Oregon

Our first glimpse of Oregon in the morning.

San Jose Diridon

As the train pulled into the San Jose Diridon station that evening, we got a good look at the new Caltrain commuter trains. They are shiny and new and serve the southern Bay Area.

the hills are alive

 

roomette with a view

S.B. train station

Sometimes you start an adventure at the Santa Barbara train station.

Finney's revisited

Not sure if I mentioned that they occupy a great old building and have a great sign.

through thick and tin

Thank you Mrs. 💖💖

the heart-shaped imprint

Casa de Lago

In a fit of culinary adventurousness we found ourselves checking out Casa de Lago in Oak View. "Casa de Lago" translates to "Lake House" in English and of course Lake Casitas is nearby. I didn't mind the atmosphere but there's a chance that Mrs. "doesn't need to go back" - as the saying goes.

pineapple curry epiphany

Something possessed me to try pineapple curry at Moons Thai. It blew my mind, in a good way. My life will never be the same, in a good way. I only wish I knew sooner.

interesting soap wrappers

yellow ochre

new Singing Sun revisted

The new Singing Sun Coffee seen from several very different angles. 

rufous-sided towhee

 

This bird I examined for quite some time at Ojai Meadows was probably a rufous-sided towhee.

lemon fest

clean chocolate?

 

Another chocolate bar that I needed like a hole in the head. Note however the claim to "clean ingredients" - a very important factor when partaking of chocolate nowadays.

Madam Gautreau

 

The artisanal chocolate packaging with the famous "Portrait of Madame X" (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau) by John Singer Sargent.

H. Cheval Coffee

A great new Paso Robles coffee discovery in a pleasant garden setting. I believe this place is affiliated with the Hotel Cheval.

Taste

An unusual venue with an unusual menu in Paso Robles. 

Hollywood at Cannery Row

A brief history of Hollywood at Cannery Row, with a light sprinkling of bird poop.

still searching for starfish

 This time at the Monterey Plaza Hotel.

Over Lightly

A First Awakenings classic.

Javi reading Krishnamurti

Zab Zab Thai

Although we'd been here before (I thought), we seem not to have blogged about it. It's also possible we hadn't been here and were confusing it with nearby Zum Sushi.

Pâtisserie Bechler

 

As someone with Alsatian heritage, I was curious to check out Pâtisserie Bechler, tucked away in a remote corner of Pacific Grove. Evidently it's first a bakery - well liked for its pastries - but also a lunch café. As I recall I was very hungry, which made the crêpes taste even better. Strange to think that if we had moved to the neighborhood, this place would have been steps away.

more Lovers Point birds

They were singing to the sun!

another Lovers Point sunrise

 

quiet please!

I love this sign as much as the seals!