In California: Downtown Napa
Napa is not very far from San Francisco, about less than an hour’s drive north which is a good distance to travel when the need to escape out of the city for a different scenery beckons. I have always been curious about the wine country of California so obviously Napa is part of this holiday’s agenda but before we trek down to the vineyards, let’s stop over at Downtown Napa for sightseeing and lunch.
First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Napa. Many Americans are god-fearing and churches in the country still thrive in attendance.
On the road here. This is when the roads split to Napa and Sonoma.
Downtown Napa fotos... looks a bit lacklustre here...
It might be because of the season but Downtown Napa looking very much like a tinselled Disney town reminds me of a spooky lacklustre downtown scene in the Scooby-Doo and Shaggy animation series. There were very few people on the streets, and interestingly, many stores were closed, the place felt like its one of those gone-are-the-glory-days that have fallen into work-in-progress deserted town. ‘There is nothing to do here.’ says the Dutchman. Perhaps it is different here during summer? Anyway, we did the lunch thing, American way—Subways, and then Ben & Jerry’s.
After lunch we checked out the wine train and I toyed around the idea of taking it but Dutchman insists it is much better to go to Napa Valley with the car, arguing that we would have the freedom to go whenever and wherever we want, unlike the train where we will be trapped inside. Well, he is right so fine by me. Now I didn’t have a detailed map of Napa Valley so we followed the signs to the Napa Tourism Office to get more information however the directions only brought us to a dead end corner beside a construction site. Are we that blind not see the Tourism Office? Oh well, whatever.
Ugh, this is not the Downtown Napa we expected. So after a bit of tinkering around town, we are ready to leave. Er, how shall I say this... Downtown Napa for me was... quite a bit of a disappointment really, well, except for its beautiful and colourful Victorian houses that I am showing off below.
The owner of this house is either Dutch, has Dutch ancestry or just into Dutch. Those are the windmills of Kinderdijk!
Lavish and not so lavish Victorian inspired houses and looks like the house colouring movement is alive here as well.
Next... Napa Valley Vineyards
Travel Period: March 2011
First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Napa. Many Americans are god-fearing and churches in the country still thrive in attendance.On the road here. This is when the roads split to Napa and Sonoma.Downtown Napa fotos... looks a bit lacklustre here...It might be because of the season but Downtown Napa looking very much like a tinselled Disney town reminds me of a spooky lacklustre downtown scene in the Scooby-Doo and Shaggy animation series. There were very few people on the streets, and interestingly, many stores were closed, the place felt like its one of those gone-are-the-glory-days that have fallen into work-in-progress deserted town. ‘There is nothing to do here.’ says the Dutchman. Perhaps it is different here during summer? Anyway, we did the lunch thing, American way—Subways, and then Ben & Jerry’s.
After lunch we checked out the wine train and I toyed around the idea of taking it but Dutchman insists it is much better to go to Napa Valley with the car, arguing that we would have the freedom to go whenever and wherever we want, unlike the train where we will be trapped inside. Well, he is right so fine by me. Now I didn’t have a detailed map of Napa Valley so we followed the signs to the Napa Tourism Office to get more information however the directions only brought us to a dead end corner beside a construction site. Are we that blind not see the Tourism Office? Oh well, whatever.
Ugh, this is not the Downtown Napa we expected. So after a bit of tinkering around town, we are ready to leave. Er, how shall I say this... Downtown Napa for me was... quite a bit of a disappointment really, well, except for its beautiful and colourful Victorian houses that I am showing off below.
The owner of this house is either Dutch, has Dutch ancestry or just into Dutch. Those are the windmills of Kinderdijk!Lavish and not so lavish Victorian inspired houses and looks like the house colouring movement is alive here as well.Next... Napa Valley Vineyards
Travel Period: March 2011
