My mom and I have started a tradition in the last couple years of a weekend getaway to the East Bay together. My mom grew up in Berkeley and Piedmont (I spent a fair amount of my younger years there, too) and there are so many amazing memories. We always stay at the Claremont Hotel, which is so gorgeous in a big, grand, traditional way. In addition to its beauty, the hotel has a place in our family lore. My mom ran around on the roof of the hotel with her good friend Wendy at age 4 or 5 while my grandmother had her hair done at the salon inside. And my mom and her sisters used to slide down the tube-like fire escapes they had on the outside of the hotel until they were caught by the manager who locked them in at the bottom and ran a hose from the top to teach them a lesson. There is even a photograph inside the hotel showing these old fire escapes and explaining how they had to be taken down because of the neighborhood children. Ahem.
This trip we went by my grandparents old house in Piedmont, which I remember very well. I love old houses. And the ones in Piedmont are truly gorgeous.
The front door of my grandparents house:
The house across the street:
The Claremont Country Club, a popular family gathering spot:
Wendy's house:
The bear statue in the park down the street from my grandparent's house:
And, just because, tulips. In early February.
