Charlotte FC v Miami CF @ Bank of America Stadium

I mean, of course we're here to see Lionel Messi!  He is one of, if not the, greatest players, especially of this era.  He was a big drawcard as seen by the number of Miami shirts in the stadium during the night.  Even non-football fans know who he is, but the disrespect he was given tonight was a blight on a great night for Charlotte.

The boys, Uncle D & I had prime seats.  Front row in the club level, in line with the penalty spot at the non-supporters end.  While the top bowl remained empty, the Bank was mostly full on a warm September night.

Miami started strong, down towards the end we were attacking.  Early on Messi went over to take a corner, and was booed.  Why?  A great player, who has boosted the profile of MLS, stays away from controversy and has literally won everything in world football.  I was really disappointed in this.  And Charlotte piled on from there.  

After half an hour Messi was bought down in the box.  Had my Charlotte goggles on and didn't think it was a penalty, even after seeing it on the big screen (that changed when I saw it later on TV - clearly a foul).   Messi stepped up to take it.  We were about to see him score.  Right in line with us!  Until he stepped up with a weak Panenka, which Kalina calmly and easily saved.  Then is seemed like we hadn't finished celebrating when Toklomati went up the other end and finished off a great move.  1-0 Charlotte.

So many people weren't back in their seats after half time when Toklomati slotted in his 2nd, after a nice cross from Bronico.  Charlotte 2 Miami 0.  Miami still dominated possession, and I watched everything Messi did, though he wasn't as involved as I expected.  But every time he touched the ball, the crowd were waiting for something to happen.  But it never did for Miami.  Instead, with 8 minutes to go, Zaha drove into the box only to fouled.  Penalty Charlotte.  Toklomati stepped up and completed his hat-trick and Charlotte want on to keep a clean sheet and win 3-0.

While he didn't set the world on fire, I'm glad the boys and I got to see Messi.  He is and always will be a legend and even to see one moment of brilliance from him was a priviledge.  But I'm much happier that Charlotte took the 3 points.

Charlotte FC 3 (Toklomati 34, 27 & 82) defeated Miami CF 0

Crowd: 35,607

Choir! Choir! Choir! at Carolina Theatre

For something different, A & I went to Choir! Choir! Choir! tonight.  I've seen some of their stuff on Youtube and thought it would be fun.  Tonight they are dedicating their show to the songs of Queen.  I thought it was usually one song, but in this case we did a a number of songs. 

We had seats near the back, but unfortunately the show was not well attended, and the band wouldn't start till we all moved tot he front to be together.  From the first song this was a success.  The sound of the crowd together was magic, and the band obviously fed on that.

We sang Don't Stop Me Now, Somebody To Love, Under Pressure, We Will Rock You among others.  A couple of practice runs where sections of the audience were give parts (alto, melody, harmony, tenor etc) and then a sing along to Choir! Choir! Choir! playing an acoustic, and vocally directing the crowd.  There was somewhere in the show where they broke into the rap from Barenaked Ladies' One Week.  Didn't finish it, but a group in the crowd made it known that their friend new ALL the words.  She was brave enough to perform it into the mike (wouldn't get on stage though).  And she killed it.  Almost the best applause of the night.  Of course the show finished with Bohemian Rhapsody.  By this point, everyone was really into it.

What a great night!  An interactive concert.  That's a first for me (and A).  TO sing aloud every song was a soul-positive experience.  Definitely took a while to come down from this.  Choir! Choir! Choir! have played in Charlotte before, but we were out of town when it happened so I am so glad we got to go this evening.  And I'll come back for more when they come through town again.

The Crap Facts
This is my 531st concert.
Carolina Theatre is the 142nd venue I've seen a concert at.
This is my 128th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 152nd concert in North Carolina.
This is my 331st concert in the USA.
Choir! Choir! Choir! are the 624th band I've seen.

Simple Plan, Bowling For Soup & Lolo @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

Another warm day at work, where I greet all the fans coming in for Simple Plan tonight.  I love this job.  I greet people as they walk into the venue and provide direction for their evening.  People are always in a good mood, and why wouldn't they be.  Great venue.  Here to see a favorite band of theirs.  Good atmosphere all around.  Plenty of Fineas & Ferb tshirts, for the Bowling for Soup fans (and even a Professor Doofenschmirtz), while the Simple Plan fans went for the full Scooby Doo outfits.

