Cultures

When the Great Raisin Chase Began

Posted by golfkat on January 19, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Food. Leave a comment

I have been reading about the history of California water wars and land grabs. I recently read about the beginning of the raisin industry here.

A physician named John Stentzel, farming in the Alhambra Valley (not far from where we once lived), was one of the fathers of California pomology. He planted plum and pear trees, as well as the infamous muscat grape. Growing up in Budapest, Dr. Stentzel learned how to ferment and dry grapes. Soon, he was making some of the best wines and certainly the first raisins in California. He won Blue Ribbons at the 1861 California State Fair with is wines.

Interestingly, the Alhambra Valley is now dotted with a resurgence of grape vines, mostly Zins on its hilly scapes. One of our friends (a friend of a dear friend) is now in the wine making business in Martinez and the Alhambra Valley. We call him Big Al, because, he is, after all, Big, and Al.

But the story gets even better. Back around this time, Dr. Stentzel’s son in law, John Muir took over the ranch. The farm was prospering with thirty six varieties of apples, thirty five varieties of pears, four varieties of quinces, five varieties of plums, along with lemons, cherries, pomegranates figs, pecans and walnuts. Muir made some changes with greater spacing between trees, and covering the ground with legumes, before his mistress, the Sierras, took over his life.

Here is the “official” story, but you received the REAL story here!

18th Century –The Birth of California Raisin Country
Spain’s Queen Isabella sent missionaries to Mexico to teach natives about religion. While they were preaching and teaching, missionaries also passed on their knowledge of viticulture. They used grapes for sacramental wines and also grew Muscat grapes for raisins.
By the 18th century, the Franciscan fathers had settled as far north as present-day Sonoma, California. But, when Spain turned power over to the colonial government of Mexico in 1834, the mission system began its decline. Viticulture – and its strong influence on California agriculture – was one of the mission’s enduring legacies.
1851 – A marketable muscat for raisins, the Egyptian Muscat, was grown near San Diego. Since the area didn’t have sufficient water supply, farmers moved to the San Joaquin Valley which has a mild climate and extensive irrigation system perfect for the art of viticulture.
1873 – Legend says California’s first raisin crop was grown by nature, not farmers. A massive heat wave hit the valley before harvest, and most of the grapes dried on the vine before farmers could pick them.
1876 – English immigrant William Thompson grew a seedless grape variety that was thin-skinned, seedless, sweet and tasty.
Late 1800s – Armenians descended from the first founders of vineyards in Persia began settling in the San Joaquin Valley. The area now supplies raisins for nearly half the world, making it the largest producer anywhere.
I thank Mark Arax for his many great insights in his book, The Dreamt Land, where I am learning so much about California, its history, people, and water.

Somewhere around 1941, my family purchased their first farm, out on Bethel Avenue in Kingsburg. After being incarcerated in a “War Relocation Authority” after Pearl Harbor, my family returned to farm raisins and tree fruit once again. It is rather ironic that we are the last ones standing on Bethel Avenue, everyone else is gone, passed on, or sold out!!!sun maiddancing raisinscal raisinjohn muir

Looking for 2020 Vision

Posted by golfkat on January 5, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment
It sounds rather strange to say 2020, as in vision, the ABC News show, or calendar year.  Perhaps we can see clearly now, the rain has come?
It is the start of a new decade.  Maybe it will be my last, it does not matter.  The world has changed, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.  My generation has ruined the environment, all in the name of progress, technology, and greed.  Our elected officials on both sides of the aisle are shameless, greedy, self-centered media mongers.
But there are many good things we have now, in the name of progress.  Maybe I should list a few?
Solar panels on homes-we now have 17 on our roof, and it has helped with our monthly budget, as well as our carbon offset.
Lexi, our mini Labradoodle-who ever knew I would love this little puppy as much as I do?
Smartphone cameras-it has eliminated my need to carry a tablet AND a camera on my trips.
Friends-my old high school mates have dinner every Monday, what a joy!
Relatives-I have four elderly Aunts remaining, no Uncles, I am the oldest living male on both sides of my family.
Cheap airfares-no excuses, go anywhere in the world, it is now very affordable.  Cheaper to fly to Paris than NYC!
2020 Election-I am praying!
Automotive technology-safer cars, but too many old ones on the road!
Newsprint-still my favorite way to get a good insight into a new city or region.
Health-should always be a priority for you, me, everyone!  I lost some dear friends and a cousin this past year.
Tokyo Olympic Games-I wish I was going!  The stadium (above) is complete!
Super Bowl-I am hoping for a rematch with my Niners playing the Ravens.  But Miami will be expensive!!!
Perhaps most bothersome to me are the numerous shootings here in the US.  Something is seriously wrong with our country and the direction we are headed.  I hate to end on a bit of a downer.
So, moving on, I see that charitable giving is back on the upswing.  I urge all of you to give what you can afford.  And even better, volunteer your time and expertise to a worthy charity.
2020 will be another great year!

