Nottawasaga Inn Resort - planning for a wedding

I keep on telling my husband that the simplest thing we did was get married....no fuss, no stress, just a quick drive to the city hall with our closest friends and family and a few hours in a restaurant before we ran off for our 10 day vacation in Bruce County, Ontario.

We decided a few years ago that we will renew our vows for our 10th anniversary and have a "real" wedding...never did I imagine all the implications and adventures that decision will bring.

It was this winter when after changing from a destination wedding to a local one, and a very frustrating email exchange with a local (inclusive) resort I came across the  Nottawasaga Inn Resort ( +Nottawasaga Inn Resort Golf Club) . After spending a few hours on their website, Facebook and different review sites I decided to send them an email with what questions I had and could not find answers for.

After wasting more then a week with the other resort and not getting one straight answer to any of my questions and being redirected to their website that had none of the information I needed and being provided with 2 list of pricing for groups that were not in range of guests I expected; I must have been at the end of my rope and had 0 expectation for a timely response and even less for a valid one.....so imagine how surprised I was the next morning when I received an email from Sarah, the special events coordinator from the Nottawasaga Inn resort.

The email sent by Sarah, not only that it came in a very timely manner it was also very professional and courteous, but what impressed me the most was that she used a technique that I find very efficient in responding a longer list of questions. Using a different colour font she wrote the reply under each one of my question. I was impressed. (and no there was no mention in my email of my unpleasant experience with a different resort...I did not consider that it was relevant for them to know)

We reviewed the wedding package information that we received via email from Sarah and went over her email. It took us almost no time to book a meeting to view and pick a room. While the day that worked for us was a day that Sarah could not meet us in person we were happy to meet any of her co-workers and get the process started.

Our first trip to the resort was still in the winter and the entire property was covered by a thick blanket of snow so we could not see much of the property. We were met by one of Sarah's co-workers that deals with non-wedding event (we were told that in advance and it was our decision to start the process and meet with Sarah at a later date). We were shown a room that would fit the number of guests and we agreed it was OK...she then proceeded to show us a hotel room from the category that we would receive complementary as part of the package we picked, and a room from the category that our guest would be booking (unless they decided to upgrade). 

The moment the door to the first room opened my travel background just kicked in and I quickly and discretely inspected the room (did the same with both)....the rooms are clean and modern. Viewing the rooms also gave me a chance to see the size of the property. However the one thing that impressed me the most when we set down to go over some of the details was how she handled the questions that she had no immediate answer for: she took a note of each, apologized for not being able to answer, and advised us that she will pass on the question to Sarah.  See, I would rather be told to wait for the correct answer then to be told something completely irrelevant or be provided with wrong information. I have a lot more respect for someone that honestly tells me...I am sorry, I do not have the answer to your question, but I will find out and get back to you ....much better then: it's on-line here is the link..no?(especially if the info is not even there)

Today we headed up to the resort again for our tasting. Sarah informed us that they preferred to have the tasting done during the week as to give a chance for the chef to sit down and talk to us at the end. 

We got lucky and got a 6pm reservation, so we decided to make it a date night....ones kids come along we must use every opportunity we have for a little time alone.

Getting out of Toronto at 4-5pm is not that much fun so we decided to leave before the rush our and spend some time in Alliston before dinner. This also gave us a chance to see the Wedding Garden and the rest of the property, something that so far we only saw in photos. 

The more time we spent on the property the happier I was that I came across this wonderful resort. The grounds are clean, the garden is impeccable, and every staff that we met was friendly and professional.....now the biggest test: the food. 

Because, I do not want to ruin the surprise for our guests I decided not to include photos of the property or tell you our menu (I will after the wedding)

Our reservation was in the Mahogany Room. The dark walls and huge chandeliers gave this room a classic, elegant and romantic mood. While on any other day I would have preferred the luxurious booths I was very happy to receive one of the 3 window tables that provided not only a partial view of the resort but also sufficient natural light which becomes important when "judging" a plate. 

It is hard not to talk about the dishes themselves because they were each exquisite...I promise I will in August after the wedding....and if you can not wait please make your way down for dinner. After we finished our dinner we were joined by Chef James Day, a wonderful award winning chef.

Being a big fan of Chef Gordon Ramsay, I have a certain expectation when it comes to restaurants and Chef James exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious, cooked to perfection and amazingly balanced. 

