Last weekend we drove out to cooler climes and a spot by the ocean. Carmel- by-the-Sea to be exact. Its claim to fame once was that Clint Eastwood (ya as in the Dirty Harry kind) was the mayor of this Clean hamlet tucked 80 miles south of San Francisco along the Pacific.
It was packed unusually so with visitors from all over the world since it also coincided with a Mela of Cars (party for car lovers) titled 'Concourse D'Elegance'. Once each year, on the third Sunday in August, about 200 of the most prized collector cars and motorcycles in the world roll onto what is often called the best finishing hole in golf — the famed eighteenth fairway at Pebble Beach (a small wealthy community tucked along Carmel's coast).
While we did not venture near these prized cars we did spot a few items which had people scrambling to get a shot of - one of them included another monster movie label - Arnold Schwarzenegger. Walked into the same pastry shop we were enjoying our sandwich in and ordered up some ice cream cones for himself and his entourage. Looked like he had a couple of folk that worked out like him tagging him along (no doubt to provide protection).
From there we watched a series of high end European made luxury cars creep up the narrow streets making a free showcase for all tourists to gawk at.
From the Ferraris to vintage Bentleys to newest Minis you could have your fill of watching automotive history roll on by.
We strolled along quaint candy shops and art galleries (the stuff looked pretty hanging in their store than it would have on my wall) and ended up at the white sand beach.
Amidst a clatter of 'Gathiya ane Dhokli' sounds emanating from a Gujarati gang who had perched on a drying cypress to the din of bikes and crashing waves we took in the landscape before heading out on our Mission - to see what we really came here to see - Carmel Mission.
Part of the chain of missions established by the missionaries traveling in the early 18th century spreading catholicism to the natives this is a historic site. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo is its official name and it retains a certain period charm with its beautiful courtyards and gardens. It does seem something out of Spain planted along the Pacific coast.
Other than the religious crowd there were a few non faith based trigger happy folk like me just excited to find a good frame to capture the moment.
We wandered its grounds for a few hours before deciding to get back home.
It was packed unusually so with visitors from all over the world since it also coincided with a Mela of Cars (party for car lovers) titled 'Concourse D'Elegance'. Once each year, on the third Sunday in August, about 200 of the most prized collector cars and motorcycles in the world roll onto what is often called the best finishing hole in golf — the famed eighteenth fairway at Pebble Beach (a small wealthy community tucked along Carmel's coast).
While we did not venture near these prized cars we did spot a few items which had people scrambling to get a shot of - one of them included another monster movie label - Arnold Schwarzenegger. Walked into the same pastry shop we were enjoying our sandwich in and ordered up some ice cream cones for himself and his entourage. Looked like he had a couple of folk that worked out like him tagging him along (no doubt to provide protection).
From there we watched a series of high end European made luxury cars creep up the narrow streets making a free showcase for all tourists to gawk at.
From the Ferraris to vintage Bentleys to newest Minis you could have your fill of watching automotive history roll on by.
We strolled along quaint candy shops and art galleries (the stuff looked pretty hanging in their store than it would have on my wall) and ended up at the white sand beach.
Amidst a clatter of 'Gathiya ane Dhokli' sounds emanating from a Gujarati gang who had perched on a drying cypress to the din of bikes and crashing waves we took in the landscape before heading out on our Mission - to see what we really came here to see - Carmel Mission.
Part of the chain of missions established by the missionaries traveling in the early 18th century spreading catholicism to the natives this is a historic site. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo is its official name and it retains a certain period charm with its beautiful courtyards and gardens. It does seem something out of Spain planted along the Pacific coast.
Other than the religious crowd there were a few non faith based trigger happy folk like me just excited to find a good frame to capture the moment.
We wandered its grounds for a few hours before deciding to get back home.
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