Mortaine’s Blog

I entered the travel journals from 1999 into my LiveJournal tonight.

Update: If you tried to read this earlier and were confused, don’t be confused by the confusion. The duplication has been fixed– I had copied/pasted an earlier draft into the final draft of the journal entry. I was very confused when I looked at it and all the formatting I did tonight was gone.

1998
Two Weddings, October, 1998

1999
Waterside Computer Book Conference, February, 1999 (San Diego)
Brad and Brenda’s Wedding, March, 1999 (San Diego)
First Wedding Anniversary, April, 1999 (Arizona)
An East Coast Vacation, August, 1999 (Boston and D.C.)
Thanksgiving in Vegas, November, 1999

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Waterside Literary Conference
Date: February 10-14, 1999
Location: San Diego, California
Occasion: Waterside Conference

Itinerary
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 1999
Destination: San Diego
Departure: 10 AM
Arrival: 7:PM
Transportation: Steph’s Minivan
Lodging: Brad & Brenda’s house

Date: Friday, February 12
Destination:
Departure:
Arrival:
Transportation:
Lodging: Holiday Inn, Hotel Circle.

Date: Saturday, February 13
Destination:
Departure: (John)
Arrival: (John)
Transportation:
Lodging: Holiday Inn, Hotel Circle

Date: Sunday, February 14
Destination: Santa Cruz
Departure:
Arrival: 8 PM
Transportation: Steph’s Minivan
Lodging:

Lodgings
Name: Holiday Inn Hotel Circle
Address: San Diego, CA
Phone:
Fax:
Confirmation #:
Notes:

About this trip: I drove down to the Waterside Literary Conference in 1999, with plans for John to join me towards the end of the trip and drive back up. I was planning to stay with friends Brad and Brenda, but ended up getting a hotel room because I could not sleep with so many children around. The Holiday Inn was fine. We were due back a month later for their wedding, so it was good to come earlier and visit in less hectic moments.

The previous year, 1998, we had flown down and ended up renting a car and driving home because we adopted our cat Allegro from Brad and the airline wouldn’t allow us to fly with him (snarky Southwest Airlines!)

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Brad and Brenda’s Wedding
Date: March 25-28, 1999
Location: San Diego, CA
Occasion: Brad and Brenda’s wedding

Itinerary
Date: Thursday, March 25, 1999
Destination: San Diego
Departure:
Arrival:
Transportation: Steph’s Minivan
Lodging: Hotel 6 , Hotel Circle.

Lodgings
Name: Hotel 6, Hotel Circle
Address:2424 Hotel Circle North. San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: (619) 296-1612
Fax:
Confirmation #: $51.99/night
Notes: guaranteed for Thurs night; call by 6 if unable to make it. Non-smoking room, 1 bed.

Room is very cramped. Shower, no tub. No drawers in room. No motel info or stationery. No soundproofing– neighbors sound like they’re in the room, and freeway is very noisy. No “do not disturb” sign, so everyone is disturbed.

No coffeemaker in room.

Name: San Diego Mission Valley Hilton.
Address: 901 Camino del Rio S. San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: (619) 543-9000
Fax: (619) 543-9358
Confirmation #:
Notes: The Hilton is very nice. Off-street (underground) parking, good restaurant, complimentary continental breakfast. Our room is spacious with a modern line and desk, comfy chair, and well-appointed bathroom. Tub and shower are nice and work well. Room has an older TV, but also an “honor bar.” We’re on the 8th floor. The hotel has an exercise room, hot tub, and pool as well.

Restaurants & Cafes
Name: Filippi’s Pizza
Address: 962 Garnet Ave., San Diego, CA.
Phone Number: (619) 483-6222
Specialties:
Notes: Brad & Brenda’s rehearsal dinner.

