The perfect date on the Central Coast of California

Written by Dan K. O'Leary


Dating in San Luis Obispo

Welcome torepparttar doldrums of dating, where your single ship drifts aimlessly without wind or direction. Sailing analogies aside, meetingrepparttar 134011 perfect person in San Luis Obispo can be challenging, and keeping things fresh can be ever harder. Asrepparttar 134012 resident expert, I’ve done my fair share of dating in this town, as some of you may know for better or worse. So, how have I been so successful? What isrepparttar 134013 secret to dating in San Luis Obispo?

Meeting your mate Let’s start with meetingrepparttar 134014 right person. Whether you are at Poly Dolly, or alumni still kicking it around town, meetingrepparttar 134015 right person is all about location. Yes like that old business cliché, where you go will dictate who you’ll meet. So if you are a lonely student, then go and spend some time downtown at Uptown Espresso, or hang out inrepparttar 134016 University Union.

If you want to breakrepparttar 134017 ice, play it cool. When dealing with college students in a casual atmosphere, ask questions like “What are you studying?” Basically, take some time to introduce yourself, and start making connections. Don’t be surprised to find out that you are both taking intro to bowling next quarter, or maybe you both are inrepparttar 134018 ski club. Speaking of clubs, joining organizations likerepparttar 134019 ski club will help you meet like minded people. The secret to meeting someone you have something in common with is by going out of your way to join some new groups, a new class, and saying “Hello”.

Now for those of you out ofrepparttar 134020 dorms and constant presence of members ofrepparttar 134021 opposite sex, meeting your dream date can initially appear more demanding. While some may claim thatrepparttar 134022 bar scene in downtown SLO is overrated, there are hidden gems where allrepparttar 134023 hotties congregate. Case in point, on a recent Wednesday, I stumbled into Grappolo, and was greeted by a ration of two stunning beauties for every one scruffy looking guy. Onrepparttar 134024 flipside, all you single ladies (Yes, they do exist in this town) should check out Corner View on a Friday night. Not only will you get away fromrepparttar 134025 token college boys, but you can sample their extensive drink selection, and enjoy a more cultured experience.

Drakensberg tour

Written by Andrew Pieterse


This Drakensberg story is one of retreat, beauty, relaxation and good eating. The drive towardsrepparttar Drakensberg Mountains swept overrepparttar 134010 undulating foothills down side-roads that snake along meandering countryside to our first destination Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse. Cleopatra is tucked away inrepparttar 134011 beautiful Kamberg valley inrepparttar 134012 Drakensberg Mountains, it is a gourmet getaway where attention to detail is evident everywhere. The dining room and lounge are extended over a trout-filled dam that looks out acrossrepparttar 134013 water torepparttar 134014 stunning mountains ofrepparttar 134015 Southern Berg. It is a magical place - a secluded luxury hideaway whererepparttar 134016 most important factor is not to come here if you are on a diet!

The build up to dinner was an event in itself with allrepparttar 134017 guests meeting at 7pm for drinks and given an entertaining, detailed account ofrepparttar 134018 gourmet meal that was to follow by Richardrepparttar 134019 chef and owner. Everything is hand prepared onrepparttar 134020 premises, some ofrepparttar 134021 sauces (the highlight of most plates) take up to three days in creation. It's three fabulous starters each, in our case a plate of meltingly succulent scallops, then a rich, baked butternut soup with a dollop of creamy pesto and a plate of Mozambican king prawns. A small freshening sorbet provided Richardrepparttar 134022 time for final preparations ofrepparttar 134023 main course, an elaborate plate of choice lamb cuts on rosti with three different chutneys, and rounded off with a rich chocolate concoction, perfectly offset by homemade orange-infused vanilla ice cream.

Breakfastrepparttar 134024 next morning followed in a similar style and although difficult to leave we knew that we had to walk some of this food off or we would never makerepparttar 134025 next meal. That food was possiblyrepparttar 134026 best I have ever eaten but seriously doubt having survived 2 days of this non stop eating.

Kamberg hosts a site of Bushman rock art with relative easy access, a stunning walk including a waterfall, and particularly well preserved examples of Bushman paintings. It is here thatrepparttar 134027 "Rosetta Stone" of San art first provided archaeologists withrepparttar 134028 key to interpretingrepparttar 134029 symbolism ofrepparttar 134030 paintings as spiritual in content - showing how hunters gained power fromrepparttar 134031 animals that they killed. Its all professionally explained by guides and although I had seen these paintings before I was again moved.

The road to our next stoprepparttar 134032 Antbear turned out to be just a little hop away mainly because Richard had guided us viarepparttar 134033 back roads. The Antbear Guest House is one of those seldom found gems hidden away in a network of rural roads inrepparttar 134034 Drakensberg foothills. The little white washed farmhouse has been converted into a place of artistic elegance. It is full of hand sculptured wooden furniture, a labor of Conny and Andrews love. Andrew greeted us dressed in very flamboyantly African dress and welcomed us with a cup of tea. He is a humorous character with a passion for entertaining, conversation and alternative living.

Andrew is a dab hand inrepparttar 134035 kitchen too. The food is very different to that of Cleopatra definitely not as rich but no less of an experience. Supper wasrepparttar 134036 best Indian food I have ever eaten with a selection of curries, papdams, onion badjis, sambals and naan bread to boot. Andrew quite likesrepparttar 134037 company inrepparttar 134038 kitchen and its really different watching this kind of cooking. Its like a circus as he casually jugglesrepparttar 134039 egg turner or adds a handfull of spice to some frying onions. The hosts eat withrepparttar 134040 guests at a single table with candle chandeliers and a fireplace. Its very welcoming indeed. For desert Andrew whipped up caramelized cape gooseberries in whiskey with hint of time. Whyrepparttar 134041 Antbear is so affordable is a bit of a mystery me and till todayrepparttar 134042 Antbear is my favourite guesthouse anywhere.

Armed with Conny’s picnic lunch setoff to Giants Castle Nature Reserve. Giants Castle is a spectacular part ofrepparttar 134043 Drakensberg and one of my favorite regions. Its has less tourism than most other parts and I have always wondered why as it is about as beautiful as it comes. We wanted an easy walk so opted for Worlds View a 14 km trail with a spectacular 360° view at its end. We had lunch and soaked inrepparttar 134044 views and got back to Giants Castle Camp in time for a well-earned cappuccino and piece of cheesecake.

Dinner back atrepparttar 134045 Antbear turned out to be a Moroccan evening. Againrepparttar 134046 food was excellent. Andrews advice and enthusiasm inspires confidence and we reorganised some of our plans The following day was supposed to be a visit torepparttar 134047 battlefields but I had forgotten aboutrepparttar 134048 Drakensberg Boys Choir. Andrew arranged tickets for us and this is really something not to be missed under any circumstances. The day was spent inrepparttar 134049 Champagne Valley another beautiful part ofrepparttar 134050 Drakensberg.



Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use