A Cameo Appearance, Part 1

A few weeks ago, we were feeling in need of a getaway. I had heard about and met the innkeepers of a bed and breakfast about 25 minutes' drive from home. It's a huge mansion on a hill overlooking a valley through which we drive on the way to the Big City. We'd almost made reservations once, and then backed off because of the price. But this time Husband suggested we take the plunge and go experience the place.

The B&B has seven suites, each decorated according to a regional theme: French, German, Greek, Spanish, and so on. After quite some deliberation on my part--Husband didn't care which one we stayed in--we reserved the Greek suite.

An aubergine color with crisp white trim, the suite was lovely. Its french doors opened out to the patio around the pool, into which a waterfall spilled over massive volcanic boulders. A tour of the room showed that the innkeepers had thought of every detail, from a set of steps to help us climb up onto the high carved canopied bed, to the soaps made right there at the B&B, to the inviting whirlpool bath.  (I don't want to break the spell here, but I should probably mention that the whirlpool engine was so enthusiastic, there was water all over the marble floor when we were done sitting in the bath.)

The tough thing for me was that it was so lovely inside, but also so lovely outside. How do you decide what to do? How do you choose a place to hang out in a limited amount of time? It would have been much easier if it had been rotten weather outdoors, and we could've sat in our wingback chairs and watched one of the many videos (none rated worse than PG) from the mansion's video library.

Or we could've left our suite and sat in the huge leather armchairs of the in-home theater, watching the video on the huge screen with surround sound. Or we could've played chess by the spiral staircase leading up to the chef's dining room. Or played the piano. Or made popcorn. Or listened to music and taken a nap. And so on.

As I said, every detail was thought of for our comfort.  There were truffles under the dome of the cheese dish on the bedside table.

The toilet paper was pleated and folded with the mansion insignia on the sticker holding it in place. And yes, it was indeed the softest of toilet paper available! And the shower--a lovely marble-lined shower with a rain shower. Luxurious!

Meals at the mansion are significant events. We sat at a table by a window overlooking the valley, just off the kitchen. I could watch Chef Penny working in her kitchen. Her salads were scrumptious! Being teetotalers, I got a bottle of lovely Washington apple cider to go with my meal. It wasn't as fizzy as Martinelli's, and it was sweet and delicious.

My entree was a vegetarian-style pasta with all manner of vegetables and feta cheese.

Husband had rice with a vegetable topping that included asparagus, which is just starting into harvest in these parts, and chunky mashed potatoes. Once you count in the delicious fresh, warm artisan bread and dipping oil, we were so full that dessert was an impossibility.

The next morning the innkeepers dropped off fresh coffee and Danishes straight out of the oven on a tray at our bedroom door. An hour later, breakfast was served upstairs, beginning with a fruit-and-nut cup and fresh squeezed orange juice.

Following that opening salvo, along came the quiche with sausages, vegetarian for us.  I think I've never had a more delicious vegetable quiche in my life, flavored wonderfully in a cornmeal crust and topped with tomato and fresh basil.

So now you've seen the inside. My next post will take you along with us to see the rest of the story...outside the mansion!