Charlin's Homeward Bound

The vacation proved very fruitful.

 w00t

The farmer's market provided caramel apples and fossils, while the bakery offered fresh cookies. Souvenirs in hand, well, in car, it was time to check out.

 So long, lounge

Check-out went without incident, so it was time to go. 

The way was smooth, the stops were easy, and the traffic was light. I got pretty tired, though, so Jerome offered to take over.

No problem

I did not let him drive. Seriously, though, I was pretty happy to be heading back. I had fun on my vacation, but, at the risk of sounding cheesy, I missed my family, more so than on previous trips. It's good to be home.

Charlin's Day Off

My legs were pretty stiff after a day at the aquarium, so I took a day off. After sleeping in, watching cartoons, and taking a shower, I decided to look for a computer to check my e-mails. The public library was only about four blocks away from my hotel, so I headed off. Unfortunately, it was not open yet, so Jerome and I explored. We found the city council buildings, a big tree, and a big bear.

 Onward!

The bear statue was watching two bronze cubs, but I could not get all of them in the picture.

 City House

It's just so Americana. As a side note, the California flag mimics the old style, so the bear looks more like a pig.

 Big tree

Eager to kill some time, I sought solstice in a warm beverage.

 Hot chocolate

After enjoying the drink, I decided to disrespect some modern art.

 

 Touching the art

 Sliding down the art

 Sitting on the art

It was almost time for the library to open. Unfortunately, the local waterfowl began a sit-in at the school district.

 A wild goose coup

Fortunately, tragedy was averted when literacy became accessible to all. The library opened.

Actually, I was surprised at the history behind the library.

 Libraries are awesome

Anyway, I was able to check my-emails and watch some funny video game clips. Afterwards, I sought nourishment. And a soda.

 It's got bacon!

I finished my BLT with sprouts, then watched some cartoons. Afterwards, I got to go to the farmer's market, which did not actually have that much produce (it is winter, after all). Instead, local craftsmen and restaurants sold their wares. I enjoyed a lamb wrap and a crepe with strawberries and chocolate. I also finally found some souvenirs.

 She sells wonderful, wonderful candy apples

Originally, I planned to eat dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. None of the restaurants looked really appealing, though, so I snapped a photo of Jerome and moved on.

 His head is poking out of the back

A couple of other sites merited attention. 

 Hello beautiful

Her name is Rosalina. She serves as the patron saint of Italian fisherman. Some saints are very specific.

Before I went to bed, I noticed the view from my room. I'm not sure if it's the city or the marina, but it is pretty.

Until next time, peace out, mah ninjas.

Charlin and the Year of the Dragon

On the very first day of the Year of the Dragon, Jerome and I walked to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. On the way, we encountered...

...some unusual wildlife (it's an anteater plushie under a bush...no idea how it got there)...

...beautiful scenery...

...and a yellow submarine (I think it's actually a furbished and painted gas container, but I am not sure).

Anyway, a mile and a half later, we got to the aquarium, just as it started to rain and just before it opened.

We're here!

The aquarium staff were very helpful and friendly. Most of them also thought Jerome was funny.

At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, multiple windows look out to the harbor, so the views both outside and inside are fantastic.

Pretty, rainy day

The aquarium was about to feed its Open Ocean exhibit, so Jerome and I quickly made our way over to the tank.

Jerome and about a zillion sardines

Actually, the docent stated the exhibit only had about 18,000 sardines. Either way, the Open Ocean exhibit is easily one of the most impressive displays in the aquarium, if not the world.

  Jerome in front of one million gallons of water

The feeding session offered an exotic perspective of animal care. Since it's a cold water exhibit, not all the animals need to eat every day. On Monday, the aquarium fed the mola-mola, turtles, and sardines. The sardines were the most impressive. They would rush at the fish pellets much like a flock of pigeons toward breadcrumbs, but quickly dart away when a larger animal swam near. The lights would catch on their sides, which were bright and silvery, resulting in a beautiful, but surreal, show. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, the effect was almost like a living firework of 18,000 sparks.

Immediately underneath the exhibit was the seahorse display. Seahorses are intriguing, but difficult to show, since they are sensitive to changing lights, difficult to see, and non-active (compared to say, sea otters or tuna). However, the gallery showed the animals impressively. The gallery also showcased some seahorse cousins, which worked out well, considering it was the year of the dragon.

Seeing a sea dragon on the first day of the Year of the Dragon HAS to be lucky.

Right?

The gallery contained some hands-on features as well.

Just like Aquaman

Many of the other exhibits featured beautiful views of local wildlife.

 Like a movie set...

While the exhibits are attractive, some do have rules.

I think they did that on purpose

Jerome suggested I use flash anyway. The locals did not approve.

HELP!!!

The cephalopod adventures continued when a staff member told me they were feeding the baby cuttlefish. 

 

 After the show

Jerome and I then settled down for some old-fashioned exploration.

 

I can see your future.

Or some garden eels.

 

My precious pearl

 

A beautiful ocean view

 

Jerome goes for a closer look

 

Seriously, who figured out you could eat these?

 

I think this is one of the prettiest eels I have ever seen

We then found ourselves on the Starship Enterprise...

Prepare to warp

 ...or we visited the deep sea exhibit.

Back at the surface, I stopped for an apple juice and a view.

Pretty...

We then focused on the inside of the aquarium. Originally, the building was a cannery. So quite a bit of the first floor was dedicated to the history of the canning and fishing industries in Monterey. The displays included an original fish tub used to carry sardines.

 Wait, what?

A model conveyer belt dominated a later part of the area.

