The Trip of a Lifetime--day 1

The trip of a lifetime ended this morning at 3:00 a.m. CDT. 

My dear sister, aka the World's Most Generous Sister (and to her nieces and nephews, the World's Greatest Aunt), gave me a trip to California's Wine Country to commemorate my 60th birthday.  It was such a great experience.

Getting to Napa meant 38 hours without sleep.  I worked a full day on Thursday, but didn't dare go to sleep. My shuttle left at 2:30 a.m. Friday morning, and I just didn't trust myself to wake up in time.  I had to take that shuttle because my flight left at 6:30 a.m.   I did sleep a bit on the shuttle and on the two flights to Oakland, but I was groggy and hungry by the time I met my sister and brother-in-law at baggage claim. As it happened, we were all in the same boat. 

Our first order of business was lunch at Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley.  I, for one, hadn't eaten since dinner the night before. 

After inhaling our lunches we were on our way to Calistoga.  The vineyards became more and more plentiful and we drove north.

Most of the vines we saw on Friday had not yet begun to bud, but the trees were blossoming everywhere we looked.  It was lovely,.

After settling in to our Inn, we strolled up the main street of Calistoga.

There are wine tasting opportunities everywhere you look along Lincoln Street (Calistoga's main street).  My sister and brother-in-law discovered and became members of August Briggs a number of years ago.

Naturally, we stopped in for our first tasting of the trip.  Honestly, I don't know how many wines we tasted.  They were all delicious, and I, for one, was so tired ... It was lots of fun, but I found myself needing what my family refers to as "buck-you-uppo".

Over the week, we took to making sure to get some bread and cheese to soak up the wine we were consuming.  Of course, the alternative is to spit out the wine so that you don't become tipsy...

but seriously, what's the point?

We moseyed through the town, visiting antique shops and book stores.  Before we knew it, it was time for dinner.

We ordered different items.  My meal was delicious--risotto with wild mushrooms and roasted asparagus (newly in season).  After delicious creme brulee, we casually strolled back to the Inn and called it a night.

(note:  all photos from the web)