California

Never have I needed a recovery more than I needed it for this day. 

I was lucky: I had my five days of isolation and I have my doc visit to reassure me. Yes, I'm masked, because that is what you're supposed to do, but the important markers of a post-Covid life are there and so I can venture out into the world again. 

And today is the day that I am to travel. Not too far, but far enough. With Snowdrop.

I am very much aware that because of my love for my home continent, most of my travel tends to be directed east. Overseas. And when I take the oldest grandchild with me (I'd say age 7 or 8 is when they're generally ready to solo with a grandparent, though of course, it depends on the child's temperament and the grandparent's health and stamina!), it tends to be on those trips, overseas. As a result, said grandchild -- Snowdrop -- has seen much of the other side of the ocean and little of the United States. And so, when a school holiday this week was looming for her, I proposed that we pack our bags and go, but not east. Instead, I booked a flight west, to California. 

It's not really a sightseeing expedition. I chose the south of the state so that we could see the ocean, and taste the vibe of a life far removed from our own, even though it's still within the borders of this country. And who am I fooling -- I wanted a few days of good weather! So, today we flew to Los Angeles and drove down to Laguna Beach. For the uninitiated, that's just a few minutes along the coast, south of the city. I'd never been there and the community is small -- both important factors for me. 

It was a very quick morning for me -- out with the animals, a bite to eat -- and I'm off, for a meetup with the girl at the airport. 

From there, we fly to Minneapolis, and from the Twin Cities, it's about a 3.5 hour haul to L.A.

(I don't love the flights to California, but they have this going for them: the landscapes that unfold as you pass over...)

Normally, any sane person would rent a car at the L.A. airport.  But thee are not normal times. I am still tired. LAX is under construction so that getting to the car rental places takes time. And frankly, we don't have a great amount of driving to do in the long weekend before us. So we taxi. To the Montage Laguna Beach hotel. I am absolutely crashing my budget on this because after Covid, despite reassurances left and right, I feel like I should sleep in a separate space from the little girl. Just in case. And so, whereas before my Covid, we were going to share one small room and one large bed, sort of like this...

After my Covid, I added a separate sitting area with a fold out couch. Because of the layout, it made sense for me to keep the sitting area, so in effect, she got the great big comfy bed, I got the couch. I blame Covid.

But the views from all corners of this room are magnificent. I'm sure this sunset alone thrust a 10% uptick onto our daily rate. Because it is one hell of a good sunset.

Dinner, at the more informal restaurant of the ones at the hotel. The food is good, but two things were standouts were -- for her, the breadbasket with sourdough, and a plate of butter with dark sea salt. For me? That I could take off my mask finally! (You have no idea wha a relief that is...) We were eating outside.

What plans for us? Well, thankfully, they are not complicated, because believe me, after the interminable ride from the LA airport to Laguna Beach, I had my fill of LA highways. It amazes me that you can get used to this amount of road in your life.... And so, with the exception of tomorrow, which unexpectedly includes a rendezvous with a Snowdrop school friend, I am very much interested in taking it easy. Exploring, but not too far.  Beaching, swimming if it's not too cool. Honestly, just looking at the landscape around us. Snowdrop has never seen a palm tree. We are in for a fine longer weekend!

With love...