A romantic get away :-) Yep i liked that one best from my list. She always wanted to get away for a weekend, to stay in a resort and be pampered. So this anniversary is gonna be that weekend. Just needed to decide the place and resort. Eight Gables Inn, Gatlinburg in Smoky Mountains was the place to be.. where we are gonna celebrate our second anniversary.
We were really surprised to realise that this was the first trip in US where it is going to be just the two of us. Let me make it more interesting, I gave her one more gift. I promised her i will be less of a control freak, less of a hyper active person for the whole weekend. No maps with spots which we need to visit, no yelling at her to get ready at the exact time, no intention of doing every single thing i have planned for the trip - when nothing is planned :-) that risk is avoided.
So with just the map of the way to Eight Gables Inn, we started at around 11am Friday, April 6. It was a beautiful drive. Driving through Carolina and Tennessee. On the drive through I-40 W the spring was too
beautiful and tempting. "Lets stop and take some photos". "What" the control freak inside me yelled. We never stop till we reach our destination, thats me :-). But not today. We stopped at 3-4 times on our way, we were taking photos in front of someone's home, back yard, being barked at by their dogs. It was real fun. It sure made Vini happy. "I can't even believe this is my husband".
In between Google maps confused us. We roamed around 30 min trying to find the way to Gatlinburg as soon as we entered Tennessee. After finding
out the right way by calling the resort, we thought we will have lunch. We had decided we are going to have lunch from some American restaurant only, no fast food or desi hotel. And we got one too. "The Bean Trees", on Tennessee border in I-40W was just the place. It was started by 4 women and now 2 of the founding ladies continued to run it. The sign board inside the restaurant said "Bad Food, Slow Service, Great Place". I don't agree to the first, but the next 2 statements were right :-). We played Dominoes and had great food. It was really refreshing.
Eight Gables Inn, Bread & Breakfast was all that we were hoping for and more. Amazing room with fireplace, feathertop beds and a bathroom equipped with whirlpool tubs. Our suite was called "The Morning Glory". After checking in, we went to Gatlinburg downtown and shopped for
sometime. While walking through the town, we couldn't skip the "Old Times Photo" stores. We checked it out and this was an experience which was hard to resist. We had a blast shooting those photos. Vini just loved holding those guns and of course the fact that she was aiming at me. Even the photographer commented "Look at how happy she is to shoot at you!!". "Its just two years, i can't imagine what she will do after some more". This sure was the highlight of our trip.
We retired to our room at night where our desserts where waiting. After slipping on our robes we spent some time relaxing in the whirlpool tub. This sure was turning out to be worth the money we spent.
We went to see the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in spring, to see all the trees blossoming. But it had other plans. It snowed so heavily on Friday night and Saturday, we could hardly get to Dining room for Saturday, April 8, morning breakfast. We were greeted with a hot cup of
coffee/tea and then by a hearty breakfast. It sure cleared Vini's impression that Americans eat only cornflakes for breakfast.
After that it was massage time. It was our first experience but surely will not be the last. It was really relaxing and an amazing experience. Eric and Marcel, of course lady for me and guy for Vini, had magic in their hands. The board in which we could write comments were filled with one like "Eric, will you marry me","You guys are awesome" :-).
Saturday night, we had our candle light romantic dinner. We don't know whether we had a "romantic" dinner or not. We were our usual self :-) chatting away of all the stupid things like we do when we are alone. We hope were not a disturbance for the other couple, on their honeymoon, having a "romantic" dinner :-). After the four course dinner, we ordered our champagne to the room. Yeah!!! I know the people who know us are raising
their eye brows. Champagne and us :-). Well it was in the package, and we sure didn't want to miss it. I opened it and spraying it all over. I always wanted to do that!!! We tasted it and as i expected hated it :-). Sorry champagne lovers, i don't think we are not fit for the champagne rather than otherwise.
Sunday morning, we went to Clingman's dome in Smoky Mountain National Park. It was an amazing drive, with mountains fully covered with snow. We stopped in between for a trail down to the river, for playing in the snow and
ice. Once we reached the Clingman's dome after a tiring 2 mile hike in the cold, we called it a day for our trip :-). It was time for start our journey back.
On our way back, relaxed me was making all the mistakes i usually don't. Not driving carefully, forgetting wallet in the car while going out, forgetting to take the credit card after paying. "What is happening to You?" "Well, you wanted me relaxed, non hyper. This is that Aneesh". "Enough of that gift, please come back to your normal behavior". Yeah, at that moment we realised vacation is over :-) and its time to get back to our normal life.
Before we checked out of the Inn, we were writing our memories into the guest book in our room. I browsed through it and a couple of entries were hard to forget. One was written by a couple who had just lost their young son. "It is the first time we are alone after our great loss. This place has given us an atmosphere where we can grieve our son without any disturbance. Thanks for all the help in getting us back to normal." Another one was "We are celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary. Thanks for making it really special."......
55 years :-) well 2 over, 53 to go.... we can sure give it a try...
