2024 In Review

Happy New Year friends. What a busy end of year we had! Since I did not get to blog much in 2024, I thought I would do a year in review. I really hope to get back into blogging. We are hoping to spend more time in Paris and well I can see really wanting to share! So to start, here are some highlights of 2024.

January 2024

We started 2024 with an amazing trip to Mexico. We stayed at the gorgeous Villa Del Palmar which is in Punta Sam, about 40 minutes north of Cancun. Cancun is an easy trip for us from JFK so we love the convenience and pretty much guaranteed nice, warm weather. The Villa Del Palmar has a private beach, numerous pools and incredible food. We also took a private snorkeling trip to the local marine park which has an underwater sculpture garden. It was a fantastic trip!

February 2024

February we stayed closer to home but had some fun ski trips to Vermont. In Mount Snow we rented a house with some other couples for a fun ski weekend. Towards the end of the month we headed to Stowe which has a charming village and some challenging skiing. We love the Green Mountain Inn right in Stowe village.

March 2024

Towards the end of March we headed to Japan! It was the start of cherry blossom season and we took a two week tour. We flew out of JFK – landed in Seoul and then on to Tokyo. This made our travels too long frankly (we flew over Tokyo only to come back…). Next time we’ll book our own flights. Fortunately Seoul is a modern airport and with our Priority Pass we had access to some nice lounges.

April 2024

Our trip went into April – here was our itinerary:

Tokyo – We spent several days in Tokyo visiting the major palaces and shrines (Senso Ji below), shopping areas (Shibuya crossing and Akihabara for anime) and visiting parks with gorgeous cherry blossoms. We then took the bullet train to the Hakone area (Mt. Fuji).

Mount Fuji and Hakone – the weather did not cooperate here but luckily we were able to explore a gorgeous sculpture garden with Picassos and many other major pieces of art. We also tried the Japanese Onsens (and yes we went in our birthday suits!).

Kyoto – we adored Kyoto and had plenty of time to explore on our own. We loved its winding canals, charming Gion district (even saw a few Geishas on their way to work in the tea houses), Nishiki food market and also explored the outskirts – the bamboo forest and monkey preserve. We took our own food tour and had a great time with a young couple from New Zealand.

Anothere favorite trip was the Inari temple – this is the gorgeous series of gates all in a laquered orange that go up the hillside. Truly a sight to see.

We also visited nearby Nara and the large buddha. We purchased some antique prints and a Baccarat figurine (we collect but our collection is not antique).

Osaka – Osaka is the food city and it did not disappoint. We had very high end sushi – the kind where the chef makes for you whatever he feels is the freshest. It was delicious! The Otamaki fish balls were fantastic too. We loved the energy of this city.

Hiroshima – Here we went to the Peace Park and museum. What a heartbreaking place – truly we can’t forget how important peace is to maintain! Hiroshima today is actually a bustling city so that was heartening.

From Hiroshima we also took a trip to Miyojima – the sacred gate and island nearby. It is a mystical place with tame deer that wander around seemingly not afraid of the human visitors.

From Hiroshima we moved back to Osaka and headed home. Japan will remain a favorite place of ours – I want to return to visit Okinawa and climb Mount Fuji.

May 2024

May’s biggest highlight was CG1’s graduation. Fellow parents – watching your child graduate from college is truly magical. What a journey! She thrived at her university and emerged such a polished young woman. Seeing her join a sorority, navigate off campus living and make life long friends is something we’ll treasure. Graduation in Vermont was gorgeous too – a warm but still crisp day, classic Vermont green and beautiful ceremony followed by a reception for the business school at one of the hotels on Lake Champlain really made the day. We enjoyed dinner at our favorite restaurant too and the girls and I had sushi graduation night after a wonderful but exhausting day!

May always brings my birthday, our anniversary, kids home from college, Mother’s Day and the opening of oshore club. This year it was fun to pick up CG2 who lived in the same dorm I lived in many years ago. It makes my heart sing to see our girls maturing and having such great college experiences.

June 2024

June is full swing at our shore club. We hosted family for BBQ ribs picnic style. We also started sailing and resumed our happy pace of heading to the club, beaching it, sailing or kayaking and meeting up with friends for dinners and “Happy Hours.”

July 2024

There is no better 4th of July than on our island…with a view of the fireworks that rivals anywhere else in the country this is a favorite day. July also meant clamming and the annual clambake and lobster dinner at the club. This year was a spectacular day.

July also was the month we adopted our two adorable rescue cats. Our hearts have been full with their presence as they joined our sweet dog Gloria.

August

August meant more sailing and beach. Where we are it also means summer is at its peak with gardens bursting with produce. We have a local farmer’s market that is adorable. Every two weeks there is live music, stands with local produce and other artisanal products. This August I made sure to make it every time.

September

CG2 headed to Italy in September – I was thrilled to see her emark on such an experience that was life changing for me many years ago. CG1 also chose Italy. Both girls came back well-traveled and with perspectives you can only glean from such experiences.

October

Fall in CT was gorgeous – we had spectacular weather and the leaves were glorious this year. We made sure to hike our local state park and enjoy our picturesque Main Street complete with its own pumpkin patch. The farmer’s market took on an autumn feel and we also closed our club for the season with an end of season Oktoberfest. This time of year is always bittersweet as we miss our friends that we tend to see only in the summer (or at least infrequently during the year).

