Monday, December 8, 2014

Avila Beach and SF

This is going to be another picture-heavy and art-light post!  

A few weekends ago I went with a group of 8 women for a girls weekend to Avila Beach, which is on the Central California coast.  This was a much needed escape for my friend who has had a very rough couple of years, and I was so happy that her sisters, a cousin and friends (one of whom flew over from New York) were able to all get together for this long weekend. Someone had a really nice camera and took most of the pictures, but I haven't seen those yet so here are just a few I took with my phone.

We were staying about a block away from this pier.



The coast is beautiful here. I know I said that in my last post about the Northern California coast, but the California Coast overall really is pretty hard to beat. 




Some of us frolicking on the beach and in the tide pools.


This little town famously has a population of 18 and is a tiny hippie artist colony where they make pottery and blown glass.  


There is also a wonderful tiny cafe owned by an Italian man who looked utterly shocked when someone tried to order a decaf. There is the cutest tiny little room across from it to sit and eat and drink that looks to me like a tiny little artists room/studio in 18th century France, crumbling plaster and all ( I know, I have a colorful imagination).  It had a tiny wood stove in the corner and old records were playing on an old turntable.



This is the dining room of the famous Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, not known for it's restraint in any way!  I texted this picture to my husband and said this is why I never drag him there when we're in the area and his response was "Oh My Gaudy!".   It's fun though, and something everyone should experience once if they're in the area.



The condo we rented had a big blackboard where we wrote our list of things we wanted to do, - Cal Poly which is nearby is where 5 of us went to college, so there was lots of going down memory lane on our to-do list.




Last weekend I took my Mom to San Francisco to see a stage production of "A Christmas Carol" which was wonderful.  I took just a few pictures:

This is the front of the ACT - American Conservatory Theater where we saw the production. It's just beautiful,



I took this picture of the boxes inside before they told us no pictures inside.



Macy's on Union Square with a huge wreath in every window.



The Christmas tree and famous statue in Union Square next to the ice rink.


From the ground floor looking up the 3 story high Christmas Tree and glass ceiling at Neiman Marcus.




6 comments:

  1. Oh what a wonderful post!!!! I enjoyed every bit of it! It made me smile!

    The coast looks amazing and 'Harmony' what a great name! Everything was so interesting. San Francisco is on my wish list.....

    How lovely to share trips like that with your friends and your mum :)

    Thank you for sharing :)

    Karen x

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  2. I loved seeing your photos!! That pink fairy lit dining room is fantastic!! I want my dining room to look like that!! :) I

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  3. Hi, I just found your blog. I love the name you picked . . . very catchy. Northern California is so beautiful and I enjoyed our photos. Blogging is much better than travel brochures . . . you get to see the real places to visit when on vacation, instead of the hot touristy spots. I am your newest follower. You will have to visit my blog and tell me how you put your blog name onto your tea pot, or maybe that is digital art, whatever . . . I love it. While you're there visiting, please think about following me back. I adore making new blogging friends.
    Your new blogging sister,
    Connie :)

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  4. It looks like you've been having a great time - love the pictures of the coast - it really is spectacular. I once visited San Luis Obispo and we 'did' Hearst Castle, but I would have loved to see the Madonna Inn - it looks a fun place to go, especially with a group of girls - my husband would hate it! I love the look of the little town called Harmony - at this time of year I wish I lived in a place with a population of only 18 - my little town is manic at the moment and seems to have a population of treble what is usually is!

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  5. A girls weekend will have done you all the world of good, not just your friend who's had a rough time recently. I love all the photographs, my favourite is the little cafe dining room, it looks so romantic. The Madonna Inn is wonderfully over the top :D

    xxx

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  6. We love Avila Beach! We are going back there in March before I attend Craftcation in Ventura. And what great pictures! I love that Macy's shot!

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