Leila and Harry's Trips Blog

Our Virginia Adventure 2011

harry — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:01:13 +0000

Another summer, and another great trip to Virginia. This year was particularly special since we were taking our son Leo on his 'Meet the Grandparents Tour". The first stop was my Mom's house in:

Staunton, VA

We were just in time for the 4th of July, and Leo was prepared lots of big smiles and red white and blue baby gear.

Leo greeting his Grandma with one of his bright smiles.

The little guy slept through the 4th of July parade in Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park. Nothing gets in the way of nap time.

Leila carries Leo in a Mobywrap- downtown Staunton.

Going for a walk near my Mom's house and Gypsy Hill Park.

My Mom, me and Grandson.

We also drove up to visit our friend Diana in:

Washington D.C

Leo taking a nap at the Lincoln Memorial.

With our friend Diana at the Lincoln Memorial- in the distance the Washington Monument.

We braved ridiculous traffic getting out of D.C and back down to:

Richmond, VA

Leo hanging out with my Dad and his 'Grandpa-Dude'.

Leo with Grandpa-Dude and his Grandma Kay

Leila and Leo in Dad and Kay's backyard next to the wilds of the fish pond.

We just don't have greenery like this in the west! At Maymont Park in Richmond Virginia.

My Dad fixed up a classic Swedish stroller for us. The original wheels rotted away, so Dad put these double thick cart wheels on the stroller- it was perfect! It made it an 'off road' stroller that we could take anywhere. It was great for long walks around my Dad's neighborhood, which is near the James River- seen here in the background beyond the field.

At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Along with a lot of interesting and beautiful art, was the Fabergé Revealed exhibit.

Near the entrance at the VMFA.

During our stay in Richmond, Leila, Leo and I took a day trip to:

Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown, VA

Much of the Jamestown area features archeological dig sites. It was fascinating to watch the process at the above site. When I was younger I wanted to do this type of work myself. I kind of wanted to grab a dig tool and join in… if not the the heat! The closest I ever got to this sort of work was working as a technical draftsman for an archeology firm in Fresno, CA from 1992 to 1994. Other people went out to sites and dug up artifacts- I got to make detailed highly accurate pen and ink drawings of the found items. I actually got a pretty good education in the documentation of historic artifacts from that gig.

Leila and Leo in the wooden frame of a Jamestown structure.

The aerial view of what Jamestown originally looked like. This was a large scale model in the visitor's center.

We took the Jamestown/Scotland Ferry over to Surry, Virginia. Above: driving onto the ferry. A worker waves me onto the boat and shows me which line of cars to park in.

On the top deck of the ferry with Leo.

At a country store somewhere near Surry, Virginia.

Back in Richmond enjoying some ice cream and an afternoon out in a hip section of the city known as Carytown.

We always have a great time visiting our family back home in Virginia, and this year was easily the best of all!

Our Virginia Adventure 2010

harry — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:08:59 +0000

Back on July 1st, 2010, Leila and I flew back to Virginia for a visit with my Mother in Staunton,VA and my Dad and Kay in Richmond, VA. It was part of our 10th wedding anniversary vacation. Just as with our previous Virginia Adventures in July, 2007 and August 2006, we had a fantastic time, and it was great to see my parents and family and a few friends. Some highlights of the trip:

Mom and me at the border of Augusta and Highland Counties, Virginia

In Staunton, the 4th of July was celebrated with a parade in the park on Saturday, the 3rd of July, which was perfect because it actually allowed us to celebrate the 4th twice- first with my Mom, then later on the Sunday the 4th with my Dad and Kay.

"Saturday in the park, I think it was the 4th of July…" Actually it was the 3rd, in Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton.

An area of downtown Staunton,VA near the old train station. It always amazes me how lush and green the surrounding foliage is back east, compared to the 'Golden State'.

Dinner with my Mom and cousin Carolyn at the Depot Grill at the historic Staunton train station.

My Mom and some of her neighbors. In the dark green shirt and shades is my childhood friend Steven whom I've known more than 30 years.

On Sunday, the 4th of July we bid farewell to my Mom and traveled to my Dad and Kay's house in Richmond, VA. The Estonia Flag was on display- my Dad called up the Estonian Embassy in Washington D.C. and requested one since his daughter-in-law is Estonian. They sent him one!

It wasn't as hot and humid in Richmond as it had recently been (in the 90's with high humidity), but it was still nice to cool off along the rocky banks of the James River.

We had a Bocce ball rematch in the front yard. I think Dad and I won the 2007 match against the ladies. In 2010, we once again took the top spot. Our victory beer was ice cold!

