Camino Portugues Itinerary

16 Days and 343 kilometers later, we have completed the Portugues Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela!
343 kilometers?
"But John," you say, "most guidebooks say the route should only be 260 kilometers." That would be true, if I was a bird, had food delivered to my albergue, and never veered from the Camino to explore the beautiful towns and cities we passed through. Even if we did those things, we did walk a couple days on the coastal route, then cut over to the Central Route, took a side trip to Bom De Jesus in Braga (in a taxi from Barcelos), then walked and boated the Spiritual Variant, and finished back on the Central Route. Here is our itinerary, with mileage per day:

Over the next few months, I will write blog posts or upload vlogs taken on our May Camino as I work on my next book. If you are planning your own Camino, I hope you find the stories and information helpful. If you are not planning a Camino, I hope you find my stories entertaining and perhaps insightful as we met many interesting people, overcame a myriad of challenges, and saw amazing sights.

Buen Camino!
P.S. The link to my about about our first Camino, From Sarria to Santiago: With Family and Friends, is at the top of the top.

The Camino Again?

That's right! Rosemary and I will make another pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, this time on the Portuguese Camino and will start in Porto in Portugal. John, why again?

First, the challenge. The Portuguese Camino from Porto (260 km) is twice as long as from Sarria to Santiago (115 km). We will also be walking an average of 20 km a day versus 10km during our first Camino. A fantastic challenge! Second, only Rosemary and I will be walking this time. We feel that this will give us more time to reflect on our path and on ourselves. The longer walking days and overall distance will also provide us with that extra time. Finally, we look forward to starting in a country where we do not know the language and have not visited in over 30 years. We are both eager to learn about another culture and language. We have been practicing our Portuguese on Duolingo the last two months.

Every Thursday until we depart, I will post about our preparations, including YouTube videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhvHexA3qh2nPY6Ik2WH8g

1 min video of last camino:

I hope you find my information helpful and that my journey inspires you to take your own.

My book From Sarria to Santiago: A 10 Day Camino With Family and Friends is available on Amazon.com here:

Subscribe for updates.

Puerto Nuevo Lobster Run

Two weeks ago, I made a lobster run from San Diego to Puerto Nuevo Mexico. It was a fantastic time!

The coffee shop phenomenon has reached Tijuana years ago, so there are plenty of places to get a good cup of Joe. My friend’s favorite place is Blue Luna.

From here we drove through Rosarito, past beautiful ceramic stores and an enormous Jesus statue to reach Puerto Nuevo an hour and a half from the border.

Puerto Nuevo is a very small town with numerous restaurants serving lobster and seafood. There are a number of Villa Ortega restaurants throughout. The nicest one is probably Restaurant Villa Ortegas overlooking the ocean in the southwest corner of town with parking.

There are mariachis, waiters are in uniforms, it is very clean, and views are amazing. Good Instagram photo opportunities. It probably also cost the most in town. We ate there because it was my wife’s first time to Puerto Nuevo. When I go with my best friend, we tend to hit one of the smaller establishments. Almost all will give you rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa to go with your lobster. At the Villa Ortega’s it was $36 for large lobster and all the fixings – which my wife and I shared.

In comparison, when my friend and I went a couple years ago to a smaller place, restroom in backyard, no air conditioning, view of buildings across the street, we got 3 small lobsters each (6 halves!) the usual fixings plus tortilla soup and a beer for $18. We literally could not finish our last halves. There is beach access, but it is a steep walk, and not a beach to layout on. There are lots of vendors and lots of people asking you to come in their shops or park in a certain spot. Very much like the Tijuana of old.

On the way back, we visited a couple ceramics shops, stopped in Tijuana for some churros, walked along Revolucion, and then crossed the border before dark.

Tips: CASH ONLY. I did not see any restaurants or vendors in Puerto Nuevo that take credit cards. Villa Ortega has a sign that says cash only. Bring sufficient cash that you are comfortable with bringing – dollars or pesos are fine. If you pay in dollars, expect a crappy rate from the vendors, but nothing too obscene. I used dollars the whole time, my friend went to Costco in San Diego and bought pesos. We both did fine.

