Open Monterey Monterey Photo Gallery South of Monterey (in Carmel) is 17mile drive. It is a toll road and considering the fantastic drive we already had, I wasn’t particularly fussed about it. We got slightly lost and unfortunately missed it. Since then we have had people kissing their teeth at us for doing so. The road winds through a forested area and along the oceanfront, passing three golf courses, two luxury hotels and the famed Lone Cypress tree. It is supposedly exemplary and the most beautiful road in the whole of California. It's a little-known fact that you can get your toll refunded. If you spend more than $25 at any of the Pebble Beach Company restaurants.
As we approached Carmel and Monterey, we were again welcomed by charming coves with delicate sandy beaches. Just north of Monterey is a town named “Seaside.” which makes me snigger! The drive on the 101 is lined by a huge sand dune that certainly looks inviting.
That night we stayed in the Monterey hotel. Built in1904, it had Victorian décor, detailed wood carved furniture and smelled of old lady. That isn’t a perfume. We were upgraded from kingsize to king view, although the sea view was more inland. Our third floor room didn’t come with a lift either. I am sure the place was haunted; the digital clock constantly reset itself to 8:04.
They had menus to all the local restaurants, which was handy. I enjoyed the wooden shutters in the room and as the new day started, the beaming sun gently filtered through the slats. The same shutters wouldn’t open properly either!
That evening, huddled against the cold, we strolled to Fishermans Wharf. The pier lined with restaurants was complemented with touts armed with clam chowder. Which, we unfortunately don’t go for. We chose a restaurant that was less pushy and the tout recognised me as being European. He was German!
We took a special offer of a two course meal for $15. The final check was still about $70. Michelle had a succulent steak and my salmon was about as good as I have ever had! The place was owned by a celebrity chef; although I had the image he had a weekly 5min slot on Channel 6849. I felt sorry for the staff telling us this to reinforce this chef’s ego with a vision of Napoleon in my head.. I remember looking into Michelle’s pretty eyes all evening and thinking what a lucky guy I am!