My Five Best Burgers

Posted by golfkat on January 4, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Food, Travel. 2 Comments

Despite the plethora of specialty cuisines, Kaiseki dinners, and tasting menus around the world, the American hamburger is still near the top of my food choices. Here are my five best. I would be curious to hear about yours.

5. The Kingsburger, Park Drive In, Kingsburg This is the place (only a distant memory) where we hung out after school, after football games, and many other times. It may not have been the best burger, but it was the only burger in our little town.

4. Burger Road, Pleasant Hill A typical greasy, and I emphasize greasy spoon, now replaced by a joint called Chef Burger. I am still not sure if the fries were greasier than the burger. But both were delicious, and my kids loved it when they were growing up.

3. Burger at Chow, Lafayette, CA More of an adult burger, rather simple, but somewhat elegant. The meat is always cooked perfectly, and the fries are always “Crespi” crisp. Priced like a gourmet burger, but I just love this place, its rather limited menu, and the overall bistro atmosphere.

2. Burger at House of Juju, Clovis, CA Who would think a great burger can be found in my new home city? Now in a bigger location, still no reservations taken, this place serves the best burger between San Francisco and the Grand Canyon. Rather massive (the burger, as well as the restaurant), it should be split with someone. The quality of the meat shines. But no fries, instead roasted potatoes, a welcome change.
1. Burger at the El Tovar dining room, Grand Canyon Christmas eve, somewhat magical with the snow falling at the Grand Canyon, we had to warm up inside this great dining hall. Someone said their burger is the best. We ordered, and we now believe. I can still taste it! I can’t wait to go back and see if the magic is still there. Huge, juicy, grilled, served with a huge platter of fries, as the winter snow blankets the Canyon.

I doubt if I average a burger a month. When we are on the road, the easiest stop is In N Out Burger, always fresh, with great fries. It is the only “fast” food that we eat, unless you count pho or sushi. Speaking of which . . . .

I would love to hear about your favorite burger And what you like as condiments.

Over Tourism

Posted by golfkat on January 3, 2020
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Travel. Leave a comment
This word, over tourism has reared its ugly head once again.  By now, you know all of the places I try to avoid, like China, cruise ships, Machu Picchu, the Great Wall, the Taj Mahal, Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos Islands, you name it.  Certain national parks fall into this category, like nearby Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and a few others.
I know it is totally unfair, since I have been to many of these places.  All I ask is that you pick and choose wisely.  The national parks belong to us, the people, and should be enjoyed.
Remember last spring in Walker Canyon (CA), heretofore a place nobody cared about?  The golden poppies bloomed at once, creating a huge blanket of gold over the hillsides.  But they had to close Walker Canyon for the hordes of people wanting to see this great phenomenon.
They had to close “train street” in Hanoi for overtourism, since it became rather dangerous.  The pop up food stalls and retail kiosks move when the train comes by, and then return just as quickly.  It is rather charming, but very dangerous.  While we did not dine there, our moto bike drivers followed the route for several blocks.  They say tourists have been killed or injured trying to take photos along the street.
Near and dear to us is Big Sur, crowded with too many road trippers and photogs.  Can you believe this area draw over 5 million tourists annually?  Traffic, litter, and air pollution threaten the pristine area.
The Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris is under constant threat of people, flash cameras, and selfies.  Personally, I think they need to enclose it is a glass room, and have people view it from a distance of at least 20 feet.  That said, I have been there numerous times, and it is inspiring!  Over 10 million visitors annually have to take a gander.
Amsterdam is a big city on a small footprint.  The area is one of the most popular cities in the world.  Visitors place undue strain on the local residents and infrastructure.  I think it is one of the most charming cities in the world, with great museums and culture.  It would really be a shame to limit access.  Only 1.6 million people visited Baikal, mostly Russian nationals.  It was one of the highlights on my Trans Siberian Railway journey across Russia and Siberia.
I always wanted to visit Ayers Rock or Uluru in central Australia.  But I understand both the environmental and cultural limits that have been placed on this natural wonder.  While only 250,000 people make it here, it is probably 249,999 too many!  It is sacred to the indigenous people of the area, and we should respect that.
Everest is a different animal.  The climbs have become so commercial and border on the ridiculous.  the amount of trash (11 tons were removed in 2019) on the mountain is outrageous.  And so many have died.  Yes, we saw it form the sky, so that was enough.  About 800 people attempt to make the summit, and 40,000 make it to Base Camp.  Eleven have died.  Go ahead, leave me behind!
Personally, I think Venice stinks.  And it is sinking and stinking, or the waters are rising.  I strongly suggest staying away!  Go to the klongs of Bangkok for a better experience, in my view.
I could add plenty of others, as above.  Just be smart about where you go and what you do!
I do not understand why Lake Baikal would be on this list.  Who is going to the hinterlands of Russia (other than me) to see this gem?  Baikal is bigger than Israel, Albania, or Rwanda.  It is the largest freshwater lake in the world, by volume.  The lake freezes over in the winter, up to 5 feet in places.  It is home to both freshwater dolphins and mythical monsters.

