60th Birthday and Disneyland

When we were in CA last summer, I heard that Disneyland was celebrating their 60th Anniversary and that is when I decided that I was going to Disneyland for my 60th Birthday. On Saturday, February 20th, Pat, William and I headed to Laguna for a night. After we got settled into our room, we went out looking for food. A couple of blocks down we found El Ranchito, which came highly recommended by Michele. We had lunch, then Pat and I continued to walk towards the town and by the beach.

 

 

 

Our hotel was right on the ocean, during high tide you couldn't walk down on the beach.

It was a nice first day/evening to our trip. Sunday we got up and headed for Disneyland. We stayed at the California Adventure Resort right on the Disney property which was really nice. The hotel opens right into California Adventure Park and we were right outside Downtown Disney. Sunday afternoon/evening we checked out Downtown Disney and had dinner at Pat O'Briens.

Monday we were at California Adventure Park all day and went back at night for a light laser show.

 

 Boy met Duck.

 

  Waiting in line for the "CARS" ride.

 Love the Mickey wheel.

 Light and water show.

It was a pretty exhausting day. We all slept well then it was to Disneyland for the next day. It was a Tuesday at the end of February not a high tourist time of year, yet the park was packed. I probably shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. Pretty sure I don't want to be there when they consider it "in season". 

 Boy met princess

 

 

 Me and the castle both 60 years old.

 Sparkling Minnie ears.

Wednesday morning we left and came home to a yard full of Flamingoes....... Thank you, Sister!

 

 Birthday weekend over, it was fun while it lasted and the memories will live on.

That's all for now!

California Trip Part VII

Final stop is Pismo Beach right near San Luis Obispo. We are winding down for our return home. This stop was for Pat to have a quiet beach day and relax. Pat went to Pismo Beach for the day, William woke up not feeling well, too much crab I think, and so I walked around the resort beach and sat on the patio reading. Later in the day Pat and I went into San Luis Obispo and walked around town. We went to see the Mission and Bubble Gum Alley.

 

 On the Pier at Pismo Beach we found a cache.

 The wall at Bubble Gum Alley, the place actually smelled like bubble gum and people would stick their chewed up gum on the walls. Kind of gross but well not to miss if you are there.

 A door at the Mission.

So ends our California Adventure of 2015. It only took me a year to write about it :)

That's all for now!

California Trip Part VI

Last morning in SanFrancisco, so much to do so little time. Up early again, I still haven't had a good look at Lombard street and well early AM with not too many others out was the perfect time. Pat and I walked over and again with the hills up and down and up and down. I walked up Lombard Street then took a video as I walked down. The houses along there are really cool looking, but I cannot imagine living on that street with cars and people on it nonstop day and night.

 

Yep, I did most of my walking in those flip-flops. I had so many blisters on my feet from our first day of walking all over, I could no longer wear shoes, the only comfortable thing was flip-flops. Had a bit of breakfast on our walk back to the hotel and sadly it was time to pack and leave. We only had about four days here but we packed in as much as we could. This is definitely somewhere I need to come back to and spend more time.

On the road to San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach. We drove along Highway 1 (PCH) and I am glad we did but I am not sure I ever want to travel that road again. It was one lane, very curvy, we were on the edge of a cliff down to the ocean most of the time and I was pretty sick to my stomach. It was a gorgeous drive and we had the number one mountain driver handling the road........ but still I don't do well on those kinds of roads.

 

We stopped in Monterey for lunch..... William had CRAB, what a surprise I know. Walked around on the pier and got back on the road.

 

 Along the way we stopped in San Simeon to see the Elephant Seals. They are HUGE, probably why they are called elephant seals, they were all over the beach there and playing in the water. I just love them they are so fun to watch.

 

 

 After visiting the seals we continue down to Pismo Beach for our final night.

That's all for now. Totsiens

California Trip Part V

Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 6AM

William and I head down to the pier by the Maritime Museum to take some pictures before the crowds arrive. We had a nice long walk taking pictures, skateboarding (William not me) and watching the swimmers. Quite a few people are up early getting their exercise in and I am sure that water was pretty danged cold.

Later Pat and I headed to Chinatown, planned on taking the cable car there but when we got to the turn-around it was packed so we started walking and ended up walking all the way to Chinatown. Lots of steep hills to go up and down. Spend some time walking around Chinatown checking out the shops and having lunch.

  

After lunch we walked over to Union Square to check things out then took the cable car back to the hotel. Dinner was at Bubba Gumps because William loves it and since Pat and I are not fans and were not particularly hungry it was a good choice. There was actually a wait for a table, I cannot fathom why, you are in San Francisco and there are tons of good seafood places and you wait for Bubba Gumps?? OK we wait:

 That's all for now. zàijiàn

California Trip - Part IV

Alcatraz Day! We get up at 3AM to head over to Pier 33 to buy the coveted tickets for a trip to Alcatraz. All three of us had to go as you could only get the number of tickets of people that showed up. We were number 23-25 in line so assured of getting the tickets, now to wait for hours for the box office to open at 7. We learned from others in line that when you went to purchase you got whatever time they gave you, there was no picking the time you wanted to go. We had originally been thinking, up early, get our tickets, back to hotel for a nap, go over later in the afternoon. Not to happen, since we were so close to the beginning of the line we got the 8:45 trip and that was the first one of the day and by the time we got our tickets there was no time to go shower or anything but grab a quick bite for breakfast. During our 4 hour wait we passed the time by talking to others in line, sitting on the cold ground and trying to rest, and just generally being bored. Was it worth it? I say definitely yes!!! Alcatraz was so cool, so abandoned, so full of history, I love things like that. Would I do it again? Hopefully not, hopefully if I ever want to go to Alcatraz again, I will be able to plan in advance and get tickets beforehand.

The coveted tickets:

 

Photos for your viewing pleasure

 

  

  

First stop for the prisoners was here. They would get their clothing and bed linens, and proceed to the showers.

  

The showers were right in the middle of the room.

 

 

 

At the very least they had a beautiful view

That was our day at Alcatraz, when we got back we went to Eagle Landing Cafe for lunch and then to the hotel to rest. It had been a really long morning/afternoon, but it was well worth it. After a nap, Pat and I headed over to Ghiradelli Square to walk around a bit and ended up stopping at a brick oven pizza place on the street near Fisherman's Wharf. Super good pizza and just the perfect snack after our big lunch.

 

  

That's all for now, adeus.