Living in Edinburgh, we've come to appreciate the wonderful places that Europe has to offer. Over the years our holidays have revolved around a very specific theme: Food.
Fried calamari was eaten every day in Madrid, as was salted aubergine (that's eggplant for all you Americans). In Barcelona we dined on lamb tapas and razorclams. Wood pigeon ravioli was savoured in Tuscany, accompanied by the biggest bottle of Montepulciano Nobile wine ever seen (seriously it was 3 feet tall-but don't worry-we had 4 friends to help finish it off). And finally, we survived synchronized heart-attacks when we saw the bill for Lea's rock lobster and champagne risotto dinner in Sicily!
So when we started discussing where to go on the honeymoon, it suddenly became one of the most difficult decisions to make. Until...someone mentioned the <a href="http://www.frenchlaundry.com">French Laundry</a>. Now we're not sure which one of us was the first to whisper this suggestion, but after a quick google search and glance at the menu, the idea was stuck in our heads, fermenting like the yearly vintages in Napa Valley .
So we decided to visit one of America's best food desitinations: Napa Valley. And what's even more fun is we decided to make it into a road trip! Lea has always wanted to see <a href="http://www.concierge.com/travelguide/centralcoast/photos/photoview/15332?sortParam=-createDate&photoSourceType=0&geoUrlName=">Big Sur</a> and she cunningly suggested renting a convertible and driving from LA to Napa. She knew Graham would imagine wind whipping through his hair as he "put the pedal to the metal" accelerating to a top speed of 35mph (Highway 1 along Big Sur is extremely curvy after all). Neither of us have really been to California except for a few times when we were both much younger and were tagging along with our parents.
So here's the general plan:
Arrive at LAX and pick up the 'stang. Drive to <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara/photo_gallery/">Santa Barbara</a> for a night in a hotel on the beach. Head north the next day on Highway 1. Stay in a <a href="http://www.treebonesresort.com">Yurt</a> (yes we said yurt-which is basically a fancy tent-and no it does not have a bathroom) overlooking Big Sur.
Days 3 &4, we move to a posher hotel and stay in a <a href="http://www.postranchinn.com/index.shtml">treehouse</a>. Luckily this one does have a bathroom.
Days 5, 6, & 7 drive north to <a href="http://www.concierge.com/travelguide/californiawinecountry/photos/photoview/68760?sortParam=-createDate&photoSourceType=0&geoUrlName=">Napa</a>. Ride bikes through the vineyards, stopping to taste some of the world's best wine. (Don't worry-we'll wear helmets.) Somewhere in all this Lea is hoping to slip in a spa day and Graham would like to go sea kayaking. (Lea is not convinced he realizes how cold the Pacific is. In comparison to North Sea, it's probably the same temp which she believes is "only warm enough for polar bears".)
On Day 8 we hop on a plane back to Edinburgh. Phone our families to let them know we arrived safe and sound. Then promptly fall sleep for the next 48 hours from all the excitement of the past two weeks!