travelgourmet's VirtualTourist Home Page
| Page Views: 18,900 | CARPE DIEM, COMPLEXO NOX by travelgourmet - last update: Nov 6, 2009  |
FELLOW VTer EllenH HAS HER SON BRYAN IN OUR PRAYER | Bryan, son of Vt member EllenH |
VTer EllenH living the good life in Hamilton, Montana has had a bit of a scare due to her son Bryan being sent to the ICU in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is recovering from a diabetic bout that is still not clear as Ellen is on her way with husband, Joe, to see what is what. Any notes of cheer to Ellen at member EllenH will surely help their concerns. Update: Bryan has been diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1, but should be well enough to leave the hospital on Saturday, Nov 7. Now, just a matter of containment. Trust Ellen and Joe are having a peaceful night. |
|  | THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Thanks for stopping by and trust that my writings and photos help to brighten your day! Have revealing road trips, fantastic flights, smooth sailings, and palate pleasers from around this planet we all call home, Earth. Most of all, no matter where you roam, be it near or far, my policy to follow is to enjoy your surroundings as a respectful visitor and smile, it's infectious. I drink to your health and peace, travelgourmet. |
THE MEANING OF MY MOTTO "Carpe Diem" (seize the day) and "Complexo Nox" (embrace the night) because in the scope of time, life seems over before it begins! As with every sunrise, a new day has dawned and the following sunset will surely bring the night. Imitated by life, as one has a sunrise and a sunset. So.....enjoy your life. "Carpe Diem, Complexo Nox." | | | SUNSET IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE |
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| SUNRISE IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE |
| | WESTLAKE VILLAGE. WHERE I LIVE Living in the city, out in the country. Open streets and winding roads through the hills from North Ranch to the Pacific Ocean at Malibu. A beautiful lake in the middle of all this, at Westlake Village. Sail, electric boating, fishing, but no swimming, at least not in the lake. Too upscale for lake swimming, with private homes on an island that would not like to see swimmers land on their piece of the rock. No need to worry about not getting wet, most homes have a swimming pool and/or spa.
Lake Sherwood/Hidden Valley and North Ranch/Oak Park are south and north of Westlake Village, making for a very upscale city/country setting. You can have your cake and eat it too!!! Thousand Oaks and Agoura are west and east of Westlake Village. Vehicle travel is essential, jogging and bicycling are great pastimes, but it is bikers hog heaven for Sunday outings, hitting the pavement at sunrise to get to the Rock Store off Mulholland Hwy in Cornell, next door to Agoura.
Hiking trails throughout the area gives one the opportunity to get away from it all, perhaps glimpse a bit of wild life that include rabbits, raccoons, possum, skunk, snake, coyote, deer, bear, and even a wildcat, as well as with the many bird life flying above and into the trees and shrubs from the tiny hummingbird to the ground running quail and the honking geese to the gliding hawks and circling vultures. All this out in the country but still within walking distance of your home.
Now that I have told you about the area surrounding my home, have some fun and click on the blue writing "Please sign my GuestMap". I thank you for visiting. Now, let me see where you live. PLEASE SIGN MY GUESTMAP. |
MAN'S BEST FRIENDS Travels are great, but getting home to your loving four pawed family is pure joy. They greet you with a big slurp of the tongue and a wag of the tail, no need to have sent mail. | | | SIR CHAUNCEY PUDDLES & LADY PHOEBE |
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| IF THERE IS NO SCENT, AT LEAST ENJOY THE BEAUTY! |
| | TAKE THE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS Life is your best travel experience. That's my opinion. As you go through it, you see, hear, taste, feel everything that life throws at you, be it good or bad. You learn what you like and what displeases you. You may not see eye to eye with all, but you will also find those that seem like your twin in every thought. When you are up, the world is your playground, but as sure as there is an up, beware of the down. It may be difficult, but something about life makes you strive to get up when down and sometimes you could use a guiding hand to help you stand. Take it if offered and if there, be thankful.
