Rain and storms can't stop California wine lovers.

Napa Valley and San Fransisco: December 30 and 31, 2005.

In a "Creative Writing" book I read recently, the author said that 50% of books start with some kind of weather report. I am not sure how accurate this percentage is, however it is quite true that storytellers are often eager to inform us about the weather at the time their story starts. This element of "mise en scène" seem necessary to communicate the mood of the moment. Anyway, the author recommends that writers don't fall in this weather reporting trap and to find more interesting ways of starting their stories.
The reason for this introduction was because I am about to commit this cardinal sin myself. Actually, I wanted to start this report with the obscure expression:

"It was raining cats and dogs"...

Obscure, because if you consult Google, there are at least four possible origins to it. I won't repeat them here but suggest you check them out - really interesting.








All right, enough babble.

It was raining heavily as we headed for Napa Valley on December 30th.

If you're a wine lover who has enjoyed Sideways (Alexander Payne's 2004 movie), visiting Napa Valley clearly feels like performing a pilgrimage.

By the time we reached Oakville, the rain stopped for a couple of hours, just enough to allow us to visit Robert Mondavi and sample some of their wines. My cousins had booked a table for lunch at Chandon, preceeded by a visit to the cellars. Very nice meal and terrific sparkling wine (can't call it champagne, but it's the closest you can get to french bubbles...)






More rain and more wine sampling... A really nice dinner at Tra Vigne in St. Helena (and more wine of course).
After a good night sleep, we wake up to learn that Napa is flooded and that the river is rapidly rising.

Time to go back to San Fransisco!

The sun is shining as we cross the bridge. Except for the deep potholes filled with water, there's no trace of the rain storm.

At Fisherman's Wharf, we eat a crab salad and stroll across the busy streets.

A few hours later, we're all dressed up and back in town for New Year's celebrations at Theatro Zinzanni by the waterfront. An amazing burlesque show, a mix of cabaret and circus with acrobats, singers and dancers performing under a circus tent while you are being served an excellent five-course meal.

Next time you are in San Fransisco or Seattle, don't miss it. And in the meantime, check their website at: www.zinzanni.com