly Burrata
• Alex: Buttefly Burger
• Inna: Funghi Sublime Burger
• Boris: Mowee Wowee (Mahi-mahi) sandwich
• Dessert: Affogato Milkshake (non-alcoholic)

My Mowee Wowee Mahi-mahi sandwich was excellent, and Inna raved about her delicious Funghi Sublime burger. She said it was significantly superior to Roam Burger in San Francisco. 

For dessert, we ordered two Affogato Milkshakes (one for Alex and one for Inna). Alex enjoyed his milkshake, but Inna refused to drink hers (as she did not want to consume so many additional calories). I helped out with the milkshake, and it was delicious!

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving!

After waking up, we initially intended to hike the West Fork in Sedona, but the outdoor weather was freezing (40 Fahrenheit), and Inna did not have a restful sleep. She still suffered from dizziness, and we postponed the West Fork hike for another day.

Instead, after eating a late breakfast at the Shadowrock Restaurant at Hilton Sedona (where we ordered avocado toast and coffee), we decided to see the Grand Canyon. Alex was still unwell and chose not to join us.

I write about our visit to the Grand Canyon in a separate blog entry.

After returning from the Grand Canyon, we stopped by the Shadowrock Tap  + Table for drinks. We sat at the bar and ordered the local Strawberry Apple Cider with some snacks. Inna got a bit drunk, drinking just one 16 oz glass of Apple Cider (probably due to lack of food). I watched the San Francisco 49ers destroy the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 24 to 3.

At 19:50, we returned to our Hilton Sedona room #1072 and grabbed Alex for dinner at our favorite local restaurant, Cucina Rustica. We had an excellent dinner, as expected, ordering the following items:

• Appetizer: Housemade Focaccia, Burrata d'Amore
• Soup: Garnet Yam Bisque
• Drinks: Hot Black Tea with lemon and honey
• Alex: Filetto di Manzo
• Boris: Gnocchi Della Nonna
• Inna: Chilean Sea Bass
• Dessert: Luscious Lemon Cheesecake

We had a fantastic dinner at Cucina Rustica, and our waiter - Matthew - took excellent care of us. The Burrata was delicious, and the Yam Bisque soup was perfect (though a bit spicy). My Gnocchi was delicious, and Inna's Sea Bass was well prepared. 

The Lemon Cheesecake was also exceptional. 

We had an excellent Thanksgiving Dinner!

Friday, November 24, 2023

I usually wake up at 7:00, but today, I awoke at 10:30. Inna did not sleep well due to a few of her symptoms, including dizziness and nausea. I also did not sleep well, so I was surprised to sleep past 10:00.

After waking up, Alex, Inna, and I took showers and dressed. We decided to eat a late brunch (late breakfast / early lunch) at the Shadowrock Tap + Table. We ordered the following items:

• Alex: Grilled Chicken, Coffee
• Boris: Chicken Tacos, Coffee
• Inna: Loaded Quesadilla, Coffee

The chicken tacos were edible, but the drip coffee tasted like toxic sludge covered with cream to hide the horrendous, burned coffee aftertaste. However, we ingested enough calories to prepare for our upcoming hike.

Since neither Inna nor Alex was fully healthy, we decided to hike the short, 3.4-mile roundtrip Little Horse to Chicken Point trail nearby. We thought parking at Little Horse Trailhead would be impossible, and we were prepared to drive a bit further to the designated shuttle stop ahead.

However, we were exceedingly lucky! When I drove to the Little Horse Trailhead, I circled around and found an empty parking space. This avoided going to the nearby shuttle stop (and the extra time to wait for and board the shuttle).

We started our hike around 13:00. Immediately, we felt the soft pitter-patter of raindrops and encountered a short shower. As it was a light drizzle, we continued the hike. The trail was very scenic, with beautiful views of the surrounding red cliffs. On the way to Chicken Point, we encountered many other hikers and mountain bikers. The mountain bikers were having a great time, and I wished to have ridden here, too.

Eventually, we reached the very top of the hike at Chicken Point, where a few 4WD jeeps were parked. Pink Jeep Adventure Tours offers many Sedona tours, including Chicken Point. When we reached the top, the wind increased and began to hail! 

