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Ventana: Birthday Celebration in Beautiful Big Sur
This is the third in my series of iconic Big Sur restaurant reviews; see links for Nepenthe and Big Sur River Inn.A thick veil of fog hovers over the water and blankets the hills as we head south on Highway 1. The road twists and turns, hugging the coastline. As we near Garrapata, torpedo-like rock formations of sandstone appear otherworldly. The ocean rumbles and waves gallop like horses toward the shore, creating milky froth as they crash into and over jagged rocks. There are four squid boats anchored off Rocky Point, their eerie green and yellow lights penetrating the mist.
We are headed for my birthday celebration at Ventana, a resort complex in the most heavenly location ever. Ventana means “window” in Spanish. Secluded between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Ventana’s weathered cedar structures perch on a hillside 1200 feet above the coast. Picturesque Post Creek meanders through the 160-acre property, which contains landscaped pathways, canyons, groves of redwoods, Japanese hot baths and two pools. There are 59 guest rooms, suites, and villas and 15 safari-style canvas “glamping” tents, as well as tent only camping sites.
HistoryVentana is located on land first homesteaded by the Post family in 1890. The Post home, which housed several generations of the family, still stands at the entrance. Ventana first opened in 1975, the creation of Lawrence Spector. Spector co-produced the 1969 anti-establishment hit “Easy Rider” which was written by Peter Fonda, Terry Southern, and Dennis Hopper. Ventana still retains vestiges of its ‘70s hippie beginnings, from its original weathered cedar siding to its clothing-optional policy in the hot baths and the Mountain Pool and nude sunbathing in prescribed areas. From the beginning, Ventana has drawn celebrities, including Dennis Hopper, Ali McGraw, Steve McQueen, Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Barbara Streisand, Julia Roberts, Robert DeNiro, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, and Lupita Nyong’o, among many others.
GlampingThe glamping area, one of the newest renovations, is nestled in a 20-acre ancient redwood forest a half mile hike beneath the main resort. Each tent includes beds with luxury hotel linens, hot and cold water, and propane- and wood-burning fire pits. All glamping furniture is built from “reclaimed” redwood from the property. Ascot wine-and-cheese picnic backpacks, custom curated picnic baskets, natural timber walking sticks, and daily housekeeping service are also provided. But wait, there’s more! The glamping tents also include electrical and USB plug-ins, teak-enclosed showers with heated floors, a sheet turndown service every night, hot cocoa, and hot-water bottles to warm your sheets. Apparently, these are often sold out. Actress Mandy Moore recently celebrated her birthday during a girls’ glamping weekend at Ventana.
ClassesThis IS Big Sur and not surprisingly, Ventana also offers some pretty far-out classes, including meditation, yoga, tai chi, Pilates, beekeeping, charcoal sketching, mandala coloring for couples, string art & mindfulness, candle making and aromatherapy, bird-watching, photography hikes, mushroom foraging, daily hour-long guided walks, and drum circles. Taylor Swift recently took a falconry class at Ventana during her stay this year.Glass HouseThe Glass House Gallery sells paintings, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, ceramics and local photography. You can have your picture taken on the see-through overlook outside the gallery and fool your friends into thinking you are standing on the edge of a precipice!WeddingsVentana hosts many weddings. Their website states “Imagine saying your vows overlooking the canyons and forest or surrounded by redwoods. Enjoying a sunset reception or dinner under a canopied arbor. And dancing under the stars to celebrate your new adventure together.” Apparently, both Natalie Portman and Ann Hathaway could imagine this. Both had their wedding receptions here.
The RestaurantThe Sur House restaurant features delicious concoctions by Executive Chef Paul Corsentino. Meals feature coastal cuisine, including local seafood, free-range meats, and fresh produce from Ventana’s gardens. There is also a 10,000-bottle wine cellar featuring central coast wines selected by local vintners and Ventana’s sommelier. Craft cocktails and beer are also offered. Sur House decor is both elegant and rustic, featuring natural wood and leather furnishings.
We arrived at our 6:30 pm reservation time and had planned to dine on the terrace. Instead, we were told that we could not be seated outdoors for our meal because “the temperature drops too quickly” and it would be too cold for us. The temperature was a balmy 75 degrees, nonetheless, we were ushered to an indoor table by a window where, like a fish in a glass aquarium, I could envy, in the distance, a couple having drinks at a table overlooking the ocean. After ordering our food, I dashed outside to get some photos of the terrace.