There's not a lot I can tell you about Lolo.  I was still guiding people in while she was on, and I'm not familiar with her stuff.  Though her cover of The Killers Mr Brightside stuck with me.

Lolo Setlist

Bowling for Soup came on and I was surprised that I knew some of their songs.  Girl All The Bad Guys Want was a song I haven't heard in forever.  A modern classic, and a great kick off to the set.  A medley that included Mickey & Fight For Your Right was also well received.  My boys went through a Fineas & Ferb phase, but i wasn't aware that the show's song was Bowling For Soup.  But the audience did, and they went nuts when Today Is Going To Be The Best Day played.  As the set finished Bowling for Soup gave the best introduction to a song.  "Everyone thinks we wrote Stacy's Mom, we didn't - it was Fountains of Wayne - so we're going to play it anyway.  And then their big hit 1985 finished a fun 40 minute set.  Way better than I expected.  I will lookout for them again if they come through town.

Bowling For Soup Setlist

In complete contradiction, I don't know any Simple Plan songs (well, 1 but I only learnt that tonight).  Simple Plan's pop punk was was well received by their crowd, whose only mission tonight was to have a blast - And they did!  Half way through the set, Simple Plan's singer Pierre Bouvier, came out to play Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?) on a piano at the back of the seated section.  Staff was made aware of this and we moved to be in a spot to stop too many people coming too close.  There was one couple that said they were told to wait near the sound booth, but I moved them back a bit.  It wasn't until one of the crew grabbed them that I found out he was proposing to his girl before the song played.  I almost ruined it - felt like shit - nut it all turned out for the best.  Thank God!  My favorites was a medley near the end with All Star, Skater Boi & Mr Brightside.  This was followed by the song I did know.  As Simple Plan got people up on stage, who had come dressed in costume, they ripped through the their theme song from What's New Scooby Doo?.  Awesome.

Simple Plan Setlist

I love having a job that is this fun.  Sure I might not like the music, although tonight I came across a couple of new-to-me bands that were fun, there is usually 3000 - 5500 people that are into it.  And their energy is addictive.  They want to talk to you about their band, how many times they've seen it, and how good this smaller outdoor venue is.  Can't wait to work more shows here.

The Crap Facts
This is my 530th concert.
This is my 22nd concert at Skyla CU Amphitheater.
This is my 127th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 151st concert in North Carolina.
This is my 330th concert in the USA.
Lolo are the 621st band I've seen.

Bowling For Soup are the 622nd band I've seen.

Simple Plan are the 623rd band I've seen.

Collective Soul & Live @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

Yet another band I have waited forever to see again.  It was in the pouring rain at Alternative Nation 30 years ago that I last saw Live.  30 Years!!!!  And that was the original Live - though I'm not bothered about line up changes, as long as the band performs.

I remember dad bringing me the Mental Jewelry CD, and loving it from the first listen.  So to hear Pain Lies On The Riverside first up was the start of something magic.  And straight into Selling The Drama......chef's kiss.  I'm 22 again.  In a Throwing Copper dominant set, there were few songs I didn't know.  This is a great show!  Shit Towne and Lakini's Juice definite highlights.  As expected they finished with a couple of crowd pleasers.  Both I Alone and Lightning Crashes made the hair stand up on back of my neck.  To hear such great songs be so powerfully played after 30 years was unbelievable.  I hope I get the chance to see Live again.  This night was awesome!

Live Setlist

I had some work to do, and was posted in a different spot when Collective Soul came on, so I didn't get into the set as much.  Actually I don't know a lot of their stuff.  But it was a good sound, and, as always in this venue, people were into it.  I was surprised/delighted to hear Shine pretty early in the set.  It sounded so good .  They other song I pined for, and got near the end, was Gel.  And again it was perfect.  I see a lot of older bands slow their stuff down, but the tempo on this song was hot, and the crowd responded accordingly.

Another night of good music - that they are now paying me to listen to.  How good is that?

Collective Soul Setlist

The Crap Facts

This is my 529th concert.
This is my 21st concert at Skyla CU Amphitheater.
This is my 126th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 150th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 329th concert in the USA.
This is my 3rd Live concert.

Collective Soul are the 620th band I've seen.

