Monarch Sanctuary

Every year fleets (droves?) of Monarch butterflies arrive in Pacific Grove where they rest and eat here in a shady Eucalyptus grove. They're quite hard to see up in the trees so examining one up close in a daisy bush is a good idea.

Thanksgiving

This old Schwinn cruiser is mostly how I get around here in town. Both the Schwinn and town are on my gratitude list along with

family and friends
work
camera
Jack LaLanne juicer

Happy Thanksgiving to all
-Leslie

California's First Theater

As the story goes, Jack Swan, an English sailor who settled in Monterey in 1843 built this tavern/theater still standing on the corner of Pacific and Scott, from lumber salvaged from a shipwreck.With crates and barrels for benches, whale-oil lamps for footlights and blankets for curtains, he produced popular melodramas  -- until 1850 that is when he pretty much dropped everything to seek his fortune in the Gold Rush. PS That's a whale rib over the entrance.

Balmy Alley San Francisco

During a recent day trip to San Francisco we visited Balmy Alley in the Mission district. It began in 1972 as a mural project and has evolved into this very eclectic bohemian enclave.

window mural

I would not classify this dogs at the beach scene as top-of-the-line window painting, but there's something about the wrongness of it that I like. For some reason.

beach house

Found this beach house in Pacific Grove -- the steps a colorful detail you may not see in neighboring Carmel, where bylaws prohibit things like fake grass, neon and buildings that don't fit into preservation of "the unique architectural style of Carmel houses" which I'm still trying to figure out.

Carmel Highlands Coastline

There are walking trails along the rocks here. Robinson Jeffers once referred to this part of the coast as the "Greatest meeting of land and sea" in the world.

Veterans Day

Santa Lucia Mountains

Hiking near Big Sur with fog coming from the coast "on little cat feet" as Carl Sandburg so aptly described.

park bench

Spotted this unusual scenario in downtown Carmel yesterday.

San Francisco Giants Parade

Today San Francisco celebrated the Giants World Series win with a huge parade that pretty much took up the entire city. I'm a Giants fan but I live an hour and a half away, so here's what it looked like on TV.

Greyhound Bus Station

Icon of the All American Road Trip.

Part of City Daily Photo Theme Day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants