people watching in Half Moon Bay

Since this week has shaped up to be all about our anniversary weekend (a month ago) at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, here are a few random pictures that don't include sunsets or wine.  

 [18th Green]

 [crash]

[coast] 

[go in!]

[a good day] 

 [this weekend was also the same weekend that the Blue Angels were performing for Fleet Week in San Francisco.  Pretty sure these guys didn't want us to miss out down the coast, and gave us our own show.] 

Nothing beats a sunny weekend day of people watching...until a guy on a segway shows up on the golf course...and then nothing beats that. 

wine: Beringer 2006 St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

This bottle of wine has been sitting in our wine frig for a few years.  We've been giving it a quarter turn every month as we do with all of our wine just dying for the "special" day that we can open this and enjoy it.  We've passed up on other occasions like "We just got a puppy" day or "It's a Tuesday!" or "Mike just got into an MBA program!"  None of those seemed quite right for that special day to enjoy this bottle.  When, oh, when would we finally open this?!?

[ENTER] Our 5th Wedding Anniversary! Yahoo! A perfect opportunity to open this bottle.  We brought this bottle with us to the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, where we were staying for our anniversary.  We enjoyed it in the Ritz Carlton's wine glasses, which were a bit smaller than normal wine glass size.  Can I just tell you that the wine glasses were a bit smaller than normal size Cabernet glasses so it was like we got to enjoy this bottle for twice as long.  Score! I am pretty sure that if could taste heaven, heaven would taste like 2006 Beringer Single Vineyard St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was delicious.  So smooth, so good, and yet again, I did not take any specific notes, so you are just going to have to believe me that heaven-in-wine-form tastes delightful.  

The end.

dusk

I love dusk. I especially love dusk overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  I also especially love dusk at the Pacific Ocean while staying at the Ritz Carlton, with a glass of wine, and my husband, celebrating our 5 years of wedded bliss. At dusk.  I love dusk. And all those other things too.

Did I mention that there was also a bag piper playing for about 30 minutes while the sun was setting?  I love the bag pipes too. He played Amazing Grace just as the sun dipped below the horizon.  Talk about a special moment, 5 years ago this very night, we were being serenaded by a bag piper of our own on our wedding day. I might have shed a {happy} tear or two.

All of these pictures were taken from our patio at the Ritz.  Our room was too perfect to leave and mingle around other folks...I could just sit back on my Adirondack chair at our personal gas fireplace, taking pictures of people - you know, in a non creepy, just trying to take pictures of silhouettes type of way.

After enjoying boatloads of seafood, we capped off the night off with s'mores on our patio listening to the waves.

Have I told you lately?

...That we love the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay? Seriously, I think this might be heaven on earth.  And you know what the best part is? It's just about a half hour drive down the coast from San Francisco, yet it feels a world away.

Adirondack chairs placed at the 18th green make for a wonderful way to welcome any golfer off the links, and take in some sunshine.  It's absolutely wonderful. We took my parents here as well in September and I think it was one of their favorite days of the trip.   

half moon bay

When my parents were visiting, we went to Half Moon Bay. We enjoyed lunch at the Ritz, along with the views, the beach and the relaxation that comes with being at the Ritz Carlton. I could spend every day here forever and ever. and if you ever get a chance to go to Half Moon Bay's Ritz Carlton, I suggest you make a stop to eat the fish tacos at the restaurant by the golf course. seriously, delish.]

[Mike and I hanging out on the beach right below the fairway on the Ocean Course]

[these are the best seats to watch the golfers finish up on the 18th hole.]


[and this is the BEST spot to soak in the sunshine]

[all the rooms on the first level have an outdoor gas fireplace. and i call that wonderful.]

[my parents really liked it here.]

[the entrance. look real close and you'll find a whole gaggle of Audi's. they were having an Audi golf tournament that day.]

[hanging out at the Ritz]