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No traveling on the previous days 10 & 11. We stayed in San Francisco, immensely enjoyed the good food, shopping, the SF MOMA and the occasional visits to our favorite spots on the North Shore. SF remains, particularly with the partially sunny weather we were blessed with the numero uno city in the world. We had been away for too long.
Having learned from our traveling experience on the previous days down highway One, we took the fastest route to Big Sur: down the 6-lane freeway to San Jose and then across the mountains to Monterrey, an easy 2.5h drive. Well, not really that easy as we encountered increasingly aggressive drivers the more we were heading south in California. You really had to be on your toes and watch out for the tailgating "Bimmer" or lane changing truck. We got through unscathed, but had a few hair raising moments. I always thought the Italians or Brazilians were the most aggressive on the road, but I have to admit the Californians are not far behind. Of course, on a different topic, we had our moment of silence as we past Cupertino and One, Infinitive Loop where Steve Jobs and his fellow workers must have been feverishly busy getting Apple¨s next killer product to market: the infamous tablet. Steve, we are drinking your Coolaid even passing the nearby freeways!
A big decision came up at Monterrey. Should we go on the world famous 17-mile drive around the Monterrey peninsula to Carmel or head directly to Big Sur. Having by-passed it on our last visit some 40 years ago, we couldn't resist this time. After all, this was the home of some of the world's top golf courses.
Driving around Pebble beach on a misty day has its challenges. The various roads are criss-crossing the peninsula and orientation is difficult. But once we found our way to the three golf courses and the beach it was quite an experience. The link-like courses are absolutely stunning. Never in my limited golfer life have I seen greens and fairways of the quality presented here. No wonder, you have to reserve one year in advance, as one of the caddies told me, to live this once-in-a-lifetime-experience and pony up $500 plus $35 for the cart.... Little chance thus for the visiting Swiss hacker to tee off at the spur of the moment. But just looking at Tiger Woods' "backyard" was worth a couple of hours in the afternoon. Interesting detail: visitors have access to all of the restaurants and facilities at Pebble Beach. Show me a stuffy Swiss golf club with infinitively poorer fairways and greens to be likewise hospitable. You "premium" Swiss golfers could learn your lessons at Pebble Beach!
From Pebble Beach it was just a short hop to Nirvana: Have a look for yourself at Bixby Bridge, the gateway to Big Sur, the most beautiful piece of real Estate in the world I know. And staying at the Ventana Inn was yet another highlight, but more of that on my next blog.
Thanks for sharing the emotions of the friendly skies of United. One should be able to twitter such rare moments. A retired banker "en rage". A glorious trip after all. Juerg.
Posted by: Juerg | September 01, 2009 at 15:03
Right you are! The intention still is to take "the friendly skies" to task. But then, that may be an exercise in futility like "negotiating with the ayatolla"!
Posted by: klaushuber | September 01, 2009 at 16:12