Monterey - Oct 13 - 20

The cacophony of the gulls, seals and sea lions and the stench of the bird poop and kelp beds is what greets us each morning. Wharf #2 rises above I Sea Blues and the vehicles rattle down the pier from the wee hours of the morning heading to the fish markets at the end or one of the restaurants to empty the garbage bins. The Sand Bar restaurant patrons have a bird’s eye view of us and we feel their gaze. The crane whirs to life and the clang of the block and tackle is constant. This is boat living – this is Monterey. 

I Sea Blues & Wharf 2

The city has a vibrant past. Famous people and colorful characters, extremely diverse. Cannery Row was the one-time center of the sardine packing industry and was immortalized in John Steinbeck’s novel. Today, you can still see the remnants of those times but the converted factories are now gift shops, seafood restaurants and bars. The aquarium at the end of the strip is a filled with marine mammals and plants on display in underwater and interactive exhibits. This is Monterey. 

   

Aquarium and Cannery Row

Six days in the area and we have well-worn shoes and a new appreciation of all things local. Fisherman’s wharf was once an active wholesale fish market and is now full of lively restaurants and hawkers trying to get one to sample their clam chowder. Each place touts theirs as the best. Sardines and king crab legs from the Time Bandit, of Deadliest Catch fame, at Delmonico’s was high on our list of favorites. The touristy gift shops all carry the same kitschy merchandise and fortunately for living small we are not easily tempted to purchase anything. This is Monterey. 

Fisherman's Wharf

Our cute dock neighbor

Carmel was easily accessed via the convenient MST transit system. An afternoon of walking thru the high end shops, wine tasting rooms and wealthy community was enjoyable but we were happy to return to Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf and I Sea Blues. This is Monterey.  

The Sardine Factory

Steinbeck Monument

“The tide goes out imperceptibly. The boulders show and seem to rise up and the ocean recedes leaving little pools, leaving wet weed and moss and sponge, iridescence and brown and blue and China red. On the bottoms lie the incredible refuse of the sea, shells broken and chipped and bits of skeleton, claws, the whole sea bottom a fantastic cemetery on which the living scamper and scramble.”
- John Steinbeck, Cannery Row