Returning across the border, takes a long time. Otay Mesa may be a better choice depending on conditions. It’s not that long of a detour. But check your driving directions for updates.

If everyone in your car has a global entry pass and your car is registered in the Sentri program, then you can use the sentri lanes and save a ton of time on the way back. However, things change all the time, so please research the global entry pass and Sentri lane requirements on your own. This goes with passport requirements as well and any U.S. government advisories.

If you are driving, look into buying Mexican auto insurance in the U.S. before you cross the border. There are a number of places in San Diego to buy it for a day or however long you will be in Mexico.

Have fun!

Coronavirus Best and Worst of Road Trip

A road trip during coronavirus?! It was awesome. Here are the best and worst situations we experienced on our two-week roadtrip from Los Angeles to Olympic National Park. Let me say, that we felt safe at every hotel we stayed in as they all had coronavirus measures in place. 

Seattle

Stringent coronavirus checks

Most - Hyatt Place in Emeryville - asked us 3 coronavirus questions before they let us check in and gave us a handout on covid measures at hotel

Least - Bars - once you had a beer in your hand masks came off

Covid breakfast (every place except 1, staff handed you your breakfast items)

Best - Seattle - only place on entire trip with hot breakfast - scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage.

Worst - Redding - lots of cold choices, but we were allowed to grab our own food

People wearing masks

Most - Olympic National Park

Least - Stockton and small towns in Washington

Reliable bathroom opportunities

Most - rest areas along interstate 5

Least - California gas stations (many were "out of order")

Park experience

Best - Mt. St. Helens - very few people there due to coronavirus - I saw pictures from last year and observation decks were packed with people.

Mt. St. Helens

Worst - Cape Flattery - it is located on Indian Reservation and the reservation was still in Phase 1. We were turned back after an hour drive by police since we were not locals.

Dining

Best - Pastini - first sit down meal in 4 months! Seating was outside. All servers wearing masks, tables were wiped down between guests.

Worst - Oyster restaurant in small town - owner not wearing mask

Coronavirus precaution Items I brought

Best - hand sanitizer I placed in doors of car

Worst - wipes - never used them. We were very good about hand sanitizer and never saw a necessity for these.

Other coronavirus observations: many elevators had spots on floor where you were supposed to stand for social distancing purposes; one hotel said most were operating at 40% capacity or less; one gas station in WA gave out gloves so you could pump your gas; traffic was great- everywhere - even going into and out of San Francisco at rush hour on a Monday; and everywhere we went most people wore masks similar to what we see in Southern California - most people do, but there is that tiny minority that refuse.  Only in a couple of  businesses we found mask wearing lax and we abruptly left.

Being on the road filled us with a sense of freedom that we had not experienced in the last four months. I am ready for another one.

Take care and be safe.

Me at Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

Travel During the Great Coronavirus Reopening

Cities, states, and even countries are reopening to tourists. Not all, but many. 

On June 15, most European countries opened their borders to residents of its member countries. Spain waited until June 21. And on July 1, the Europeans will tentatively open their borders to international tourist for the first time in four months. 

While there are stipulations like your country's infection rates have to be held in check, sorry U.S., they are allowing tourist.  Similar to the U.S. where certain states are blocking other states domestic travelers. Key West authorities arrested a woman and sent her back to Florida for trying to visit. New Mexico said they love tourist, just not right now.

And cruise lines? Oh, the poor cruise lines. Spain has said no cruise ships can dock in any Spanish port for the foreseeable future. Norwegian cruise lines said all cruises are suspended at least through September. That is the entire summer season. Although they are making exceptions for the Pacific Northwest. And a week ago, the first Danube-Rhine river cruise made it without mishap.

https://www.cruisetradenews.com/first-european-river-cruise-resumes-sailings-post-coronavirus-recovery/

However, Greece welcomed one of its first international flights a couple of weeks ago from Qatar - 12 people on board tested positive for Coronavirus.

