The Sky is Still Blue

I recently was able to get away for a long weekend to Sacramento?  Feeling particularly joyous about leaving the the Northwest and the June-uary conditions and the prospect of hiking around South Tahoe (a place I had only seen in pictures) only improved things.

When I left it was raining (no surprise) marching to the bus in shorts with a rolling suitcase I felt a little out of place, but at the airport everyone was wearing shorts too.  Nothing could upset my mood. I was a happiness sandwich between a seat-kicker behind me and a VERY upset infant a few rows in front of me.  As a nearby 6 year old reminded his mother (repeatedly)  it’s only an hour, has it been an hour, it’s only an hour, has it been an hour, YAY we are in California, are we in California?  You get the picture.

Upon arrival the weather was a lovely 75-80 degrees.  Apparently it was in the 90’s and above the weekend before and the weekend following.

The first serious consideration to be made was about dinner.  What to eat? Something seasonal, something local.  Grilled peaches seemed to be a menu favorite, grilled peaches with salad, with pork-belly, and with goat cheese.

Continuing the pursuit of local food we went to the farmers market  the next day where there was an abundance of peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and even some plucots (otherwise called Dinosaur Eggs). Meanwhile, the sky was still blue.

We headed out to the South Tahoe area for what turned out to be a short hike with our farmer’s market finds in hand.  It was a wonderful mix of warm sun, cool breezes and unmelted snow. I think I used the word delightful fifteen times over a period of 2 hours and I meant it.  In all my joy of blue sky, blue waters and stone fruit I happily agreed to begin training to run a half marathon next summer.  Yikes!

I slept and woke up, and slept and woke up, and the sky was still blue.  At one point I commented the weather is the same out all the windows, which got a laugh (but is frequently not the case at home).  It’s amazing what blue sky and grilled peaches can do for a girl.

Places to see pictures to take

A Monday still feels like a Monday in China!  I have tested  my camera that suffered the fall in San Francisco and it still is able to take and even download pictures.  This makes me very happy.

This was my first impression of China, during the day, from my room in Shanghai.  It looked a little bleak.

Shanghai, China

This is around about sunrise from my room in Nanjing.  I have a lovely view of the sky and a stairwell.

Early morning Nanjing, China

A few nights ago we went to visit the Confucius Temple originally built in the Song dynasty (420-479) and rebuilt in 1139.  I am not sure when they added all the lights.

Confucius Temple at Night

My travel companions window shopping at the Confucius Temple

The Jing Mi temple is a working Buddhist temple.  There are no monks just nuns they both have shaved heads.  Not long ago one of the pagodas caught on fire and the renovations have not finished yet.

Jing Mi Temple, Nanjing China

Xuanwu Lake

I love this place you can rent a boat, buy a hammock or walk for hours.

Sunset at Xuanwu Lake

Half hot pot half not.  The perfect dish to serve every palate.  Hot pot or not seems to be a very messy dish. This was before the mess started.

As my Monday is ending back home it is just beginning.

Good Night!