lake tahoe - the beginning

i want to tell you all about the FABULOUS time that was had yesterday. and all about lake tahoe. so where do i start?

i started writing this morning and then got way-laid by time. so here i am at the san fran airport, waiting to board a plane to new york, now i have a little time to catch you up with the weekend frivolities at south lake tahoe.

i drove up on friday - if anyone gets a chance, don't fly - take the car, i highly recommend it. the drive through the mountains was simply breath-taking, even more so when i'm trying to take pictures and realise i'm almost driving off the road. so best bet is to just pull over, or travel with someone. ha!!

this is the view you get through the windscreen when you see the lake for the first time.



just realised i didn't actually take any photos of the town itself. oops!! so you'll just have to visit and see. i checked into the blue lake inn - about a block from the lake and two from the harrah's casino, where julie and co were staying.

caught up later in the evening with a few people for drinks. met some of vince's friends from chicago - who you will hear more of later. it was a relatively early night, just settling in.

saturday - the first full day. the girlie side of the bridal party went off to be primped and painted so a select few went for a bit of a hike to vikingsholm castle. after a navigational malfunction (i'm not blaming you tanya - but lisa did fire you) the convoy made it to to the trail and started down hill after a few pics.



the "castle" was completed over 6 months in 1929. the woman who had it built (i've momentarily forgotten her name) loved the style of the viking homes she had seen in europe so commissioned one of her own in northern california, overlooking lake tahoe. here's a few pics to get a taste. the first is from within the courtyard - guests would enter under the arches before being greeted at the front door.






this is the back of the castle, which overlooks the lake. all the rooms have marvellous views.


this is lisa of the lake. :)


saturday night was the rehearsal dinner. a mexican restaurant of course. great food, super company. i snapped only one with my camera - this is of my table, with the guests of honour. okay, here goes, robb, tanya, me, vince, julie (and then the uber-cool chicago crew - which is not to say that the l.a. contigent weren't equally as cool or uber) brian, jen, marv, grace, shaun and heather.