Kay and Dad spoiled us with yet another amazing dinner, this time the main course was ribs cooked to perfection on the backyard grill.

Dad and Kay had a new addition, their cat Henry. Leila snapped this photo of him in one of his less-shy moments.

Lilies in bloom in the backyard pond.

It was another great trip home to Virginia. On the early morning of the 5th Leila and I flew out of Richmond for Atlanta, GA, and on from there to St. Maarten in the Caribbean.

Our Decade of Trips (Pt.1 2000-2005)

harry — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:00:23 +0000

We’ve had an amazing decade. I feel like Leila and I have been most everywhere we’ve wanted to go. These are just the highlights among our favorite trips we’ve taken during the decade of the 2000′s.

2000

We kicked off the the 2000′s with our first trip to Sedona, AZ in January, 2000.

We took a helicopter tour of Sedona, but our camera gave up the ghost, this being its last picture.

In May of 2000, we went to Coronado, California

We got married in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in June 2000 and started our week long Honeymoon trip through Nevada and California

Camping at Lake Berryessa, Napa County, California, June 2000

At the Lone Cypress, along the 17-mile drive, Pebble Beach, California.

August 2000 saw us on Catalina Island, California

During the US Presidential elections in November of 2000, we took a trip to Palm Springs, one of dozens of times we’ve visited it during the 2000′s.

Joshua Tree, California, November, 2000

Indio, California November, 2000

2001

We had tickets to fly home to Virginia to see my mother on September 11th, 2001. We all know what derailed that trip. Since we had a week off, we took a trip instead to Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

Zion National Park, Utah, September, 2001

I took a small ‘working vacation’ to Mazatlan, Mexico in November, 2001

2002

Leila and I enjoyed the insanity that is Tijuana, Mexico in February, 2002.

Our big trip of 2002 was a trip to Leila’s native Estonia and Finland in May.

We had a second wedding celebration, Estonia, May 2002.

Kokkola, Finland, May 2002

We took a trip to wine country Temecula, California, November, 2002

2003

April, 2003 found us in Puerto Nuevo, Mexico

Finally getting to complete the lost trip of Sept, 2001, we went to visit my Mom in Virginia in May 2003

Natural Bridge, VA- May 2003

Washington D.C, May 2003 (Behind us in the distance, the US capital)

Leila was in Portland, Oregon in August, 2003

Marina, California, Labor Day holiday 2003

Santa Cruz, California- August, 2003

Death Valley, California- November, 2003

Booming sand dunes, near Death Valley, California, November 2003

One of many trips we took to Las Vegas, Nevada- this time in November,2003

We also visited Leila’s sister Aigi in New Jersey where she lived, and New York City, November 2003.

2004

Leila took a trip back to Estonia in June, 2004

September 2004, Leila and her theater group were in Lakewood, New Jersey

2005

In February, 2005 we traveled along with my entire company to Las Vegas, for the premiere party of the TV show I work on.

In April, 2005 we visited my Mom in Staunton, Virginia, and my Dad and Kay in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia- April, 2005

In June of 2005, we drove to San Felipe, in Baja California, Mexico where we enjoyed the beaches and extreme heat.

San Felipe, Mexico- June, 2005

The first of many summer trips to Scottsdale, Arizona, July 2005

Leila was back in Europe in September, 2005, visiting her mother in Finland.

Part two, will be the highlights of 2006-2009

Our Decade of Trips (Pt.2 2006-2009)

harry — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:00:21 +0000

2006

Leila went to Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon, Utah, in April, 2006.

2006 was a big travel year. In June, 2006 we went to visit my Aunt Sandra in Boston, Massachusetts. While there we visited Gloucester, MA, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Dogfish Head, Maine- June 2006

We were back to visit my folks in Virginia, in August, 2006. Above, Sherando Lake, VA.

Richmond, Virginia- August, 2006

I went back to the place Leila and I were married, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in September, 2006

I went on an extended road trip to Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas in October, 2006.

Leila went with her girlfriends to Las Vegas, Nevada in November, 2006

2007

Leila went to St. Louis, Missouri in April 2007 to visit her friends there.

We were back in Virginia for another visit to my parents, in July, 2007

With my Mom in Staunton, Virginia, July 4th, 2007

Leila got to go back to her native Estonia in September, 2007 and see her sisters, cousins, and family.

Estonia, September, 2007

That same month, I took a week off in Scottsdale, Arizona

2008

In March, 2008 we took a trip to one of our favorite locations of all, Palm Springs, California. The tripped marked the 10th anniversary since we took our first trip there together in 1998.

