On Wed, 16 Sep 2015 19:18:08 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>I have just returned from 12 days in California and have some
>impressions I would like to share. First of all, I have to say that I
>can see why there are so many people there. I can understand why people
>tolerate the population density, the high prices, the traffic, the water
>restrictions. Physically, and even with the drought, it is beautiful.

But you missed the most beautiful parts, the sierras are gorgeous (you
missed L. Tahoe), as are the coastal redwood forests, the southern
deserts... actually the Frisco area is the least picturesque part of
CA., it's primarilly a crowded tourist trap/dump. You could have
eaten much better a lot closer to home, you're only a hop, skip, and a
jump from NYC, heck, Toronto and the Peg have better food than CA.
Brooklyn has the finast array of food on the planet (the best of
*every* ethnicity is represented), and is far more picturesque than
Frisco, especially if you're into bridges and sea coast. If you want
to see real gorgeous vistas next trip explore the Canadian Rockies...
there's fine food there too, from superb retro diners to magnificent
hotels. Visit Banff's Lake Louise, spectacular scenery and dining,
the area around the Fairmont is other worldly, I've hiked and canoed
the area several times, of course I was younger, it's rugged country,
it takes a good half day to hike the lake's perimeter but well worth
it, you'll never forget:
http://www.fairmont.com/lake-louise/



>We had lots of great food. I had long been interested in heuvos
>rancheros. My first sampling was at our hotel in Newport Beach. They
>were great. I had them again in Monterey and they were much better.
>However, it is way too much breakfast for me. It should be a lunch or
>even a supper.
>
>We spent a night in Santa Barbara. We ate supper at Chuck's Hawaiian
>Steak House. It wasn't very Hawaiian but we were there for the early
>bird special and I had an open face beef tenderloin tip with blue
>cheese. I was expectitn
>
>Supper on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey was a disappointment. The
>seafood grill with salmon, swordfish and shrimp was okay, but no wow
>factor. I could get as good or better here.
>
>We spent three days in Monterey and on the first day we had breakfast at
>First Awakenings. It was so good that there was no question about us
>going there every day we were there.
>
>
>In San Francisco I was reluctant to have Chinese food, not being sure
>how it might react with my system, but when we were hungry and unable to
>find anything else we ended up eating at Dong Bei Mama on Geary St. and
>had Chicken Kung Pow and Crispy Fried Lamb and they set a whole new bar
>for rating Chinese food. The next night we were in Palo Alto and ate at
>an Iranian place where I had gyros that also set the bar for Middle
>Eastern food.
>