Ventana offers a prix fixe meal; you are offered four courses for a set price. However, they do allow you to order items a la carte. My friend and I shared our first and second courses, the tuna tartare and soft shell crab with tropical fruit, melon salsa, and Napa cabbage. For the third course, my friend ordered the Alaskan Halibut and I the Ora King Salmon. These were both superb. For my birthday, they brought a platter with samplings of ice cream, mousse, fruit, and cake. I felt like I had just finished Thanksgiving dinner when we were through. It was decadent and thoroughly satisfying.
Following our meal, I watched through the window as hummingbirds levitated up and down through the air. Then three black crows landed on the terrace, the black of their feathers contrasting with the deep oranges and reds of the landscaping and furniture. It was a wonderful birthday. Good food, fresh air, and a beautiful vista of the ocean. And that’s what Big Sur is all about.
- For more information see Ventana.
- Address: 48123 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920. Directions on how to get here.
- Phone: 800-427-7623.
- Sample Menus
- Check road conditions before you go, it is easy to do. Go to Caltrans and enter 1 (the highway number) then search.
Thank you for visiting my blog. Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
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Obon Festival in Seaside, California
Obon translated means “Lantern Festival” or “Festival of the Dead”, and is a holiday honoring those who have passed on. Obon is somewhat like the Day of the Dead, the Celtic Samhain, or in Catholicism, All Souls Day, which all involve paying homage to loved ones who are now departed. But it is also a celebration, filled with large gatherings, family reunions, and bright lanterns. One very beautiful Obon ceremony in Japan is the lighting of paper lanterns and sending them out to sea in honor of ancestors who have died..
The first American Obon Festival was held in Hawaii in 1910 but not in the continental United States until 1931 when it was held at the Buddhist Church in San Francisco. Obon Festival has since remained one of the most important Japanese-American traditions here.
The Buddhist Temple of the Monterey Peninsula held their 72nd annual Obon Festival today, July 8, 2018, at 1155 Noche Buena Street in Seaside, California from 12:00– 5:00 p.m. This festival draws a huge crowd and is always fun. People show sincere Obon enthusiasm and the wearing of Japanese inspired clothing is encouraged.
When you first approach the temple you see three koinobori (also known as carp) windsocks flying. In Japanese culture, the carp symbolizes courage and strength because of its ability to swim up a waterfall. In Buddhism, the fish is an embodiment of well-being, happiness, and freedom, and symbolizes living in a state of fearlessness, without danger of drowning in the ocean of sufferings.
As you enter the temple you see origami crane garlands draping the walls and hanging from the ceiling. In Japan, the crane is a symbol of good health and luck. It is said that if you fold 1000 cranes, you are granted a good wish. “In folding paper cranes, we see how a small square of paper can magically transform into an expression of beauty, love, and compassion. The crane comes to life after we set an intention, pay careful attention to each fold, and at the final step, spread the crane’s wings wide for it to soar.” See Paper Cranes
Free tea is offered to the public. It is delicious! 
Udon, before being liberally sprinkled with scallions & shichimi What can you do at the Obon Festival? First, sample delicious Japanese foods prepared by chefs from local Japanese restaurants, including: tempura, sushi, beef and chicken teriyaki, udon (noodles in broth), Kushi katsu (deep fried pork), gyoza (steamed dumpling with ground pork and vegetables), lumpia (deep-fried egg rolls), & chicken karaage (fried chicken). I tried the udon and it was amazing!
Learning Japanese is easy when you have a good teacher! 
This Japanese Black Pine Bonsai is 69 years old! While at the festival you can listen to the rhythmic Taiko drumming and dance during the Bon Odori, or community Japanese folk dancing. You can listen to an educational lecture on Buddhism. You can learn how to speak and write Japanese. You can watch martial arts demonstrations and witness a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. There is also a beautiful display of bonsai and ikebana flower arrangements and great demonstrations on how to do it yourself. If you missed this great event today, there is always next year!