We did not expect rain or hail on our hike. This sudden change in the weather was unexpected (and unforeseen), as the daily weather forecast never mentioned it.

We had never experienced a hailstorm in Sedona, which was a bit unpleasant. Initially, we intended to rest and savor the unparalleled view of the surrounding cliffs. However, we stayed short and started returning to the Little Horse trailhead.

We encountered a few more downpours, followed by pockets of sunshine on the way down. We reached the trailhead at 14:40 and decided to look for a coffee shop to warm up. However, the road north to Sedona was highly congested, so we decided to look for a coffee shop nearby. We first stopped by Firecreek Coffee, but it was closed. We checked Red Rock Cafe, but it was also closed. However, my Apple Maps indicated that Sedona Bike & Beans was open, so we drove a mile there.

Unlike other coffee shops, Sedona Bike & Beans was open, and we ordered a few drinks there, including:

• Alex: 20-oz Latte, Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Boris: 16-oz Mocha, Chocolate-chip Muffin
• Inna: 12-oz Latte

The coffees were right, and so were the muffins. I also found out about renting mountain bikes. A full-suspension mountain bike would cost $59/day and could be ridden straight from the shop (no bike rack required).

After our quick snack, we returned to Hilton Sedona, where we played a bit of Scrabble and watched the basketball games on TV.

I was lucky to win in Scrabble (before finishing the entire game) with a score of 124. Inna scored 110, and Alex scored 102.

For dinner, we drove north to Sedona to eat at Mole Sedona (Inna made dinner reservations for 18:45). After sitting down indoors (it was lightly raining outside), we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Guacamole Tasting with chips
• Alex: Skirt Steak
• Inna: Virgin Paloma, Shrimp Enchilada
• Boris: Mole (Chicken Enchilada)
• Dessert: Tres Leches

My Mole Enchilada (Chicken Enchilada) was acceptable, but Inna liked her Shrimp Enchilada. The Tres Leches were excellent. I really wanted the chips that came with the guacamole-tasting appetizer (the appetizer itself was relatively small)

After dinner, we returned to Hilton Sedona and rested. Alex made some hot black tea inside our room, and I spent my time reading my Kindle.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

In the morning, we woke up a bit earlier. After showering, we decided to eat a light breakfast and drink coffee at the Firecreek Coffee nearby in the Village of Oak Creek. We ordered the following:

• Boris: Medium Mocha, Coffeecake Muffin
• Inna: Latte with extra foam, enchilada
• Alex: Large Latte, enchilada

I ended up eating a part of Inna's enchilada. The mocha was decent.

After breakfast, we headed for our first hike at Fay Canyon. We drove to the Fay Canyon Trailhead, arriving at about 12:30 (a lot of heavy traffic). Fortunately, We found parking nearby and started the hike to the canyon.

The hike started out relatively flat, with the last part requiring some rock scrambling. At the top, beautiful views of the surrounding canyons could be seen. 

We rested a bit and then continued back, stopping to climb to the nearby Arch (easily missed without an accurate map). Fortunately, Inna had downloaded an accurate map using Alltrails.com and knew exactly where to start the climb.

The climb to the Arch (it looked like a cave) was rugged and steep, but we finally managed to reach the top. The views of the Arch and of the surrounding canyons were stunning.

After we climbed down, we quickly returned to our Toyota RAV4 to decide what to do next. As it was 14:30, we still had enough time and daylight (it gets dark at 17:00) to attempt another short hike nearby.

We decided to try hiking to the Birthing Cave from the Long Canyon Trailhead. We drove one mile there and managed to find a parking spot. The hike to the Birthing Cave was short, taking about a mile or about 30 minutes one way. The very last section of the trail was quite steep and required careful climbing. 

The birthing cave is enormous. Inside, it felt like being inside a sphere. I only climbed a little further inside the cave, as the cave is both steep and smooth inside, requiring careful movement.

We rested here for a bit and then returned to our car. It was a nice, rewarding 2-mile hike.