Eladio Carrion @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

I'll keep this review pretty short, because while I did see the whole concert as I worked - I couldn't get into it.  Reggaetron?  Rap?  EDM?  Hip Hop?  All genres I don't normally listen to.  And to top it off (for me) personally)  it was all done in Spanish.  I had no idea what was going on.

What I did see - as I like to when I'm not into the music - is a crowd who were well into it.  Normally shows at the Amp see the lawn and pit fill up first, then people get to their assigned seats when they're ready.  Tonight the pit packed in early (I did the wristbands for the pit right up until Carrion came on stage).  and a lot of people were in seats, but the lawn was near empty.  Those who came wanted to be close.  I've never seen so few people on the lawn.  Regardless, the crowd that was there was into it.  Everyone one was singing along (I assume, again Spanish) and dancing the night away.

While I don't dig Eladio Carrion's music, I did get to meet 3000 people that do.  And they had a blast!

Eladio Carrion Setlist

The Crap Facts
This is my 528th concert.
This is my 20th concert at Skyla CU Amphitheater.
This is my 125th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 149th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 328th concert in the USA.
Eladio Carrion is the 619th band I've seen.

Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick @ PNC Pavilion

Tonight we took advantage of $30 lawn tickets to head up to PNC and see Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick.  I even got A to come to a concert.

I've seen Cheap Trick a twice before, so I definitely wanted to be there early and catch them.  After getting stuck in a little traffic coming in, we got to the stairway up to the lawn as they were coming on stage.  The Dream Police early on got people up and moving/reminiscing.  But the band didn't seem as mobile as in the past.  And some of the sound was not mixing well.  The bass player's vocals were really loud.  It was really great to hear If You Want My Love - as I'd not seen them do that live before.  The hour long set finished with The Flame, I Want You To Want Me and Surrender.  Some of the higher notes don't hit as high as they used to, and beside the saxophone shaped guitar, Rick Nielson didn't have the variety you know and love for this set.  During goodbye I wandered off to look at the merch.  Not a lot on offer, and no records that I was hoping for.

Cheap Trick Setlist

How the hell is Rod Stewart 80?  The guy doesn't stop for 2 hours, while I struggle to get off the grass to stand up and dance.  I had a Greatest Hits album of Rod Stewart when I was in 3rd grade (1981? - yikes) and I'm hoping he plays older stuff, as I'm not really into the newer soul/classic cover albums he's been releasing.  Stewart is a legend, and someone I definitely wanted to see live, even though it's not what I usually listen to, he has so many songs you knew tonight would be good.

From the start I was blown away.  I had not remembered that Infatuation was one of his songs.  And this was the beginning of that feeling for the night.  Either not realizing he did these songs, that they were covers or where the songs fit in his timeline.  It's a Heartache is an example.  I'm sure I've heard the Bonnie Tyler Original, but I only associate that song with Stewart.  And same for Cat Steven's First Cut Is The Deepest as well.  A mid-set Forever Young saw a respectful but creepy tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.  An AI slide played in the background showed Ozzy with a number of celebrities that have passed (Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, etc) obviously supposedly in heaven, but what looked like the beach in the Bahamas.  The sentiment was beautiful, the outcome a little weird.  Ooh La La by The Faces was awesome.  I didn't know that was the name of the song, but it is a screamer.  Maggie May easily got the best response from the crowd for the night.  Such a good storied song.  I didn't know Downtown Train was Tom Waits - but another song I hadn't thought of for years.  You're In My Heart is his tribute to his beloved Celtic and I'm wondering if all those people down the front knew to wear Celtic shirts, or were they moved down the front because of their Celtic shirts.  We'll never know.  Do You Think I'm Sexy and Hot Legs were a perfect way to finish a fun set.  Like old people we raced off to the car to get out of the lot before everyone else (in hindsight a great decision) and had to listen to Some Guys Have All The Luck (the song A really wanted) as the encore as we walked out to the car.

A & I had a blast, and I'm really glad we made the effort on a school night to see this show (and the rain held off for us).  Another legend ticked off the list of concerts I've seen.

Rod Stewart Setlist

The Crap Facts

This is my 527th concert.
This is my 5th concert at PNC Pavilion .
This is my 124th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 148th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 327th concert in the USA.
This is my 3rd Cheap Trick concert.
Rod Stewart is the 618th band I've seen.

Weird Al Yankovic & Puddles Pity Party @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

This was unexpected.  I got called into work in the afternoon, which is great, because this was the show I wanted to be at.