We are not out of the woods yet.

Last week, I cancelled my family's 3-week Spain trip that was to depart July 8. I poured over news reports daily about the  Europe's reopening. But with a potential quarantine for travelers, U.S. infection rates increasing, the need for reciprocal travel arrangements (the U.S. is still blocking travel from Europe), and my airline change my flight where I would have to literally time travel backwards three hours to make my flight, I figured it was time.

Fortunately, I was able to cancel everything and get full refunds except one hostel in Spain. Somehow I overlooked their no cancellation policy. If that was all it cost me, plus my hopes and dreams, I was ok with that. 

Are you planning on traveling?

Take care.

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

Coronavirus When Can We Travel

"Americans may be able to take summer vacations, Fauci says," according to CNN 4/9/20.

 

This headline brought a smile to my face when I looked at my phone this morning.

 

Apart from being safe at home, one of my big concerns about the coronavirus is if I will have to or even be able to cancel a trip I have booked this summer. And the most important question, "Will it be safe?"

 

The trip is to complete the Camino de Santiago. Unfortunately, that destination is in Spain, one of the most adversely affected coronavirus hotspots in the world.

 

I have been reading Spain news daily everyday to see how the country's coronavirus rates have changed. Today, Fox News said Spain could be seeing the start of a coronavirus decline. That's good news.

 

Especially since, as of today, airlines are only allowing you to cancel or change your flights without a fee for trips that commence before May 31, 2020. 

 

What happens if travel bans are lifted at the end of May? Would you feel safe enough to travel in June?

 

What if you can only cancel with a fee?

 

Perhaps there may be more travel restrictions put in place as Dr. Fauci suggests: taking temperature readings at airports, wearing masks on planes, continued social distancing, and no handshaking.

 

As of today, if travel bans are lifted I am going. I will mind any restrictions and recommendations by government and travel agencies.

 

I feel that you have to maintain your goals for as long as you can. It gives you something to strive for, a sense of purpose during these murky days. To prepare for the Camino de Santiago, I workout daily in my living room thanks to all the free online content - thanks Barry's and Nike Training Club! I also walk daily practicing social distancing and wearing a mask.

 

I hope that Dr. Fauci's hopeful words come to pass and that we can all take vacations this summer safely.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday

10 Tips for a Puerto Nuevo Lobster Run

“Three Lobsters for $16!”

My friend and I were wandering the dusty narrow streets of Puerto Nuevo hearing offers left and right from a score of men trying to lure us to their restaurants. $16 was the best offer we had heard so far. The clincher was not the included promise of beans, tortillas, chips, salsa, and tomato soup, but the one free margarita or cerveza to go along with the meal.

My friend and I used to go on an annual lobster run south of the border and taco runs more frequently until the drug violence and kidnappings reached a fever pitch in the late 90’s. Since that time, we had talked wistfully about returning but never did. Until last year, when we walked across the border to good Old Revolution for some tacos and beer and to see what had changed.

A lot.

There were fewer American tourists not of Mexican descent there than in the 90s. The restaurants and bars were relatively empty during our day trip. But the cheap beers and delicious tacos had remained the same. After this trip, we felt good about driving to Puerto Nuevo. It helped that each of us had coworkers recently visit with nothing but good things to say about their experience.

In the end, we were served more delicious lobster than we could possibly eat, ate fresh paletas for dessert, saw great sights new and old, and met many friendly people.

There are a number of things that you can do to help ensure that your trip is successful:

1. You need a passport or a PASS card to visit Mexico.

2. You need to buy Mexican insurance before you leave the United States and keep it in your car during your trip. You can purchase it online or at a few places in San Diego.

3. Drink bottled water – never tap water - or risk Montezuma’s revenge.

4. Check to see what your cell phone plan covers in Mexico. With my Verizon Unlimited Plan, I was surprised to hear that calls and data were covered in Mexico.

5. Map out your trip before you go to Mexico, making copies to keep in your car in case you lose cell service. We indicated our destination as Villa Ortega’s in Puerto Nuevo.

