Meeting a long-lost friend for dinner in La Jolla proved to be a royal So-Cal experience. After being picked up in a limo at the hotel, I was whisked to the Med at La Valencia Hotel for the evening sunset and an ocean view table. While catching up and talking non-stop til I was hoarse, we shared lovely courses of sea bass and garden vegetables highlighted by a local Foley Chardonnay.

In our conversation, we decided that Barcelona gets high marks for its liveliness, 24-hour living, and Miro scenery, while Sorrento despite many tourists was one of my top picks in Europe for its intimacy and striking setting.

We made plans to meet in Berlin to catch the art scene or go to an opera together in the near future. This weekend gave me multiple opportunities to renew old friendships and to discover many common interests through our conversations. If you haven’t made the effort, please think about getting in touch with someone you haven’t seen for a while. It’s one of the best investments you can make, and don’t forget: life is short.

In case you were wondering, the chauffeur advised me, “We people refer to the hotel as La V”. I was promptly returned to my hotel for a good night’s sleep…to dream about the magic carpet chauffeur-driven car and to kick-start the endorphins by conjuring up the next trip. These thoughts brought a perfect ending to this stimulating, fun-filled weekend to San Ysidro, La Jolla, and Pine Valley.