I was stationed at the top of the stairs, to greet everyone, and people were in early.  The lawn was nearly full only 45 minutes after the gates opened.  With all these people streaming in I couldn't watch Puddles as much as I wanted, but did catch some of his songs.  None were better than the Gilligan's Island Theme, sung to Stairway to Heaven.

Al started his set inside the Fillmore, video playing on the screen as he sung Tacky.  A pie in the face for Puddles outside the VIP entrance before he hit the stage to thunderous applause.  I thought his Polkamania medley was great.  Singing Al lyrics to the likes of Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, etc as the real videos played in the background.  An extended video from the Weird Al Movie (doing Another One Rides The Bus) lead into a fully changed Al doing Smells Like Nirvana (what I really wanted to see).  Of course a guest crisis happens during this song (broken chair) and I miss most of it.  I get a 15 minute break and miss the big medley, including Party In The CIA, I Love Rocky Road, Eat It and Like A Surgeon, though I could hear it all inside.  I walked out to catch the end of Canadian Idiot.  Fat saw the big suit come out, and then he played a few cartoon songs, which lost the audience for a minute, but White & Nerdy and Amish Paradise was a huge finisher.  For the encore we got a woven in The Saga Begins & Yoda.  By the time he finished, after 2 hours, the crowd were on their feet again.  A great night had by all.

Two stand out things.  It's hotter tonight than last night.  But this is a sit down crowd, so it didn't feel as bad as what last night was.  And 2 - Fun Band = Fun Crowd.  Beside the dressed up Amish, the Hawaiian shirts were in full force, silly socks (even from staff), and the young kids with their parents having a blast.

I hadn't bought tickets and the show sold out, so I rarely say this, but I'm glad I got to work tonight.  Will get the boys going to the show the next time Weird Al comes through town.

Weird Al Yankovic Setlist

The Crap Facts
This is my 526th concert.
This is my 19th concert at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheater.
This is my 123rd concert in Charlotte.
This is my 147th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 326th concert in the USA.
Puddles Pity Party are the 616th band I've seen.
Weird Al Yankovic are the 617th band I've seen.

Goo Goo Dolls & Dashboard Confessional @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

Holy Hell, it's hot!  Again.

A brief report of this concert.  Dashboard Confessional were a backing track to me trying to get people to their seats.  Unfortunately at 7.30, with the sun still blazing, people who might be in their seats, were headed for drinks or whatever shade they could find.  None of their songs were familiar to me, but it seemed like what response they got was good.

The Goo Goo Dolls hit the stage after the sunset and started to a packed house.  This is a band who were in a prime when I was listening to everything, but they never held my attention for more than a song or 2.  Slide was the 2nd song, and a banger to get the crowd really into it.  That one I knew.  

As a regular concert goer there a couple of things I don't understand from a crowd perspective.  One is people leaving during the band to get a drink and or, in the US, food.  No!  Do that shit between bands, or early on.  Not while the main reason you forked over money is on stage.  2nd, is people talking throughout a set (hence I see a lot of shows on my own).  Shut Up or fuck off!  No one paid money to hear you crap on over the music.  While I saw this tonight, I had a lot of people tell me they had to get out of their seats and go to the lawn or plaza because it was too hot for them.  Packed in the crowd close to the stage was too much for a lot of people tonight (it was well over 90 degrees all night).  I'm glad they were self aware enough to get out while they could.  Anyway the band played a lot of stuff I don't know and while I was keeping my eye on the job, you can't help but see how much this crowd was enjoying this show.  All night long.  Despite the uncomfortable heat.  A 3 song encore was finished with the much anticipated Iris, which I also know, and had the crowd buzzing on the way out.  So much so, that they must not have wanted it to end, as even after 45 minute cleanup it still took over an hour to get out of the parking lot.

Goo Goo Dolls Setlist

The Crap Facts

This is my 525th concert.
This is my 18th concert at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheater.
This is my 122nd concert in Charlotte.
This is my 146th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 325th concert in the USA.
Dashboard Confessional are the 614th band I've seen.
Goo Goo Dolls are the 615th band I've seen.

San Francisco, CA

Our last day on our West Coast trip started at the nearby Boudin Bakery, where a pastry breakfast got us underway for the day.

