Thursday, June 21, 2018

What is/was your favorite weekend getaway spot? 2-on-1 06/22/2018

It has been a long while since I had a weekend getaway spot - way back to the pre-Texas days.  Lynn and I used to spend Labor Day weekend in Monterey/Carmel. It was our goto spot. It was a quick, beautiful drive from our EastBay home and a trip we very much looked forward to.

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The weekend always started on Friday evening, occasionally Friday afternoon if we could coordinate an early getaway from work. We lived dangerously - we never made motel reservations as finding a place to stay was part of the adventure. We'd secure a place to stay and then head over to the Del Monte shopping center and Marie Callender's Restaurant for dinner and drinks.

Not only did Marie Callenders have great food, they poured a mean Long Island Ice Tea, a fave of mine. Lynn was fond of their fettuccine alfredo and I loved their pot roast, stews and other things. After dinner, we'd head back to the motel and get a good nights rest and be ready for the Saturday fun.



Sunday we would have Sunday Brunch at one of several places and then we'd act like tourists and just drive around and check out the amazing scenery on the Monterey Penninsula.
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Saturday morning we'd grab some breakfast and plan our day. We'd either head off to Carmel to hit up some of our favorite shops. Carmel was full of boutique type shops and there were enough books shops and music stores to keep me occupied while Lynn hit up gift shops, clothing shops and anything else that struck her fancy. If we did not go to Carmel we'd head off to Monterey and Cannery Row for a day of shopping and a visit to the Aquarium that David Packard of Hewlett Packard fame built so his daughter Julie would have a job. (She was the Director when the Aquarium opened).Packard, incidentally, was born in my home-town - Pueblo, Colorado.

A full day of shopping or wandering through the aquarium petting rays and whatnot typically left us worn out so we'd head back to our motel. We'd typically grab a light  dinner at some little seafood shack or fast-food joint and retire for the evening.

Sunday we would enjoy Sunday brunch at one of several places and then typically take a drive around the Monterey Penninsula enjoying the spectacular scenery.


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Monday morning would see us heading back home at a leisurely pace, always stopping at a place called The Giant Artichoke in Castroville to stock up on bags of fried artichoke hearts.  Then it was back on the road headed for home.Be sure to see what Ramana has to say by clicking here

7 comments:

  1. That sounds quite idyllic and especially where you travelled here on the West Coast. Spectacular sunset photo! We never really had weekend get-aways as a married couple. My husband’s avocation as a professional jazz musician called upon him to be playing weekends. Wives did not normally go along even if at a prominent public club but certainly not if the booking was a private party. Then when he ceased playing years later we had children, other family needing some attention. We had regular weekend trips exploring where we lived, especially after moving from the Midwest to Arizona but took the children along even as babes. We probably needed more time just to ourselves but life was so hectic those years.

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  2. One of my oldest and best friends studied music and was encouraged to make it a lifetime career. He could match his idol Stan Getz tune for tune but when he had a family he decided that life was not for him. He played the Hungry I in SF one too many times and decided smoke filled jazz halls were not for him. He ended up being a dentist - LOL. You should be justifiably proud of the life you built -

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    1. Yes, what you describe your friend chose is true of many really talented musicians. Many don’t want to go on the road seeking fame and fortune and are quite content having a more stable setting — some become “big fish in a small pond” wherever they live. Most had what they called “ real jobs” in a variety of professions, and didn’t rely on music as their primary career. As you describe, there were clubs and then there were clubs — some providing a more desirable envitonment than others — not all like the stereotypical ones often publicized.

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  3. of all the places I have wanted to see . . .
    the Big Sur and Carmel by the Sea and the quaint cottages.
    oh my!
    I'm not a shopper though I love the little boutiques. but it's the streets that wind around and the unique charms of each home. I've studied much on it and never am bored by it!
    thanks for sharing your memories here.
    like rummy... I am a homebody who enjoys the days as they come! I totally related to his post on this too. SH

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  4. Last night - Saturday night - big date/party night - LOL - Iwatched a Hallmark movie mystery and emailed my pal Janine as I always think of her when I watch those - she replied that sounded good to her too and to not forget the popcorn. I did not. These days my getaway is my recliner in front of my 46" TV - LOLLOL- clearly I employ the KISS principle

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  5. The coast has its own attraction and I am not surprised that your favourite weekend getaway was on the coast. India has a mightly long coastline and many resorts spread almost evenly across it. The most famous ones being in Goa. We have been to a number of them but not on weekends primarily because of the crowds. When we had the energy, we did not have the wherewithal to get away and in any case, I was too tired travelling to want to spend time any where other than home.

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    1. I still miss the west coast - in Texas and here in NC the coast is always in the wrong direction and that - strange as it ounds - has always been somewhat disconcerting. We did on several occasions eat at Clint Eastwood's restaurant at the time - The Hog's Breath Inn. The fct Monterey was so close greatly contributed to it being our fave spot.

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