We went down to Newport the weekend before my birthday to celebrate. The weather was to be stormy with lots of rain and gusts of wind between 45 and 60 mph. Our drive down there was pleasant, sunny even, but when we got to the coast, sure enough it was raining cats and dogs. And it was freezing. We ducked into the charming literary-themed Sylvia Beach Hotel where each room is decorated after a famous author. Ours was the tiny (cheaper), "non-ocean view" Gertrude Stein room, decorated with rose this and rose that. The curtains, the pillows, the rug, the chair upholstery, the shower curtain.... everything had roses on it. Even a rose-shaped lamp! On the shelf was a selection of Stein's books and journals in which past guests have written, as far back as early 90's. Some entries were brief, some overly poetic, some moving and profound. It was fascinating to read... A collection of writings from people who slept in the same hotel room. Each room had one. If you ever visit the SBH, you can look for my entry on December 16th.
After checking in we ran around to peek into the other rooms that were still vacant. Shakespeare, Collette, Oscar Wilde, Alice Walker, Dr. Seuss, Mark Twain..... Each one with completely different props. My favorites were Virginia Woolf (the do not disturb sign said, "disturb someone else"), E.B. White (with a spider web hanging from the ceiling and a painting of Wilbur on the wall), Edgar Allen Poe (with black walls, ravens everywhere, a false closet door opening to a brick wall, and the pendulum above the bed!), AND TOLKIEN! The branchy bedposts were entwined with live vines, riddles were written on the back of the door, and the entire map of Middle Earth was painted on the wall! Next time we're staying in THAT room!
Upstairs on the 3rd floor is the library which is a huge common space littered with books and jigsaw puzzles, armchairs and couches, fireplace and coffee/tea station, and windows windows windows overlooking the mesmerizing winter surf. After a game of scrabble (I won) we ate dinner at Local Oceans across the docks. I had grilled albacore kabobs on a bed of veggies and crispy rice noodles. mmmm fresh fish!
In the morning all the guests go down to the basement Tables of Content restaurant for a yummy complimentary breakfast buffet. I indulged and had all kinds of wheat-filled products and still haven't had much of a reaction. Yeay! Then we took a stroll around historic Nye Beach and said hi to the seagulls.
Spent the afternoon at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Can't seem to get enough of those underwater creatures. Their current exhibit "Claws" featured lobsters, crabs, and shrimp. We lucked out and got to see a very friendly sea otter, and a very active octopus. They also have a shark tunnel, which seemed to be more mesmerizing than the one at Maui Aquarium because of the shimmering school of anchovies that the sharks swam through.
While Liane was in China she had a personalized chop (Chinese signature stamp stone) made for me. She kept it a secret until my birthday. It is a beautiful heavy stone with a dragon carved on the top of it. She thought I could use it for "signing" photos and such, and that inspired me to name my photography business "Fire Dragon Photography".
We went down to Newport the weekend before my birthday to celebrate. The weather was to be stormy with lots of rain and gusts of wind between 45 and 60 mph. Our drive down there was pleasant, sunny even, but when we got to the coast, sure enough it was raining cats and dogs. And it was freezing. We ducked into the charming literary-themed Sylvia Beach Hotel where each room is decorated after a famous author. Ours was the tiny (cheaper), "non-ocean view" Gertrude Stein room, decorated with rose this and rose that. The curtains, the pillows, the rug, the chair upholstery, the shower curtain.... everything had roses on it. Even a rose-shaped lamp! On the shelf was a selection of Stein's books and journals in which past guests have written, as far back as early 90's. Some entries were brief, some overly poetic, some moving and profound. It was fascinating to read... A collection of writings from people who slept in the same hotel room. Each room had one. If you ever visit the SBH, you can look for my entry on December 16th.
After checking in we ran around to peek into the other rooms that were still vacant. Shakespeare, Collette, Oscar Wilde, Alice Walker, Dr. Seuss, Mark Twain..... Each one with completely different props. My favorites were Virginia Woolf (the do not disturb sign said, "disturb someone else"), E.B. White (with a spider web hanging from the ceiling and a painting of Wilbur on the wall), Edgar Allen Poe (with black walls, ravens everywhere, a false closet door opening to a brick wall, and the pendulum above the bed!), AND TOLKIEN! The branchy bedposts were entwined with live vines, riddles were written on the back of the door, and the entire map of Middle Earth was painted on the wall! Next time we're staying in THAT room!
Upstairs on the 3rd floor is the library which is a huge common space littered with books and jigsaw puzzles, armchairs and couches, fireplace and coffee/tea station, and windows windows windows overlooking the mesmerizing winter surf. After a game of scrabble (I won) we ate dinner at Local Oceans across the docks. I had grilled albacore kabobs on a bed of veggies and crispy rice noodles. mmmm fresh fish!
In the morning all the guests go down to the basement Tables of Content restaurant for a yummy complimentary breakfast buffet. I indulged and had all kinds of wheat-filled products and still haven't had much of a reaction. Yeay! Then we took a stroll around historic Nye Beach and said hi to the seagulls.
Spent the afternoon at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Can't seem to get enough of those underwater creatures. Their current exhibit "Claws" featured lobsters, crabs, and shrimp. We lucked out and got to see a very friendly sea otter, and a very active octopus. They also have a shark tunnel, which seemed to be more mesmerizing than the one at Maui Aquarium because of the shimmering school of anchovies that the sharks swam through.
While Liane was in China she had a personalized chop (Chinese signature stamp stone) made for me. She kept it a secret until my birthday. It is a beautiful heavy stone with a dragon carved on the top of it. She thought I could use it for "signing" photos and such, and that inspired me to name my photography business "Fire Dragon Photography".
