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October 4, 2003: Day Two.
This morning Jewel and I rented a golf cart and took a tour around the City of Avalon. Our tour, outlined on the map the rental guy gave us, took us up into the hills overlooking Avalon, past the golf course and up to the gate of the Botanical Gardens, then down and around the country club, and up into a part of town that was going through a major growth spurt - several large new homes were being built into the hillside - we passed the Wrigley Memorial, overlooked the Casino, and putted past the Chime tower. Along the way I got some great photographs of the harbour, city, and outlying area. The views are spectacular!
Once we finished our tour and returned our cart, we did a little more shopping, and enjoyed a couple coffee drinks at C.C. Gallagher's - a fancy coffee/gift shop that had a wonderful (but small) patio dining area. The mild weather (no sun today, but it was still nice) made sipping lattes outdoors irresistable, and we'd both brought books to read, so we settled in for an hour or so. I found my attention wandering, however, and spent more time people-watching than reading. I also found my vision drawn to the harbor with all the boats, and the sound of the small bay waves sloshing onto the shore. The beach area here is very small - being a bay rather than an actual beach - and there's very little space between the sea wall and the water during high tide. Still, it's soothing to watch and listen to, and for the first time in a long time, I was able to just relax, and think of nothing at all.
Rather than having lunch, Jewel and I popped into a little Mexican restaurant on a side street and had a couple margaritas and some chips and salsa. We both agree they were THE BEST maragritas we've ever had, and the chips and salsa were fantastic, too! The drinks were potent, however, and both of us ended up having to return to the room to take a nice long nap!
Later, we ventured out again for some shopping, and had dinner at Anderson's Restaurant. The restaurant was hosting a group of Roto-Rooter folks who had apparently won their trip to Catalina through some corporate competition. I recall having such contests when I worked at Lerner, though the most I'd ever won was a really nice leather bomber jacket. They were a rowdy bunch of plumbers who were very loud, possibly drunk, and would occasionally throw food. I shit you negative. A couple of the Toothless Toilet-Fixing Wonders actually threw food. In the restaurant. Well, okay, we were on the waterfront patio, but still. It's a restaurant!!
I just couldn't help but be amused. I had no idea we'd get a free show with dinner!
Day Three
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