"In his domestic administration my father had this system . . . to keep a journal and insert in it all occurrences of any note . . . A record very pleasant to look at when time begins to efface the memory of events, and very well suited to get us out of perplexity: When was such and such a thing begun? When completed? What retinues came? How long did they stay? Our trips, our absences; marriages; deaths; the receipt of happy or unhappy news . . . An ancient custom, which I think it would be good to revive, each man in each man's home. And I think I am a fool to have neglected it." (Montaigne, Book I, Essay 35 (publ. 1580))

Saturday, August 30, 2014

CA (again) (August 21-25, 2014)

PJ on balcony of our Laguna Beach hotel room.
Unusual timing this summer on some of our travels; just four days after driving back from CA (on the fine trip recounted here), PJ and I were back on the road to Laguna Beach for what has become our annual visit.  

A view from our balcony . . . some Pacific storm gave a little more life to the normally-gentle wave action here.
Hard to believe this is our fifth Laguna Beach visit (first one mentioned here).  Harder to believe it's the fourth time that our visit included a stopover with EPG in Santa Monica (first one mentioned here).  (That boy continues to thrive as he proceeds through year four of his CA era.)

At Huntington botanical gardens.
Similar pattern as prior trips - two nights in Laguna - we park the car, walk the town, look at the ocean, enjoy the local restaurants, etc.  Then two nights in Santa Monica at EPG's apartment.  Then a return drive with (typically unfruitful) stop at the Cabazon outlet mall, simple dinner somewhere in downtown Phoenix, and home again.

Trying to get connected for fantasy draft.
EPG does keep coming up with interesting new ideas (in addition to reliable staples like the Sunday market).  Highlight restaurant this year:  Bestia (Sunday night).  Interesting food, interesting refurbished warehouse-style building, in an area of downtown LA that looked a bit iffy, I'd say.  Fun.  Also had a great late lunch at AKA Bistro in Pasadena on Sunday.

Chinese section of the botanical garden was pretty amazing.
We were in Pasadena because EPG led us to The Huntington - top billing for the botanical gardens, but we also learned that there are can't-miss art museum and library (including rare book) elements.  In short - heaven.  We spent several hours there and were thoroughly entertained.  Would happily return.

One amusing element was that EPG and PJ did their fantasy football draft from a bench in the botanical gardens.  After a few glitches getting internet access, all went well.

Happy diners following Sunday dinner at Bestia.
Another excellent trip.
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