When we sat down at the table I was ready to take note and write down my concerns/changes/complaints....by the end of dinner I had only 2 things and none were a complaint...one was a add on to the dessert which I was happy to hear that it can easily be accommodated and has been requested in the past by others as well, the second was requesting to have an ingredient removed (chocolate syrup) because of my daughters allergy. Not only that he was happy remove the ingredient he also provided us with a number of other syrups that could be used instead.

Every person we encountered in this planning process reminded us that this will be our day and they are here to ensure everything will be on our liking....and Chef James had the same pleasant warm approach, it was truly a pleasure to have met him and we will definitely head back for dinner (not just at our wedding)...it is worth the hour drive out of Toronto, and if you have a drink or two you can always get a room in the resort and enjoy the property.

....Can't wait to head back for our wedding...

Happy Travels

Knowledge is Power... planning your vacation

How do you plan for your vacation? 

While booking a last minute may seem like saving a lot and getting a good deal you may learn that is not always the case....last minute deals are generally done on things that did not sale....and you should ask yourself ...Why? 

Learning the basics and doing a bit of homework may be the difference between a vacation that you will always remember and a nightmare you will never wanna remember. A good travel agent can provide you with all the information and guidance you need, but there are thing that you should decide on your own and with sufficient knowledge and homework you can confidently book by yourself online. 

Choosing your destination... 

The most important step to any vacation....this will determine the quality of hotels available, the food, things to do, and things to see. 
Keep in mind that not the entire world speaks English, if you choose a non-English speaking country you should be aware that for the people you will encounter English will be a second language and they may communicate between themselves in the countries official language...if you are one of those people that get easily annoyed by this ( I never understood why someone would be) then stick to countries where English is the official language. Learning a few polite words in the countries official language is always a good idea. 

Now that you know where you wanna go lets decide how to get there.... 

If you decide on a flight you have 2 options: scheduled airlines or charter airlines. There are pros an cons to both and usually price is the biggest factor in a lot of peoples decision. 
A charter airline is usually a lot more economical which is a huge attraction...however there are a few things you should know about a charter airline...They may not flight year round to all the destinations they advertise, they may have limited number of flights a day/week, but the biggest things to keep in mind is that a charter airline may change the time or routing of your flight at any time. In Ontario they may make as many changes as they want as long as they keep them within 24 hours and not offer any compensation...so do not book them if you have to arrive at a certain time...and never book a charter airline if you are planning to make a flight connection. With the above in mind charter airlines never sell NON-Stop flight only Direct flight...the difference you may ask?....a Direct flight may have 1 or more stops, but you are not required to change planes... so even if you initially payed for a flight going from point A to B you may notice later that it changed to go from point A to B via C ...and no, you will not receive a compensation.... 

A scheduled airline is the opposite...it is scheduled to depart and arrive at a scheduled time and if a schedule change occurs the airline will compensate you...they are generally more expensive but they are flight that you can rely on if you are not very flexible. 

An important fact to remember is that no matter what kind of flight you take delays may always happen due to weather (acts of God) or mechanical...in these situations you will not receive any type of compensation. If you need the airline may provide you with a written explanation of why your flight was delayed....if such a letter is needed a polite and short letter may get you a better response from any customer service agent then one filled with improper language....remember you catch more flies with honey. It also helps your case if you are honest and tell them that you need the letter to justify the time you missed form work, the agent answering your letter will probably be more sympathetic and will most likely include all the technical details and not that send you a copy of the terms and conditions. 


Now where will you stay?.... 

Star rating may give you an indication to how the hotel you pick is in comparison with the rest of the hotels in the area....however 2 different hotels with the same star rating in 2 different countries may not have the same quality standard...While star rating may be a good place to start do not stop there....this is where a good travel agent may come in handy....if you decide to read other peoples opinion on sites like Trip advisor take everything with a grain of salt... 

Now you are ready to book your vacation....oh wait...when should you book it? 

When you are decided where to go, where to stay, and when to depart....there is no guarantee or secret formula to predict if the price will drop or raise....there is no point to ask such a question as no one will be able to answer...the only thing that is a well known fact is that the price are always subject to change and you are stuck at whatever price you paid....it is best to stop checking prices once you paid for your vacation and never ask other passengers what they paid, as one of the two things may happen they paid less and you will get aggravated or they paid more and they will get aggravated.....if you are in that situation where you are asked a simple white lie may do the trick..."sorry, no idea, the trip was a present" 

There are things that can affect the price...the product is not selling..and then you should ask why...and the prices are dropped so the Tour Operator or the Airline does not take a loss...or something major happens, like a company going bankrupt which will increase the demand on all the other companies and the price will sky-rocket....if that happens a good travel agent may suggest changing destination to a less demanded place or delaying the vacation until the storm is past. 

