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| Gift in our room .. |
I often make the hubby my foil in these writings, mostly because of his "antics" (some good and some not). Now I'll share with you a surprise and lovely travel experience, all planned by him, some 20 minutes away but it may as well have been a lot further ...
Friday, December 13, marked exactly 28 years to the day when we got engaged (after a mere 19 days of dating). This is not the first time the date has been celebrated, in addition to the more traditional marking of our August 31st wedding date. But this particular night was just lovely -- a combination of the setting, food, and company for sure.
We arrived at the most beautiful hotel property after this short drive -- The Langham in Pasadena. This hotel, built in 1907, was for years run by the Ritz Carlton, and is just as gorgeously maintained by this management. What made it extra special were the holiday decorations everywhere. So festive, so beautiful -- and the surrounding residential area of San Marino and the Huntington Gardens are simply amazing. Many of these large, gated estates were done up with grand lighting -- this area could easily be the west coast version of Greenwich, CT, or myriad others with lush hills and stately homes -- to give you a visual.
Dinner was greatly enjoyed at the iconic Parkway Grill, still going strong after 25 years. Even though it was very crowded and filled with holiday celebrations, we were warmly cared for by the staff -- comped corkage, celebratory cupcake and stems of dendrobium orchids to take home.
So, as I wish one and all a happy and healthy 2014, I would be remiss to not say how thankful I am that my most-frequent travel companion continues to fill life with laughter, love, and plenty of adventure. Thank you for reading and please look forward to future posts in January ...
Warmly, Teri B.
Happy New Year to you too!
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