Today was the perfect day to get out in it all. When it's sunny and warm, there is nowhere like here.
A must is always a visit to the harbor. Boats docked evoke wanderlust. What scenery!
We could observe the various wildlife for hours.
We even received a history lesson while strolling by the sea. Steve is in front of the mural called the Vizcaino - Serra Oak. This is an image of the actual tree marking where Monterey began when Sebastian Vizcaino, leading a fleet of three ships, sailed into Monterey Bay (1602). Vizcaino named the bay Monte Rey in honor of the Viceroy of Mexico, Don Gaspar de Zuñiga y Acevedo, the Count of Monte Rey, Spain, who dispatched the expedition to find a port for Spanish galleons. History really is everywhere.
Fish & Chips are required eating when in a seaside town. Vivolo's Chowder House served us a pretty delicious dish of them.
We will be hanging out in Monterey's less known neighbor, on and off, for a few days. Pacific Grove was founded in 1875 when Pacific Land Improvement Company, owned by David Jacks, donated acreage towards the first West Coast Chautauqua retreat formed by a group of Methodists who modeled the town after Ocean Grove, New Jersey. In time, the butterflies, fragrant pines and fresh sea air brought others to the Pacific Grove Retreat to rest and meditate. The initial camp meeting of the Pacific Coast branch of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle was held in here in June 1879. Modeled after the Methodist Sunday school teachers' training camp established in 1874 at Chautauqua Lake, New York, this location became part of a nationwide educational network. Interesting!
We came today for the butterflies.
Every year, thousands of monarch butterflies overwinter in Pacific Grove. Arriving in October, they cluster together on pine, cypress and eucalyptus trees in the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. Their migration to here is so unique that Pacific Grove is nicknamed "Butterfly Town, U.S.A." Oh man, I do love butterflies.
This is another place we could have stayed for hours, observing the unique happenings of this special place.
I delighted in seeing the eucalyptus trees in bloom.
And a hummingbird or two. It has been a very good day indeed.
“My soul is full of longing
for the secret of the sea,
and the heart of the great ocean
sends a thrilling pulse through me.”
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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2 comments:
It looks like a beautiful day!
I was just thinking about my trip down to Michoacan. It sure was incredible! It is so cool to see so many butterflies in the US.! Maybe we will go up north next year at this time!
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Lovely poppy photo, the fish and chips looked super yummy and you know I love butterflies. I remember where the butterfly garden is, but alas, I was not there when they were. I hope the sunshine baked out some of your germs. The weekend I spent in Pacific Grove did not have a ray of sunshine.
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