After completing the two hikes, getting a few bites and coffee was time. Unfortunately, traffic back to Sedona was maddingly slow. We thought about stopping at the nearby Tlaquepaque Shopping Center but needed help finding parking for our car. We gave up and returned to the Hilton Sedona (stopping at Chevron to refuel and purchase a few water bottles).

For dinner, Inna made 18:45 reservations at Cucina Rustica, and we looked forward to eating there.

At 17:30, our Hilton Sedona had a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, offering free cups of hot Apple Cider and Hot Chocolate. We stopped by and sampled the Apple Cider. For Hot Chocolate, Hilton provided lots of toppings like marshmallows, M&M's, and crushed Oreos. There was also free popcorn and cookies. I liked the Caramelized Popcorn, but the cookies were underwhelming.

We heard Christmas favorites like "Frosty, the Snowman" and "Jingle Bells" played on the digital keyboard and sung by the staff (with a few guests joining in). Inna sang along with "Frosty, the Snowman" too. I was too cold (the outside temperature had dropped below 45 Fahrenheit), so I went indoors.

We arrived at  Cucina Rustica for dinner and were seated in a few minutes. Our server, Isaiah, brought out the dinner menus (changed from Thanksgiving), and we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer:House Focaccia, Burrata
• Alex: Classic Bolognese, Earl Grey Tea
• Boris: Luscious Lasagna, Earl Grey Tea
• Inna: Chilean Sea Bass, Earl Grey Tea
• Dessert: Budino (bread pudding with ice cream)

We enjoyed the Burrata and Focaccia appetizers, and my Luscious Lasagna was delicious. Inna raved about her Chilean Sea Bass. Alex liked his Classic Bolognese pasta but should have ordered Sea Bass instead (being on a peculiar diet). 

The dessert - Budino - was also excellent. We also enjoyed the hot Earl Grey teas with lemon.

The live guitar player was also an excellent addition to the ambiance in Cucina Rustica. He played mellow tunes like "Autumn Leaves" and "Hallelujah".

Sunday, November 26, 2023

We woke late; everyone was tired, and Inna did not sleep well. After everyone was ready, we started our drive to uptown Sedona, hoping to find a breakfast or lunch eatery. We first stopped at a coffee shop, but it turned out to be closed.

Eventually, we stopped at the Vault in uptown Sedona. After sitting down outdoors, we looked at the small menu and ordered the following items (I ended up putting on some fleece, even with the heater present):

• Alex: Fried Chicken Panini
• Boris: BBQ Brisket Sandwich
• Inna: Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwich

We ordered coffee, too, but it turned out to be salty! We asked our waiter - Robert - for help and switched to hot English breakfast tea, which also turned out to be salty! There was something wrong with their hot water dispensing machine, so we just drank cold tap water.

Aside from the drinks, the sandwiches were excellent, and I liked my BBQ brisket. Inna loved her Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwich. The views of the surrounding red rock hills were incredible.

After lunch, we drove to the Boynton Canyon Trailhead to get started on the hike. The drive to Boynton Canyon Trailhead was relatively easy, and we parked in the overflow parking area. See How to Hike Boynton Canyon for more details.

Once parked, we embarked on our hike, taking the Boynton Vista trail to visit the giant rock known as the Vista. We climbed to the rock and hoped to encounter a gentleman who plays the flute there daily (but he still needs to show up). Inna relaxed around this Vortex, but I felt no energy.

After a few minutes, we returned to the Boynton Canyon trail, focusing on reaching the Subway Cave. This was a much longer hike (and more strenuous) than I expected. It took us another 2 miles to get the Subway Cave. The Subway Cave is quite impressive and photogenic. The last part of the cave required some challenging climbing, but the views from the cave were spectacular.

At around 16:00, we walked briskly back, hoping to return before darkness, arriving at our black Toyota RAV4 at 17:10. We changed out of our hiking clothes and into dinner clothes. We expected heavy traffic and wanted to avoid returning to the Hilton Sedona to change our clothes or shoes (as our fancy restaurant was nearby).

Inna had made 17:45 dinner reservations at the Mariposa (Latin Inspired) Grill in West Sedona. She had tried to make dinner reservations at Mariposa during our past trip but was unsuccessful. She was excited about trying out this new restaurant.