So to answer your question? you have the money?...book it know and do not look back. 



Happy Travels

Packing Smart

     Today's recession economy and oil prices forced most airlines to look at ways to cut costs. One places where they focus their attention is baggage allowance. To avoid additional costs, not to mention stress and hassle, you need to learn to pack smart for any vacation.

     There are 3 types of baggage that you may encounter in any airline baggage allowance notice: Personal Item, Carry-on, and Checked Baggage. The trick to pack smart is to understand these terms and what should go in each of them.

     Personal Item refers to a laptop bag, camera bag, purse...in the case of children a personal item can be a medium to small backpack with toys.

     Carry-on luggage is the piece of luggage which will travel with you in the airplane and has weight and size restrictions that MUST not be exceeded.

     Checked Baggage is the piece/s of luggage that are checked at the check-in desk and will travel in the cargo area of the plane. While some airlines allow a small free weight for these items others charge a fee. There are also overweight fees that airlines implemented, these fees can be per kg or per item.

     So now that we know the terms, what do we pack and where?

     In addition to the extra cost of checked baggage there is always the risk of lost, stolen, damaged, delayed baggage that can occur at any point of your travel from check-in to the baggage claim point at your destination, and same can apply on the way back.

     There is a huge misconception that items will only be stolen out of bags in small airports and developing countries...there are thieves is any corner of the world therefore it can happen in any airport even with sophisticated security systems. Any baggage issue runs the risks to ruin your vacation before it even starts. That is why I travel with only carry-ons, but I understand that not everyone may wanna do that.

     If you decide to travel with checked luggage here are a few tricks that should avoid some issues and decrease the amount of stress that a delayed or missing bag may create:
- High value items such as electronics (even if the battery is dead), jewellery, documents, photo and video equipment should never be placed in the checked baggage. Not only that the airline will not offer any compensation for their loss (notices can be found most often in fine print on airline websites or at the check-in counter) they are also items that can easily be damaged not to mention exactly what a thief may be looking for.

- Medication should always be placed in luggage that you may have access at any-time (personal item or carry-on). If you carry medication for a condition that may require medication at irregular times ( e.i. allergy) you should have this medication on your person. While you may have your carry-on luggage close by there are times during a flight that you may not be allowed to get up from your seat, therefore your access is limited (take-off, landing, turbulence...). When travelling with a companion make sure that they are also aware of where your medication is located.

     When deciding what clothing you should pack where you are going and what you are planning on doing will be a huge deciding factor. While everyone likes to look good you may wanna leave home your most expensive dress, suite, or shoes. Packing items that can be combined and create different outfits will not only keep your weight lower but will increase your number of outfits available to you.

     

In you Carry-on, in addition to your valuables and medication, you should pack a complete change of clothes (including underwear), and bathing suite. Once these above items have been packed you should continue adding until you reach your carry-on baggage weight and size. A trick I learned from a friend is to roll the cloths instead of folding them, not only that they will take less space they will not wrinkle

.

     Decide on what you will wear in the plane. Wearing your heaviest shoes, and layering your cloths will help you pack lighter and make the transition from a climate to another much easier.

Until next time happy travels.

Flight delay and my best flight yet

Have you ever thought about the best airplane ride? I am sure you can go on and on about your worst, but the plain uneventful ones get lost...What if I tell you my best was my worst?

My father used to tell me often that "you catch more flies with honey then with vinegar"...probably because I was always quick to anger and never shied away from saying exactly what I thought, but I never put much thought into it until faced with a pissed off check-in agent on what I hoped will be my perfect anniversary trip with my husband.

I must have been just as angry as the check-in agent because the same man that upset her was the man that just cut infront of me in line and spoke loud enough to hear how rude and ignorant he was, but I must have been more determined to not ruin my trip before it begins because what I did surprised even my husband. I approached the agent with a smile on my face, said good morning and apologised for having to deal with such a rude person and added "I sincerely hope the remainder of your shift will be the complete opposite". She stopped and looked up at me, she must have been at least twice my age (not that it mattered) and she smiled back....she even thanked me....I never thought more about how what we do can affect the outcome of our experience. We got checked-in and pointed in the right direction very quickly and strolled through the security checks with a smile still on our faces. 