My 2019 Travel Summary

Posted by golfkat on January 2, 2020
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Food, National Parks, Sports, Travel. Leave a comment
As I start 2019, I realize my travel days are numbered.  My trip to SE Asia in October, 2018 provided an insight into my future travels.  Three weeks is a long travel time, now that I am older.  And the heat and humidity are too much now.  I also ended up with a minor injury from walking and hiking too much.  And three weeks in Europe was also a challenge.  I injured my knee, either cycling or walking.  And over a week later, I still have some jet lag!
So, does that mean I am retiring from travel?  NO!!!  But I will try to pick and choose my spots a little more carefully, and not try to pack so much into a trip, as I did in SE Asia and Europe.  Perhaps more domestic trips, more car trips, fewer really long overseas trips. 
 
A pattern of travel has emerged lately, as most of my trips are solo.  While I may visit or meet people on these trips, it starts as a solo trip.  I am so thankful for many of you who have befriended me along the way.  You know who you are:  Roath, Angela, Cesar, Itsuyo, Danny, Dirty Pat, KenBob, Michael, Raj, Corinne, Rey, Leicey, many more I may have missed.
Don’t get me wrong, I also love our road trips with Lexi tagging along.  And perhaps taking a class or two at the local college has created greater interest for me.  And there is always the fact that home is the best place!!!
So, with that in mind, let’s review 2019:
January
I like to stay home in January, because of the weather, and football playoffs.   Despite the beach calling us, we decided to stay home.  Lexi loves the white sand beach, and we enjoy the vibe, as well as food, shopping, and maybe a few friends.  Never mind, the rain was too heavy, so we skipped it for now.
February
 
We go to Hawaii every other year now.  We always invite my dear brother and his lovely wife to Maui, for a week at our Marriott timeshare.  We always upgrade to an ocean view two bedroom suite at the Marriott Ocean Club, which is just over the top, in my opinion.  But before joining them, we first visited dear friends in Honolulu, with two babies in their lives now.  We met Ben and Leicey in Seattle many years ago, and now they live in their home state, where they got married, and now with two young girls.
But after Oahu, we headed over to Kauai for a few days to see dear friends, Corinne and Rey.  We also love several of the local restaurants in the area, like Hamura Saimin, and Kintaro, probably the best sushi outside of Tokyo.
Then, it was Maui for a week, at our Marriott timeshare.  We enjoyed many fine meals.  But the best was inviting my cousins, and their friend Sharyn for a barbecue dinner.  We made a trek to Costco for wine, rib eyes and ahi.  We also bought fruit, and salad.  My cousins brought fried rice, and ice cream for dessert.  We had the best time of the entire trip!  And the whales were out in force, with one that we spotted not more than 75 yards off the beach!!!!
March
 
My annual visit to see the World Champion Warriors in Oakland on March 8.  First the game, actually saw my sister at the game.  Then off to Napa for some champagne tasting at Domaine Carneros, with dear friends, Paul, Chris, and Christine.  What a great time, we met some real characters!!!  We planned some future cycling trips together!
 
Baseball season started early this year, in March rather than April.  Why not start in San Diego, where the hometown Giants start the season against the Padres and Manny?  I love going to games there, the weather is great, and the downtown area of San Diego offers plenty to see and do.  I went to three games, and stayed in a Courtyard Hotel that was once a bank.  The vault in the basement was large enough to hold a bus.  And they had a firing range on the 14th floor!
April
 
I felt like a college kid again, as spring break arrived, and I decided I needed to do my own version of spring break.  So, I headed to Moab, Utah, via Salt Lake City.  Two of my favorite national parks are here:  Arches, and Canyonlands National Parks, along with Monument Valley, just south of Moab.  I also made it to Dead Horse State Park, and to numerous watering holes, such as the Moab Brewery.  Plenty of time for some cycling, exploring, photographing, and jetboating.
May
This was the BIG trip for the year.  First, a few days in Amsterdam, one of my favorite cities in the world.  I love the van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and the famous Concertgebouw.  Also made it over to the Anne Frank House, rather sad.
 