At the hotel we did the weirdest thing we had tried in a long time and ordered a Waymo to take us to the Ferry Terminal.  While a long time transportation option in San Francisco, these last few days have been the first time we've seen driverless cars ever.  To get in one was really wierd.  It's merely 2 miles, but while I was in the passenger seat and everyone else was in the back, it just felt awkward.  Having sad that, the ride was smooth and there were no problems.  I know there will come a day when this technology advances further still and no one will be driving.  Eventually that might be a good thing.

We boarded a ferry for Richmond, as we are off to have a barbeque at Shacks place in El Cerrito.  A smooth 35 minute ride across the Bay, sitting outside, taking in all the sites.  Shack met us at the terminal and drove us the 10 minutes back to his and Kat's, his lovely bride we were meeting for the first times, house.  Kat's mom lives with them too, so lunch was a mix of barbeque and Phillipino food.  Shack & Kat were married during Covid, so we attended the wedding virtually, but it's been 5 years till we had the opportunity to me her properly.  The afternoon was spent with a bunch of their friends in the sun in the backyard enjoying the food and the company.  It's always good value hanging with Shack, so you know his wife is going to be a blast as well.

B&L, San Francisco Ferry Terminal, CA

Shack dropped us off at the train station and we caught a train back in to Embarcadero, to do something different.  Not as good us the ferry as we rode under the bay, with nothing to see.  From here we zig zagged back through the city back to the hotel.  

Our last meal for the trip was to be take out from Cilantro SF Tacqueria.  The amount of people fighting for a table, and then the rest of us crammed in to pick up food, told us all we needed to know about this place.  And we weren't disappointed.  Back in the hotel the tacos and burritos went down a treat.

After dinner we walked over to the Aquatic Cove to finally take in the Golden Gate Bridge.  It had been too foggy since we'd been here to get a good view of it.  And to get it with the setting sun was amazing.  While it was below 50 degrees (never happening in summer at home) we hung out and waited for the 4th July fireworks, with what seemed like half of San Francisco.  What a display!  A great half hour of sky high entertainment.  It's been years since I've sone something like this on a holiday.  And this was great - we've got to do this more often.

So it was fireworks that ended our 8 days in Northern California.  Appropriate I would say, after 8 great days it was essential we went out with a bang.

Golden Gate Bridge, CA

DML&B, Aquatic Cove, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

Board & Drink is around the corner from the hotel, and where we started the day today with  breakfast.  Again we filled up for a days discovering.

The Powell Hyde Cable Car runs from the water's edge, and this was our San Francisco thing to do today.  While we had to wait a while to get on, it was nice to be seated as we rode up the hill towards the Grace Cathedral.  I had been here years ago, and wanted to show the boys the Florence Duomo replica door on the church.  It is a magical sight.  However I don't remember it being $15 to go in and look around.  Or $60 for all of us.  Money we opted to spend elsewhere.  Actually, after wandering around, a good amount was spent at Bob's Donuts.  After a large breakfast, we didn't need sustanence as much as we needed sugar.

We walked over to Van Ness & California and caught the Cable Car all the way down to the Embarcadero.  We then wandered back through the edge of Chinatown and to Union Square.  Here we caught the other Cable Car all the way back to the hotel.

BL&M, Cable Car, San Francisco, CA

LDM&B, Cable Car, San Francisco, CA

We did what every tourist must do in San Francisco and fouhgt the hordes of people at Fishermna's Wharf, as well as saw the seals.  While there were not many, they were pretty vocal, and a massive seal bullied all the others to get the best spots.

BD&L, Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco, CA

Dinner tonight was at Piccolo Forno. Half a mile from the hotel, recomended by staff, and an Italian restaruant in North Beach.  What's not to like?  WE were early but still had to wait a bit for a seat.  But we got to sit outside (something we rarely do at home during the summer) and enjoy a fantastic meal.  There were a lot of recommended restaurants nearby, and all were really busy, but I really like the one we chose.

Near by a gelato store quenched desert desires and in the nearby Washington Square we had a great view of the setting sun behing the beautiful the St Peter and St Paul Church in Waskington Square.  After that, it was just back tot he hotel.  Rest was required after yet another fantastic day around San Francisco.

St. Peter & Paul Church, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

A big day started just up the road at Buena Vista Cafe, where we had breakfast with Shack, a college friend of A's who we havenb't seen in at least 15 years.  This famous restaurant is home to America's first Irish Coffee back in 1932.  Of course A & Shack indulged.  A hearty breakfast for a big day ahead.

