CUCINA CARA MIA.......Random thoughts from "my dear kitchen" about food, travel, Italy, San Diego and life!

Monday, November 10, 2008

I LEFT SAN DIEGO..IT WAS 82 DEGREES...AND FLEW TO...























Rapid City, South Dakota, where a blizzard had practically shut down the city. My best friend of 45 years lives there with her family. I needed a little escape from my life here in San Diego and I have never been to South Dakota, so I planned a trip over the long weekend.

She lives in the Black Hills, home to many historical sites, as well as a lot of wildlife. Deer were everywhere. We took her two grandchildren to Mount Rushmore. We visited a beautiful Native American museum. Her grandchildren are half Sioux Indian. The second photo is a case filled with all types of beads that Native Americans use to make amazing jewelry, ceremonial clothing, and other adornments. Doesn't it look like bowls of candy!
Linda and I drove to Deadwood on Sunday, an old western town, that now offers gambling and beautiful mountain scenery. They got 4 feet of snow in the blizzard, We had breakfast at Diamond Lil’s Gambling Emporium, owned by Kevin Costner…All of his movie memorabilia lined the walls.. Of course, we did some shopping…and visited the graves of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.

Do you find that when you get together with old friends, you talk about the old days? Linda found the journal she brought on our trip to Europe... We were laughing and remembering all the fun experiences we had at the ripe young page of 19…..the people we met, the weird food we had to eat (because we were so poor), the fights we had and the guys we fell in love with after spending one night on a very crowded train with them.

Later in the evening we discussed our wrinkles, covering our grey hair, menopause and belly fat. Sound fascinating?…..NOT!.

South Dakota is a beautiful place, especially in the snow…it was great reminiscing with Linda, but I needed to get back to my warm weather, sure enough we landed, the sun was shining and it was a lovely 68 degrees. Home!

5 comments:

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Hahahaha...your conversation totally sounds fascinating indeed. :-) I love playing catch up with friends I don't get to see often. And the fact that she had a journal from your Euro Adventure - priceless!!

Sounds like you had a good, albeit nippy, little holiday. Good for you!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

I'm so glad you got to go visit your old friend. I see my best friend of 44 years at least once a week and we STILL talk about old times! So great that you are still friends! Twyla

Sabina said...

It's so great to get away. What wonderful photos and great times that can only be spent with much loved old friends!!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Fun trip and wonderful photos! It looked a lot like Colorado. One thing about cold weather --it's good fro hot flashes ..lol!

~j~ said...

oh my what a fun trip for you and what extreme weather changes. It's still warm here! Where is our winter?!
:)
julia