From there, I  headed with a cycling friend to Bordeaux, France for a week of cycling. And wine tasting!  Many of you are dumbfounded, knowing that France is not once of my favorite places.  But we hit several famous wine regions, with Saint Emilion and Pomerol emerging as favorites.  Thanks to Susan for joining me.
A surprise destination is next, Bucharest, Romania.  Why?  My old buddy, Dirty Pat, is there for a year, teaching law under a Fulbright Scholarship.  He and his wife, Renee’ have graciously invited me to stay for a few days.  Maybe we will find Count Dracula??   A side trip to the German mountain town of Brasov (home of Dracula’s Castle) in Transylvania was a highlight, along with the friendly city of Bucharest with a charming Old Town.  Romania is not on most traveler’s radar, but it should be!
From there, I went to a destination I have been trying to reach now for several years.  Finally, I visited Istanbul, Turkey and surrounding areas.  You may remember, in 2017, that I was issued one of the LAST visas issued to an American by Turkey.  I was in the vicinity, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Austria, when I received a call from the State Department!!!  They strongly suggested that I do NOT visit!!!  But this time, I went and enjoyed it thoroughly.  What an amazing country, with friendly people, tasty food, gorgeous views of the Bosporus, and many famous historic sites.  I would go back anytime!
June
 
Our anniversary was June 11, so we headed to our favorite American City, Seattle.  We were joined by old friends from Montana, Becky and Larry.  This city remains one of our favorite cities in the world, though the city has been transformed by Amazon, Google, and other high tech companies, making it highly unaffordable and sterile.  The homeless problem is HUGE here!
 
I received a big shock on June 13.  One of my best and long time friends passed away suddenly.  He was a mentor, role model, encouraged me to go to grad school, to volunteer, and to adopt our daughters from Asia.  I will miss him!
July
 
So, a couple of small trips, taking Lexi to the beach at Pismo.  Beach time, along with some wine tasting, and some light cycling should fill the days and evenings.  We had dinner with a dear friend at Ember, our fav restaurant down there in Arroyo Grande.  We also did some wine tasting at Laetitia, took Lexi to the beach, and got our fill of seafood at several nice places.  Then an overnight with my brother to a Giants game in San Francisco.  One of his high school classmates gave us her season ticket seats!!!!
So, in the middle of the summer heat, why not head back down to San Diego, for great weather and some baseball?  This is always one of my favorite trips, though I no longer drive there.  I hate driving through LA, did I say hate??  But the venue was great, the weather even better, and I enjoyed their craft beer night at the ballpark.  My G-men won two of three!  I was able to visit the Little Italy Saturday farmer’s market, and attend the Friday night craft beer fest.  I even saw two friends from back home (Clovis and Bay Area).  And the weather was perfect!!!
August
 
We took a quick overnighter to the Bay Area, just to visit a friend.  Along the way, we paid our respects to Sheri’s parents in an Oakland cemetery.  A bittersweet visit, but always want to remember our parents.
 
How about getting out of the heat?  So, we headed to Lexi’s home state of Oregon, for a week in Bandon, Oregon, along the coast.  Though I no longer play golf, Bandon Dunes Resort has some of the best golf courses I have ever played.  In addition, on the coast, the cool breezes, and fresh seafood were most welcome after a long, hot summer here in the Valley.  We saw some friends from back home as well, and had a nice barbecue down at Gold Beach.  And some wine tasting near Jacksonville, seafood in Bandon, and some cycling along the coast.
 
I found the cutest little wine tasting place in downtown Bandon, called Bread and Wine.  Nancy, the owner, is quite the wine expert, and sells many nice Oregon wines and bread!  But after giving my credit card for some wine purchases, she frantically called the next morning.  My card had been hacked at a local gas station, and was cancelled after the perpetrator tried to use the card in Washington!
 
September
 
We decided to drive up to Truckee (Tahoe) for the weekend, with a stop in Auburn’s Lake of the Pines.  We visited my old high school buddy, the Vet to the stars, Dr. Jack and his wife.  Great time, then headed to Truckee for cycling, and a few lobster rolls at Morgan’s Lobster Shack.  We got out of there just in time, as it snowed the next day at Squaw.
 
A quick overnight to Carmel was in the cards, mostly to shop, perhaps see a friend, and let Lexi run on the beach.  I miss our trips there, as they have definitely become rather infrequent.  But the weather was great, Seventeen Mile Drive was spectacular, and we hit a few of our favorite places!!!!
 
At the end of the month, I headed back east, for a destination wedding in North Carolina in early October.  I decided to go a few days early, to visit old friends (the former Surgeon General), and just look around the Washington, DC area and visit the museums.  I also visited one of my alma maters, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, also known as Basketball U.   I hoped to have a meal with a dear friend and former grad school classmate, who is now the Chancellor for Health at Duke University in Durham.  Then drive down to Highlands, NC for the wedding, via Asheville.
 
A side trip to Asheville proved rather interesting.  It is a cute little town, lots of restaurants and retail.  It was another 2 hours drive to Highlands, which was a very pleasant surprise.  Check out Old Edwards Inn on google, quite a story and setup.
 