Good health is a major factor in enjoying life, but despite any problems, as serious as the problem may be, if you can still smile while staring at the first rain of the season or just to hear the laughter of a small child, you are living. If you can smile when answering your phone to the warm hello from a loved one or be able to send an e-mail greeting to a virtual friend, you are living. What is wonderful about life is that you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy it. So, where ever you may roam, be it near or far, please do stop to smell the flowers and if there is no scent, well then, just enjoy the beauty. |
ON THE ROAD AGAIN "On the road again, like a band of gypsies we go down the highway. We're the best of friends, insisting that the world be turnin' our way. And our way is on the road again." (Thanks to Willie Nelson for the lyrics to my heart). Listed below are some of the road trip getaways we took that were fun and not expensive.
August, 2009.....Hot August nights and drove on down San Diego way in the middle of the month. San Diego became a little bit of Hawaii for a few days with activities including a great San Diego Zoo two day visit, a baywatch view from our hotel with hundreds of boats parading by, and ending with a fabulous Luau at the Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island.
JULY, 2009.....Revved up Ol' Betsy and celebrated the 4th of July weekend in Lake Elsinore and Temecula, California visiting the Wineries along Rancho California Road and the Pechanga Resort-Casino, as well as baseball and fireworks at the Lake Elsinore Diamond baseball stadium. I am a Yankee Doodle Dandy! Firewater and fireworks. Bam!!! My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty. What a day for baseball and beer. Take me out to the ball game. | | | GETTING READY TO FIRE UP OL' BETSY. |
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| | NEVER TOO OLD TO TRAVEL, NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN .......................................................................TASTING THE FOODS,.......................................................................
.....................................HEARING THE LAUGHTER,..........THE SUMMER WINDS EMBRACE,............................
...................ENJOYING THE SUNSETS,......................................THE WINTER RAINS REFRESH,......................
LOOKING FOR THE RAINBOWS,....................................................TRAVEL, THE PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT.
.....I trust you will give my tips a glance and enjoy my travel pages. I have visited some places many times, and the photos are mine. Some tips are just my opinion, others are tips that you may not know about, and some tips that millions and millions of other travelers know about, have been there, and done that. Some travel locations listed on my travel pages have no tips, not because I have no tips for these locations but they were traveled long enough ago to be old news, today. Some locations have but one tip, and others I could not give enough tips about, so I included the ones I felt were ideal for the location.
.....I have a fondness for gourmet foods. I have had the fortunate past to have enjoyed learning the ways of preparing food and cooking diversified foods that include among the varied recipes, world class chili, of which I entered cook-offs with my "Blasted Chili" during the years while I was a member of the International Chili Society. I enjoyed lessons to acquire the ability to make the refined gourmet dishes of many renowned chefs. I belonged to a gourmet group that had me plunge into learning about different food cultures around the world and prepare dishes as if I were a local. So, my restaurant tips and photos might go into a little depth on the courses offered or a dish that pleased my palate. The restaurant tip will also be my opinion with no reservations as to the critique of the beckoning bistros.
.....Many lodgings throughout my travels are reviewed and listed on the destination pages "Hotels and Accommodations" tips for your perusal. Most are in the mid-price range. I have attempted to include more than one picture per tip of the accommodation so that you may get the feel of a property.
.....For those of you who will find information not known by you or enjoy reading my tips that might help you or maybe even just entertain you, I thank you for browsing and if the tips are helpful or informative for you, please let me know. Sometimes a photo says more than a thousand words. One way is by giving that tip a favorable rating. It's the one way I know I helped. I am glad that I could please your travel appetite. Bon Appetit! |
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jumpingnorman Sun Nov 8, 2009 04:06 UTC
Larry, we had a great time with Ellen and Joe and I am glad you are friends with them too - but we did not go to the Heart Attack Grill - I said "Larry is going to be disappointed", hehehe....but we explored the West Valley...Norman :) | kiwi Fri Nov 6, 2009 23:34 UTC
Hahaha, bit different to me http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/vv/176d/ | counsel14 Thu Nov 5, 2009 05:09 UTC
Larry: Virginia meet is posted. Please say you'll come! you've never tasted barbeque until it's Virginia made!! we've got decent wines too! Oct 2010. go sign up! Susan | mccalpin Tue Nov 3, 2009 15:14 UTC
Thanks, Larry, for the visit and thoughts. He was a great cat...Bill |
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