6. If you do use your phone, driving apps are great albeit a little tricky as the streets in Tijuana seemed purposefully confusing.  Waze did not work for me once across the border. However, Google Driving Directions did. It really was a lifesaver when we missed our first turnoff after crossing the border and found ourselves deep into Tijuana where I’m sure few Americans ever venture.

7. Take the toll road. It is faster, smoother, and feels safer.

8. Once in Puerto Nuevo, just know you will pay for parking. The streets are few and narrow and are a pain to drive.  Save yourself time and frustration and pay for parking in one of the first lots you see.

9. There are lots of lobster restaurants in town, all with different specials. Villa Ortega’s has multiple locations throughout the town as they claim to be the original. We ate at one of these.

10.. A second option on crossing the border on the way back is to cross at Otay Mesa. It usually can save you a bit of time.

Have fun!

Lost in Vasquez Rocks: A Los Angeles Hiking Experience

The amazing Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a wilderness area that you can spend ½ a day hiking the outside trails or spend an hour bouldering the iconic rocks at the center of the park. The park is only ½ hour north of Los Angeles just off the 14 freeway.

 

The remarkable geologic rock formations within the park are caused by the active Elkhorn Fault. Rocks soar over 100 feet out of the ground at 50-degree angles. The park’s iconic rocks have formed the back drop for dozens of films and TV shows from Star Trek to Blazing Saddles to Westworld.

 

Iconic rocks

The park is visitor friendly with free parking, a well-put-together interactive visitor center and marked hiking trails. Unlike many hikes where you must hike hours to arrive at a trail’s iconic photo spot, this park allows you to drive right up to it to take your pictures and hike afterwards. But being a dad and a scoutmaster, I made my wife and two sons complete the 6-mile loop around the park before exploring the 150-foot tall prize.

 

And of course, I got us lost.

 

Views of the rock uplift.

Our ill-fated hike started on a beautiful day: the sky was a beautiful cobalt blue and a cool breeze kept the high desert temperatures in the 70s. Walking along the Geology Trail, we wound through various boulders and desert shrubbery with signs describing them. The area also afforded some amazing views.

 

Then the trail descended behind a ridge of sandstone and sedimentary rocks momentarily blocking our view of the central rocks. Looking back up at the ridge that we had descended, it appeared as if we had walked down a massive rent in the earth.

 

We descended further into a beautiful rocky canyon and saw a boulder shaped like a guppy and another like a bantha from Star Wars.

Guppy Rock

 

I, being the faithful Instagrammer, was taking copious amounts of photos so my family soon left me behind. But have no fear, my wife and younger son responsibly waited for me at the Foot Trail turnoff that would take us back to the visitor center. My older son on the other hand was nowhere to be found.

 

He had missed the turnoff and continued on our current trail. We called his name but there was no answer. We hurried after him.  He was 16 and a Life Scout so I did not fear for his safety, I just didn’t want to do a lot of backtracking once we caught up to him.  Besides the park did not look that big on the visitor center map. But looks can be deceiving. I soon learned why Tiburcio Vasquez, a notorious bandit during the 19th century, was able to escape the law for so many years amongst these rocks and canyons.

 

Ten minutes on, the trail wrapped around a bend and it was here that we finally saw my son. He stood atop a ridge 100 yards beyond. He waved at us to follow him. My younger son urged us to go back. I looked at the map. It appeared that this trail would eventually merge with the Foot Trail, so I said we should follow my older son. I really didn’t want to back track.



Older son is dot on hill.

 

But soon, the trail narrowed to almost nothing, then widened into a definite trail again and then shrank back down again. After forty-five minutes on this rubber band trail, we found ourselves ducking under branches, avoiding rabbits on what had become nothing more than a game trail, and ended up in a farmer’s backyard.

 

My older son stated the obvious, “We’re lost.”