October
 
My nephew, Spencer (my sister, Carolyn’s only son), was married in Highlands, NC on October 5.  It was the first wedding of the fourth generation of the Kataoka clan.  The rest either eloped, or ??  After the wedding, I spent a few days in Hotlanta, visiting some old friends there as well.  I have always wanted to visit the Jimmy Carter Library and the Martin Luther King Center.  I have not been there since the 80’s.  I loved the MLK Center, and could feel the spirit of the great man.  It was a memorable experience.  Regarding the old friend, KenBob, turns out he was in Europe and returned my call just last week.
November
 
Having been inspired by my trip to Moab, I decided to head to one of my favorite national parks, Bryce Canyon N.P. in Utah.  I take the road slowly traveled, with stops in Las Vegas, and St. George.  And a revisit to Zion National Park as well.  Why not?  Aside from taking photos, I cycled, visited dear friends in Vegas, and enjoyed the great views.  And may I repeat, Bryce is my favorite national park in the entire universe.
 
None other than Dirty Pat would entice us to drive down to the Los Angeles area for a visit.  He and Mrs. Dirty Pat are in LA for their Ravens game against the LA Chargers.  So, we will meet up in Santa Monica, enjoy the beach scene, and head back home.  Of course, we last saw each other in Romania, Bucharest to be exact, when he was on his Fulbright Scholarship. (I had to cancel due to the unexpected death of a co worker)
 
December
 
With the vagaries of sports, whoda thought I would go back to the DC area so soon.  The Niners are doing well, and they playrd my buddy, Dirty Pat’s Ravens on Dec. 1 in Baltimore.  Dirty Pat invited me to join him, and his buddy Mark for another Niner-Raven clash, reminiscent of the Super Bowl in Nawlins, when we all met for the first time.  I stayed in DC for a few days, saw more sights, visited friends, before returning home.
 
Then, I was thrilled to find a dear old friend, Ken Bob in Atlanta.  I tried to find him when I visited in Atlanta in October to visit the M. L. King Center.  Turns out he was in Europe at the time.  We dined at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, suffered through a Hawks and Warriors NBA game.  And you will never believe why we stayed in downtown Atlanta instead of his home out in the suburbs.  That’s right, he and his wife are following the Miss Universe contest!!!!
 
Without a December trip to Vegas, and a fairly full work schedule, the travel year ends on a whimper.
So, this ends a relatively quiet travel year for me.  I had to pass on a few trips due to some dental work (expensive).  I also love to be home, here in the Valley, during the Fall.
Hint to the wise:  Buy your Senior National Park Pass now before they stop selling them!!!!  It is the bargain of the century.
Let me know where you have been, where you are going, or perhaps give me a few hints on where I should go next.  What do I see in my 2020 vision?  Perhaps Argentina, Greece, cycling in Croatia, and a return to the famous Oktoberfest in Munich?

My Best Travel Quotes and Other Tidbits 2019

Posted by golfkat on January 1, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Travel. Leave a comment

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I hope you enjoy these as much as I do when I find them. Some are silly, some are quite serious, but all are great fun. Maybe you will find one that fits you and your personality?

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought” – Buddha

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious” – Albert Einstein

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them” – Mother Theresa

(Now that is a great start with three great quotes!)

“You only live once…..False! You live everday. You only die once!” – Buddha

“Ask-hole, a person who constantly asks for your advice, yet always does the opposite of what you told them” – footnote studios

“Not to get technical, but according to chemistry, alcohol is a solution” – Party Tableware

“War is God’s way of teaching American geography” – Ambrose Bierce

“The average dog is nicer than the average person” – Andy Rooney

“America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, human rights invented America” – Jimmy Carter

While attending my dear friend’s funeral, the subject of is trademark gray scale sunglasses came up. He wore them always, even indoors. Upon asking him why he wore them constantly, his response was “When you are cool, the sun always shines on you!”

“I wanna run, I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside
I want to reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name” – U2

The Animals – We Gotta Get Out of This Place. It’s an anthem that speaks to almost everyone, because everyone wants change. It was popular with soldiers in Vietnam, with high school students who can’t wait to get out on their own, and with travelers who need to travel and feel cooped up when they’re at ‘home’.

“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball where it lies.” – Bobby Jones

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – Bob Dylan

I found this to be quite poignant on my trip to Istanbul: “Throughout history, whoever ruled Istanbul was able to shape it only to a degree; in the end, Istanbul does what it pleases” – Omar Uygen

“Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo” -Al Gore

“Just because my path is different doesn’t mean I am lost” -Mediavine

“Throughout history, whoever ruled Istanbul was able to shape it only to a degree; in the end, Istanbul does what it pleases” – Onur Uygun

I like to repeat one of my favorite lines when I travel with my buddy Mike, originally from Los Banos. It goes, “Not bad for two dumb country boys from the Valley!” Needless to say, we have been to some great and famous places, some not so famous, but always have a good time.

