miscellaneous Monterey beach scenes

Sometimes Monterey Bay resembles a big lake, on the scale of Lake Tahoe.

west coast butterfly

Not to be confused with east coast milkweed.

butterfly weed

Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, a common milkweed in the eastern states, and very popular with the butterflies.

Jewel of India

The greater San Jose area is full of authentic Indian food, more than anywhere I can think of. Without knowing where we were going to eat after hiking in Alum Rock Park, we somehow managed to stumble upon this gem, the Jewel of India.

Alum Rock Park

Alum Rock Park in San Jose has the distinction of being California's first municipal park, created in 1872. Back in the day people flocked to the park for its mineral springs, the structures of which still remain. Originally they thought the dominant mineral to be alum - hence the name - but actually it is thenardite.

Colton Hall

I had been around it many times but this was the first time I ever set foot in Colton Hall, the place where the original California Constitution was adopted in 1849. Below, the view from the upstairs.

Osio

Sometimes your favorite independent cinema spontaneously shuts down for financial reasons... only to be resurrected the following year due to strong community support. Long live the Osio, one of the best things about Monterey!