A digital travel diary. · WP v1.08 · Updated
Since Inna's old 2021 MacBook Pro 13' M1 8GB was becoming slow and unresponsive, we decided to upgrade to a newer 2025 MacBook Air 15" M4. After looking at various models, we settled on the MacBook Air 15" due to the larger screen size, lower price, and the absence of a fan (we dislike noisy fans). . I decided to order it from Costco.com, since…
Read More: Apple MacBook Air 15″ M4
Inna made one-day hotel reservations at the Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay for the April 5 - 6 weekend. She wanted us to explore Monterey, Carmel, and Point Lobos Natural Reserve. . Saturday, April 5, 2025 . At around 09:30, we started our long drive to Monterey via US-101. Traffic was relatively light, and we arrived at the Alta Bakery & Cafe at…
Read More: A Weekend in Monterey
As an avid windsurfer and wing foiler, I have always wanted to visit the world's best windsurfing spots. Bonaire, a small island in the southern Caribbean, has consistently been rated one of the best windsurfing destinations. There was never enough time to go there, and flights to Bonaire tend to be quite expensive and inconvenient from the West Coast.. . . . . However, my…
Read More: Windsurfing on Bonaire
As I was getting tired of playing with my Wilson Clash V2 Roland Garros tennis racket, I decided to try various new tennis rackets at my local shop, Tennis Anywhere (in Los Gatos).. Tennis Anywhere has a demo program where one can try out various rackets for two months for $30 (which can later be used to purchase any new racket).. . . . .…
Read More: Tennis Racket Demo
Inna purchased tickets to Berkeley Rep's new production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. We were pleasantly surprised and have not been to Berkeley Rep for a long time. Berkeley itself was also cleaner than when I last visited. . We really enjoyed this dramatic performance, and Hugh Bonneville's acting was excellent (as expected). . . . Here are more details about Uncle Vanya (courtesy of Perplexity…
Read More: Uncle Vanya at Berkeley Rep
Before seeing Uncle Vanya at Berkeley Rep, Inna and I decided to stop by the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden in Berkeley, CA. She has heard a lot of wonderful things about this garden, and we had never even been there! . The UC Botanical Garden is a living museum open to the public featuring one of the most diverse plant collections in the United States.…
Read More: UC Berkeley Botanical Garden
For Saturday night, Inna purchased tickets to Nobody Loves You - a musical hosted by ACT in San Francisco. . Before the 20:00 performance, we stopped by the Acropolis Greek Restaurant for dinner. After sitting down, we ordered the following items: . . Appetizers: Tzatziki with Pita, Greek Salad, Parthenon Ceviche. Drinks: Sparkling Water, Golden State Apple Cider. Boris: Lamb Souvlaki. Inna: Moussaka. . We…
Read More: Nobody Loves You at A.C.T.
We haven't been to Carmel-by-the-Sea in a while, so we decided to revisit it on Saturday. . . After getting ready, we drove to Monterey at 09:30. We stopped for coffee and breakfast at the Alta Bakery & Cafe. We arrived at 10:30, parked nearby, and walked over. A long line stretched to the door, so we queued up. About twenty minutes later, we ordered…
Read More: A Day Trip to Carmel
For Inna's birthday, I had planned a two-day getaway to Calistoga, featuring rest & relaxation at the Indian Springs Resort & Spa and entertainment at Blue Note Napa, where one of her favorite flamenco guitarists, Ottmar Liebert, was performing. . Friday, February 21, 2025. After Inna and I finished work, we started our drive to Indian Springs Resort & Spa in Calistoga. There was some…
Read More: A Short Getaway to Calistoga
On President's Day, Inna and I decided to visit a few shops in Palo Alto, then walk around Stanford University's campus. . . We first stopped by De Novo Fine Contemporary Jewelry, but it was closed on Presidents' Day. The nearby Marvel Cake bakery was also closed. . We decided to stop by Cafe Venetia for coffee and pastries. We found a table outside and…
Read More: Walking around Stanford