Christmas 2006

Tyler with his cool, new video chair.

Carmel by the Sea

After realizing that the sun begins to set around 5pm here I made Stephen get up early today. We were up and out of the hotel room by 8am. If you know us well you know that is quite the accomplishment. :) Our first stop was a little cafe in the center of Carmel. They had Starbucks coffee (my main reason for going) and GREAT cranberry scones. After a quick breakfast and a quick review of our gameplan for the day we headed out for our first stop, Point Lobos State Park.

Point Lobos State Park is located just a few miles south of Carmel. We stopped to see the Sea Lions hanging out just off shore but the real highlight was the increadible views of the ocean crashing against the rock cliffs. We hiked through the rock cliffs for a bit before continuing south on highway 1 toward Point Sur.

The views from highway 1 were incredible. We drove far enough south to see Big Sur but didn't continue south onto the island. On the drive back north to Carmel we stopped to take a photo of Bixby Bridge - one of the world's highest single-span concrete arch bridges and probably the most photographed landmark on the coastal highway.

Upon returning to Carmel our next stop was the Carmel Mission. The mission was established in 1771. The founding priest, Father Junipero Serra, is burried at the mission and the room where he died has been restored to it's original condition. Eventhough my religious beliefs may not be in sync with the Catholic church I have a true interest in the history of the church and it's architecture. This visit was definately the cultural highlight of the trip.

The remainder of our day was spent wandering around Carmel. The one thing to note about Carmel is that EVERYONE brings their dogs with them when they visit. The boutique shops in town will not allow you to bring a cup of coffe in the shop with you but your dog is more than welcome. Even the restraunts in town have pet menus so that your dog may dine with you.

While it was sunny and somewhat warm we walked down to the beach (which was definately easier than the uphill walk back). From Carmel beach you could see the Pebble Beach and the golf course.

On the long uphill trek back to the center of town we passed a handfull of houses for sale. Stephen and I played "name that price" and were consistantly floored by the realestate prices in Carmel. A small, somewhat rundown, beach house with less than 2,000 sq. feet of living space would easily list for well over $1,000,000!

As much as we loved Carmel we both agreed it was way out of our price range.

Alcatraz

Stephen had to fly to the bay area in California for work this week so I decided to tag along with him. After spending a couple days in a hotel room while he worked I was excited to get out and about today.

We were in San Francisco over the 4th of July and saw most of the touristy stuff then. The one thing I wanted to do in July that I wasn't able to was to go out to Alcatraz. So, that was the first item on our agenda today. The tour was really interesting and the boat ride over wasn't nearly as cold as we had anticipated. After visiting Alcatraz we made the necessary stop at Boudin bakery to pick up a few loaves of sourdough bread to bring back home with us and a couple of the best sandwiches you can find. I had bay shrimp salad on a sourdough roll. Mmmmm...

The remainder of the afternoon was spent driving down California Highway 1 - the pacific coast highway. It's a gorgeous drive but unfortunately we ran out of sunlight. I think we may drive back up to San Francisco that way on Sunday when we return to the airport. Hopefully I'll be able to get some better photos then.

We are staying the next two nights in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It's a small town on the coast just south of Montery. The town is filled with art galleries and boutique shops. I plan to see them all tomorrow! :) In the meantime, enjoy a few photos from today...

View Alcatraz Photos

Christmas Song Quiz

SONG TITLES

1. Quadruped with crimson proboscis
2. 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. without noise
3. Miniscule hamlet in the far east
4. Adorn the vestibule
5. Exuberance directed to the planet
6. Listen, aerial spirits harmonizing
7. Monarchial trio
8. Yonder in the haystack
9. Assemble, everyone who believes
10. Hallowed post meridian
11. Fantasies of a colorless December 25th
12. Tin tintinnabulums
13. A dozen 24-hour Yule periods
14. Befell during the transparent bewitching hour
15. Homo sapien of crystallized vapor
16. I merely desire a pair of incisors
17. I spied my maternal parent osculating a fat man in red
18. Perambulating through a December solstice fantasy
19. Aloft on the acme of the abode
20. It's fixin' to appear extremely similar to December 25th.
21. Boppin' while circling the tannenbaum

LYRICS

1. Slumber in ethereal quiet.
2. Hey there! The announcing celestial beings carol
3. Greetings of ease and happiness.
4. On commencement of Yuletide my honey bestowed upon me.
5. Decorate the passage with branches of evergreen sprigs
6. Once upon a misty night prior to Christ's birthday.
7. Ooh, celestial body of marvel, celestial body of strength.
8. With a vegetable stem smoker and clothes fastening snout.
9. Come on, come on, come on, get moving.
10. Scared darkness, the asterisks are brilliantly shimmering
11. Small children with their optical aids entirely illuminated.
12. Loyal buddies that are important to ourselves collect closely to ourselves again.
13. Approach, y'all devoted happy and victorious...
14. Urban walkways, congested walkways, trimmed in a festive manner...
15. Ah! The atmospheric condition beyond is terrific...
16. Percussion instruments jingle, are you harking...
17. Remarked the evening breeze to the tiny sheep...
18. Wishing your dates be gleeful and intelligent...
19. Ourselves bid yourselves a joyous Noel and a cheerful neoteric 365 days...

ANSWERS
SONG TITLES

1. Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Silent Night
3. O' Little Town of Bethlehem
4. Deck the Halls
5. Joy to the World
6. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
7. We Three Kings
8. Away in a Manger
9. Come All Ye Faithful
10. Holy Night
11. I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
12. Silver Bells
13. The Twelve Days of Christmas
14. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
15. Frosty the Snowman
16. All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
17. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
18. Walking Through a Winter Wonderland
19. Up on the rooftop
20. It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
21. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

LYRICS

1. Sleep in heavenly peace (Silent Night)
2. Hark! The herald angels sing (Hark the Herald)
3. Tidings of comfort and joy (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
4. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me (The Twelve Days of Christmas)
5. Deck the halls with boughs of holly (Deck the Halls)
6. The one foggy Christmas Eve (Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer)
7. Ooh star of wonder, star of might (Star of Wonder)
8. With a corncob pipe and a button nose (Frosty the Snowman)
9. Giddyup giddyup giddyup, let’s go (Let it Snow)
10. Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining (Oh Holy Night)
11. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow (The Christmas Song)
12. Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas)
13. Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant (Oh Come All Ye Faithful)
14. City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style (Silver Bells)
15. Oh, the weather outside is frightful (Let it Snow)
16. Sleigh bells ring, are you listening (Walking in a Winter Wonderland)
17. Said the night wind to the little lamb (Do You Hear What I Hear)
18. May your days be merry and bright (White Christmas)
19. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year (We wish you a Merry Christmas)