Name: The Monterey Whaling Company
Address: 901 Camino del Rio S., San Diego, CA 92108
Phone Number:
Specialties: Seafood dishes, especally salmon and shrimp entrees. Lucious dessert tray, but not spectacular. Service was a bit slow. Corn and clam chowder soup is an exclusive.
Notes:

About this trip: I seem doomed to restlessness in San Diego! The first night we stayed at the Hotel 6– it was awful. Other wedding guests stayed there and were put up in the new wing, but we were basically put into an old broom closet. It was intolerable. In addition, there was no bathtub. The first rule of travelling is: that takes a bath as soon as she gets in. This makes her a much more pleasant traveling companion. After I post my travel disasters, you will understand why this is such an important part of my travel experiences.

The Hilton was very elegant, with a grand piano in the lobby. It was Spring Break, so there were many happy younger people in the hotel as well, and we had a very fun time.

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First Wedding Anniversary, Arizona
Date: April 29-May 3, 1999.
Occasion: First Wedding Anniversary

Itinerary
Note: Avis does not rent cars to under 25! Even if they have been married for a year and own a house.
Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999
Destination: Phoenix, AZ, then Grand Canyon
Departure: 10:30 AM
Arrival: 12:14 PM
Transportation: America West 2474, Avis Rental.
Lodging: Yavapai Lodge, Grand Canyon

Lodgings
Name: Yavapai Lodge
Address: P.O. Box 699, Grand Canyon, AZ.86023
Phone: (520) 638-2631
Fax:
Confirmation #: E41RT
Notes: Park requires a $20 parking fee for the Grand Canyon National Park. Room was fairly standard– snow and bad weather kept away most of the tourists and crowds, so it was pretty easy to find parking.

Dining:
Name: Bright Angel Restaurant
Address: Bright Angel Lodge, Grand Canyon, AZ.
Phone Number:
Specialties: Menu includes sourdough bowl chili or stew, daily soup, and southwestern specialities.
Notes: Salad was similar to a California bag salad, but not bad. The Phantom Ranch Steak Dinner ($17.95) was somewhat disappointing. Thin, and a little gristly. Also, the waiter forgot bread.
If volume is your preference, the grandscoop of ice cream is about a quart of ice cream or sherbert– 2 little old ladies were slowly working their way through one each while we ate our dinner. The apple-crumb cheesecake is “good.”

Itinerary
Date: April 30, 1999:
Destination: Sedona, AZ.
Departure:
Arrival:
Transportation: Avis Rental Car
Lodging: Villas Poco Diablo

Lodging:
Name: Villas Poco Diablo
Address: 1752 S. Highway 179, Sedona, AZ 86336.
Phone: (800) 925-3190
Confirmation#:
Notes: This is a time-share condo thing. Our sales pitch this morning was cancelled but we still got the $100 gift. The concierge, Moy, is friendly and efficient, and very helpful so far.
The condo itself has a small kitchenette, gas fireplace, jacuzzi, and king-sized bed. Feather pillows, replaced on request. Nice living area, separate from the sleeping room.

Of Special Interest
Location: Red Rock Tours and Horseback.
City: Sedona, AZ.
Date:5-2-99.

Location: Skydancer Helicopter Rides.
City: Sedona, AZ.
Date: 5-2-99.

Markets & Shops:
Name: Oak Creek Factory Outlets
Address: Oak Creek, AZ.
Specialty:
Notes: I was not very impressed. They have a Florsheim’s, so I guess John had fun. There were also Mikasa and Dansk tableware outlets.

Itinerary
Date: May 3, 1999
Destination: San Jose, CA.
Departure: 6:38 PM
Arrival: 8:36 PM.
Transportation: Avis, then America West 2292
Lodging: Home

About this trip: Snowing in the Grand Canyon, so we didn’t get to see much or do much at all. It was kind of a drive up, look at a big hole in the ground, and drive back. Sedona is inspiring, but also very touristy. We went on a day-long horseback ride through the red rock areas– very nice, especially since the weather was perfect. Had massages in our room, which was pleasant. Also, I got air sick on the helicoptor ride and we had to cancel our planned balloon ride for the next day. Other than that, it was a fairly disaster-free excursion.

