The Italians enjoy a concept known as “La Dolce Far Niente,” which means, the sweetness of doing nothing.
Doing nothing can be a hard concept to grasp for those of us who are always on our “grind.” Whether you’re Italian or not; when your Instagram feed constantly emphasizes #MondayMotivation and being a lady boss, the last thing you want to be perceived as in the public eye is, well, someone who does absolutely nada.
I have a dare for you. Google the word “downtime.” But wait… while you’re reading this, I really hope you’re laying back and relaxing, and given the nature of this post, the last thing I want to do is burden you with an extra chore. Therefore, I’d like to humbly do the googling work for you. 😉 Here you go:
The first thing that comes up is a definition.
Even when you’re on vacation, you might feel like you need a vacation from the vacation because your schedule is so overpacked with activities that you forgot the whole reason why you went on vacation in the first place.
My girlfriend Elena and I did our best to enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing on our recent vacation to the Central Coast; yet there were still plenty of activities to enjoy in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea. Here’s our story…
It was a cool and somewhat grey journey on the way north from LA; which turned out to be a nice break from the heatwave we’d been experiencing recently. After a few necessary pit-stops in Avila Beach and Shale Oak Winery in Paso Robles (one of my all-time faves), we continued up the coast as best we could, although we had to take the 101 since the PCH is still not open from when the bridge collapsed! Elena and I finally arrived at our seaside destination, Carmel-by-the-Sea.
At first, I wasn’t sure if she’d remember me. But she did. I met the lovely Carrie Theis of Hofsas House in Carmel by the Sea a few years back and happily accepted the invite to come visit the hotel again in celebration of the hotel’s 70th Anniversary. It really is a beautiful thing to behold when a family business stays in business for that long. Hofsas House is the undoubted leader in traditional family hospitality, and we have Carrie to thank for that!
Hofsas House boasts 38 uniquely decorated, spacious rooms, many with ocean views overlooking the pines in the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Our room, number 42, was bright and airy with a big kitchen and the best part… a comfortable terrace with an ocean view that we shared with our friendly neighbors.
Carrie spends each morning at the hotel, but given our arrival was late Saturday evening, we were welcomed by her friendly staff who helped us carry up our bags to our suite where local wine and a selection of cheese was waiting for us.
After a close-to-midnight snack, Elena and I hopped into bed and slept like Queens! That is, of course, after the King Chihuahua, Jettybug, stopped stealing the covers 😉
Hofsas House offers amazing pet-friendly travel packages in addition to some awesome activities for those who want to “do something” on their vacations. Carrie’s an amazing and knowledgeable host and can accommodate you no matter what you’re after.
Elena and I were grateful to have reservations at Basil Seasonal Dining and the Carmel Belle arranged for us, along with wine tasting and whale watching with Discovery Whale Watch.
Our dear friends came down from the Bay Area to enjoy a lovely dinner at Basil with us.
After only 10 minutes at sea, a pod of dolphins came to greet us!
I do have to admit, I should take my own advice. After an action-packed weekend in Carmel I wound up with an awful cold. But maybe this wasn’t supposed to be a vacation after all. More so, it was an adventure and a chance to grow closer with my friend Elena.
Now that I’m back in LA, especially after being sick, I feel relaxed and grateful for every moment. Nothing is something. And the moment is everything. It’s really all we have.
So, enjoy my friends. Whether you’re craving an action-packed getaway or a quiet retreat by the sea, Hofsas House is the place for you. Please ask for Carrie, and let her know TGIFguide sent you 😉
Written by Jacqueline Chambers
Jacqueline Chambers is the founder of TGIFguide. She uses her innate skills as a natural “connector” to serve businesses, brands and individuals in the LA area and beyond.