Our next hiccup came at the check in gate when I pointed out to my husband that the crew was boarding..which meant that we will be boarding soon...about 5 minutes later my husband asked me "and what means when the crew leaves the plane?" I started laughing until I looked up from my book and noticed he was not joking. Before I could answer the agent at the boarding desk told us we will actually be leaving with the plane parked at the gate next to us and boarding will start about 5 minutes late. All the luggage from the first plane hat to be transferred to the second plane in a hurry. I looked at our carry-ons and smiled.

The flight from Toronto to Miami was uneventful (other then the turbulence that seemed to last the entire flight). 

When we landed in Miami we were advised by the pilot that our plane changed gates and we now had to make our way all across the airport to a satellite building to get to our flight to Costa Rica...did I mention we had a 1 hour connection? it was hard to not let the panic set in because I knew the Miami airport was huge and I never been in it before, but as soon as I stepped in it and asked the first agent for directions she reassured me we will be there in less then 5 minute....and she was right. The signs with directions were everywhere and the train that takes passengers to the satellite building runs every minute, but when I got to the gate there was no boarding line and just people seated and waiting. 

I have to admit my first thought was we missed the plane, and when I approached the boarding agent was told to sit and wait for the announcement. Well we did not miss the plane but the announcement was not encouraging, maintenance was on-board.

After a few more of the same announcement we were boarded in a plane that took a few more minutes to cool off (no air-conditioning when maintenance was on-board), but we were on board and just when I thought this is it....the pilot advised us that an oil leek was discovered when the pre-flight checks where done and they where in communication with Head Office requesting permission to proceed. 

This is probably the point where you want to crawl under a rock and give up...right? Well this is where one flight attendant made a huge difference. He started strolling up and down the aisle saying Hi to people and asking them random questions (where are you from?...what is you final destination?...) this when on until he made it to the first kid and asked him if he wants to see a magic trick (what kid would say no to that...) he made his way from first class all the way to the back of the plane repeating the same trick. Ok, nice , but then he when back to the first class and started a new trick....by the second or third trick even the adults were more interested in how he did the trick then what the captain was saying. 

Our attention was so concentrated on the entertainment he was providing that we did not notice more then an hour passed before we were asked to leave the plane to board one at the next gate. (Toronto all over again)....when we were back in the waiting area of the airport My husband finally understood why I was smiling at our carry-on luggage. You see we had 10 days planned in Costa Rica but not more then 2-3 night at one location and only the first and last night in the San Jose, so lost or delayed luggage would have been something that I could not afford dealing with (we travelled only with carry-ons and no checked -in luggage).

When the boarding agent advised us that the crew exceeded there flight hours (only 8 hours from first flight to landing the last) the people were upset...but when the same agent advised us that we get to keep the flight attendants the same people were applauding and happy...

  

Most people know that just like weather delays, mechanical delays are out of anyone's control and no, the airline does not have to compensate you for it, but they have to keep you informed and the information provided and how it is provided makes the difference between a horrible experience and a "hiccup" in my book....and the actions of that flight attendant made this unpleasant experience into something that I will always remember with a smile on....it was the best delay ever and if every delay would come with such a wonderful person I would not mind even if every flight would be delayed.

Shortly after that we received a $10 food voucher per person (4 hour delay) and 1 hour later we boarded a different plane were a complementary blanket, pillow, snack and headphones were waiting on each chair.

So here is the story of my most memorable flight.....what was your best flight experience?

Until next time happy travels.

Niagara with grandma

The sun is finally out and the weather is finally warm enough for a spring day trip...even if the trees are not in bloom, after a winter like the one that just passed I had no more patience before taking off.

This years first destination: Niagara Falls.

View from Skylon tower

A short drive away from Toronto (abt 1.5 hours) this World Natural Wonder is the most visited attraction in Ontario, so when we tried to decide where should we first take my grandmother (visiting from Europe) this was a no-brainer.

When we decided that we would only visit attractions that we can all enjoy, from my 3 year old son to my grandmother, I never quite realize how much of what is available that one decision eliminated.

