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We have visited the Monterey area of California twice. The first time we had driven up I-5 in the summer of 1999 and missed the scenic costal route. On our second trip (in Dec 2000), we drove northward from Los Angeles along the coast and stopped at HEARST CASTLE. |
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HEARST CASTLE, being one of the more impressive and opulent estates ever constructed in this country back in the 1920s-1930s, probably represents a standing monument to the virtues (or vices!) of CAPITALISM. |
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It’s lavish outside pool featuring imported marble and treasured art is complimented by an indoor olympic-sized heated pool. In short, for art lovers, this estate is truly breath-taking. |
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If there is ONE city in the US that most Russians have heard about, this is it! Russian TV had carried an American SOAP OPERA “SANTA BARBARA”for about 10 years and any Russian who ever watched TV became familiar with this series. (Steve had never hear of the SOAP!) |
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Lena, of course, wanted to get some photos of Santa Barbara to let her friends know she had actually VISITED the place. Fortunately, we still had enough late afternoon light to take a few shots and this dusk setting along the beaches of Santa Barbara was rather impressive. |
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Had we not been in a hurry to continue on up the coast to San Francisco and Monterey, we would probably have spent an evening in this motel. |
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One of the most scenic areas along the Western Coast of California is the BIG SUR area south of Monterey. There are miles and miles of steep cliffs and rocky beaches that are quite beautiful and largely unspoiled by modern civilization. |
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For the few—VERY EXPENSIVE—homes build along some of the isolated stretches of the coast, those home owners have an ocean view that is simply unmatched. |
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As we neared Monterey (just south of Carmel), I took Lena to see an isolated beach which I used to frequent when I was stationed at the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey (and living in Pebble Beach) during the period 1974-1978. |
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For anyone who ever visits Monterey, one of the “must do” things is to visit FISHERMAN’S WHARF and to try some of the local cuisine available inside (and outside!) the restaurants on the pier. |
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Needless to say, it was ‘nicer’ (and more comfortable) to see the wharf in summer.... |
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...rather than winter time, but we enjoyed BOTH visits for different reasons. In December there were NOT so many tourists crowding the wharf and restaurants! |
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During my three year tour in Monterey, I had dined in many of the fine restaurants throughout the area, but I had always put ABALONETTI’s CALAMARI at the top of my list of my most favorite places...and seafoods to eat. |
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Lena had never tried CALAMARI, so I introduced her to ABALONETTI’s “Mixed Sampler” which has portions of garlic/butter calamari, deep fried calamari, and calamari cooked in pasta sauce . Lena decided she LOVED THEM ALL! |
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Without any doubt, Abalonetti’s is now top on BOTH of our lists of
FAVORITE RESTAURANTS! |
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The wharf area has many interesting restaurants and shops selling many varieties of foods and ‘tourist’ items. It is also a great place to “people watch!” |
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The “17 Mile Drive” from Monterey through Pebble Beach to Carmel is one of the most beautiful areas that Steve has seen anywhere in the world. And, to have lived in Pebble Beach only a few blocks from the water was a memorable experience. |
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During certain times of the year, the colors along the shore are breath-taking and we just happened to be there at the right time on one of our visits to the Monterey Peninsula. This photo is taken in Monterey just before entering the 17 Mile Drive. |
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Pebble Beach is famous for its golf courses and these deer are munching grass on a fairway of the golf course. This part of Pebble Beach is only a few blocks from where Ihad lived and it was always interesting to look outside in the yard and to see the deer roaming freely. |
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One of the most famous sites on the 17 Mile Drive is the “LONE PINE” which seems to grow right out of the rocky soil and to stand alone against the winds. |
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Unfortunately, on neither of our two trips to this area did we get a really nice day to take any pictures on the 17 Mile Drive when the sun was shining brightly and the skies were clear. |
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Carmel is a small area that is very difficult to photograph, but Steve felt that priority should be give to the IMPORTANT THINGS which are available to be had in Carmel! |
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Even when it is overcast and cool there is usually some kinds of activity on the beach in Carmel. |
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Lena had never had an “artichoke” until she went on these trips to Monterey. We had to drive through CASTROVILLE (Artichoke Capital of the World) to get from Monterey to where we were staying with freinds in Watsonville and she fell in love with this little restaurant. |
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To
say that she LOVED the DEEP FRIED variety is a mild understatement. We ate
there several times each trip! |
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Jack and Emiko Sowell are very close friends of Steve. Jack worked for Steve at the Navy Exchange in Atsugi, Japan in 1969. Jack is a retired E-9 Marine with over 30 years active duty who fought in the Pacific during WWII, then Korea, and finally in Vietnam. In short, Jack did them ALL! |
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Emiko had worked for Steve in the Navy Exchange Accouting office and had met Jack there. Steve ended up being ‘Best Man’ in their wedding in 1969 and has remained close ever since that time. These are truly two GREAT FRIENDS! |
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