 

Now we had to backtrack. Still, I didn’t think we had to backtrack all the way. There was a path that had branched off from the one we had come down that I thought would lead us towards the center of the park. Instead we came across signs for the wildlife conservation area. I was even more confused. The signs should’ve been west of us.  We reached the top of a ridge and just saw more ridges before us. At this point, with my nerves starting to whisper, “Danger Will Robinson, danger.” I said, “We are going all the way back.”

 

It was strange because as we headed back, we found markers indicating we were on the Foot Trail but we were definitely not on the trail marked on the map. We continued backtracking. I finally found a well-marked trail going through our “trail”. I told my family to wait at the crossroads while I hiked up his broader trail for a better vantage point. At the top of a bend was a sign that said Horse Trail. I was so turned around at this point, the map was useless.

 

But from here, I saw this trail pass over the next ridge into a valley and then over another ridge where people were standing looking about. We had found our way home! 25 minutes later we arrived at the park’s main road.

 

Unfortunately, when I told the boys we should climb the main rocks now, they looked at me as if I were loony. So, the boys went back to the car, while my wife and I headed to the central rocks. I was bound and determined to climb the darn things since they and I were here. The climb took less than 20 minutes. From the top, we could see the areas we had hiked through and my car in the parking lot where the boys waited.

 

It was a great ending to a long day.

 

 

I highly recommend visiting Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park.

 

Hikespeak.com has a detailed itinerary of the hike around the outside of the park with pictures. The 6-mile loop also incorporates a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (the PCT), so you can say you hiked a portion of it. Be sure to bring plenty of water and a hat as there are no trees for shade.

 

Enjoy!

Religion, Vegans, and Macs: LA Coffee Shops March

Religion, vegans, and Macs were what I found during my March coffee shop excursions. I am constantly surprised by the uniqueness of the Los Angeles coffee scene. See below:

Holy Grounds Coffee and Tea

Serenity Now

Holy Grounds Coffee and Tea

5371 Alhambra Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90032

Serenity. This coffeehouse has a very Zen-like courtyard with a large stone fountain and hummingbirds buzzing around the flowers. Religious icons were placed throughout the courtyard including statues of Mother Mary, a golden Buddha, and a fertility goddess. There was even an area for tarot card and tea leaf readers. Very tranquil. Oh, and they also serve a good mocha and pastries from local bakeries. They also have a small lunch menu. Good place to work.

No Animals Harmed Here

The Butcher's Daughter

The Butcher's Daughter

1205 Abbott Kinney Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291

This place surprised me as the daughter is a butcher of vegetables - a total vegan establishment.  Inside was bright and airy with a central island where baristas worked and patrons sat around eating their butchered veggies and/or drank excellent coffee. They also have another counter for to go orders in case you want to take your beverage with you as you stroll along the shops on Abbott Kinney. Definitely a unique establishment.  I listed it under my coffee house visits as that is why I came - for the coffee, but it is more of a café with wait staff and reservations for the tables, so not necessarily a place to sit and write all day.

Groundwork Coffee

Hollywood Grab and Go

Groundwork Coffee Tea Community

1501 N. Cahuenga  Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Across the street from CNN headquarters and cat a corner to Amoeba Records, Groundwork Coffee is at the gateway to Hollywood. It is only two blocks south of Hollywood Boulevard and is very busy with people coming and going. It is a good place to grab a coffee and head out to visit the local sites or have a quick lunch. The plates from the brunch menu looked very good as did the big cinnamon rolls.  All of the street parking, even on the small side streets, is metered at $1.00 per hour.

Mac Life

Found Coffee

1355 Colorado Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90041

Nice clean open coffeehouse. Chill jazzy music was playing low. The crowd was predominantly Occidental College students. And anyone on a laptop, was on a Mac. There was not a single PC in the place. Considering the décor was predominantly white with blue seats, I wondered if there was a connection. For food, they sold a number of pastries.

Found Coffee

Off the Beaten Path: Coffee Shops February

Los Angeles had a whopping .03 inches of rain in February. That's right, not even a half inch for the entire month!   Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, I visited a coffee stand in Griffith Park and walked across the border to Tijuana and found a really nice coffee house there.

