We spent the first day downtown sightseeing. The ice skating rinks and glittery lights got us in the mood, but nothing says Christmas like a man snoring loudly in the Macy's furniture department while his wife shops.
Walking through the Ferry Building bookstore we found a book of quotes about San Francisco. My favorites:
"You are fortunate to live here. If I were your President, I would levy a tax on you for living in San Francisco!"
--Mikhail Gorbachev
"San Francisco is a golden handcuff with the key thrown away."
--John Steinbeck
And this from John Lennon and Yoko One: "We're crazy about this city. First time we came here, we walked the streets all day, all over town and nobody hassled us. People smiled, friendly-like, and we knew we could live here. Los Angeles? That's just a big parking lot where you buy a hamburger for the trip to San Francisco."
The next morning we treated ourselves to chicory coffee and beignets at Brenda's French Soul Food then we packed Pico and Elijah into the car and headed south for a stay in a beach-front, pet-friendly hotel in Monterey. Along the way we traded picture-texts with our friends the Daniel Family as they drove from Chicago down to Atlanta for the Holidays.
Seeing the Daniels in the car smiling and laughing and eating donuts reminded us once again of our powerful love for the people back home. And their photos of the slush and snow and miles of dead cornfields as they drove through Indiana reinforced our passion for where we are now.
As soon as we arrived at our hotel we hit the beach.
We toured Cannery Row the next day, Carmel by the Sea, Pebble Beach and Big Sur. We saw the 250 year old "Lone Cyprus," pelicans, sea lions, sea urchins and squirrels living in the rocks beside the sea.
If you enjoy happiness and squirrels and clear blue water and pictures of kitties and doggies and big Christmas smiles, please click on the video below and share our Christmas memories.
In the words of Billy Graham, "The Bay Area is so beautiful, I hesitate to preach about heaven while I'm here."
Awesome Jon and Yoko quote. LA PWND
ReplyDeleteDennis
The picture of your yellow sock and Elijah is one of my favorite pictures of all time. That's what it's all about.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love how Pico is daintily drinking from her glass in the background of a couple of the pictures.
We love you guys and were privileged to share our vacation with you via the magic of photo texts! And as good as our respective trips were, there's no place like home.....
So wonderful u got to spend that time together!I was out there close to xmas one year (I think 95) and I met my bro and his fam down at Macy's and we checked out the Christmas tree display, like 4 floors of them,amazing.HOlly Jolly to all of you!!!xxoo.
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