Calli's Crossing
The adventures of a food junkie and travel addict
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Alaska and the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver
Monday, May 13, 2024
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
I just got back from an incredible trip with Zahara. She turns 11 this summer, and as a huge Harry Potter fan, I knew the perfect gift for her would be a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks in Orlando! It was even better than I expected!
We spent four days and three nights at Universal's Endless Summer Resort--Surfside Inn and Suites. The hotel worked out perfectly. Staying onsite at one of the more budget friendly hotels was terrific. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, the staff was friendly, and the shuttles to/from the parks were frequent and convenient. We also loved cooling off in the pool after a long day at the parks.
Earlier this spring I enlisted my amazing sister-in-law Amy to help with the surprise for Z. Amy designed a letter from Professor McGonagall welcoming Zahara to Hogwarts. We printed a bunch of copies and put them around the fireplace.
It's hard to tell who was more excited--me or Zahara. We both were giddy with anticipation for our trip. We bought Harry Potter shirts and borrowed an interactive wand from a friend. We read blogs and books on how to best approach our time there. After all that research, I decided the best approach would be to go with the flow. I wasn't anticipating riding most of the rides and had no must-see attractions, other than the parks themselves. That attitude served us very well during our trip. It was one of the least stressful trips I've been on.
Here are some of the highlights from our trip:
Universal Studios Florida
Diagon Alley is incredible. I honestly felt like I was in the books. The level of detail on every store front and display was awesome. Feeling the dragon breathe fire was a real experience! The Tale of Beedle the Bard was worth the stop. We did the Ollivander experience and there were only four of us in the room. Zahara and I both got selected by the wandmaker. Such fun! We didn't purchase the wands, but it was well worth the time.
The Bourne Stuntacular show was amazing. The effects were incredible. You don't need to have seen the movies to appreciate the show, but if you're a fan there are so many fun pop-outs. Warning for sensitive folks, Z hated the show because there were too many flashing lights, loud sounds, and 4D surprises.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Sweet Nori
This week we lost our sweet kitty, Nori.
Dan and I adopted Nori 14 years ago when she was only a few weeks old. Nori had been with us through three houses, two countries, two kids, and so many wonderful memories. Anyone who met her loved her. At times she was more of a dog than a cat. She'd run up to anyone and immediately start showing affection. When she was little she even played fetch!
She was a fantastic cuddler and would make sure you knew she was happy by her extremely loud purrs. The flip side of Nori's friendliness is that she really wanted to be around us all the time. If we were upstairs, she would meow very loudly until we came and gave her pets. If we were asleep on the couch or in the guest room, she would climb on our faces and nuzzle us until we woke up and pet her.
Nori was my number one co-worker. True, she could be disruptive by sitting on my laptop, walking across the screen during video calls, and knocking my pens off the desk, but at least she looked cute while doing it.
Nori put up with a lot and was so gentle with the kids. Zahara loved Nori with a passion. She took care of her, feeding her, petting her, and making her toys. Asher showed his love a little differently. He roughhoused with her but also would tell her how much he loved her. Catching those sweet moments is something I will cherish.
Nori, thank you for being exactly what we needed. Our family will miss you terribly.
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Food and Wine in Franschhoek
After an incredible stay in Hermanus we made our way 1.5 hours west to Franschhoek, an area known for their food and wine. But first, on the way, we stopped at Creation Wines for incredible views and delicious cheese.
We stayed on a working vineyard called Auberge Clermont. Though the grapes were dormant for the season, I loved walking around the property and taking in the views.
The town was founded by French religious refugees in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Huguenot legacy continues through the French culture in the town, including the vineyards and delicious French-inspired food. La Petite Colombe is one of the top restaurants in Africa for good reason. Our thirteen course meal was full of whimsy, artistry, and delicious flavors! Look at the presentation of the snacks served to us while we waited for our table!