Saturday morning after breakfasting with the homeless kids outside Jack in the Box we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It seems to have doubled in size since last seen in 1995. We saw South African penguins, tuna, star fish, anemones, jelly fish, turtles, sea lions, and more.
The area around it has been rebuilt and will be a tourist area with restaurants, souvenir shops, clothes stores etc--probably to give Carmel a run for the money. Several chocolate shops and we just had to buy something. The chocolate covered strawberry was great.
Twisted around the roads a bit until back to 1 south to Carmel by the Sea. Nope we didn't see Clint or Doris. Drove down to the beach and then up to Eighth and Mission to a prepay parking lot. Walked along the main shopping street and ate in a bakery that's been in business since 1906!
Visited Lush store and came out with a quarter pound of soap for $8.95 passed the COACH store.
Headed back to 1 to continue up to Santa Cruz. along the way we saw the working prt of the penninsula with fields or artichokes--just weeks from the castroville artichoke festival; and fields and fields of strawberries.
Got a room and then went to see the boardwalk but parking was impossible.
Headed on to Henry Cowell State Park to see the redwoods and took about a mile hike. Yes, that's right we hiked a trail around the redwoods. beside the redwoods all we saw was a Stellar Jaw and a squirrel, though there was a sign warning about mountain lion.
Back to the boardwalk amusement park to ride the Looff carousel. This carousel has the original Wurlitzer "band". Louise was standing on the boardwalk to take photos, but once her bottom was pinched she decided to visit us at the carousel. The attendant was passing out "brass" rings to those of us on the outside horse. Thelma was able to toss hers through the clown's mouth. On the way out Carol bought a container of fresh California strawberries that we enjoyed for desert with chessecake once we returned from dinner at the santa cruz diner. Gas at $3.91 and lottery tickets were again a loss.
1 comment:
The aquarium looks awesome- incredible creatures. Where's the photo of you all hugging the redwood so we can see how big they really are? Better go back! And by now I imagine you all have "Stellar Jaws" with all the gabbing going on!
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