The wine growing regions of Napa and Sonoma in California were a delight with almost 300 wineries lined up with orchards and estates on both side. They sell some of the finest wine in the world. Our sommelier escorted us through this wine tasting taking us to some of the finest wineries. My favorite as it happens is the Robert Mondavi Zinfandel from 2006 harvest. This is an absolute gourmet area with all the wine accessories, crackers, cheese and what not! We stay at this quaint little cottage hotel in Calistoga with its fairytale like setting with a private spa in our room. This would be by far the most romantic settings one could imagine. With free wine tastings and breakfast, this lodge was a very comfortable one.
From California we drive through Carmel and Monterey Bay and stay a night at another beautiful B & B in Carmel by the sea. Carmel has this old art decor architecture with houses and shops lined up over a small hilly town leading to the beach. It is an absolute wonder. We drive past Carmel through the Redwood forests and return to San Francisco from where we fly to Las Vegas. Vegas was low on my priority list but is so full of delight! We check in the famous Bellagio on the 40th floor and as I wake up at 7 in evening, I see the whole city lighting up in front of my own eyes. A moment to remember and many more in Vegas. The casinos on the strip and the Ballagio are great ways to live your fantasies right out of the Hollywood movies. Highlights of Vegas clearly being the Cirque du Soliel show "O". I had never seen anything like it in my life. Not even a single boring moment through the whole show. So mesmerized was I with the theatrical performance and the scale of Cirque du Soliel business operations, that ended up watching their latest "Zumanity" the following day and then "The Blue Man Group" the day after that. Well I think the "O" is not to be missed! Most of the fun in Vegas is checking out different casinos on the strip in your own private limousine. That is the way to do it in Vegas! Shopping in Vegas is always fun.
Before going to California and Vegas, my trip in United States had begun in New York, Manhattan where I had spent a good 10 days. This NYC trip was to coinside with the major Indian art auctions by Christies and Sothebys. So, New York had exhausted my hunger for shopping. Little had I known that I will witness a moment of history during my stay here. The Lehman Brothers' closure happened right in front of my eyes and the world for the first time in tha last decade went through what is known as the tip of "recession". This event obviously had its effects on the auctions that I was to witness. On the day 1 before the news of Lehman, Sothebys soared a sale of 6 million US in Indian art and the very next day post Lehman crisis, Christies barely met half those numbers in sales. In Manhattan, angry New Yorkers banged and slammed the gates of Times Square Lehman Brothers' office asking for justice. 'Banking' became a bad word in New York after that. Worth a mention was a home stay with a friend in Virginia, Washington who insisted me to stay at her lovely ranch in the countryside. With green hilly landscape and horses in her ranch and a beautiful idyllic setting, this was a pleasant surprise. My trip to USA was a journey which is worth remembering forever.
Before going to California and Vegas, my trip in United States had begun in New York, Manhattan where I had spent a good 10 days. This NYC trip was to coinside with the major Indian art auctions by Christies and Sothebys. So, New York had exhausted my hunger for shopping. Little had I known that I will witness a moment of history during my stay here. The Lehman Brothers' closure happened right in front of my eyes and the world for the first time in tha last decade went through what is known as the tip of "recession". This event obviously had its effects on the auctions that I was to witness. On the day 1 before the news of Lehman, Sothebys soared a sale of 6 million US in Indian art and the very next day post Lehman crisis, Christies barely met half those numbers in sales. In Manhattan, angry New Yorkers banged and slammed the gates of Times Square Lehman Brothers' office asking for justice. 'Banking' became a bad word in New York after that. Worth a mention was a home stay with a friend in Virginia, Washington who insisted me to stay at her lovely ranch in the countryside. With green hilly landscape and horses in her ranch and a beautiful idyllic setting, this was a pleasant surprise. My trip to USA was a journey which is worth remembering forever.
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| Napa Valley, California |
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| Bellagio, Las Vegas |
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