Cliffton Hill is a block full of attractions for all ages...well, more correctly would be that there are attractions that cater to different age groups, from children to elderly, but finding one attraction that caters to all age groups is not an easy task.

in front of Hershey's store

Any of the scary attractions are not a good fit for very young kids, and then there are the kids attractions like Bronto's Adventure Playground that are not really appealing for elderly.

After we went down the list off we could have done there was only the Wax Museum, and the SkyWheel...and even them got eliminated...so we ended up doing what I would have liked to do in the first place...see the Falls.

We walked down Cliffton Hills to the popular sidewalk leading to the falls stopping and taking photos of the falls from different points (like all tourists). This was a perfect time to tell my daughter and my grandmother the names of the different falls and many interesting facts regarding them.

One attraction that we all enjoyed was the Skylon Tower. On clear days, like today, it offered a perfect view of the fall and the area around. My daughter had a blast naming the different attractions while walking around on the viewing platform.

If you are visiting the Skylon Tower with kids this is a perfect spot for an "I spy" game, and a bit of educational facts since Skylon Tower is also the perfect spot to view Goat Island, part of the first State Park.

We continued walking to Outback Steakhouse, across from the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Outback is one of our favorite restaurant chains and when we are in an are where there is one we rarely dine somewhere else. Unfortunately, there are only a very few left in Canada and for good reason. While the menu is identical in all Outbacks (it is a chain after all) the prices on the Canadian side are much more expensive, for example a blooming onion in Erie, PA is $7.99 and the same dish in Niagara is $11.99, and a New York strip is  $22.99 versus $32.99. This price difference may have bin understandable many years ago when the difference between the American and Canadian dollar where much more then the 7 cents that is now....but the Canadian economy and regulations will never allow the prices to be the same (and offer the same profit for the company)....this sadly was the main reason why there are no more Outbacks in Toronto.

Our next stop was Bird Kingdom, a wonderful aviary with many exotic birds walking and flying around freely in a huge room designed to mirror the natural habitat of these birds. There are a few places to sit down and observe all the different species. There are 2 major rooms one with small birds and one with larger ones. No matter in which room you are the initial it feels that there is not much to see...but, just like in nature, if you stop and you start paying attentions and really listen and look around you will be overwhelmed by the number of birds and how close they are to you. This is also a perfect place to observe the birds behaviour.

We took a scenic route though Niagara-on-the-Lake thwarts home, promising the kids to return there in the fall.

Until next time
Happy Travels

5 Year Anniversary

Today was our anniversary...5 years of marriage, how time flies...

It was to be expected that we would like this day to be special, so we decided to visit the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Yesterday we found a small bakery across the street from the beach and we decided to pick up a few snacks and some water for our hike. 

The entrance to the park was $10 (per person) and for an additional $15 per person we could have had an english speaking guide with a scope and tripod, but it was our day and we really wanted to enjoy each others company even at the risk of not seeing all the wildlife we could have.

We had learned from all our previous hikes that if you want to see wildlife you not only need to take your time, but you have to know where to look. Some animals are easy to spot: like the lizards patrolling the entire park, eating at the fruits that fell out of the trees: others are harder to spot: like the slots sleeping high in the tree, the insects...and some are very hard to spot because of their perfect camouflage.

The road takes you through the jungle to this very beautiful lagoon with white sand, calm blue waters and a rocky island that looked like just a short swim away. 

It had to be around noon because the sun was very powerful and without the constant breeze that was present on the public beach the temperature was starting to feel unbearable....a quick dip in the cool water fixed that....We found a shady spot and we enjoyed our sweet snacks we brought with us just to be surprised by a Jesus lizard that was very happy to pose for me...cute thing did not leave until I put my camera away, it must have been very used to tourists doing this sort of thing. 

Before we left the beach I almost stepped on a hermit crab...so needless to say I spent some time taking some shots of him trying to climb out of a sand hole.

On our way back from the beach we noticed a larger group of tourists looking up in the trees, it was a band of white faced monkeys, and just like the lizard earlier as soon as we started taking photos of them they got closer and closer and cuter. 

Some of the other tourist had guides with them that were telling them interesting facts about them, reminding people that as cute as they may look they were wild animals and they were omnivores. The large lizards patrolling the park ended up being their lunch sometimes and some of the monkeys had the scars to prove it.

There was a spoiled little boy that caught my attention, maybe because one of the guides kept on telling him not to show his teeth which may seem crazy to some readers as it did to the mother of that spoiled child that was making all kinds of weird crazy faces to the monkeys in the trees really aggravating one the alpha male.