Beautiful Ikebana Arrangement Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
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Nepenthe’s Phoenix: Bohemian Bliss in Big Sur
Nepenthe is an ancient Greek word meaning an elixir for sorrow, literally, a “drug of forgetfulness”. And sorrow you will indeed forget when you see the jaw-dropping panoramic view of the Big Sur coastline at this iconic restaurant. Nepenthe started out as a very simple cabin in 1925, located downhill from the log house where writer Henry Miller lived. Orson Welles bought the cabin as a gift for his new bride, the movie star and World War II pinup girl Rita Hayworth. Unfortunately, the relationship failed, and the Big Sur cabin was abandoned. After Welles and Hayworth divorced, Bill and Madelaine “Lolly” Fassett, with five children in tow, purchased the cabin and 12 acres for $12,000. They employed Rowan Maiden, an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, to create Nepenthe. Redwoods hewn from area canyons and hand-made adobe bricks were used. Nepenthe opened in 1949 with an open terrace design so that people could enjoy drinking, eating, reading poetry and dancing under the open sky.
Nepenthe became a place for creative expression and bohemian culture for people who enjoyed living freely and had disdain for traditional societal propriety. According to “Nepenthe Big Sur Stories and Folktales” (see Nepenthe Stories), visitors arrived from all over the world; “vagabonds, poets, artists, lovers… when there were fewer people on the coast, when nights were longer and days lonelier, Nepenthe was a place to gather”. Famous visitors included Henry Miller, Anais Nin, Man Ray, Ernest Hemingway, Joan Baez, Kim Novak, Steve McQueen, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. The latter two performed scenes for the 1965 film, “The Sandpiper”, at Nepenthe. Even today, Nepenthe continues to invoke the spirit of the previous beatnik and hippie cultures.
The Phoenix Shop opened in the 1960s, featuring gifts and local artwork, pottery, books, candles, clothing, hand-knitted hats, and jewelry. Café Kevah opened in 1992 above the gift shop and offers a great place to grab brunch.
When you first enter the Nepenthe terrace, you see a five-foot-tall rising phoenix with bronze feet, the symbol for Nepenthe. This was created from a huge live oak originally growing here. When it died, sculptor Edmund Kara transformed the tree’s trunk into this amazing sculpture.
If you visit Big Sur and want to check out Nepenthe, one caveat is that they are crazy busy on the weekends. It is not unusual to find the parking lot full and cars parked for a half mile down Hwy 1! If you are able to get seating, I recommend the outdoor counter overlooking the beautiful view (except on foggy days such as in this photo!).
Hours are as follows:Nepenthe – open daily 11:30am -10:00pmCafé Kevah – open daily 9:00 am-4: 00 pm (weather permitting)Phoenix Shop – open Daily from 10:30am-7:00pmNote that they do not take reservations unless it is for a large group.
Nepenthe is located on Hwy 1, about 30 miles south of Carmel, near the Ventana Inn and Post Ranch Inn. You will see the Nepenthe sign on the west side of the highway. Make sure to check road conditions before you go, it is easy to do. Go to the CalTrans website here caltrans.ca.gov and enter 1 (the highway number) then search. Or you may phone 800-427-7623. Wishing you beautiful vistas, peace, love & happiness! -
Big Sur River Inn: Dip Your Toes in the River
The venerable Big Sur River Inn is perched on the banks of the Big Sur River. It began humbly in 1934, when Ellen Brown opened the inn and began serving hot apple pie to guests. Her famous apple pie, which is still on the menu today, gave the place its original name, “Apple Pie Inn”. Ellen was a descendant of the famous Pfeiffer family for whom a park and beach are named.
The Big Sur River Inn is now known for its famous Adirondack chairs in the river. Yes, IN the river. I must add that the river is so shallow, a chicken could wade across and get nary a feather wet. It is also well shaded and lined with gorgeous smooth river stones. You can take your glass of wine or bottle of beer and sit IN THE RIVER with your family and friends. You will love dipping your toes in the cool and crystal clear water. Could there be anything more idyllic on a hot day? Big Sur River Inn is located on the west side of Highway 1 and is surrounded by lush forestry and campgrounds. Its central location makes it an ideal place from which to explore Big Sur’s redwoods, hidden coves, and famous landmarks. It is less than 3 miles from Big Sur Station, Andrew Molera State Park, and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Since I am a local resident, I have never stayed at the Inn, but I have eaten at their restaurant and the food is amazingly delicious. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. You may choose to eat indoors in their rustic cabin-like dining room, on their lovely deck, or in those famous chairs in the river. Big Sur River Inn clearly take pride in their landscaping, so that in every direction you look you see a beautiful floral vista. There are also a myriad of wildlife here. During my most recent visit, I was serenaded by a group of gorgeous blue Steller’s Jays as they socialized on the river bank.