After breakfast Shack drove us to a couple of spots in San Francisco.  We stopped at the Fort Point National Historic Site, under the foggy Golden Gate Bridge, and he took us through the Presidio neighborhood, where he used to live, and eventually dropped us off at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.  Was great to catch up with Shack, and we'll see him again on Friday when we head out to his place.

Shack,ML&B, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

At the de Young we toured the Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm exhibit.  This was great.  Paul took many photos during his days as a Beatle, and there were as many photos of fans going crazy as there were of members of the band and friends just hanging out in the US.  Black & white pictures in the wintery north of the country to bright and vibrant color pictures as they moved the tour into Florida.

Paul McCartney Exhibit, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

We were cut short for time at the museum, so didn't get to see any of the other exhibits.  We caught an Uber back to the hotel to pick up some warmer clothes (thankfully).  Lunch was at the In n' Out right by the hotel - after the longest wait ever in a fast food restaurant - not through inefficiency, but sheer volume.  

A half mile later we were at Pier 33, ready to head out for an afternoon on Alcatraz.  This is my 3rd trip here, and the first time in 20 years.  WHile ther was a familiarity with the place, there was a lot of new stuff to see, and share with the boys seeing the place for the first time.  The tour starts in the shower room, before getting into the main accommodations of the place.  I know it hasn't been used as a prison in over 60 years, but this place is bleak.  I can't imagine how bad it was as a prison in the 50s and 60s.  And cold - sheesh!  That wind howls through there.  The wind noise and temperature would have been a nightmare stuck in a prison cell.  The audio tour takes your through the different levels of incarceration in the building and what the inmates did for dining and entertainment.  And the story of an unsuccessful uprising.  The tour is narrated by one time inmates and guards.  On the way out I bought a book, Alcatraz From Inside by one of the narrators, former prisoner Jim Quillen.  We went out to the Industries Building, on the north western side of the island.  I had not been here on previous trips, but now it was filled with an exhibit from when Native Americans reclaimed the island in 1969 and occupied it for 19 months.  A really interesting, politically charged protest saw Native Americans raise awareness to the plight of their people and the issue of stolen land, especially sacred sights.  The final part of the island has a small exhibit talking about incarcerations in today's world.  Plenty of statistics shared did not paint a promising picture for America, who seem to have high numbers and percentages of people in jails or prisons throughout the country.

Alcatraz, San Francisco, CA

L. Alcatraz, San Francisco, CA

DBM&L, Alcatraz, San Francisco, CA

We were on the island for close to 4 hours, and on the ferry back, the crowd was gifted with the sighting of a whale in the bay, much to the delight of everyone.  Once off the boat, we walked some to the Embarcadero, before heading to China Live for dinner.  This was a place recommended by the hotel, and one we'd seen yesterday while walking around.  This is a great restaurant concept.  A vast dining room intertwined with a gift store.  Different open kitchen cooking areas and a robot delivering food to tables and to go orders to the front to the restaurant.  Visually it was almost over stimulating.  But nothing in comparison to the food.  It was amazing.  We ordered smaller dishes to try different things, and we just couldn't stop.  We definitely needed the mile walk back to the hotel afterwards, just to digest the best meal I've had in ages.

DBL&M, China Live, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

Carmel Bakery is at the back of the hotel, so it is here where we load up on to-go pastries on our way out of Monterey.  This is been a new city for all of us, and it was a great one to discover all together.  But on with the adventure....

The drive into San Francisco is a pretty easy one.  Not a lot of traffic mid morning.  We drove straight to the Kimpton Fisherman's Wharf and were able to check in straight away.  While the family unloaded in the room, I drove the car back to the airport.  There's no need for us to have it anymore.  And to pay for parking anywhere in the city is exorbitant.  

I caught the train back into the Embarcadero and met up with everyone else.  A quick lunch in the ferry terminal and we were off wandering the city.  Up past the Transamerica Pyramid, we walked up to the gates in Chinatown.  I had never been in this section of San Francisco before, and we wandered the shops and stores.  We then walked over to Lombard Street to see the world's curviest street, and a great view of Coit Tower.

BL&M, Chinatown, San Francisco, CA

Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA

BL&M, Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA

By the time we eventually got back to the hotel, it was time to get out to dinner.  We picked Cioppoinos for the convenience of being across the street at Fisherman''s Wharf.  A good meal, but could've been a better atmosphere.  The front of the restaurant was full, but no one was seated near the back, where there is an excellent view of the bay.