Enjoying the sun in Mexico

 

Nice little find

Tierra Mia Coffee

5528 Monte Vista Street

Los Angeles, CA 90042

Quaint coffee house in Highland Park that makes a very good Mexican mocha.  It is in the middle of a residential neighborhood with a small Mexican restaurant next door that has good Yelp reviews. An off the beaten path little gem.

 

Only in no rain
The Trails Cafe

2333 Fern Dell Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90068

It is hard to beat the location being in the center of Griffith Park. You are surrounded by trees, across the street from the trail to the Griffith Park Observatory. While called a cafe, there is no indoor seating. It is really more of a stand with a few  sandwich items and snacks, and lots of coffee choices. Perfect for a caffeine pick me up before or after a hike.

 

International stop
D'Volada

Calle Ignacio Zaragoza 1692

Zona Centro

20000 Tijuana, B. C.

Mexico

American-style coffee shop with good coffee, pastries, and smoothies. It is a nice respite  from the hustle and bustle  of the tourist area of Avenida Revolucion. Interesting chairs, some small some big and plushy, with outdoor seating for taking a load off and people watching. I had a delicious Mexican Mocha (in Mexico).

 

Cup Of Life: Pasadena Coffee Houses

In January, I visited interesting Pasadena coffeehouses and one in Silverlake. Two specialized in Spanish hot chocolate drinks causing me to deviate from my usual coffee beverage. I hope the reviews entice you to try some place new.

Best name
Copa Vida

70 S Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
Lots of people here including tourists as it is in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. Good place to grab a coffee before taking a stroll along Colorado Boulevard. The back room behind the order counter is a little more laid back for working or studying. They also have a number of hot and cold food items if you plan to stay long. Parking in the city structures is free for the first 90 minutes.

Most Latin flavors

Amara Chocolate & Coffee

55 S. Raymond Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

While they sell coffee, I would say their specialty is the variety of hot chocolates from South America and fresh churros.  The cacao latte I had was bitter and went well with the sweetness of the churro. The space is very small, but I did see one person working on a laptop. Like Copa Vida, Amara's is in the heart of Old Town Pasadena so you can walk off the calories with a stroll along Colorado Boulevard.

 Most activities

Jones Coffee Roasters

693 S. Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
Lots of art installations on the walls and even the ceiling. The coffeehouse looks like it is in an old warehouse so there's plenty of space to spread out and talk or work. They hold coffee tastings and various events. Last week they had a tango dancing dinner night.

Best Latin décor

Zona Rosa Caffe

15 S El Molino Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
The other name for this locale is Zona Rosa Coffee. I had a Zocolo Con Platano - cold Mexican hot chocolate blended with banana. It would appear that this month my coffee cravings were curbed by unique latin chocolate offerings at two of my coffee house visits. The drink was very good. ZRC has a Latin décor and second floor seating. ZRC sits adjacent to the Pasadena Playhouse and stays open until 11pm most nights.

Homiest feel

Silverlake Coffee

2388 Glendale Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90039
It has a very homey intimate appeal with couches, tables and chairs with slightly dimmed lighting. Out front is a nice patio. Aside from coffee drinks, they sell smoothies, sandwiches and pastries. Most people here were studying, working or reading. Very chill vibe.

Motorcycles, Cats and Bricks: LA Coffee Houses in December

I have visited over 15 Los Angeles coffee shops over last few months and am amazed by how different each one is. Here are descriptions of seven coffee shops I visited in December to help you choose where to grab your next cup of Joe:

Largest variety of places to set up shop
Bricks and Scones
403 North Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
What I like best about this coffeehouse is the variety of areas to work or relax.  Depending on your mood you can be on the tree-shaded patio out front,  upstairs hidden away in one of many nooks, or in the communal room in the back relaxing on a couch. They also have a good-sized food menu.

