Blogs from Sacramento, California, United States, North America - page 3

Geo: 38.579, -121.491We had an easy drive to Sacramento Int'l Airport (probably because we left at 5 am) under clear, blue skies. After checking in our bags, we waited with our fingers crossed for the TSA screeners to let us know that our inflatable motorcycle “Hit Air” safety vests would be okay in checked luggage. Just when I thought we could relax I ended up getting the full Monty at the security check and had to undergo a pat down search. (Travel tip: take everything out of your pockets and don't wear a ball cap thru the scanner.) Finally, we were ready to roll. After a quick breakfast, we boarded our US Airways flight to Philadelphia. It was basically a no-frills “cattle car” flight, but we had decent leg room and an uneventful 5 hour flight. ... read more

SACRAMENTO RIVER VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Down along the banks of the Sacramento River were some of the largest Birch Trees I have ever seen. We spent an exciting day exploring the vineyards, wineries and farm communities that stretch along the river as it winds it's way toward San Francisco. We did a wine tasting at an old coverted Sugar Mill that now houses eight family owned wineries. Not as well known as Napa and Sonoma, this area still has some excellent wines and there were no crowds and the pace was friendly and unhurried. A serendipitous bonus was that we were able to have lunch at an out-of-the-way pizza place with an old friend. I called my long-time friend and college fraternity brother Ken Davies and he just happened to be playing in a tennis tournament in ... read more

Hello friends. I'm heading off on a (life) long awaited trip to Italy this next week. On past trips I've regretted not keeping up with a journal, and so this time I'm giving this electronic platform a try. Please feel free to check it out over the course of the next month; Il Mio Mese in Italia! After dreaming of visiting my Grandfather (Frank Luporini)'s homeland all of my life, I'm finally bound to set my feet on Italian soil this spring. Thanks to family living in the area, a surplus of frequent flyer miles and paid leave at work, I'm spending a full month in Italy. I chose this duration as a balance between my wanting to feel like I'm "living" there, and not pissing off my boss at work! I'm heading to Frank's home ... read more

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The Amtrak train trip from Seattle to Sacramento took a relaxing twenty one hours. And the trip to Seattle added another three hours to the front end of the trip to make for a full one day to travel the entire distance south. But it isn't speed to the destination I am seeking, it's the trip itself. I had lunch as we ambled through Portland with two rude and odious women, not related but of mother and daughter in age separation. They spent lunch talking and swearing to each other, and more than once talked about me in the third person. I tried to say a few nice words to be polite, but they were not really worth the effort. I got the last laugh, however, because they asked about the time to their destination - ... read more