On Sunday afternoons, there is live music on the riverside deck. There is also a gas station (the only one for miles) and a small general store with food and camping supplies on the premises. For more information see River Inn. If you are searching for a down-to-earth, affordable, fun and relaxing place to visit, I would highly recommend the Big Sur River Inn!
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas! -
Old Monterey Farmer’s Market on Alvarado Street
The sights, sounds and smells of the Old Monterey Farmer’s Market on Alvarado Street entice your senses the moment you get near. Vendors line the street selling fresh organic Medjool dates, turnips, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, artichokes, persimmons, lemons, grapefruit, apricots, almonds, raspberries & strawberries. Buckets of colorful flowers are scattered nearby. Street musicians play eclectic melodies on guitars, mandolins and violins as dogs lie dolefully next to them. Walk further along, and you will hear the crackling sound of Edith Piaf tinkling in the air. A man in a brown hat is playing very old records on an antique Victrola he has set up curbside.
Life seems genuine and easy here, and you can slowly peruse everything pervading your senses. Two young girls are selling pineapple flavored cotton candy. There is a woman selling hats and another with hand-made jewelry. Next to her, a man hawks his organic eggs and glass jars of local honey. A grizzled fellow with exotic red and blue parrots and white cockatoos stands on the corner. Local bakeries have set up tables filled with pastries, baklava, donuts, cookies, cupcakes, churros, biscotti, pies, brownies, muffins and more. There is the smell of tamales, fried squid, and falafel melding in the air. In Monterey, variety is indeed the spice of life. You will find every cuisine here, including Indian, Mexican, Japanese, French, Cuban, Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Thai, & Korean, to name but a few.
Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf are great, but if you are visiting Monterey and really want the whole Monterey cultural experience, you really have to check out the Old Monterey Farmer’s Market. It is located on Alvarado Street between Del Monte and Pearl every Tuesday. Hours are October through April: 4:00-7:00 pm and May through September: 4:00-8:00 pm. You will NOT be disappointed! For more information, see oldmontereyfarmersmarket
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Fairy Eggs! Tiny Surprises from your Chickens
Fairy eggs, also called “wind”, “witch”, “cock” or “fart” eggs, are much smaller than regular eggs and usually contain no yolk. They are the result of a common glitch in the laying process. Fairy eggs often occur very early in a hen’s productive life before her hormones and reproductive cycle are working properly. Sometimes, however, they may occur very late in a hen’s laying life as her hormone production is winding down. They can also be the result of stress, a new diet, new flockmates, environmental changes, or a disruption of routine.Fairy eggs come in all the colors that hens lay: white, brown, green, blue, pink, and beige. Sometimes they may be lighter or darker than regular eggs since they may spend more or less time in the hen’s shell gland pouch. This deposits pigments in the final stage of egg making. Fairy eggs are nothing to be concerned about and are fine for humans to eat.
While I find the nickname “fairy eggs” to be quite endearing, these miniature eggs have had several names through the ages. In the Middle Ages, they were called “cock” eggs, since, without a yolk, the egg wasn’t viable, and was believed to be laid by roosters. They were also referred to as “witch” eggs, which were believed to be the work of the devil. According to superstition, to protect against the evils of a cock egg, one should throw it over the roof of the family house and let it smash on the ground on the other side. In Scotland and other European countries, the eggs are referred to as “wind” eggs. More recently in the US, they have been labeled with the indelicate moniker “fart” eggs.Sometimes, we need to believe in fairy tales. And fairy eggs. It’s the little things in life, after all! -
McWay Falls: Beauty & History in Big Sur
Have you ever imagined living in a home overlooking a gorgeous ocean cove, with a redwood forest behind you? What if you could look out your bedroom window and see an 80-foot waterfall cascading down a granite cliff onto a beautiful beach? One lucky couple, Congressman Lathrop Brown and his wife, Helene, were privy to this view for many years. Lathrop Brown served as best man at his friend Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s wedding. His wife, Helene, was a wealthy heiress. In 1924 they visited Big Sur and became smitten with the area. They purchased Saddle Rock Ranch from pioneer homesteader Christopher McWay. They built a crude redwood cabin at the top of the cliffs facing McWay Falls. In 1940, they replaced this with a fancy two-story mansion. They named it “Waterfall House”.Waterfall House featured fine furnishings, paintings, and an entryway inlaid with brass fish, a gold octopus, and a rose compass. Their ranch foreman, Hans Ewoldsen, built a Pelton wheel from hand-split redwood and installed it on McWay Creek in 1932. This wheel supplied a 32-volt generator with the first source of electricity in Big Sur. It powered three homes, a blacksmith shop, and a funicular railway. What is a funicular railway, you ask? It is a railway on an incline. The Browns used a modified mining car operated by cable to travel up and down the steep Big Sur slope.The Browns left Big Sur for Florida in 1956, and after her husband died, Helene donated the property to the state for a museum and park. For various reasons, the home was demolished in 1965. Helene had stipulated that the park be named for her friend, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, “a true pioneer”. Julia, with her husband, raised cattle at Saddle Rock Ranch before the Browns’ arrival. At the overlook of McWay Falls, you can still see vestiges of the Brown home, landscaping, and railway.Photographers love this area, and it is easy to see why. The sand is often purple from the erosion of manganese garnet which is carried down the creek to the beach. This is generally more apparent after winter storms. Light plays on the colored sand and waves crash through sea sculptured arches and rock formations, creating a beautiful vista. The hills are covered with wild yarrow and pink morning glories. The area is surrounded by redwood, tan oak, madrone, and chaparral. Tall, stately eucalyptus trees line the trail and fill the air with their scent.
