food, classes, shopping and more food

We checked out of the hotel around 8:30 am, drove to the Rick Steves Travel Center and found a parking spot right by the front door.  We were glad about that since it was raining.  Then we walked to Chanterelle for breakfast.  Sharon and I split the Eggs Benedict and Kris had the cornmeal waffle.  Yummy breakfast.

We returned to the Rick Steves Travel Center.  We had signed up for 2 classes.  Travelers' Spanish and Barcelona and Madrid. We had time to look though the store.  We each had $100 to spend for signing up for the tour.  The condition was that it all had to be spent at one time.  So we had time to think.  We wanted to wait until after the classes.  Both classes were very enjoyable. Good presenters.  I did learn that you can't say por favor to much.  We heard some good suggestions for things to do when we are not scheduled with the tour.

After the classes we bought our items.  My total was $122 until they calculated all the sale discounts - It was $95.99!! pretty good.  It was 2 pm before we headed out for lunch.

We had a nice Mexican lunch before driving back to Portland. Most of the drive went smoothly except when it decided to rain vigorously.  I am glad it was Sharon driving and not me.  Thank you Sharon. It was a fun, though quick trip.

Edmonds WA Nov 18

Sharon picked up Kris and then picked me up about 10 am on Friday.  We drove to Edmonds, WA.  with a stop at Jeremy's for lunch.  It was very good.  It is one of those farm to table type restaurants so it was pretty healthy.  We each had the half sandwich and soup.

Then we continued on the drive.  The purpose of this trip is to take 2 of the Rick Steves classes tomorrow.  This will help us to prepare us for our Rick Steves trip to Barcelona-Madrid next June.  Also we have money to burn in the Rick Steves store.  We got to the hotel a little before check in time, but they let us check in anyway.  We have 2 rooms.  Sharon & Kris in one and I was in the other.  Then we took a walk around downtown Edmonds and dinked in all the cute shops.  We did not buy anything but looking was fun.  There were a lot of cool murals.  

We headed back to the hotel to have a glass of wine while we tried to figure out which place we wanted to go for dinner.  We picked the Cafe de Paris. 

 It was fabulous.  Very relaxed, with delicious food.  We each had the same thing: avocado salad with bay shrimp, filet mignon, with green beans, carrots, potatoes, creamed spinach and we shared a bottle of wine.

 The people at the table next to us had cherries jubilee for dessert.  It was fun watching them prepare it.  

On the way back to the hotel we saw a distillery which was still open so we went in for some vodka and gin tasting.  We tried berry flavored vodka, orange flavored vodka, gin, one from beer.  I liked the orange vodka the best.  That was fun.

 Then we headed back to the hotel.  It is nice to be so close to downtown.  We hung out in my room since I had more chairs in my room.

What a full day.