October 12, 2015: Elisa's Trip to Lancaster PA - Day 4

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 33 DAYS

What more could you ask for?!

It's Monday y'all! 

Today also happens to be Columbus Day...
in most of the USA -
Here are a couple of interesting FACTS:
Did you know that several states don't even recognize Columbus Day as a holiday (only 23 states observe Columbus Day as a federal holiday). Did you also know that certain cities such as Portland, St. Paul, and Albuquerque (and others) are among the towns that will be celebrating Indigenous People's Day instead.

Yep I'm the girl who likes to do it all!
Yesterday was a good and bad example of that...

We started off the day waking up at 3:45a (and still thinking that I was in Hawaii), 
jet lag has got nothing on me, as it was 12:45a in Hawaii!

We left the house and headed to the marathon start line in downtown Long Beach.
Traffic was beyond a huge mess as we approached the exit, runners & cyclists everywhere. And all stuck in traffic.

We finally parked with only minutes to spare.
We could hear the National Anthem being sung in the distance as we in loaded the bikes and put our helmets on.

Somehow we got in line before they started, but Dominic needed to use a port-a-potty = more delays...now back in line for real this time!
And the line (albeit the back of the line) was still getting to the start line, and we were moving.

Less than 24hrs from our return to SoCal the marathon ride was plenty of fun, and since it was still so early in the morning, it wasn't hotter than you know what quite yet...and while pedaling along, I had even run into another family representing the IPC (International Peace Choir)!

After crossing the finish line, we were each handed our medals and I was quite hungry!
It was time to refuel and get back on the road. 
We went a few blocks away to get Acai bowls for the road and headed off to the JPL event.

​Let me tell you:
The JPL was a total bust a roo. I mean a freakin waste of time and there I was getting more and more frustrated.
It was like we were in a time warp.

The day had started out so timely...not perfect, because there were small little hiccups along the way after hitting the mess of traffic, nothing big, just dumb and annoying.
But at this point time just seemed to be getting swallowed up!

We drove the intended 35 miles from Long Beach and at first couldn't seem to find JPL, driving round and round.
​Next I looked up with the issue was, and although in conjunction with CalTech, it is not located anywhere near the campus.

It was another 20 minutes away.

I had to pee, and I couldn't wait 20 more minutes, so we pulled over and ran into a market to use the toilets. Both the men's and the woman's was occupied ​- I don't know what these people were doing in these bathrooms, but HOLY CRAPOLIES they had no regard that other people might have to relive themselves and they took FOREVER!!!
I went in, took care of business, and came out right away, ready to continue and be on our way...

Well this short(ish) 20 minute drive swayed me into a short little snooze and then once we were about a block away, I woke up and saw all the mess of traffic/parking/and hoards of people - this did not make me happy.

If fact this totally stressed me out! I told Dave and Dominic that they should just get out and go see what this was all about and I didn't care if I missed it and just drove around in circles or found a store to hang out in.
I just did not want to deal with these crowds, this parking and the extreme heat that I was witnessing.

The boys decided that they didn't care and after all of the wasted time, we called the entire thing OFF!

Then heading to brunch at RFD (Real Food Daily), before swinging by Anaheim Hills to caravan with the rest of the folks ready to go to the Little Italy Festa in Downtown San Diego!

The event was very entertaining, and the weather so much more mild than in Orange County or Los Angeles. 
We walked around and looked at all of the fun street art, listened and danced around to the live music, checked out some of the vendors and eventually went to dinner...

Dinner was at the featured FOODIE FRIDAY and fabulous restaurant CIVICO 1845, located in the heart of Little Italy, and with some of the best traditional Italian food outside of NY and Italy!  

The cuties!

Delicious Gnocchi alla Pesto

OMG vegan Tartofu!!!

We were missing a few members of the Cali Clan, but we all had an amazing meal, and plan to do more family/holiday events at this new favorite restaurant!

What a FANTASTIC Day! 

I hope that you also had a good weekend, and have a good week to come.
I'll see you back here tomorrow,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN:
LANCASTER, PA

Hey Guys and Happy Columbus Day!!

Well, I'm still here in PA and will be making my way home after a scrumptious breakfast here at the Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast Inn, in Lititz, PA.

Gianna and I have called this lovely and cozy inn our home since arriving on Friday night.

Although I have been to Lancaster several times before, I never spent time in the town of Lititz.  What a delightful little town.  

Betcha didn't know it was named the "Coolest Town in America" in 2013!  That's right!

And I can attest to the fact that it is both charming and adorable with its many shops and events throughout the year.

In yesterday's blog, I went into great detail about the Lititz Chocolate Walk.  But, did you know that Lititz is also home to the oldest girls' boarding/day school, in the country.

