Mini-Moon

My Camino Love and I have tied the knot.  On January 4th at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas (famed home of the Britney nuptials) we became official, and soon hit Highway 1 to cruise down the Pacific Coast so my hubby could get his feet wet in the Cali lifestyle.  He was hooked instantly.  Who wouldn't be?

I love a good road trip.  Not much else elates me in quite the same way.  Blame it on my reading "On The Road" at 10-years-old or repeated viewings of "Thelma & Louise" (minus the cliff dive), but I go nutty for AAA guides (I read all the highlights aloud, even the boring ones) and mini-coolers that fit between seats.  I have searched a long time for that perfect partner to sit by me in the front seat - feeding me chips as I drive, DJing the right music, flipping on my butt warmer when it gets chilly, massaging my shoulders when traffic is tense, not getting angry when I have to stop to pee a hundred times, taking pictures out the window as if everyday, even in the Nevada desert, is an African safari.  Hannes is that perfect co-pilot. 

Rather than give you a travel play-by-play, some highlights of our windy tarmac journey: 70-degree crystal-clear weather, gray whale sightings, being swallowed by redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park, crispy tacos in Santa Cruz, artichoke bread from Whale City Bakery, dolphins flanking us on a sunrise sea stroll in Carmel, the ethereal jellyfish at Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Campervan gypsies of Rio Del Mar, our legs dangling off a cliff as we ate veggie burgers at Nepenthe, the rock sculptures on the 17-mile-drive, red light kisses...  But perhaps the most memorable of all - the nirvana of all nirvanas - was The Ventana Inn & Spa.  Our one-night honeymoon splurge.

This bohemiam oasis, nestled in the happy redwoods of Big Sur and overlooking the sparkling Pacific, was beyond any daydream I'd had as I mapped out our trip.  Firstly, their smiling 'I-love-where-I-work' staff upgraded us to a suite, which for a girl who's been obsessed with hotels all her life - hell, I can even appreciate a good motel, scratchy towels and creepy truckers and all - was like telling a fat kid, "A slice?  Have the whole damn cake!"  There were two bottles of wine and gargantuan chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us in a luxury suite I can only describe as 'the place I want my ashes sprinkled.'  It consisted of an enormous room with a fireplace (equipped with a stack of adorable Goodwood fire log bags), king-sized bed (ahem) with clouds for blankets, an ocean view balcony, delicate hammock, the world's largest bathtub that opened to both the living room and bathroom (have they been looking at my 'Dream Home' Pinterest board?), plush bathrobes and a display of products that would make even the biggest mini product-hoarder (ahem) blush. 

The property is just as amazing.  The Japanese Baths were exquisite.  We went twice - once to toast champagne at sunset and again to watch the night sky with its endless possibilities.  The pool was relaxing (80-degrees, what?!)  And the breakfast scrumptious - oh how I love endless cups of rich coffee with fresh soy milk and an ocean view!  We even took the complimentary guided stroll around the property the next morning with Stephen from Big Sur Guides.  There were two other married couples with us on the hike who had been married 30 and 40 years... and they still held hands as they walked.  But then, who wouldn't want to hold hands in this place?  It just has that infectious Kumbaya ambiance that makes you want to grab the one you love tight. 

That night we had a picnic by our fireplace in our robes and then a swing in the hammock listening to the crickets trying to find their own Camino Loves.  I can't say I remember a time when I was happier and more at peace... except when I told my Belgian pilgrim that I'd love him forever with our Rastafarian minister looking over us and grinning.