Our 26th Wedding Anniversary in Carmel

Rica and I just returned from spending our 26th wedding anniversary in Carmel, California. We stayed at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch. We were here last year at this time, so for me, as someone who usually avoids anything that smacks of ritual, this has become a tradition. Two years!

A Hindu priest conducted our ceremony on Christmas Eve in India, at a wedding arranged by Professor B. P. Sinha. I met Jai at Ohio State University where we were pursuing Ph.D. degrees. Jai had an easy time of it, but I was in deep trouble most of the time and wouldn’t have succeeded without his friendship and long hours of tutoring. So in a way, I owe him big time for a happy marriage and a long career in psychology. I think of him a lot this time of year.

I brought my new Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera with me, and here are some photos. As you see, we spent a good part of our time near the water at Point Lobos State Reserve, the Piedras Blancas Rookery, and on Monterey Bay.

Mission Ranch was originally a working dairy farm. In the 1850’s, the property became one of the first California dairies. Clint Eastwood bought the ranch in 1986, keeping it from becoming a condominium development. Our room was on the ground floor of the original farmhouse pictured above.

This pasture seems a sheep paradise. They spend the night in the little shelter to the right in this photo, but during the day they roam freely over acres of lush grass.

This was our view as we ate dinner on Christmas Eve. An evening fog was rolling in off the nearby ocean.

The creamery, which provided the county with cheese and butter, now houses the Mission Ranch restaurant. It’s where we ate many of our meals.

We had our continental breakfasts at the tennis club.

Rica made sure to buy me lots of candy at my favorite store in Carmel.

I don’t usually enjoy touristy streets like Ocean Avenue in Carmel. But I have to admit some of the shops are interesting.

We always make time to visit Point Lobos State Reserve, and never tire of the beautiful coastal views.

 

 

We drove over to Monterey and discovered that someone had used a hot branding iron to mark this little girl.

While there, we noticed someone seemingly in trouble, but after a few minutes of struggle, he recovered.

 

We always find time for birdwatching.

 

The Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery is located four miles north of Hearst Castle on California Highway 1. In the photo below you see moms squabbling over their newborn pups.

 

And finally, I set up my tripod to memorialize the happy couple. As the year comes to an end, we wish all our friends around the world a wonderful 2015.