The date palm fields of Indio, California- March, 2008

Leila went to visit our friends in Chicago, Illinois in July, 2008. Leila and I took a trip to Chicago together ten years earlier in 1998.

Leila got to visit her mother in Finland in November, 2008.

Helsinki, Finland- November, 2008

2009

I kicked off 2009 by taking a week long trip to Lake Havasu, Arizona in January.

A very memorable trip to Santa Barbara County wine country, California, with my Dad and his wife, Kay, February, 2009.

Leila went with her girlfriends to Palm Springs in March, 2009

Leila returned to Chicago, Illinois to visit our friends there in July, 2009

Leila went to visit friends in Texas in August, 2009. Above: Houston, Texas.

Galveston, Texas- August, 2009

Leila and I Jet-skiing in Lake Elsinore, California in September, 2009

We have such fond memories of every one of these trips and all the family and friends we were fortunate enough to visit. What a great decade it’s been. Looking back, I can hardly believe all that we’ve managed to see and do.

The Year in Travel…

harry — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:10:25 +0000

2009 wasn’t much for travel for us. Mostly we’ve had other priorities this year. We did manage a few weekend getaways within California. And Leila managed to take a few longer trips to visit friends, most notably:

Houston and Galveston, Texas

Chicago, Illinois:

Big Sur and Monterey, California:

Lake Havasu, Arizona

harry — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:26:12 +0000

I spent the week of January 12th 2009 in Lake Havasu, Arizona. It’s roughly a five-hour drive from Los Angeles, and the drive is filled with lots of beautiful scenery.

This time of year, I was a little surprised to find the Lake Havasu area as empty as it was. January is a beautiful month in Arizona, so I would have expected to see more traffic and tourists heading into the region than I did. Instead, I encountered much of the image above: empty open roads with few other cars around. Lake Havasu City itself was pretty dead. I guess the crowds only show up for Spring Break, which is a very busy time here. Or perhaps the bad economy is keeping people from traveling as much. In the residential side of town I saw a lot of homes for sale- probably a lot of them vacation homes that people can no longer afford.

When I say the town was dead, I mean the town was dead! I don’t think Leila truly believed me when I told her I was practically the *ONLY* guest at the resort during my week stay. This photo of the parking lot behind the hotel speaks for itself!

Southern Lake Havasu, looking north.

Going to Lake Havasu, Arizona and not seeing the London Bridge is a bit like going to Keystone, South Dakota and not seeing Mount Rushmore. Of course I almost didn’t get to see the bridge past all the boats crowding the busy wharfs… not!

It’s pretty hard to miss the bridge, since it’s the town’s main tourist attraction. For me, it was impossible to miss since I was staying at the London Bridge resort. Everybody thought the guy who brought the bridge here -stone by stone from London back in the late 1960′s- was crazy when he first proposed it. Now, it’s the main tourist attraction and everyone loves the money it generates. So much for crazy.

During my trip, I really fell in love with the 2009 Dodge Charger. Leila thought I had gone a little mad when I rented it. But driving it really made the trip stand out for me. I took it for several day outings in the region surrounding Lake Havisu, just for the thrill of tearing across the empty miles of high desert highway. The slightest tap on the gas and I could feel the V8 engine’s ear-pleasing roar from under the hood- impossible not to have a smile on your face. The US auto industry might not be in such trouble if all their cars were as fun to drive as this one was.

Before taking off, I drove across London Bridge to the island known as Pittsburgh Point. There’s even a tiny mock-lighthouse on the island. The island itself used to be a peninsula, but a channel dug to accommodate the bridge in the late 60′s turned it into an island. It’s a strange feeling to witness the clash of scenery when you find yourself on a island in the middle of a lake, which is itself in the middle of a desert.

<–Click for a virtual visit to Lake Havasu, AZ

SCENES FROM FINLAND 2008

leila — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:22:11 +0000

Chicago!

leila — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:34:13 +0000

What a fun week it was!

Two friends of mine moved to Chicago and the nearby area just recently. I was trying to figure out how and when I will be able to visit them and then a ticket was pretty much handed to me! I flew with Helen to Chicago where she was picked up by her grandmother and I was reunited with my friends. Because of the late ticket arrangements, flying first class was a bonus! A big and comfy bonus!

Anyway… It was a fantastic week with friends and their families! We didn’t do much as our days were directed by two toddlers (both around year and a half old).

Millennium Park, Chicago

We cooked some good meals, drank some good wine, watched some girlie shows from TV and talked-talked-talked.

Girls’ talk time

I must say that Chicago is such a nice city! It felt so European. There is life in the city. People are on the streets. It’s not like here in Los Angeles when you see people mostly in their cars or in the stores.

