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October 3, 2003: Day One.
My friend Jewel and I took the Catalina Express over to Catalina Island today. We'd been planning this vacation for several months now, and we're both very excited to finally be on holiday! The boat over was packed, and we spent the hour's travel time being serenaded by the high-pitched screams and squeals of several undisciplined children. They belonged to those "new age" parents who don't believe in having any control over their children for fear of crushing some creative outlet, or some such nonsense. They also don't believe in keeping their children close to them, and pretty much let the little bastards run rampant, while they sat in the back smiling placidly like Stepford Parents the entire time. I just closed my eyes and prayed they weren't staying at the same hotel as us!
Once the boat docked, and we were able to escape the screaming little monsters, er, I mean disembark, Jewel and I walked over to the quaint and charming Catherine Hotel where we were staying. I heard it had once been a girls' boarding school, or something like that, that was converted into a hotel. (Another rumour was that it had once perhaps been a house of ill repute. Whatever it had been once, I don't really care. It's a hotel now, with a restaurant and bar. A bar that specializes in martinis. And, I'm on vacation!) Our room is very small, and obviously meant only for sleeping! It is sparcely furnished with two twin beds, a small white wicker nightstand between them with a small lamp on it, and a small closet with a few old wire hangers. There is a bathroom as well, thank God (because, you know, it could've been located down the hall, or something!), containing the obligatory sink and toilet, as well as a coffin-sized shower stall. There is no telephone, phone book, television; not even a Gideon's Bible! Sparce may be an understatment! It might be more spartan. Still, it's a place to sleep, and even at the outrageous price we're paying, it's the cheapest on the island.
Once we settled into our room, we headed out to explore Avalon. The town is quite small with all the businesses located along the waterfront with the residences built up into the rugged hills behind. It reminds me a lot of Avila Beach for the design, and Cambria for the weather: a bit overcast, but not raining, cool, but not cold, and the sun popped out for a bit, but not enough to require sunscreen. We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through a couple of the little gift shops, but resisted buying anything. There are plenty more shops to explore, and we certainly don't want to go crazy our first day there!
Because there's no mini fridge in our room, nor is there anything to keep ice in, we decided to pop into the Vons Express and pick up a small ice chest and bag of ice. We brought snacky foods with us, but picked up some water, soda and wine to enjoy as well. It's certanly not what we expected, but it really is quite funny!
Day Two
Day Three
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