The waterfall flows year round from McWay Creek and is one of only two entering the ocean in California. Visitors are not allowed access to the beach to protect the marine resources and the pristine beauty of the cove. Per Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, ” Cliff areas beyond the fenced boundaries, including the BEACH, SADDLE ROCK and MCWAY FALLS area are completely off limits. Trespassing into these closed areas is a serious offense, resulting in a citation and arrest. The areas are extremely hazardous.” Be safe and stay on the Waterfall Trail.
The Tunnel leading from adjacent Parking Lot to Trail You can reach McWay Falls either by 1. parking at JPBSP and walking through a short tunnel under the highway, or 2. parking alongside highway 1 and hiking on the Waterfall Trail to the viewing area. There is a 10.00 fee to park at JPBSP. It opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset. There are restrooms available there. If you park along the highway, be mindful of traffic as this is a busy road. Also, if you park on the road, you will have to go down a set of several steps to reach the trail. You may also want to bring a sweater or jacket as it can get quite blustery here.
Stairs from Hwy 1 to Trail 
The Trail is Easy to Navigate For more information see parks.ca.gov Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!
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Common Chicken Sayings
It is amazing to me that so many everyday sayings refer to chickens. The following is a list of phrases referencing chickens.
Be chicken- to be afraid
Nest egg – to save a little money each week
Scratching out a living – to earn enough to get by on
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch – don’t plan on something before it actually happens.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – don’t plan on an outcome before it actually happens.
Chicken feed – small amount of money
Feather your nest – saving for the future
Hen house – large number of females living in the same house
Mother hen – very protective
Madder than a wet hen – very angry
Fussing like an old hen – angry
Scarce as hen’s teeth – extremely hard to find
Chick – a woman
Hen-pecked – nagged
The rooster may crow but the hen delivers the eggs
Rooster games – willing to fight instead of trying to work out a problem
Flew the coop – gone
Up with the chickens – waking early with the sunrise
Walking on eggshells- treading softly where certain people are concerned; trying not to upset someone
Like a chicken with it’s head cut off – running around with no direction
Shake a tail feather – get moving
Strutting’ your stuff – Showing off
Bird brain – senseless
Dumb cluck – senseless
Ruffle your feathers – something annoys you
Chicken hearted – Not brave
No spring chicken – An old person
Hatch an idea – put a plan into motion
Egg on your face – caught in an untruth
Rule the Roost – to be the boss
Pecking order – hierarchy, your rank
Play Chicken – a stand off, who will give first
Brood over it – to worry over a problem
Chicken scratch – poor handwriting
Bad egg – less than honest person; poor moral standards
You have to break eggs to make an omelet – sometimes you need to make a mess to get something done
It’s not what it’s cracked up to be – disillusionment
I hope you enjoyed this! Happy Tuesday!
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A Single Ember: Soberanes & California Wildfires
Living in California involves a delicate dance between nature and man. The high drought of summer contrasts with the lush rainy season of winter. One can become complacent, expect things to go on just as perfectly as ever in this coastal paradise, never realizing that one small spark can lead to such horrible consequences. California wildfires are becoming bigger and more devastating, and there cannot be too much education regarding prevention, in my opinion. There is a new ad campaign out with the message “A single ember can travel over a mile”, and I seriously hope people think about this.