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East Coast Vacation
Location: Boston and Washington, D.C.
Dates: July 30-August 8, 1999

Itinerary
Date: July 30, 1999
Destination: Boston
Departure: 6:30 AM
Arrival: 4:52 PM.
Transportation: America West
Lodging: Grandma

Date: July 31, 1999
Destination: (Visit Florence)
Departure:
Arrival:
Transportation:
Lodging:

Date: August 2, 1999
Book Division Chairs meeting in Boston; see Roberta and Jerry.

Exhibits & Events:
Location: Plimoth Plantation.
City: Plymouth, Mass.
Date: 8/1/1999
Exhibits:Plimoth Plantation, Hobbamock’s Homesite, Plymouth II, Craft museum, Indigenous Poeples meets Europeans exhvbits.
Notes: Plimoth Plantation has lots of tiny, tiny huts, where people lived (re-creations) after the landing. The huts are small and crudely built, most houses have a garden or yard and maybe some livestock or poultry. Bradford house was being rebuilt, and the “living history” actors do a recrationist thing, complete with voices and accents, personae of actual persons there.

Location: Boston’s Freedom Trail
City: Boston, MA.
Date: 8/3/1999
Exhibits: Boston Commons, State House, Park St. Church, Old City Hall, Old State House, Famercil Hall, Quincy Market.
Notes:

Location: Holocaust Exhibit
City: Boston, MA
Date: 8/2/1999
Exhibits:
Notes: The Holocaust Exhibit in downtown Boston brought tears to my eyes. The forthright and open, raw statements of Holocaust survivors, veterans (foreign and American), and relatives is gutwrenching. A series of open-glass shelters form the exhibit; the glass has the numbers of those killed in each death camp overlaid by a quote from those who were there. It is hard to hold back the tears when faced with such tragedy and pain.

Markets & Shops:
Name: Quincy Market
Address: Boston, MA.
Specialty: Lots of little shops and a few outlet stores grace the 3 buildings of North Market, South Market, and Quincy Market.
Notes:

Itinerary

Date: August 4, 1999
Destination: Washington, D.C.
Departure:
Arrival:
Transportation: Car
Lodging: Gordon’s place

Restaurants & Cafes
Name: The Prime Rib
Address: Washington, D.C.
Specialty: Prime Rib.
Notes: Coat and Tie required, ladies have no dress code, but should be appropriately attired.

Date: August 5, 1999
Visit Holly and her family in Bethesda.

Museums & Exhibits
Location: Grey Line Tours, BA Tour
City: Washington, D.C.
Date: 8/6/1999
Exhibits: 9 hour public building interiors, FDR Memorial (and The Awakening sculpture), drive by the Mall, the Dept. of Treasury, Dept. of Commerce, Edwards Air Force Base The Potomoc River, War College, several statues and public buildings. Inside Ford’s Theater and House Where Lincoln Died. Got tickets for the White House (must arrive early for White House tickets!)
Notes: The National Archive, across from the National Museum of Fine Arts Park and Sculpture Garden houses the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights in special helium-infused cases. Also, a late copy (ca. 127’s) of the Magna Carta is on display, courtesy of Ross Perot. I was deeply affected by this place. If one holds the United States as the core of one’s faith, and democracy as one’s creed, then this is truly a shrine of majestic importance.
The White House takes about 1 hour to get in, and /2 hour to go through the self-guided walking tour. The tour goes past 2 or 3 rooms (very crowded and disorganized) and through the East Room, Green Room, Red Room, and finally the Blue Room.
Ate at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time for the museum. If you’re not planning to stay at least 6 hours, why bother going at all?
Next stop: The Library of Congress is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. A blending of art, letters, and science imagery, quotations, and sculpture. Breathtaking.
Then, the Supreme Court Building. Do you think, after seeing so many marble and majesty buildings, that they can becom, well, sort of ho-hum?
Final Stop: Air and Space Museum. The Air and Space museum’s a lot of fun, with spacecraft and airplanes kind of hanging all over the place. Should do this one earlier, as fatigue makes even the most patient cranky.

