I woke up bright and early on Monday, navigated the bus (stood in the rain), navigated the BART, and made it back to the Oakland Airport to pick up a rental car. It was overcast for the whole drive down to Monterey but after a short snack break at my second Airbnb the clouds began to open up. I had my fourth and final CityPass admission to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Having seen so many great aquarium exhibits at the Academy of Sciences I wasn't SUPER excited for more but interested enough to see what they had. I arrived just in time to meet their Laysan Albatross and enjoyed their hands-on exhibits. Actually, I was misunderstood and touched a ray in one of the no-touching pools. I was completely unaware I was breaking the rule but in that brief moment of ignorance I was SO HAPPY. It also reminded me of that one time in college when we ate a stingray over a fire for a Steve Irwin party. Sort of conflicting emotions there.
They also had a small shore bird exhibit where all the birds hang out within arms reach, so calm, so close, it was awesome!
They also had a small shore bird exhibit where all the birds hang out within arms reach, so calm, so close, it was awesome!
Apparently I didn't take any photos of the Sea Otters but I enjoyed watching them swim for a few minutes and then I went up to the amazing jellyfish exhibit. I wasn't expecting much but the atmosphere in there was really wonderful. Super dim lights, ambient music, and beautiful jelly fish and friends. I don't know how they did it but there was a window that showed a small piece of a big loop that a school of fish were swimming in. They swam by endlessly. Quite mesmerizing. Similar to the entrance of the exhibit where all the fish swim continuously in small loop around the ceiling..
After the Aquarium I drove over to Point Lobos. Online they said it closed at 7, but it turns out they closed at 5 which gave me about an hour! I had to make haste and see as much as I could. It turned out pretty breathtaking and were my first real looks at beautiful coastal cliffs on the Pacific Ocean.
After zipping through the Cypress Grove trail I headed to Bird Island which turned out to be a roost for hundreds of Brandt's Cormorants which I had been waiting many years to see. Embarrassingly I forgot my binoculars on this trip so I didn't get to gaze into their ocean blue eyes which have always lured me. The whole trail was great, as you can see, and the sunset was really nice. Can't ask for much more in just an hour's time.
I went to a little beach pull off on the way back in to Monterey to enjoy the last few moments of dusk. I found two dead cormorants lying together and then some sea lions were spying on me very creepily. I didn't stick around there too long.
For dinner I found the Noodle Bar restaurant. A small Thai hole in the wall that had enough seating for maybe 12-15 people at the bar and that was it. I scarfed a chicken curry plate and some spring roles then went off to my $35 bedroom in a house.
For dinner I found the Noodle Bar restaurant. A small Thai hole in the wall that had enough seating for maybe 12-15 people at the bar and that was it. I scarfed a chicken curry plate and some spring roles then went off to my $35 bedroom in a house.