The year I moved to my farm there was a fire in north Corral de Tierra, supposedly caused by a trailer dragging chains along the highway, which created a series of sparks jumping alongside the dead grass ditches and transmogrifying into a pitched wildfire. There was also another fire to the south in Tassajara set by a purportedly suicidal man who set himself on fire in his car, initiating a wildfire which burned uncontrollably for weeks. Last year I journaled my experience during the devastating 2016 Soberanes fire.
—I see a faint flicker of difference in the lighting the minute I step outside. The normally blue sky is now somewhat pink as if someone is holding a gargantuan piece of rose colored fabric between the sun and earth. I do not see flames but I soon learn their inauspicious cause. It is coming from Soberanes, an area located south of Monterey and Carmel, with trails snaking through steep hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean along the Big Sur Coastline. Local firefighters as well as those from further north in San Francisco are now battling the fire in this remote and heavily forested area.
Each day I wake to find a smattering of white flakes like a delicate sprinkling of fine snow powdering the tawny hillside. It is ash confetti from the wildfire being blown over in a sobering morning kiss. I see photos of firefighters on the news contrasted with smoke and flame. Their faces are cavernous and hollow. Their eyes are worn, haunted. They look tired of the fighting the flames. They just look done in. By day 10, the fire is approaching Carmel Valley. They say five fire lines have been cut to prevent the fire from reaching the village. That is what they say.
It has now been over two weeks and the fire is moving south. They say it is 50% contained. The firefighters say it was caused by an illegal campfire set at the junction where two meandering creeks met to form a waterfall in the depths of Garapatta forest. At least 57 homes and buildings have been burned up, and a bulldozer operator working to clear brush was killed when his bulldozer topped over on the steep terrain, crushing him beneath. The horrible stench of smoke I have awoken to the past several days is waning, although they say on the news our poor air quality is approaching that of Delhi, India.
Who set the campfire? Stories have been circulating. One involves a group of homeless people from Santa Cruz who were asked to leave by forest rangers but returned later to move even further into the forest. Was it a campfire of revenge? Another story involves the possibility of a couple out for a hike who became enticed by the beauty of the streams and waterfall and stopped for a romantic tryst, hastily lit a campfire, then abandoned it. Stories are stories. Whatever the reason, the effect of their actions is entirely devastating.—
The Soberanes Fire was eventually quelled after three months, and was deemed the most expensive wildfire to fight in United States history. Sadly, most wildfires are caused by PEOPLE. According to CalFire and the Forest Service, the following can cause wildfires: burning debris, smoking, unattended campfires, kids playing with matches, sparks from trains, outdoor equipment such as weed whackers, and the heat from catalytic converters in autos. If you are visiting California, please check with the local authorities before having a campfire. There are often strict penalties for unapproved fires here, and as you can see, for good reason. Peace out!
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Big Little Lies: Blue Blues Cafe
Big Little Lies Season 2 is in full swing, and since I was in the vicinity of the area Blue Blues Cafe scenes were filmed, I thought I would snap some pics. For those of you not familar with the famous HBO series, Blue Blues is the harborside coffee shop where Madeline, Celeste, and Jane meet to dish and commiserate over coffee and lunch.
Blue Blues Cafe is actually a restaurant on Old Fisherman’s Wharf called Paluca Trattoria. Fisherman’s Wharf is generally a bustling, touristy area, filled with souvenir shops, eateries, and is the starting point for whale watching tours. It is hardly the place I would picture these three ladies meeting. However, when I turned the corner and discovered this more secluded and quiet place over the water, it definitely exuded the charm and ambiance seen in the film.
It looks exactly like it did in Big Little Lies. Amazing!
The view of the harbor from the restaurant is beautiful, with boats bobbing gently on the blue waves, seagulls gliding by, and the resident sea lions and otters making their own cameo appearances from time to time. It looks just as it must have looked to Celeste, Madeline & Jane as they sat in the sunshine with their espresso and schmoozed with the cute coffee guy, Tom.
If you come to Monterey, you should take some time to visit this cozy place. Pick a chair overlooking the harbor, order an espresso, and contemplate the vagaries of life. I’m sure Tom, Celeste, Madeline, and Jane would approve.
Thank you for visiting my blog. Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!