​Linden Hall (across from the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery) is an independent day and boarding school for girls in grades 6-12 and was founded in 1746. It also has an Equestrian Education Program that offers a year round competitive training schedule.

 Here are 15 Cool Facts  
      About Lititz, PA

1. Lititz was named America's Coolest Small Town in an online survey by Budget Travel.

2.  Lititz was named in 1756 and incorporated in 1888.

​3. Lititz is located in Lancaster County, approximately 8 miles north of the city of Lancaster. Lititz Borough has a population of 9,385 people, and occupies a total area of 2.3 square miles. 

4. Lititz is home to many internationally known companies such as Susquehanna Bancshares, Wilbur Chocolate, Johnson & Johnson, Woodstream, Tait Towers, Clair Global, and Atomic Design.

5. Founded in 1861, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel bakery is the oldest commercial pretzel bakery in America and remains active today.

6. Wilbur Chocolate Company’s famous Wilbur Buds® were first introduced in 1894. A lesser-known candy from the Wilbur plant was not so successful.

7. In 1978, Muhammad Ali interrupted his training for his rematch with Leon Spinks to hold a press conference in Lititz, announcing his Muhammad Ali Crisp Crunch candy bar made by Wilbur Chocolate. 

8. The earliest tavern in Lititz was "Zum Anker," the sign of the anchor, built in 1764.  It was later rebuilt and added to in 1804, in 1848, and in 1930. Today, this four-story hotel is known as the "General Sutter Inn." 

​9. The Lititz area was traversed and inhabited many Centuries ago by Native Americans; namely, the Nanticokes.

10. In 1722, Christian Bomberger became the first known European settler in the Lititz area.

11. Lititz was founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1756 and was named after a castle in Bohemia near the village of Kunvald where the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church had been founded in 1457. 

12. Lititz has been holding a town-wide celebration of Independence Day since 1813. This annual event attracts many tourists and former residents that return for the annual Queen of Candles Pageant and fireworks display in Lititz Springs Park. 

​13. ​As of 2014, Lititz's population is 9,366 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 5.53 percent.

14. There are nearly 50 shops and more than 20 restaurants and eateries in Lititz.

15. ​During Second Fridays, local merchants in Lititz stay open late.  All across downtown, musicians, dancers, artists and entertainers can be found on the sidewalks, patios, and stores. Free parking is available on the streets and in the lots.

​Yesterday, was a totally fun day!  
Now, you know how much Tanya and I love to make itineraries and follow them. BUT....I am the cousin who does the most changing of my itineraries.  ooops!

Well, let me tell you what we DIDN'T CHANGE - our first day was completely according to the original itinerary, hitting the planned sites in New Jersey.  

But, as of yesterday, Gianna and I made some executive decisions to alter the plan.  We DID visit the Sturgis Pretzel bakery but DID NOT go to Dutch Wonderland.  Today, we were supposed to go to the Turkey Hill Experience, which we opted out of.  

Why?  Well, the weather here was just so gorgeous and with the glorious weather, and coziness of this Bed & Breakfast, both Gianna and I were just so relaxed that we decided to just stay put for most of the day.  

We walked around the grounds of this 35 acres property, romping, filming and snapping away!
 

I also had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing the owner of the Swiss Woods B&B, Debrah Morimann.  

She shared  lots of interesting information about her establishment, and her latest endeavor:
"8 Broads in the Kitchen" Cookbook, which is the joint effort of 8 Bed & Breakfast Inn owners throughout the country.

Stay tuned for the full video of my Lancaster Trip which will be uploaded onto the Travelin' Cousins' YouTube Channel next week!

Debrah Morimann, owner of Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast in Lititz during my interview with her.

Once again, it was a day of eating!!  A huge breakfast of French Toast, potatoes and sausage (in which I did not partake) along with a lovely fruit cup.

After breakfast, fresh brownies were set out for the guests - these I DID INDULGE IN!!

Homemade Brownies at Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast Inn

Later in the afternoon, it was back into the town of Lititz to Main Street and this time to
Cafe Chocolate for an early dinner.

Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a hot chocoholic! I've never ordered a hot chocolate with dinner, but there's always a first time, folks.  

​Along with my West African Peanut Chowder    (Butternut Squash . Sweet Potato Based Soup with Peanuts) and Tasty Sliced Smoked Chicken and Veggie Panini, I had a hot chocolate that was to die for!!!
Yum!!!
​

At Cafe Chocolate in Lititz, PA

with my hot chocolate mustache

Kelsey at the Long Island Game Farm yesterday

While me and Gianna were having a blast in Pennsylvania, Kelsey was with her dad at the Long Island Game Farm yesterday!!!  I miss you Kelsey!!!

What a great weekend here in Pennsylvania!!
It's on the road again after breakfast today - home to Long Island!

Enjoy your day, folks!!!

-E
xoxo

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