California Hospitality

We all just take distinct paths in life, but no issue wherever we go, we get a little of each other almost everywhere. 

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Bright, sunny, cheery, refreshing: words to describe the lemonade made straight from the tree and our welcome as eight "Felucca Friends" crossed time and space for a reunion at a lovely California home set upon a mountainside.

Far from the Nile and our trusty felucca captains, who steered our Thursday night sailings (sometimes into the reeds), we ventured aboard the Queen Mary for a glimpse into how the 1% live. The technology and history were certainly interesting, but the best part of the tour was quaffing a glass of wine with accompanying nibbles at the ship's Art Deco bar. In this we find a direct correlation between the little sailboat and the grand steamer.

A visit to the St. Gabriel Mission, built in 1771 as the fourth of a string of 21 California missions, held a contemplative element thanks to philosophic museum labels calligraphed long ago, such as:

Upon entering the Church look down

Note the worn tile smoothed by

Shuffle of leather sandels of old and

The abrasion of modern day Romans

Visitors, ponder these hallowed walls

Consecrated by Tongva hands . . .

Brick by Brick . . . Stone by Stone . . .

Rock by Rock, bonded by ground

Limestone . . . sand . . . sea-shells, hoisted

Up via rough hemp ropes, pulleys,

Torn hands . . . worn backs . . . primitive

Scaffolding, these children of the . . .

Earth labored some fifteen years . . .

Constructing this symbol of humankind's

Yearning to find comfort with God's

Enveloping embrace —

Yes . . . look down where ye stand . . .

Now . . . look up at these strong

Buttressed walls . . . .

Reaching for the stars . . . .

John E. Fantz . . . Museum Guardian

Contemplation continued during a visit to the Huntington Botanical Gardens and its newly opened Garden of Flowing Fragrance Chinese garden as various elements of architecture, horticulture and environment create beautifully spiritual zones such as the Terrace that Invites the Mountains, the Terrace of the Jade Mirror and the Pavilion of the Three Friends (aka the bamboo, the pine and plum blossoms).

We contemplated colourful koi and tricky turtles among the Huntington's lily ponds where I learned the origin of the hard pods sold to create tall arrangements in Canadian living rooms.

While all of our forays fascinated and inspired, for me the most outstanding must be the Getty Villa. The rarefied air on a mountainside overlooking the ocean, the exceptional art collection, the stunning Pompeiian architecture and the tinkling garden fountains take my breath away.

Every excursion concluded with our return to the most comfortable and friendly villa paradiso to toast good friends with fine wine accompanied by the tastiest nibbles. May the "Felucca Friends" gather again to share in the camaraderie formed upon the Nile's waters.