Monterey, CA

We're staying in town today, so we start just outside the hotel at Crepes of Brittany.  I feel like it's been forever since I've had a crepe.  So these were exceptional.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium runs a free trolley from the hotel, so we take advantage of that and cram on with half of California on the first trolley of the day.  An easy entry in as we have purchased tickets in advance and the place is packed from the beginning.  We start at the sea otters, who are putting on a show for everyone packed against the glass.  From there we walk over to the Into The Deep tank, which is massive, and keeps us entertained for a while.  Of course the sharks we amazing, and the quantity of jellyfish.  But just outside from the Touch Pool we could see more seals and otters in the ocean just beyond the aquarium.  Another thing we watch (from a distance) is the kids who were learning to scuba dive in the tide pool fenced off in the facility.  Not for me, but I'm sure that is an amazing experience.  Weirdly I know this is a world class facility, but it seems kind of small.  Yet we are in there for 3 hours.

 

Jellyfish, Monterey Bay Aquarium, CA

First things first when we leave the aquarium, it's time for lunch.  L and I opt for sandwiches from Conglio Brothers, a deli inside a wine and olive oil shop, while M&B grab something from Jack's Bao, across the street.  We meet up and eat in the glorious sunshine by the waters edge.

We are in Cannery Row, known to me from the John Steinbeck novel, so we wonder around and look in shops and see all the restaurants we aren't going to eat at before we head up to San Francisco tomorrow.  Poor M, I know she shops better than her 3 boys, but we stopped her spending too much time here.  The walk back to hotel is just over a mile, and it's too nice a day to be inside, so we walk back.  We do have to make a stop at Fisherman's Wharf for our daily ice cream.

For dinner tonight M has found the Beach House Restaurant & Bar at Lovers Point, Pacific Grove.  It is only a 15 minute drive north west of the hotel, and a beautiful old house overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  We delighted in our seafood dinner as, again, seals and otters popped their heads up out of the water on the beach below us.  This was a fitting ending to our stay in Monterey, and I am looking forward to part 2 of our trip tomorrow as we move into San Francisco.

Monterey, CA

Before this morning becomes a driving day, we have breakfast at Bagel Bakery, just up the road from the hotel.  We sit and enjoys a coffee/tea and dive into these great egg bagels.

Today we are headed down the scenic 17 Mile Drive.  This starts just south of Monterey and goes through Pebble Beach, along the coast, and down to Carmel.  The drive starts foggy, but its clear enough at each of the many stops we make.  One of the early (and favorite) ones is at Bird Rock.  While seals aplenty swim in the water, their need to get up on this rock island is overpowered by the shear amount of black birds on sunning themselves already.  Also at this stop is some volunteers, offering information and binoculars.  While L & I stayed up high, M & B climbed down to Fanshell Beach for a quick look around.  At Cypress Point we saw a lone white seal.  I'd never seen one that color before.  The next stop was The Lone Cypress.  A top a rocky point sits this single tree.  We got there and got photos,  but 15 minutes later, as we left, there was so much fog you could not see the tree, or the ocean.  We left and headed to Carmel before realizing that we'd been so fixated with the ocean that we had not seen any of world famous Pebble Beach Golf Course.  Maybe on the way back.

Bird Rock, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA

Lone Pine, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA

DML&B, Lone Pine, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA

We drove in hoping to stop at Carmel Beach to look around.  There was too much traffic and literally nowhere to park, so we headed into town to look around.  We spent an hour looking around town and through all the local stores.  WE opted for Brophy Tavern for lunch.  It was a little bit out of the main area of  the town, and the only place without a long wait.  A nice pub lunch before we are back in the car again.

Our trip sees us continue south on the CA1.  We are hoping to get to Big Sur, but the road is not an easy one to navigate.  Between fog rolling in, road works, and the naturally tight one lane each way, it is actually slow going.  A has volunteered to drive, and I know it is taking it out of her, becasue I fell exhausted from the drive in the passenger seat.  