Palm Springs 2008

harry — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:35:29 +0000

Leila and I took our first trip to Palm Springs a decade ago in 1998. We’ve enjoyed coming back ever since. Only 2 hours drive out of Los Angeles, it seems a world away from the bustle of the big city. We both love the surrounding nature, the places to go hiking and enjoy the scenery, and the welcoming vibe we’ve always felt here.

We went to Palm Springs for a week, starting February, 18th, 2008- something of a 10th Anniversary visit. We stayed at the Marquis Villas (seen above), which is a beautiful resort near downtown Palm Springs. We’ve been fortunate enough to stay at the Villas a few times before- it’s one of our favorite resorts in Palm Springs. We’ve come to Palm Springs many times in the summer when it’s blistering hot, but this time of year it was cool; long sleeve weather. Heck, it was almost chilly at times, but for the most part, sunny and moderate. We avoided rain for all but our last day when a flash storm hit.

Palm Canyon was on our list of places to visit this time. It’s a part of the Indian Canyons. We hiked through the valley stuffed with palm trees and then up into the surrounding hills. During our hike, we enjoyed the spectacular scenery all around us.

< Click for a virtual visit to Palm Canyon. (Requires Google Earth and a broadband connection- if you don’t have Google Earth, download it from the sidebar link. Once installed, let your browser OPEN the link. )

Leila finds out first hand how sharp cactus spines can be as she leans in to photograph one in bloom.

A fire roared through Palm Canyon nearly 30 years ago, charring (but thankfully not killing) many of the palm trees, which still bear the scars.

Another place we love to visit in the area, is Thousand Palms Canyon, and specifically, the Coachella Valley Preserve. Years ago, we were just tooling around the area in our car, having no idea where we were going, when we stumbled across the reserve. The dense, jungle-like forest of palm trees seemed to us like an oasis in the desert.

< Click for a virtual visit to the Coachella Valley Preserve.

The Coachella Valley Preserve exists to protect the endangered fringe-toed lizard, which exists nowhere else in the world. We spotted several along the trails that run through the preserve.

We also visited the date palm fields of Indio, California. Newer developments are sprouting up all over the Coachella Valley, swallowing up some of these fields that we used to visit. During our stay, we checked out local real estate in Desert Hot Springs, and other places around the valley. Currently, real estate prices are dropping, but it’s uncertain for how long.

Our trip was very relaxing. As is generally the case with going to Palm Springs, I arrived back in LA wishing we could have stayed a few more days.

TRIP TO EESTI 2007

leila — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 22:30:32 +0000

After the busiest summer ever, (I was volunteering for Estonian West Coast Festival) I got to go to Estonia. It was quick visit, but it was very fulfilling. I spent exactly a week in Estonia right next to this beautiful lake and floating sauna (in the photo). Who wouldn’t have the best time in this scenery?

The best thing of all was that my sisters and my mom were all in Estonia. As you might know, we are one of these crazy families where everyone lives in different part of the globe. I live here in America; my younger sister Katre lives in Australia with her family; my middle sister Aigi is always traveling and the past year she has spent in Turkey, and my mom lives in Finland. My cousin Piret, who lives in Germany, was in Estonia too. Of cource it was planned that we all would be together for this visit!

Viitina lake and floating sauna

As it was such a short time, I did not plan any traveling around Estonia. I just stayed in Viitina. We had family get-togethers and sauna and grill nights. To see all our friends and extended family, we had this big party arranged. It’s actually a long-lasting tradition of Katre and Indrek’s to have a big party at the end of the summer to celebrate their birthdays and their wedding anniversary. This time it was the 10th year in a row. A couple years ago they started to have themes. This year the theme was: Estonian! So, we used Estonian folk elements for outfits and the food was very Estonian. Potatoes, meat, gravy. Hahaa! Also herring, liver pate, potato salad… ah, you name it!

Just seeing everybody was such a blessing.

I had two pit stops on my trip. I flew through London. When I went there I stayed with my dear friend Kristina, who used to live in Los Angeles. The time was short, but treasured. Kristina will soon move from London to Paris! (Paris, here we come!)

On the return trip, I stayed in London for a couple of days with my friend Kadi with whom we haven’t seen for about 11 years. We know each other from our fun Finland days! There are some people that even though you don’t see each other for a years, when you get together with them it seems like there has not been time between us. We just continued where we left off. We had a lots to catch up on and share! It was a very satisfying time!

My sister Katre, my mom and me.

The most fun gang in the world – me, my cousin Kristi, my sisters Aigi and Katre and my cousin Piret.

Click here to see more photos from my trip!