As always, I welcome your own favorite quotes. Over the years, your responses have been both insightful, amusing, and always entertaining.

My Annual Twelve Days of Christmas

Posted by golfkat on December 25, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, National Parks, Travel. Leave a comment

On the First Day of Christmas:

Yes, Santa, I have received several requests for my original Twelve Days of Christmas. This year will be a little different. We are going to take a journey to places that may soon be gone, such as glaciers, trees, islands, forests and reefs. You might already be guessing which ones. Fortunately, I have been able to experience most of them. I strongly encourage you to go now, or to help preserve them in some fashion.

At the end of each of the Twelve Days will be a little champagne oriented gift you can buy for a loved one. So, you will get twelve places to contemplate, and twelve gift ideas.

Day 1 is a place that is near and dear to my heart, Glacier National Park. Needless to say, the glaciers are disappearing faster than ice at a summer tailgate party. Only twenty five active glaciers remain. Some are over 10,000 years old! Just think, you will see something the next generation will only read about or see in travel magazines!

If you happen to go, please stay at the Candlewycke Inn (Megan) in Bigfork, or the Laughing Horse Lodge (Katherine) at Swan Lake. Both owners are friends, and will make your stay memorable!

Start Day 1 with some champagne jelly beans from Jelly Belly. Champagne flavored jelly beans? Can’t be any worse than popcorn flavored!

On the Second Day of Christmas:

Most of you know that Italy is not a place near and dear to me. Why? I was there back in 1971, while on my first extended European vacation, when I found out my Father had passed away, on my birthday, no less. Before I could book a trip back home, I had to wander through some or most of Italy, finally catching a flight home from Rome. Flights were not as plentiful or cheap back then, it was the best I could do under the circumstances. I missed his funeral!

Anyway, Venice in particular stood out as the stinky mess, it always had that reputation! And on a hot summer day, even the smell of durian in southeast Asia is preferable to Venice. But rumors abound that the city is s(t)inking, that is, without the T! It could be under water within a decade.

So, if you must go, I would suggest going now, before your three story flat or hotel is under water. But there is an alternative that is somewhat better. The klongs in Bangkok provide the same cultural experience, without the smell! It has more charm, nicer people, better food, and certainly more to see (and less to smell).

Moving on the my champagne gift, how about a nice champagne ice bucket? My favorite is actually plastic, purchased at a champagne house in Epernay, when I last visited. But any bucket will do. Heck, I even use a trash can when I stay in hotels or take Amtrak! I am certain you can figure it out. But it makes a great gift.

So day two, get over the stink, and get a really good ice bucket for your sparkling or champagne!!!

Thanks again for your nice comments on the Twelve Days, I appreciate it. That is the best gift I could receive!!!

On the Third Day of Christmas:

Moving closer to home, I find it rather difficult to comprehend that the Joshua trees in the Southern California’s Mojave Desert are now endangered. The Joshua is actually Yucca brevifolia, and the largest of the yucca family. They can grow to a height of 15 to 40 feet, and can live for 150 years.

Why are they endangered? The Joshuas rely on the female pronuba moth for pollination. No other animal can do this. Climate change is the culprit, though the current administration refuses to recognize it. So, if you ever wanted to see a Joshua, or to visit Joshua Tree National Park in its unique glory, you had better go now! Great idea: when you head down to the Coachella Music Festival, take a break from the music and booze. Head over to Joshua for a treat and trek that may not last much longer.

For your Day 3 champagne gift, might I recommend stemless champagne glasses. Yes, I have broken more than my share of really expensive champagne glasses over the years. Stemless is the best alternative for both every day drinking, and for parties. I have about a dozen, and last I counted, still have a dozen!!!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas:

One of the most under rated places on the planet is Patagonia (my photo from 2009). You probably heard of Doug Tompkins, founder of both Esprit and North Face? After his divorce from Susie, he became an activist for the environment and land conservation, particularly in Patagonian Chile and Argentina. He and his second wife have bought and conserved more than TWO MILLION ACRES of wilderness in both Argentina and Chile.

Patagonia is one of the most beautiful, and least spoiled places on the planet. While not for everyone, I heartily recommend a visit, particularly to Torres del Paine in the Andes. The Tompkins have focused their efforts on creating parks, recovering wildlife, ecological agriculture, and thoughtful activism. Unfortunately, Doug Tompkins died in 2015 in an accident while kayaking in southern Chile.

If you are a real traveler, Torres, Patagonia, and the glaciers should be on your list. It is not an easy trip, requires planning, lots of driving, and an adventurous spirit. But it will be worth it!