November

November I headed to Italy to visit CG2. Mr SB could not get away from work, so it was a girls’ trip to remember. Here is my itinerary:

Milan: Arrived in Milan early in the morning. I stayed at the Hotel Sanpi not too far from the train station. My trick the first day in Europe is to stay up all day, eat a good meal and then head to bed early. I walked 28,000 steps that day! I visited the fantastic Duomo and accompanying museum, explored the antique shopping arcades and walked around near my hotel. That night I dined at Mama Rosa, a local restaurant where I had the monkfish. It was delicious!

Milan Day 2: Day 2 in Milan I visited the Teatro Alla Scala which is stunning. Mr. SB and I had an opera subscription when we lived in NYC and we really adore opera (but it has been awhile given our move to CT and raising two little girls…time to get back to it!). The Teatro is gorgeous and has a lovely museum too. I was very lucky as there was an event later that day and a quartet was practicing. Later that day I strolled over to the Via Monte Napoleone, where all the most chic boutiques are (Chanel, Versace etc.). Also explored Castello Sforzesco and the surrounding well to do neighborhood. Finished the day shopping as many other Milanese were doing – purchased a shearling coat trimmed in leather (very chic!). Another 28,000 steps!

Parma Day 3: CG2 was studying in Parma, Italy which is about an hour from Milan. I took the train late morning and met her. We walked to my lodging which was the Palazzo Rosa De La Prati, one of my most favorite hotels ever. The De La Prati family have deep roots in Parma and you’ll see their name at the gorgeous museum at the heart of Parma. The hotel was like staying in a charming home. My shutters opened out onto the square with the famous Duomo facing it. I enjoyed coffee every morning watching Parma citizens bring their dogs to frolic while enjoying the view. I visited the museum, The Galleria Nazionale, my first day which also includes a gorgeous restored theater and a great deal of stunning art.

Parma Day 4: Parma is known for Parmagiano Reggiano and Prosciutto ham. I booked a tour with Viator and to my delight only had three other participants on it – a Swedish couple and a younger American woman. Our guide was fantastic. First we visited the Parmagiano maker. The process is very rigid and followed to a t. At the end we sampled the cheese with some Lambrusco, the area’s local wine. Next up was the prosciutto maker, a darling man named Claudio. Claudio and his wife have been making prosciutto for decades. Apparently he no longer needs to work for income but he loves making the ham. I am not a huge meat eater but this was literally one of the most delicious foods I have ever consumed.

Parma Day 5: The Renaissance painter Caraveggio is very visible in Parma. His famous paintings can be found in the Duomo as well as throughout the city. My luck was that they had a special exhibit that took you through each of these stunning areas. Back in the states I have vowed to find out more about this artist – I found his work uplifting and full of color – not as heavy as some of the other painters of his time.

Day 6 – Como. After Alexia finished her classes, she and I took the train to Como. We stayed at the charming Como Luxury Suites. Each suite has a different decor. Our quarters had a decidedly feminine feel – perfect for a girls trip! We had some delicious spaghetti Carbonara at a local trattoria and headed to bed early.

Day 7 – We woke early and headed to the Villa Balbaniello, truly one of the most stunning places I have been in my life. Como is a dream. The water is a vivid blue and as luck would have it, we had snow so the surrounding mountains were snow capped. The climate is subtropical though so there are palm trees and still plenty of color. The Villa Balbaniello was built in the 1700s has had several owners but is now a museum. We took a taxi there (expensive!). As we arrived around 10, we were the only ones at first. It was spectacular – the statues and grounds overlooking the lake were like a postcard. The Villa Balbaniello is also where Bond movie Casino Royale was partly filmed. It is a must see if you are in Como. We took the bus back which was inexpensive and easy.

That afternoon we headed back to Milan to the gorgeous Relais & Chateau property, the Chateau Montfort. The Chateau Montfort is a classic, luxurious hotel perfectly located close to the Villa Monte Napoleone. With our luck, Christmas decorations had been put up in the area. That evening we dined at the hotel’s Rubacouri Restaurant which was delicious and perfect as the next day we needed to wake early for a trip to St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Day 8 St. Moritz & the Bernina Express – We woke early and met our tour. The tour begins in Milan and takes you into the Alps (stunning and especially on this beautiful, blue-sky day). We head to the charming and chic town of St. Moritz in Switzerland. The lakes around St. Moritz are clear and I can only imagine how beautiful they must be in the summer too. The town is lovely and there was enough snow that we could see people had been skiing. We shopped and ate lunch before heading out on the picturesque red train, the Bernina Express.

The Bernina Express heads through the Alps going through some of the most pristine and stunning areas I have ever seen. Right outside St. Moritz there are gorgeous lakes where people were hiking. Nearby is a lodge (I need to look up the name as I would love to return to hike here). The train ends up in Tirano, Italy. We returned to Milan that evening and ate at a trattoria close to our hotel. I headed back to New York the next day.

The following week brought Thanksgiving – our annual friendsgiving as well as visiting a relative’s gorgeous home for the actual Thanksgiving holiday. That Saturday we had our annual Christmas tree cutting at local tree farm, Maple Row. We tail gate beforehand with friends before heading out to find the perfect tree.

December 2024

December is a whirlwind. While I love Christmas, this year was tiring having just returned from Europe. I made sure to have at least two Saturdays watching corny Hallmark movies while I wrapped gifts. Christmas brought my in-laws who stay with us along with dinner for seventeen at our house! I have simplified the menu over the years – mostly dishes I can make ahead and then just reheat. Mr. SB makes a ham and a brisket on the Big Green Egg. All in all a lovely holiday.

New Year’s was a party at a local friend’s home and finally time to rest a bit!

A full year with many highlights!