There are a number of places to stop on the way, and we do so.  Garrapata State Park is where we stop the longest.   We walk along a trail out to the cliff's edge.  The coast here is rocky and has many cliffs, not the sandy beaches I've come to know all my life.  And the fog!  So much of it.  Blinding one minute, then clear blue sky the next.  With stops due to roadworks (because of last years landslides) it takes over another hour to finally make it to Big Sur.  We don't arrive until 5pm, so we didn't go into the park.  Both because we had seen all the Redwoods in Santa Cruz and we were a little worried about driving back in the pending darkness.

D&M, Garrapata State Park, CA

B&L, Garrapata State Park, CA

No stops going back north.  That is until we get into the 17 Mile Drive again.  We stop at the clubhouse of the Pebble Beach Golf Course.  While none of us are golfers, you don't have to be to enjoy the beauty and history of this course.  I wish I had taken up the sport when we lived in Vegas.  So many times a knocked back a round.  It would have been amazing to try and play a round here.  Mind you we were heading into dusk as we got here.

Arriving back at the hotel we were too beat to leave it again, so we had dinner at Jack's in the lobby.  Although they were both super tired, the boys ploughed through a huge meal, and it wasn't long after we got back to the room that we surrendered completely for the day.  An absolute beaut!

Monterey, CA

Up pretty early this morning only to find my luggage had yet to arrive from American.  After a lengthy wait on the phone, we find out that this has been pushed back to late tonight.  Grrrr!

We had breakfast inside the hotel at Jack's.  Holy hell, there was enough food to do me for a month.  But gooood!

In the car and up the CA1 towards Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.  Just 9 miles north of Santa Cruz are these most beautiful trees.  A popular park, it took a while for us to get in.  The problem wasn't helped by the guy that didn't want to wait in line and during his u-turn he bottomed out on the edge of the road.  Once in, we had a quick pit stop at the general store before planning out the day  We got a map of the hikes, but went over and got a ticket for the Roaring Camp Railroad.  This is adjacent to the park, and we can get on a train in just over an hour.  Back in the park we decide to take the Redwood Grove Loop Trail.  It's just under a mile along, but our map has points of interest to stop at.  We saw banana slugs, a 277 foot Redwood and generally just took in these majestic trees, like none of had seen before.  The weather was perfect, and being in the shade of these giants just made the whole experience complete.

MBL&D, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA

We made it back to the railway for the 12.15pm train up the mountain.  It is a laborious trip for the narrow gauge steam train, but one that has been done for over a century, for both logging and more recently, recreation.  The view out of the open top carriage is overwhelming.  You can't not see a magnificent tree any which way you look.  The commentary points out the larger trees, points out trees that have survived fires and all the interesting facts - did you know the redwoods drink 500 gallons of water a day and get 40% of their intake from fog.  There's a 10 minute stop at the top, as you wait for the train ahead to complete a switchback.  From there it's downhill cruising.  We all enjoyed this 1.5 hour train ride, and this ticks off our want to see the Redwoods while here.

BM&L, Roaring Camp Railroad, Felton, CA

Once we get back we leave the park in search of lunch.  In hindsight we should have stayed longer.  We drove 20 minutes down to Santa Cruz Beach.  Beaches here in the US still amaze me, with their piers and boardwalks.  Santa Cruz's having a massive amusement park.  We stop at the north end of the beach and sit outside, beside the ocean, and have lunch at Ideal Bar & Grill.  Another good meal.  All enjoyed under the non-intense sun without excess heat (I could get used to this).

After lunch we just cruise the boardwalk and walk though the amusement park.  This place was great.  Every type of person and family in this oversized Luna Park-esque fun park just having the best time.  I know I normally don't go for things like this, but there was such a positive vibe about the place, it was nice to be a part of.  We didn't do any of the rides because of the wait times, but we just liked being at the boardwalk.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California

We went into downtown Santa Cruz momentarily.  I stopped at the Gap to pick up a couple of essentials, as we still had not heard anything about my bags.  Oh, and there was ice cream and cookies involved.

We took our time getting back to Monterey in the afternoon.  We drove through Capitola, just to see what it looked like.  The beach was packed, but it was a chill little seaside town.  We made it back to the hotel and the boys opted for a rest in the room while A & I wandered through Monterey.  We weren't looking at or for anything but wit was just nice to be somewhere new and see something different.

The late lunch meant A, B & I didn't want to eat anything, but I went back out to find L some Mexican.  I like when I get to spend 1 on 1 time with the boys (not easy to do with twins).  Another great day.  Let's see if we can top it tomorrow.