Moving on to my favorite adult beverage, I am the only consumer of alcohol in the household, so I need a good champagne sealer. This is a photo of one of several, but it works the best. It keeps my champagne bubbly for several days, even a week sometimes!!! I bought them in Epernay and Reims, but I am sure you can find them here.

Enjoy your champagne weekend, party hearty!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas:

Some destinations seem to call out your name. One such place was Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andres, back in 2007. Everyone told me how magical it would be. Nobody told me how crowded my visit would be. I am fully supportive of their recent efforts to limit visitors, and to keep visitors on walking paths. When I visited many years ago, people were running amuck, over and through the sacred shrine.

Peruvians are justly proud of this great monument. Perhaps there is a better way, by preserving it for future generations. I don’t know the answer. But elbowing my way through thousands of people is definitely not the answer. So, when you visit, please be mindful of its fragile nature, and its importance in history. Stay on the walking paths!

The fifth day champagne gift is one that most of us do not have. It is a champagne opener. The champagne cork should be opened slowly, and not “popped” as most people tend to believe. The pop releases too much gas or fizz. A gentle release, by either your trained hand or the champagne opener, is much preferred. But don’t feel badly, most wine stewards and wait staff do not adhere to this standard. You are now one step more enlightened!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas:

I hope you are not tired of traveling around the world to endangered places. This is the half way point of the Twelve Days. There are no partridges or pear trees!

It turns out my cousins and their children are in Cairns, Australia right now. Their son, Jason is on a one year trip around the world! Ah, to be young and carefree again. Wait, I am old and carefree, right? Anyway, I just saw a photo they posted on FB with their daughter, son, and the young man he is traveling with. They were at the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns, of course, and the sister city of Port Douglas, are the jump off points for one of our world’s great treasures, the Great Barrier Reef. Several years ago, we visited not only the reef, but the Daintree Rainforest. Even then, the Reef was endangered, with global warming causing “bleaching” of the reef skeleton.

One simply cannot imagine a more pristine part of the world. The Reef is huge, supposedly visible from space, beautiful, and an exciting place to visit. We spent the day on a huge catamaran out to the outermost reef, Agincourt Reef. The tour companies anchor a huge “day boat” complete with dining room, showers, lounge area, and a bar. The standing rule or law is that EVERYTHING brought to the day boat must be taken back to shore each day. No waste, no food, no trace, supposedly.

But I cannot imagine these dive boat/tours will continue forever. The Reef is too fragile, and the climate is not cooperating. Yes, it is one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world. Should you go? You can decide!

Aside: I had the best salmon sushi ever in Cairns.

Moving on to an after dive treat, how about some champagne truffles for dessert tonight. Too sweet for me, but quite popular in France and England. As my travel buddy Mike says, “it is very civilized” for us country boys!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas:

A place near and dear to me, for many reasons, is the Amazon rainforest. Our visit there was perhaps one of the two best places we have ever visited. Living in a jungle preserve, in a rustic cabin with limited conveniences, we got to see the rainforest in all of its glory. We saw how the animals live together, cooperate and thrive. We got to experience a great light show and storm throughout several nights. We learned about plant life that might provide treatments and cures to many of today’s maladies.

Unfortunately, the rainforest is diminishing, as poachers claim raw forest and clear cut the land. First, the timber sells for a tidy profit. But second, they do not plant crops that maintain or enhance the topsoil, which is soon washed away by heavy rain. Add to that, many prospectors mine the river for gold, creating a downstream mess of muddy water and excess silt. It is not pretty in some places, yet pristine and unspoiled in others.

If you have an opportunity to visit, you will see what we saw. And you will find the entire process sickening, and clearly in need of our help. Please support efforts to maintain the integrity of the “world’s lungs”, the Amazon Rainforest.

Since we would like to stop the clear cutting of the rainforest, why not take our machetes and swords and use them as a sabre to open my champagne? I have only seen this tradition once, in Napa Valley. I asked about it in Champagne, France, but they no longer perform this as part of their regular tours.

If you are looking for a gift for someone who has everything, this just might be the perfect gift. It would certainly start a few rather interesting discussions.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas:

Looking for Eight Maids a Milking? It reminds me of a great story about milk on the way to the Taj Mahal. A fellow traveler was telling us about her trip to see the great Taj. Along the way, her group stopped at an open market, to watch the locals buy their food. They dipped their entire arm and hand into a large vat of milk, to test it for sediment, organisms, or ?? It forever changed her view of drinking milk!

But the Taj Mahal is one the great monuments in the world. Formerly a white marble mausoleum near Agra, India, it is now beset with both water and air pollution, to the point of turning dark yellow, almost brown. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Vehicles are banned from within 500 meters of the Taj. And due to subsidence, much like we have here in the agricultural valley, the Taj is sinking. The foundation is made of wood, and is in serious danger of being polluted by the surrounding water.

