No place like Carmel-On-Sea

  Carmel, California
Friday, April 16, 2010

Per and I have done some pretty thrilling things on this trip: swimming in crocodile-infested rivers (only a slight exaggeration), eating food on Vietnam trains (served from a bucket), crossing the road in Saigon (it's a miracle we're alive) and staying at Club Crocodile (never again). But nothing compares to our thrill at finding our very own log fire in our room at the Hyatt in Carmel-On-Sea. The smell of spilt wood, the spark of the match, the flicker of flames... ahhh! We go to sleep with the reflection of flames on the ceiling then, with the excitement of children on Christmas Day, get up at an ungodly hour to lay a new one.

It maybe the fire or it may be the magnificent ocean views but whatever the reason this hotel almost feels like home. Which is ironic as we don't have log fires or ocean views at home.

Once again, we've landed in a stunning part of the world - just north of the Big Sur coast. When not making fires, we while away the hours with walks in the nearby forests which are filled with the heady smells of spring and laze on the beach watching seals pop their heads out of the waves. Then, at the end of the day, we sit on the balcony and watch a spectacular sunset. It's not much to write home about. No wizz and no bang but we'd be happy to stay here another few months...  years... whatever... Now where did I put the matches?