Monterey Peninsula Trip Wrap-Up

Day 3 dawned chilly and overcast. Not quite beach weather, and the beach had been on our itinerary that morning. We moved at a leisurely pace getting ready and finally left the hotel room at 11:00 with a new game plan.
Stop 1: Carmel Mission
Those of you who went to elementary school in California know all about the missions. This one was built in the late 1700s near the coast of Carmel. It is an architectural treat and even though our kids couldn't really conceive of something being 230 years old, it was a much older building than they had ever seen before. (The Mission asks for a donation--suggested $5 per , $1 per child.)
There was a wedding going on--I love being a wedding (we waited outside to ogle after the ceremony was over. Don't think that I plowed into the chapel with my noisy herd.) The flower s were darling, although one absolutely fell apart in a screaming tantrum halfway through the ceremony. Ah, children!
Once we had perused the gardens, the museum, and the chapel, (and visited the bathroom twice) we headed back to Monterey.
Stop #2: Fisherman's Wharf
This is a much like other Fisherman's Wharfs, with lots of touristy shops and cafes and restaurants serving fish and chips and clam chowder. There are also countless places offering whale watching, some even guarantee whale sightings. We decided to put off whale watching for another visit, especially since our warm clothes had all been worn by this point in the trip. I splurged calorie wise (not that I had eaten that righteously all weekend) and got a sourdough bowl of clam chowder at Old Fisherman's Grotto ($7 at the outside cafe). I highly recommend it--it was creamy, peppery, and not fishy tasting at all. I wanted to lick the bowl clean, but remembered how mortified my mother would be.The boys and Jared, not being seafood lovers, opted for bean burritos and a taco salad. Not quite traditional for Fisherman's Wharf, but it was just what they wanted, so who could complain? We also picked up some toffee cashews and almonds and some caramel corn here. YUM.
Stop #3 Dennis the Menace Park--again. It was definitely more crowded on Saturday and I was accosted by some ducks who thought I should share my caramel corn--other than that, it was just as fun as Friday. Nothing new to report.
Stop #4 Monterey Bay Aquarium--again. Why not, since we had purchased a membership? We revisited a few of our favorite exhibits in the early evening, when the crowds were starting to die down.
By the time we left the Aquarium, we decided to ditch our plans for another dinner in a restaurant. Jared dropped the kids and me back at our hotel and went over to Allegro Pizzaria and brought back yummy pizza. Meanwhile, I bathed everyone and got them ready for bed.
Sunday morning, we packed up, checked out, and attended an 12:00 Sacrament Meeting in Watsonville before heading home. We are already planning our next visit to the area. We loved it!

O Say, Can You See?

I love the Fourth of July. Who doesn't? Since we moved to the area four plus years ago from the paradise of Southern Cal, we have spent every morning of the 4th at Crestmont Park with the rest of the ward (our local congregation), celebrating with a breakfast, short program, and kids' parade. It is such a great way to start off the day--it has that old small town feeling. There is something about that 4th of July that inspires us to experience part of the community, rather than just holing up with our families. Maybe for you that means going to a ball game or a fireworks show or having a slew of people over to BBQ, but I get my fix at the ward breakfast every year.
The 4th of July is more meaningful to me after having spent a few of them living abroad. I will always remember the year I spent the 4th in Tel Aviv. I was spending the summer at the BYU Jerusalem Center (one of the best summers of my life) and we had the day off of classes. Many of us decided to go into Tel Aviv to explore, see the Lion King and eat at the Hard Rock Cafe (I guess we were craving an American experience to commemorate the day), and catch the fireworks at the American Embassy. I can vividly recall swimming in the warm Mediterranean that night, watching the fireworks shoot out over the water, and hearing the patriotic songs that reminded me of home.
I also spent a 4th in Russia while I was a missionary and have no memories of that--it was just another day there for us. But my experience in Russia, as much as I fell in love with that land and the people, also made me appreciate the freedoms that I have often taken for granted (not to mention the standard of living that we enjoy). The singularity of this freedom is again hitting home as I am currently enjoying "Reading L o lita in Tehran."I can't even imagine living in a place where a book or a study group might be illegal and covert, where people have to hide their satellite dishes or are afraid to speak their minds. Our country, with all its faults, is still a place that offers "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" that everyone on the planet deserves to have. And I can't hear the Star Spangled Banner without choking up. Call me cheesy if you will!
Well, my break between swimming and fireworks is about over, so I'm going to get back to our celebration. God Bless America!