So with just the map of the way to Eight Gables Inn, we started at around 11am Friday, April 6. It was a beautiful drive. Driving through Carolina and Tennessee. On the drive through I-40 W the spring was too
beautiful and tempting. "Lets stop and take some photos". "What" the control freak inside me yelled. We never stop till we reach our destination, thats me :-). But not today. We stopped at 3-4 times on our way, we were taking photos in front of someone's home, back yard, being barked at by their dogs. It was real fun. It sure made Vini happy. "I can't even believe this is my husband".In between Google maps confused us. We roamed around 30 min trying to find the way to Gatlinburg as soon as we entered Tennessee. After finding
out the right way by calling the resort, we thought we will have lunch. We had decided we are going to have lunch from some American restaurant only, no fast food or desi hotel. And we got one too. "The Bean Trees", on Tennessee border in I-40W was just the place. It was started by 4 women and now 2 of the founding ladies continued to run it. The sign board inside the restaurant said "Bad Food, Slow Service, Great Place". I don't agree to the first, but the next 2 statements were right :-). We played Dominoes and had great food. It was really refreshing.Eight Gables Inn, Bread & Breakfast was all that we were hoping for and more. Amazing room with fireplace, feathertop beds and a bathroom equipped with whirlpool tubs. Our suite was called "The Morning Glory". After checking in, we went to Gatlinburg downtown and shopped for
sometime. While walking through the town, we couldn't skip the "Old Times Photo" stores. We checked it out and this was an experience which was hard to resist. We had a blast shooting those photos. Vini just loved holding those guns and of course the fact that she was aiming at me. Even the photographer commented "Look at how happy she is to shoot at you!!". "Its just two years, i can't imagine what she will do after some more". This sure was the highlight of our trip.
We retired to our room at night where our desserts where waiting. After slipping on our robes we spent some time relaxing in the whirlpool tub. This sure was turning out to be worth the money we spent.We went to see the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in spring, to see all the trees blossoming. But it had other plans. It snowed so heavily on Friday night and Saturday, we could hardly get to Dining room for Saturday, April 8, morning breakfast. We were greeted with a hot cup of
coffee/tea and then by a hearty breakfast. It sure cleared Vini's impression that Americans eat only cornflakes for breakfast.After that it was massage time. It was our first experience but surely will not be the last. It was really relaxing and an amazing experience. Eric and Marcel, of course lady for me and guy for Vini, had magic in their hands. The board in which we could write comments were filled with one like "Eric, will you marry me","You guys are awesome" :-).
Saturday night, we had our candle light romantic dinner. We don't know whether we had a "romantic" dinner or not. We were our usual self :-) chatting away of all the stupid things like we do when we are alone. We hope were not a disturbance for the other couple, on their honeymoon, having a "romantic" dinner :-). After the four course dinner, we ordered our champagne to the room. Yeah!!! I know the people who know us are raising
their eye brows. Champagne and us :-). Well it was in the package, and we sure didn't want to miss it. I opened it and spraying it all over. I always wanted to do that!!! We tasted it and as i expected hated it :-). Sorry champagne lovers, i don't think we are not fit for the champagne rather than otherwise.Sunday morning, we went to Clingman's dome in Smoky Mountain National Park. It was an amazing drive, with mountains fully covered with snow. We stopped in between for a trail down to the river, for playing in the snow and
ice. Once we reached the Clingman's dome after a tiring 2 mile hike in the cold, we called it a day for our trip :-). It was time for start our journey back.On our way back, relaxed me was making all the mistakes i usually don't. Not driving carefully, forgetting wallet in the car while going out, forgetting to take the credit card after paying. "What is happening to You?" "Well, you wanted me relaxed, non hyper. This is that Aneesh". "Enough of that gift, please come back to your normal behavior". Yeah, at that moment we realised vacation is over :-) and its time to get back to our normal life.
Before we checked out of the Inn, we were writing our memories into the guest book in our room. I browsed through it and a couple of entries were hard to forget. One was written by a couple who had just lost their young son. "It is the first time we are alone after our great loss. This place has given us an atmosphere where we can grieve our son without any disturbance. Thanks for all the help in getting us back to normal." Another one was "We are celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary. Thanks for making it really special."......
55 years :-) well 2 over, 53 to go.... we can sure give it a try...
7 comments:
Its been sometime since i blogged and thot will scribble down the memories of our recent trip... May b this will be a revival of my blogging :-)
Wonderful way to celebrate your anniverssary! Yeah and make sure you do something special for vini for the next 50 years ...So 50 more blogs to go !!!
ini ulla 53 varshamavum inagne ulla komalitharangal kanikkanam ennano nee parayunne
sho....ee kalyanam kazhichavanmaarude oro buddhimuttukal !
:p
ps:- you guys rock ! awesome times.. living it over again and again ..w/e u r :)
& i guess u folks have enough gas to take to many more than another mere 53 !
Wasted an entire bottle of champagne!!!!!!!! bloody fools!!! Athu to-go eduthu ingu trivandrathottu ayachhu koodaayirunno :o)
Well, guyz... jokes apart... seems that was some awesome anniversary you celebrated :-) All the best for each of the rest, and hey, as I mentioned earlier, none of your albums should close without atleast one snap with me in it ;-)
Sounds like a great time spent together.... And really nice snaps.. Esp the ones where the shooting happens.. :-))
Hello Aneesh and Vini ...Wow nice blogg ...u guys are made for each other ...You guys are becoming younger and younger as days goes …hope to see many more albums ...
Thanks for all the comments friends :-) we love u all
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