Location: Holocaust Memorial Museum
City: Washington, D.C.
Date: 8/7/1999
Exhibits: Daniel’s Story, Voyage of St. Louis. Hidden History of the Kovno Ghetto.
Notes: There aren’t any words to describe the detailed thoroughness of this account of the horrors and tragedy of the Holocaust.

Location: Lincoln Memorial
City: Washington, D.C.
Date: 8/7/1999
Exhibits:
Notes: Carded on the walls of the memorial are the words of the Emancipation Proclamation. On the steps, a diversity rally for racial tolerance and respect was being held. We approached as Jesse Jackson gave a speech of affirmation and empowerment. The rally was in reaction to the Neo-Nazi protests going on elsewhere in D.C.

Location: Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
City: Washington, D.C.
Date: 8/7/1999
Exhibits:
Notes: This is always such a moving memorial to me. When faced with such an enormity of wasted life and youth. The names of all the US soldiers killed in the Vietnam war are etched into the reflective black marble, giving a finality and mournful tribute to those fallen men and women.

Itinerary
Date: August 9, 1999
Destination: San Jose
Departure: 6:20 PM
Arricval: 10:59 PM
Transportation: America West.
Lodging: Home

About this trip: This was a long trip to Boston and Washington, complete with an all-day drive to DC from Boston. This trip was nice because I was able to share this New England view with John, and to embrace the beauty of Washington D.C. again.

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Thanksgiving in Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Dates: November 17-20, 1999.

Itinerary:
Date: November 17, 1999
Destination: Las Vegas
Departure: 9:00 AM
Arrival: 10:15 AM.
Transportation: American
Lodging: Stardust Hotel, jacuzzi suite. Las Vegas, NV.

Lodgings:
Name: The Stardust
Address: Las Vegas, NV
Phone:
Confirmation #:
Notes: The Stardust remains a favorite, as both hotel and casino.Jacuzzi Suite was spacious and luxurious with separate glass-wall shower. Public restrooms in the casino were always immaculate. We lost heavily at blackjack, to dealers who weren’t always the friendliest (not necessarily unfriendly, but we didn’t always have fun while losing). There were only 2 non-smoking blackjack tables, one at $5 minimum, the other at $10 min. Also, not enough non-smoking tables at the restaurants led to longer lines. Nonetheless, customer service was excellent.

Restaurants & Cafes:
Name: The Stardust
Address:
Phone Number:
Specialties:
Notes: Toucan Harry’s: General mix of American, seafood, and a large selection of Chinese dishes, especially at lunch. Not enough non-smoking tables, and lines at mealtimes.
Coco Palms: The buffet, typical, but lacked variety at brunch.
Tony Roma’s: Excellent food and service, $15 Monterey Merlot was mediocre. William B’s: Beyond superb food, service, etc. Total fine dining experience, but pricey ($120/2 people). $50 bottle of merlot was beyond divine.

Name: Marrakesh
Address: 390 Paradise, Las Vegas, NV.
Phone Numbers:
Specialties: Moroccan, 6-course traditional, eat with fingers on shared plates.
Notes: This was the highlight of our dining experiences. The 6-course meal (scampi, salad, lentil soup, bread, kebobs, cornish hen, fruit-filled pastry) was ample but not too filling. Belly dancing was excellen– she (Jasmine) was talented and very practical. Also, the Moroccan decor and waiter outfits lent the right amount of atmosphere. Finally, this is a non-smoking restaurant in Las Vegas!

Itinerary:
Date: November 20, 1999
Destination: San Jose.
Departure 4:10 PM
Arrival: 5:35 PM
Transportation: American

About this trip: John and I went to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving in 1999. It was a wonderful trip, full of romance and lust and a very nice little Thanksgiving dinner at a crowded restaurant in Las VEgas. Comdex is the week before Thanksgiving in Las Vegas, so everyone was just a little tired from the onslaught of techies.