After parking our car and checking in, we were taken to the large indoor dining room and seated at a lovely table for 4. After looking at the menu, we discussed the various options and settled on the following items:

• Appetizer: 1 Wild Card Empanada (3 empanadas to share)
• Soups: 3 Butternut Squash Soups
• Drinks: 3 Hot English Breakfast Teas, Virgin Mango Ginger cocktail for Inna
• Main Entree: 32-oz Bone in Ribeye Steak (shared for all 3), cooked medium-rare
• Side: Lisa's Lobster Mashed Potatoes
• Dessert: Maple Coconut Flan

I liked the Butternut Squash Soup and the 32-oz Bone in Ribeye Steak. The Mashed Potatoes were excellent, as was the Maple Coconut Flan. Inna really liked the Wild Card Empanada. Service was quick and attentive, and we had our hot teas refilled often.

We enjoyed our time in Mariposa and hope to return next time we are in Sedona.

Monday, November 27, 2023

In the morning, I showered, shaved, and packed my bags. I started working remotely and continued until noon, when we checked out of the Hilton Sedona at Bell Rock. We found a nice workspace in the Hilton's lobby, and both Inna and Alex also worked there.

For lunch, we decided to stop for a quick breakfast at the nearby Red Rock Cafe (3 minutes away by car). After a short wait (about 10 minutes), we were seated in this small, quaint diner and ordered our items:

• Alex: Cowboy Benedict, Coffee
• Boris: Healthy Scramble, Coffee
• Inna: Red Rock Benedict, Coffee

We enjoyed our light breakfast at the Red Rock Coffee and will surely return next time we are in Sedona. I had a dull headache that started to get progressively worse.

At around 16:00, we stopped by Hilton's Shadowrock Tap + Table for a light snack. Inna and I ordered tea and a muffin (the other pastry was stale).

At 17:00, we started our drive to Phoenix Airport, which was a very close call. Initially, the drive to Hwy 17 usually started with light traffic. However, the traffic reached a standstill just a few miles from Sedona. A significant car accident occurred, and Hwy 17 was closed heading south. We had to endure the one-hour delay and drive around the congested area.

I was not sure that we were going to make it, as our Southwest Flight #2624 from PHX to SJC departed at 21:05. I drove as fast as I could, arriving at Avis Car Rental at 20:17. After dropping off my  Toyota Rav4, we rushed to catch the shuttle heading to terminal 4. After getting to the terminal, we had to endure a very long security line (despite having tickets with a Pre-TSA check). We barely made it to our gate before it closed (at 20:56), and the gate closed at 21:00.

I could not believe we arrived in time for the Southwest flight. It was such a close call! I did not even have time to refill the fuel in my Toyota RAV4 (and had to run to the bathroom).

When we landed in San Jose, my Lyft ride would not work, and Alex used his UberX to find a rideshare home.

Sedona Trip Report

Highlights

• Visiting the Grand Canyon
• Hiking the beautiful Bell Rock Trail
• Hiking the Little Horse Trail with breathtaking views at Chicken Point
• Hiking Boynton Canyon with a stop at the Boynton Vista and at the Subway Cave
• Hiking Fay Canyon with a stop at the Arch
• Hiking from Long Canyon to the Birthing Cave
• Eating Thanksgiving Dinner at Cucina Rustica
• Eating dinner at Mariposa
• Eating burgers at Butterfly Burger 
• Eating breakfast at Red Rock Cafe

Lowlights

• Alex feeling unwell
• Inna feeling dizzy
• Too many close calls
• The entire family was unwell before the flight to Las Vegas. Not sure about flying
• UberX driver in a Tesla Model 3 almost ran into a BMW on the way to SJC airport.
• Our Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas was delayed by one hour, causing us to arrive late into Las Vegas and almost miss our first show: Marriage Can Be Murder in Orleans (we arrived 20 minutes late)
• Car Accident blocking southbound Hwy 17 on the way to Phoenix airport
• Boarding the Southwest Flight to SJC 5 minutes before the gate closed!

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