LINCOLN, NEBRASKA…THE CAPITAL

 We like to visit state capitals and their capitols.  We did so in Nebraska today.

A few things were of interest to me.  One, the legislature here is a unicameral body, not two like every other state in the Union, house and senate.  The members also seem to be very accessible to the public.

Two, the state capitol building was as majestic as most European cathedrals, at least from the inside.  Also, it is a state law that no building can be taller than the Capitol building. The gold-tiled dome is currently being restored.

                                                            The ceiling and wall art was outstanding 

                                    The outside rose garden

                                There were mosaics everywhere 

Three, not trying to stereotype, but people with a Czech heritage really like to talk!  We met two separate people who work at the Capitol building who took a nice chunk of time to tell us all about the state legislature, the building itself and the Nebraska University football team (who they wish had a better coach, a better quarterback, a better something or other.)  We enjoyed our time with each of them and may run into them again at the game on Saturday.

Lincoln, NE

 Not much happened today.  We caught a cab from the hotel to the San Diego International Airport.  From San Diego we flew first to Dallas and then on up to Omaha.  We are essentially on our way home but are swinging through Nebraska to see the sites and to watch some football.  We flew American Airlines which has cancelled over 3,000 flights in the last 5 days, but we saw none of that.  The planes were essentially on time and fully staffed.  We were lucky but it still feels like we've spent all day in airplanes and airports.

Hotel Del Coronado (5)

The last full day at "The Del", a great place to sit back and soak it in, and a place that Sandy and I hope to return someday.  To celebrate our last day we decided to eat at a garage.  In the town of Coronado the is a "Little Italy", and one restaurant "Garage Buona Forchetta" (Garage of the Good Fork).  It is a repurposed auto repair garage.  Still looks like a garage, cars and auto product signs throughout.  The building is a mixture of Italian food market, Italian wine market and an Italian restaurant.  

I honestly wanted just a bowl of pasta with some bolognese sauce.  Our very Italian server, with an assist from Sandy convinced me to go with the risotto and osso buco.  A good decision but I'm still craving some good old italo-american pile of spaghetti.  Of course, I can get that spaghetti just about anywhere, but a well prepared risotto not everyone can do that.  This faithfully authentic restaurant did just that.

Sandy had Penne Pesto

This is a Fiat that the owner actually drives.  When he's at the restaurant it is parked in the middle of the al fresco dining area.  Certainly makes everything feel Italian.

• I am checking out a $750 Italian Piedmont.  I couldn't get Sandy to agree to this one.

Last Sunset in Coronado

 We walked the beach this evening to soak in the Pacific…I’m sure we are not in California (I do not like California).

Last hurrah at the resort

 

Goodbye, del, goodbye.  We’d like to come back.

Hotel del Coronado

 Hotel del Coronado

We had another relaxing day without anything planned so we took a self guided 2.5 hour audio historical tour of the hotel and the grounds.  It was well worth the time and money.  We learned a lot and appreciated the little vignettes that were included.

Here is where we started…

This remarkable hotel was built in 11 months in 1887 and was the largest wooden building in the country. With no Home Depot or Lowe’s nearby, they had their own wood mill and brick making factory on the grounds.   

Families would come here and spend months, renting several rooms for the entire family and their staff (nannies, nurses, teachers).  There were 475 rooms and only 70 bathrooms.  But to make up for that, children were treated to pony rides and a petting zoo with parrots, monkeys, ostriches etc.  

I cannot imagine how much luggage would have been necessary for a whole family for such an extended vacation!  Most came clear from the east coast.

Many famous people vacationed here…like Babe Ruth…

Marilyn Monroe

President and Mrs. Roosevelt 

And here is a list of others…

I have a feeling that famous people haven’t stopped coming here but I believe their privacy is a bit more protected now.  At least I hope so.

This is the Crown Room which is a large dining room but is not being used for dining during our pandemic.  The high ceiling woodwork is phenomenal and the room is huge.

This is where a small orchestra would play for the diners.

This is the coronation window…beautiful.

From the mezzanine overlooking the lobby.

This is the Babcock & Story Bar with a Brunswick bar ( the second one we found on this trip!)

Below is a small cottage on the property that Wallis Simpson and her husband (high in the naval military) lived in for awhile…she divorced that husband and married another husband then divorced him and then fell in love with the Prince of Wales who wanted to make her the queen of England when he became the King ( King Edward VIII) but since he was the head of the Church of England, it would be too scandalous  for the king to marry a divorcée, especially an American, so he abdicated the throne, married his true love and lived happily ever after, keeping the title of Prince of Wales and Wallis was the Princess of Wales).  That was quite the news story of the day.  Maybe this is similar to Prince Harry and Meghan leaving the royal life behind.

This was the special china that was served for a reception of the Prince of Wales (while Wallis was living here with her first husband). We think there was a little tête-à-tête here before she even divorced her first two husbands that led to the relationship that eventually led to Edward’s abdication.  

We ended the day with a spectacular meal and a beautiful sunset.

Hotel Del Coronado (4)

Up this morning and out into the town for coffee and a crumpet.  We then took a stroll through town enjoying the very un-California feeling of this quaint city.  With the cold weather and cloudy skies it felt as much like Door County Wisconsin as it did a Pacific Coast City just 30 miles from Tijuana, Mexico.

Sandy and the Dragon

We ended the day with an outstanding meal at Serēa, another James Beard recognized restaurant. This is the premier restaurant at the Hotel Del Coronado.  As expected, the food and service at this restaurant was flawless.  It was a nice relaxing way to end a fun day at the Del. 

Sandy's beef filet.

The life cycle of my Baja Red Snapper

Pumpkin Mousse for desert