Beating The Storm---Travel Tales

With so many stories lately about flying fatalities due to weather, fellow passengers on my recent trip from Florida to Atlanta were getting fidgety at the gate watching dark storm clouds rolling in.

Apparently they weren't the only ones as airline personal began boarding our flight early, urging everyone to move swiftly so we could take off before the storm hit. WOW,  if only travelers were this efficient at finding their seats and stowing their bags on a regular basis!

We did it, pulled away from the gate a record 20 minutes early, but alas, it was not meant to be. It wasn't weather but a pesky warning light from a clogged galley drain that made us return to the gate and wait for maintenance. By this time the storm had indeed passed.

As we sat patiently waiting for the problem to be fixed I would occasionally hear the exclamations of a young child, quickly followed by a shushing from the parent. If they only knew their constant shushing was louder and more irritating than the questions of their child. Last time I flew with a curious child it was one of the best times I've had.

Too bad the shushing parent couldn't get ahold of the loud talkers who became even louder with the roar of the engine temporarily silenced. A man and a woman forced to sit next to each other apparently felt the need to get to know each other, and in turn let the entire cabin in on their life story. In one hour I learned more about them than some co-workers I've known for ten years.

I was further enlightened in Atlanta while waiting for my connection, by a business traveler droning on and on about his $4 Chick-fil-A sandwich. His companion shocked, had he known it was only $4 he might have taken time to eat too. $10 or $12 was just way to much, but a $4 meal? Then there was the gushing over how GOOD it was for $4, real chicken you know, not a bunch of parts, and a tomato and lettuce too. The conversation was repeated nearly word for word, for a good three or four rounds.

I finally made it to my DC, grabbed a cab and half-way to my final destination noticed that like the plane, this vehicle also had a warning light on its control panel. It said check engine. I disembarked at my family's home, his car promptly died.

I've decided to walk the next few days.

Buenos Dias Buenos Aires

While having dinner with friends last night, one of them proclaimed they wanted to move to Buenos Aires after seeing it featured recently on "House Hunters International" on HGTV. It's an incredible South American city that I can't wait to visit again, especially since I only had two fast and furious days there recently.

Desperately in need of a good cup of coffee after an overnight flight from Miami, the ride in from the airport was a good substitute for the caffeine. Avenida 9 de Julio was quite a spectacle, the widest Avenue in the world, 7 lanes in EACH direction with three additional lanes running parallel, like access roads. Even with all that space, there was still not enough space as buses, motorbikes and cars navigated with precious inches to spare.

Once on foot we hit the ground running from the Torre Monumental at one end of town, to Plaza de Mayo and touristy photos in front of Casa Rosada where the spirit of Evita lives. We stopped at a trendy cafe along the river for a cool glass of Torrontes, watched Tango dancers in the streets, shopped along the chaotic Calle Florida and embraced as much as we could on this first day.

We landed in the trendy Recoletta neighborhood for dinner. Fervor Brasas, known for it's aged beef, serves typical Argentinean fare in a great atmosphere; pricey by some standards. We sipped a glass of bubbles and nibbled on a bread basket full of fresh treats while waiting for our decanted bottle of  D.V. Catena to open. It was a big, juicy blend of Cabernet and Malbec, exceptional with our meal. The grilled provolone cheese was sharp and smoky, the grilled mushrooms were juicy and flavorful. Then came the 400 gram piece of Bife de Chorizo, seared and seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside, cooked to perfection. The  disks of potatoes on the side were addicting. I couldn't possibly find any room for dessert until it was placed in front of me; dreamy, creamy and delicious Dulce de Leche Gelato.

I love exploring a city by foot because it always leads to memorable discoveries, but perhaps the best part is the lack of guilt you feel when eating like we did at Fervor. It also feels pretty darn good to climb into bed at the end of the day, burrow under the covers and sink into a fluffy pillow, while replaying the highlights of the day and drifting off; only to get up and do it all over again.

Glen Ellen Inn

Nothing like a nice big meal following an afternoon of wine tasting! Our party had grown to ten throughout the day so we were a little concerned about finding a locally owned establishment that could accommodate us without a reservation. The staff at Glen Elen Inn didn't even bat an eye when we swept in with our boisterous laughter and empty bellies!

A 10 minute drive from the Sonoma Square, Glenn Ellen Inn is a 1940's wine country cottage with intimate indoor dining and shaded garden tables outdoors. It's known as the "smallest restaurant with the biggest wine list" in Sonoma Valley! Besides having an outstanding wine list, the impressive martini menu also offers mini martini's for those who still have their training wheels on!

There were too many mouth watering creations on the menu to choose just one. I was sitting at the head of the table with Dinah and Heather so we pooled our cravings and had one heck of a feast. We started with a raw oyster sampler. The oysters were a little on the small side but had three different sauces to tempt the taste buds. The Watermelon and Arugula Salad was killer with Pancetta, hazelnuts, Chevre and a Port dressing. The bread basket was hot, fresh and included a slightly sweet scone with a hint of rosemary!

The Spinach & Feta Ravioli was a huge hit with it's chipotle paste and red bell pepper cream sauce! Another big hit was the Chicken Breast. Sounds boring right? WRONG! The chicken was brined in buttermilk and served on sauteed corn succotash with caper lemon cream sauce. Also on the table was a perfectly cooked Halibut with Asian spices and a juicy Kobe Flat Iron Steak!

Fresh, local ingredients were used in all the dishes!

We brought in a couple of bottles of wine from our purchases earlier in the day and for a small corkage fee were able to enjoy them with dinner!

If you travel to Sonoma and need a place to stay, the Glen Ellen Inn really is an "Inn"! There are so-called secret cottages just steps from the restaurant. They have fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs and are situated along a creek. Don't miss this gem of a place for lunch or dinner during your Wine Country travels!