 Oh nooooo!

The rest of the display modeled the various stages of canning, ending at large baskets used to transport the cans.

 Heh, I escaped

The aquarium was a lot of fun, but the day was almost over. Still, we had one more place to go.

 Chinese food!

It was the Year of the Dragon, after all. So we enjoyed yummy egg flower soup, fried rice, chow mein, and sweet & sour chicken. It was good, but I wanted the year to be sweet.

 Cake!

Some fresh chocolate cake completed a very good day.

Until next time, peace out, mah ninjas!

Charlin Hits the Road

So my computer decided to work again (yay!). We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.


It's time to travel again! For the next four days, Jerome and I will explore Monterey.

 Packing the necesities

Late Sunday morning was a great time to travel by car. Traffic was low and construction work was non-existent, so I made good time. Eventually, the car needed more fuel and I needed some food, so a rest stop near Lost Hills proved useful. While there, I discovered something. No matter where you go, no matter what company you favor, every single gas station mini-mart smells exactly the same.

 This rest stop was brought to you by Wendy's

Wendy's provided me with chicken nuggets, apples, and Dr. Pepper. Unfortunately, the soda took its course, and I needed to stop about an hour later. I then discovered what is quite possibly the most beautiful rest stop in the nation.

 Seriously, this is the stop

 Really. THIS. IS. THE. REST. STOP.

After the stop, the rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. Besides a near-collision with a suicide squirrel. The stupid rodent actually stayed beside the road until I was about ten feet away from it before deciding to bolt across the road. A swerve and an unpositive verbal assessment of all squirrels ever, I had no further drama.

 The invasion has begun

The hotel room was small, well-furnished, and warm. So far, the trip seems to be off to a good start.

Charlin and the Evil Computer

I'm sorry I have not updated the blog. Unfortunately, my laptop decided to die the day I started my trip (I'm writing this from a public library in Monterey). I am taking lots of pictures, though, and I will upload them when I get home.

Until then, peace out, mah ninjas!

The Praternal Unit and the Dinosaur

Again, we brave the roadways of Los Angeles in the quest for fortune, fame, and glory. Or just to see some dinosaurs.

 We shall conquer...

Actually, the traffic really was not that bad, either on the way there or back. The paternal unit suggested it was due to "holiday time," and most workers opted to take an extra day or two off. Whatever the cause, we reached the Natural History Museum in near record time. Unlike previous trips, we parked on the opposite side of the museum, so we experienced some of the California Science Center.

 We found a big plane

The paternal unit quickly identified the plane, its make, and its year. I remember it was big, flat, and nicely framed by tree branches. Thus, the difference between engineers and library students was established.

 An Arabian monster

Inside the Science Center, a large display representing a "typical" Arabian camp site filled the ground floor. Jerome posed appropriately. Still, the dinosaurs beckoned, so we journeyed to the museum.

 Pretty

In preparation for the museum's 100th Anniversary, an army of workers cleaned and planted the front of the building. It looked incomplete, but classy.

I never noticed some of the class within the building. The hanging lights also added antiquated but elegant details.

 Hee hee, we get in for free

We unintentionally arrived on no-pay Tuesday, so we got to enjoy the museum for free. I cannot describe the smile on my face. Other than it probably looks weird or like a cartoon's. After taking care of formalities, we promptly migrated to the much awaited Dinosaur Hall. It did not disappoint.

 You boneheads!

Many of the exhibits rested at waist level, allowing even young viewers to see the fossils with little difficulty. Most were bordered by bright illustrations and informative descriptions.

 No difference whatsoever

Still, many exhibits attracted attention on their own virtue.

 I'm not jealous...much

Despite the care of the museum, some visitors seemed worryingly distracted from the exhibits.

 Taken mere seconds before a massive PR headache

A few items featured impressive items combining large sizes and amazing details. The paternal unit and I were especially excited by the delicate dinosaur skin imprints on a massive fossil. 

 A bonding moment

After our initial exploration of the Dinosaur Hall, the paternal unit and I needed sustenance. We traveled to the cafeteria, only to be ambushed by the Civil War. 

Do not worry. 

We won.

 Do you realize how quickly wars would end with the increased use of mosasaur cannons?

Thanks to the museum's daily tours, we found ourselves back in the Dinosaur Hall. Our tour guide, Ashley, answered a lot of our speculations regarding cervical ribs, secondary jaws, and balance capacities. I will not write the answers, though. You will have to look them up yourself. *Evil, evil laugh!*

 She likes me!

Actually, she thought Jerome was adorable. She also gave us several recommendations for future trips.

While the dinosaurs were (incredibly) fun, we also saw some other parts of the museum, such as the North American Mammal Hall, the African Mammal Hall, and the Hall of Mammals. The latter featured fossils of extinct mammals from the United States, particularly California.

 This mammal looks like a reptile. 

The mammals looked impressive, but Jerome was determined to one-up them all.

 I'm taller!

We also slipped upstairs to the Dino Lab, where the museum prepares specimens for future displays, loans, or storage.

 This is a plesiosaur

I will always love to look behind the scenes.

We were both pretty tired at this point, but I saw something that caught my attention. No, it was not the prehistoric Horn of Plenty.

 An ancient cornucopia 

Instead, beckoning item of the room was a model of a t-rex skeleton. While most patrons enjoyed the hands-on approach of the display, Jerome immediately witnessed an unexpected hazard.

Heeeeeeeelllllpppp!

We managed to escape though our wits, agility, and a disembodied shoe/watch combo.

Until next time, peace out, mah ninjas!