A Family Visit

My beloved and I got a great Christmas gift, my brother and his family came to visit.  Along with the pleasure of their company, we are exploring with new eyes the wonderful place we live.

On Friday we took a ride to Mt. Diablo, which is only 20 minutes from our house.

This is the Wind Caves in Rock City in Mt. Diablo Park.

Then we headed to San Francisco.  Because I lived there for so many years and have stayed in this area, I forget how beautiful it is, until you hit a day like this.

I have lived in this area for nearly 26 years and finally I made it to Alcatraz!

A sparkling December day.

I stood on this rock looking around and knew that there was nothing worth getting locked up in a place like this.  They had an audio tour and one guy talked about being locked up here and being able to hear the parties going on at the San Francisco Yacht Club when the wind was blowing just right.  Looking out and being able to see all of this would have driven me over the edge.  So, I am giving up my life of crime.

We also went to another place I had never been too.  The National Cemetary at the Presidio.  

Not only is this a spectacular place to pay your respects to veterans, they have great bathrooms.  So, while all those tourist are lining up at the public bathrooms at the Bridge, head over here.  Clean and shiney, just don't tell anyone else.

Then it was across the Golden Gate Bridge, which is always a thrill for me.  There were lots of people walking and biking across, we drove.  I have walked it, don't need to do it again.

Then we went down to Fort Baker, for those of you that don't know where this is - find it.  The views are great.  You will never get a better picture of the bridge.

Then back across the bridge - still driving - and a little tour of the City which ended at the Cliff House, just at sunset!  Always include this in any tour you give.  I will admit I hate the renovations they did to the inside of the Cliff House, I loved those old round settee's and white topped marble tables where you could lounge and watch the sunset.  Now, I would rather stand outside and freeze.  

Finally leaving the City by way of the water front so we could see the light install on the Bay Bridge. 

Long day, but full of fun for all of us.  My beloved, Chief Matron Mare-son, the Colonel, the Mrs., the college boy and the pretty girl all turning in soon after arriving home because it was up at the crack of before dawn for our next adventure.

YOSEMITE!!!

I don't know why we forget that it is so close.  It is only a little over three hours from our house.  Since we have had very little rain here, which translates into snow in the mountains, I thought maybe we could take a drive.  I called the Ahwahnee and made a lunch reservation and we all got up and left before it was light.

What a fantastic lucky day.  The sun was shining, the light was amazing, the company was fun, the lunch was great!  I could not have asked for anything better.  

I was blessed to be able to share this special place with people I love!  It will be a memory I will cherish and I hope they always remember it.

My beloved and I are so happy you are here to share all these special places and our special day!

More on that later.

wink, wink