Though I have not been there, and have no desire to go, I would urge caution. I still think it is one of the world’s great tributes to man or womankind. And it resides in a country that will soon be the most populated in the world by 2025!!!

Moving on from this depressing subject, let’s lighten the mood with some strawberries and champagne! One of the best and prettiest I ever had was at Wimbledon. For some reason, it just tasted better there than anywhere else. Some of the foreigners had no idea that the two go together quite well. Though it is not strawberry season now, just thinking of it makes me smile!

On the Ninth Day of Christmas:

Now, if I can find nine ladies dancing, that would be a Christmas miracle. But can you find more than nine ladies dancing (or stealing souvenir pieces) on the Great Wall of China?? Though I have no desire to see it, or walk on it, many people do, locals and tourists alike. And like many of the endangered places on my list, it is falling apart, faster than it can be repaired.

Credit Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, in the 220-206 BC for joining together selective stretches of the wall. Very little remains of Qin’s wall, leaving todays’ better known section built by the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). So, much of it is older than our country. Maybe it is time to protect it? Who knows how things work in China, given their troubles in Hong Kong and Taiwan. My preference is to just stay away.

One of the handiest things I own is a carrying case for my wine and champagne. I bought a cheap one at Crate and Barrell a number of years ago. It is somewhat padded and insulated, but works perfectly. I always take it to dinner, parties, and car trips. And I have never lost a single drop!!! Ask Santa to bring one to you. I think I am going to buy a better one.

On the Tenth Day of Christmas:

Picture ten lords a leaping. What comes to mind? A ballet, or a championship football team, playing with only ten? And how would you feed the ten lords? It just sounds like too much trouble.

But the ten leaping lords and others are trampling the Galapagos Islands, to the point of endangering both the land, sea and life. Many of you have gone, including my own family. I could never quite bring myself to go. I was in the vicinity on several occasions. I passed! Looking at photos and You Tube have convinced me the islands are short lived.

Might I suggest a better place, a champagne hotel in the Champagne region of France, Epernay or Reims? Though I was there by myself, I had a memorable and tasty experience. I even had a few private tours!! My classic hotel in Epernay was walking distance to the famous champagne houses and restaurants. It was an experience of a lifetime, and a dream come true! I may even make a return visit to cycle through the region.

So, next time you choose between an endangered location, and a champagne hotel, you know which one I would choose.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas:

I have never seen eleven pipers piping. I have never seen eleven plumbers piping. How strange is the eleventh day?

Speaking of strange, a visit to the Florida Everglades would seem strange, a part of the US much different than what we know out west. The Everglades are known as the great filtering system and drainage basin. This ecosystem cannot be found anywhere else on earth!

Along with the unique geography, the plant and animal life in the Everglades makes for an interesting visit. I have not seen that many alligators since the Jungle Boat Ride at Disneyland. And big obstacles in the road turn out to be giant turtles, crossing the road. Why did the turtle cross the road? I have no idea!

But climate experts say it may be headed for a monumental disaster. Restoration of the Everglades began in 2009, with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Will it be enough?

Moving on to my champagne gift, why not sip your champagne in a beautiful glass? I prefer a regular flute. I hate it when restaurants serve my sparkling in a regular wine glass! The nerve.

My suggestion is to have an “everyday” set, and a special occasion set. Or in my case, several sets! It makes a great champagne or sparkling even better.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas:

We have covered so many places on our wonderful earth that are in danger, near extinction, or badly in need of better stewardship. I am afraid my generation have not been good stewards of the earth. I hope all of my younger readers will be more active in preserving and maintaining our great treasures.

I have not mentioned these other endangered places: Outer Banks, Seychelles/Maldives, Dead Sea, the Roman Coliseum, Great Pyramids, and our fabulous National Parks. There are many others. The point through the previous eleven days, was to make you aware of the endangered places we want to experience. I would rarely tell you not to go. The experiences are rich and rewarding. I just want you to realize that it comes at a cost, other than our cost of getting there.

I am encouraging you to donate to your favorite “renewal” or preservation project. Mine are Angkor Wat, and the Amazon Rainforest, my two favorite places I have visited! And I always donate to our National Parks!

Then on Day 12, to toast the holidays, and the completion of the Twelve Days, I raise a glass of your or my favorite sparkling wine or champagne. This year, my favorite has been the “alternative” sparklers. What are they?

Instead of expensive champagne, or sparkling, why not go with a Spanish Cava, or the Italian Proseccos and Franciacortas, or the French Cremants (my personal favorites). What do they have in common? Most are affordable (around $10) and ALL have BUBBLES!!!

May your Christmas be grand and bubbly, and your New Year healthy and happy.

And, just so you know, I appreciate the feedback from all of you. Many of you have said how much you enjoy the Twelve Days. I even have some new readers. So, thanks to all of you!!! Suggestions for next year are always welcome.