Monterey

By Nicole

Eureka was entertaining and San Francisco was a treat, but it wasn’t until Monterey that we really felt like we’d arrived in California.  And, ahhhh… what a great feeling.

We spent time wandering around town, admiring the beautiful old buildings and gardens, sampling beers at the local brewery, browsing the farmers market and gorging on a ginormous chocolate malt. 

Look!  A cactus!  And I’m not wearing fleece!

Handsome hubby in one of Old Monterey’s gardens

Monterey has a rich history – this building sits just behind California’s first theater (from the 1840s). 

Back in the early- to mid-1900s, sardine canneries were prolific in the area, until overfishing caused the industry to collapse in the 195os.  A walk through today’s Cannery Row is nothing like the version Steinbeck wrote about, but never fear, it’s now a hot-bed of touristy shops and restaurants – like Ghirardelli.

Mmmm… a Ghirardelli chocolate malt for two. 

An amazing assortment of food booths at the farmers market made the street smell heavenly as we checked out perfectly ripe strawberries, plump bunches of grapes and oodles of hot peppers.  California certainly knows how to do a farmers market!

 
Perusing the peppers

Gorgeous Japanese eggplants

One of Aaron’s former coworkers now lives in the area, and we spent a great morning hanging out with her and her adorable boys, “Captain” Sage and River.  Thanks for coming down, guys!

It wasn’t all fun and games, though… we spent the better part of a day was washing and waxing the boat.  I’m always amazed at just how dirty something that sits in the water all day can get!

Bella Star on the dock in Monterey with Fisherman’s Wharf in the background (and more sea lions!)