San Juan Bautista

Mission San Juan Batista

The very nearly R&R visit to Monterey is over. Joann and I boogied out of the county and on our way north visited the Mission San Juan Batista. I've wanted to drag Joann there for ages, and as luck would have it, I didn't have to drag her at all, she was eager to enjoy the grand old mission. We started off viewing the museum and inner sanctum.


The Mission Church


Pretty little holy ghost dove, hoovering over a baptismal font


Baptism room

The side festoons of holly & flowers are all hand painted

A fountain setting for quiet contemplation


A spot to burn candles in remembrance

Next we took a leisurely stroll through the gardens. Being early March, the gardens are largely devoid of anything flowering, but the gardens are nice just the same. We were greeted early on in our walk by the holy mother.

Holy Mother loaded with offerings

Not to be left out, we also got a visit from Saint Francis of Assisi, my favorite saint, due to his bird watching skills and concern for animals.


Saint Francis - beautiful wood statue

After tour of the mission we rendezvoused with Joann’s son Phil in Stockton. Joann went off with Phil to visit her toddler granddaughter , oh yes, and her daughter –in-law Krista. Bright and very-nearly-early on Saturday I picked up Joann at Phil & Krista’s in Livermore. I got to meet baby McKayla who is quite the cutie. Then Joann & I were back to Fair Oaks. Joann flew back to San Diego Sunday morning and, as expected, I miss her already.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

I could not get out of the conference fast enough to suit myself. I was just not in the mood, so after a decision to skip the final luncheon, I whisked back to the room, grabbed Joann and we were off to and afternoon of fishies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Now, it was about a year ago Joann had the unpleasant experience of breaking a pedal extremity (OUCH!). So, on entering the aquarium via the special guests like US area, the first thing we asked "Got a wheelchair we can rent?" The answer was Two words we are all fond of: "YES" and "FREE". Quick as a Golden Trout in sparkling waters, we were off touring the aquarium, no stress on any bruised or broken bits.

Joann posing in her special "That's right, I deserve pampering, wheel-me-around" Chair
We headed out to the 'back porch' of the aquarium, where the local wildlife show the tanked in wildlife how wildness is done all proper like. Of the back porch, you have a view of the ocean and way the heck out, so far off you had to use a telescope or Joann's fancy camera, were a party of Sea Otters, smashing up their abalone lunch balanced on their bellies.

Sea Otters, enjoying a Surf-no-Turf luncheon
Heerman's Gull, so tame it sat on my finger.
Inside the aquairum I couldn't wait to get to my favorite exhibit, a room that duplicates a sandy beach, complete with bits of ocean plants and many species of shore birds.

This Black-necked Stilt looks like a garden ornament
Sometimes I don't think to get photos of the most interesting stuff. For example, the shore bird exhibit's sand was strewn with hundreds of meal worms that the shore birds gobbled down like greedy little poof-balls.

This Snowy Plover knows how cute it is
Giant tank of the sort the aquarium is famous for
On the second floor of the aquarium, we found my new favorites, the Sea Dragons. I like them because they look like swimming seaweed.

Leafy Dragons
There was a second kind of Sea Dragon of a beautiful electric blue, that hadn't as many leaflets on it. It was a handsome little slip of a fishy called a 'Weedy Dragon'.

Weedy Dragon
One fish, Two Fish, we be Blue fish
Gangway, Dolphins, coming through!
Jellies!
Fishies you can thread a needle with.

Spot Prawn that's 'spot on' in the stripes department
Golden yellow kelp

Equally Golden Trout

After a while we treated ourselves to a nice lunch at the aquarium's restaurant. Then it was time to drive back to the Hyatt, by way of every back road and side street we could think of. I think there was one critter at the aquarium that was a little sorry to see us go.

Y'all come back now, hear?

Dining for Three

Couldn't wait for the day's end. I raced back to my Monterey room at the Hyatt, and soon Joann and I were flying along the coastline again, to meet up with my other best buddy Barbara.

Racing past the Scenery

Joann and I beat Barbara to the Fish Wife and immediately dived into starters - an excellent ceviche with loads of lemon for Joan and savory clam chowder for 'moi'. By the time Barbara arrived we were all up for drinks all around. Barbara had the house wine and Joann and I had our first ever 'Appletinis'. Oh YUM!

I've known Joann since I was 17 and Barbara since I was 21. They are both three years my junior. This was only the second time they've ever met, the pair being divided not by me, but by a HUMONGOUS expanse of California - about a ten hours drive worth.

Joann and Barbara
We stretched out our meals as long as we could, but then it was time to say goodbye. I wish we all lived closer to each other, but maybe that's for another life in another time. Meanwhile, Joann and I drove on a slighty sight-seeing drive that took us through the dark streets of downtown Monterey. A little side trip from there took us past Dennis the Menace Park where during the daytime kiddies climb all over a full sized steam locomotive.

Local Locomotive - for local kids to climb on
Soon we were back at the Hyatt, relaxin' and maxin' in comfort.