One of my Favorite Places

After many deep-thinking posts, I thought it was time to do something a little fun. This past weekend some friends and I went to Monterey. I have to confess that I am in love with this town - Cannery Row, especially. I had gone previously with my family and was enchanted by the gentle sea breeze and beach houses. I couldn't wait to return.

Cannery Row is a waterfront street - unfortunately the last cannery closed in 1973, but they kept the name anyway :)

We ate at a small, cordial restaurant called McFly's. I must admit I was skeptical at first, but their fish and chips were incredible. Soaked in malt vinegar, lemon, and dipped in tartar sauce, there are few other things that will make your mouth sing so sweetly. Becca let me have some of her clam chowder too...wow.

After eating we skipped down to the end of the street, excited to buy our tickets for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, only to find that admission was thirty dollars, and no one was willing to pay that amount. It was a bummer.

As we meandered back up the street, we stopped at a few specialty stores and souvenir shops. Now, this picture has a pretty funny story to go with it. I took the picture silently and immediately continued walking down the street, leaving her there with her eyes still tightly shut. It wasn't for another good minute when I finally heard her realize what I'd done. "LAAAAAAUREN!!!" were her exact words, I believe.

After looking at a huge candy store, searching for vintage Star Wars posters, and buying specialty root beer (in a bottle), we decided it was time to go to the beach. It was a cool sixty-five degrees outside, and with the ocean wind blowing it was more than enough to keep our sweaters on.

Becca set off on a search to find treasure among the sand - and she did!

At first, it was a charming little rock. Nothing much, really - but soon a collection started to form.

The beach was (and still is!) beautiful.

And you can't go to the beach without someone getting buried. Obviously...

All in all, it was a day of refreshing. A chance to escape for a while on the cool sands of Monterey while enjoying the company of good friends. Life isn't always so serious, ya know. It's good to lighten things up every so often :)