After trying to warn both the child and the parents and only be met with a "what's the harm in it, his just being a child" the guide gave up and looked apologetic to me...there was something in her eyes that made me step further from that child and follow the alpha male more closely. 

Angry alpha male

I used to spend hour as a child looking at the monkeys, observing them and the way they interacted so to see this in their own habitat was wonderful...but there was something that I have only noticed ones....the group of monkeys started to be more agitated and the alpha male was almost growling, showing his teeth from a branch just above the kids head. He was so proud that the monkey was imitating him...and I suddenly just realized why the guide looked so guilty...the alpha male just urinated on the kids head and before anyone could have any reaction to what just happened the monkey through some fecal mater at the child. It did the trick as far as the monkeys were concerned, the spoiled child making the threatening faces (showing your teeth to any primate as well as many other animals means you want to challenge them) as well as his parents were hurrying to the exit angry and complaining.

As soon as they departed the monkeys seemed to have relaxed and continued the cute display of acrobatics. One of them decided to get closer to the group of tourist and when the guides suggested that no one should make sudden moves his suggestion was taken to heart by all (we just witnessed what happens to those that did not). The monkey was happy to run between a child's legs and back up a tree without ever touching anyone.

After the National Park we returned to the public beach for lunch and some more photos of those fascinating crabs.

In the evening we returned to the hotel and we enjoyed our last night in Manuel Antonio.

We were having our tea on the patio in front of our room when my husband noticed the small lizards above us in the light fixtures...what a nice end to our evening. 

There is something so magical about being surrounded by wildlife anywhere you go in this wonderful country.

Good Night

And Happy Travels

Manuel Antonio

Best sleep since San Jose...

I was worried that the sound of the cars and busses will keep us up (the hotel is meters from the main road), but once it got dark the cars became fewer and fewer and the noise of the occasional car was almost completely covered by the sounds of the jungle above us. We left the fan off; some silly childhood fear that it will take off, especially since it was very close to the bed (probably my only complaint with the room). 

The sun was up and filling our room with light. We spend some time enjoying the nice breeze coming in and the sound of the birds....how peaceful and relaxing.

After breakfast we decided to take the public bus to Manuel Antonio and explore the beach. 

The bus had the fare price noted in the front window and unlike our busses the driver was not only accepting the payments, but was prepared to provide change is you did not have the exact fare. The bus was very clean. 

We got off at the very last stop which is right by the Manuel Antonio public beach and minutes away from the National Park entrance.

The beach was as clean as any resort beach we have seen. The waives were perfect for surfers, but a bit rough for inexperience swimmers (the entire Pacific coast is like that). We found a nice spot and put our towels down, needless to say I was bored out of my mind after 10 minutes so we went exploring. I was never able to spend more then 5 minutes in the sun doing nothing.

Across the road from the beach were all kinds of shops and restaurants. We had a nice slice of authentic Italian pizza and a cold Imperial beer....for dessert, a cone of gelato.

My husband decided to go for a run on the beach and came across a place full of crabs of all sizes, he returned and showed me the spot.

 There were some that were so small you could barely see, and plenty of big ones climbing all over the rock. I decided to climb up to get some better shots, but that meant taking off my sandals for a better grip. 

As much fun as I had taking the photos I could not stop worrying about were I stepped. Between the the uneven hot stone and the risk of being pinched by a crab it was betting harder and harder to concentrate on the shots...so I decided to get off and be content with the shots I had so far.

We spent a few more hours enjoying the area before taking a bus back to the hotel. We had decided before leaving that we would return before the afternoon rain.

When we got back to the hotel it didn't look like rain we decided to take a dip in the pool, and since the pool was all ours and it was more then 1,5m deep it felt perfect for laps, as long as you kept in mind where the stairs were. Funny enough the rain decided to start just as I found my rhythm.

The nice thing about the hotel is that you can get from the rooms to the restaurant without having to step into the rain and on an evening like this that was a great commodity. The restaurant had more tables occupied and just as we placed our order the light went out. Well in a matter of seconds the candles from the table were lit and we enjoyed a nice romantic candlelight dinner.  

The rain was still coming down hard so we asked the waitress for two cups of teas to take up to our room and she came back with the cups and some candles that we could use for the night.

We had our tea on the porch in front of our room listening to the rain.

Good night....

and

Happy Travels