Great breakfast burritos
Cofax Coffee
440 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
I think half the people came here for the breakfast burritos and the other half for the coffee. The burritos which are one of the only things on the food menu are really good. This place was very busy. It is not a place to sit down and relax as there's minimal seating and a sign that says there is no Wi-Fi "Pretend it's the 90's." It is really a place to grab your drink and burrito and explore the cool shops in the area like Ripndip and Supreme across the street.

Oreo on top
Coffee by the Books
509 E Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
This is a small place with friendly servers who seemed to know many customers by name. They have a rewards program which tends to be hard to find in your independent coffee shops. I had a delicious Oreo blended coffee beverage. It even had an Oreo cookie on top.

 
Most unique vibe
Deus Ex Machina
1001 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
Part motorcycle apparel shop that sells surfboards and part coffeehouse, this locale was definitely unique with a fun vibe. The music was a mix of jazz, classic rock and new age. The coffeehouse extends from inside the store through a big opening in the back wall that led to a nice size patio. Most of the seating was around large communal tables which seems to be a trend I am noticing more and more. While our drinks were good, my acai bowl was amazing.


Quaint coffee shop in South Pasadena

Kaldi's Coffee & Tea
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Very laid back coffee shop across the street from the tree-covered South Pasadena library. Crowd was primarily locals getting their daily cup of Joe. There are few tables and couches inside and a few tables and chairs outside. If so inclined you can take your coffee and sandwich across the street and sit on a bench or on the grass under the giant trees surrounding the South Pasadena library. Nice place to a take a load off.

Most potential for entertainment
Open Space Café and Theater
457 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Just up the street from Cofax, this little coffee house is full of surprises.  Not only does it have the usual drinks, but great looking pastries and a community room in the back that hosts comedy shows, speakers, musicians and more.

Most high-end coffee shop
Verve Coffee Roasters
8925 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
People here were dressed very well here, perhaps because it is on the border of Beverly Hills. Verve has a very sleek coffee bar and really nice outdoor patio. It was busy when I went on a Friday afternoon and the only space left to sit was along a long outdoor banister that overlooked Melrose. The seating turned out fine as I was able to  watch people come and go and find a question about love.  (See photo) My Kenyan coffee was good, but I couldn't figure out why the almond milk was bubbling to life.

Great Day Santa Monica

Santa Monica is an amazing place to visit for a day or a weekend. From the pier, amusement park rides, 3rd Street Promenade, movie theaters, restaurants, street performers and of course the great sandy beach, there's something for everyone.

 

Everything is close to each other with parking structures throughout the area. We parked in Lot 6 on 2nd street: free first 90 minutes, then $1.00 for every hour thereafter. Not bad if you're headed out only for a few hours.

 

Restaurants run the gamut of cuisines and price. As my son and I were eager to get to the pier, we stopped for a quick bite at Stefano's Pizzeria. They primarily sold pizza by the slice, which I'm sure is one reason why there were a number of high schoolers here. Their outdoor tables are also great for people watching as it was right on the corner of Arizona and 3rd.

From here we walked south on the Promenade past the dinosaur statues, stores and a street magician then through the Santa Monica Place open air mall.
 

Then we joined the throngs of people and headed to the pier on this glorious sunny 75-degree January day. From the top of Ocean Boulevard you have to walk down a long ramp to the pier itself. At the top of the ramp were two sets of street performers. One set was a pair of guys wearing a Trump mask and the other a Kim Jong-un mask who were posing for pictures with tourists. The other was a music dance troupe.

 

On the pier is the historic merry go round, restaurants like Bubba Gump Shrimp, lots of vendors and musicians. I particularly enjoyed watching two young women sing while their father played a ukulele. There were also fishermen on the pier and people swimming in the water. From the pier, are great views of Santa Monica beach and Malibu to the north. Looking south is Venice Beach  and the hill of Palos Verdes.

 

After walking to the end of the pier and passing a sign that said "66 End of the Trail",  we headed back to the car. We stopped at an intranet coffee shop and picked up a good smoothie for the hour and a half long drive to go 15 miles back home. Traffic from Santa Monica to anywhere in L.A. after 4:00 is a tough.

 

A great day out in Santa Monica!