My Summer Angels

Each time I see an angel statue, I am impressed by the different emotions it evokes. Here are some of my favorites from this summer. I saw this elegant beauty in the Musee Marmotton. This grieving lady was at Pere Lachaise Cemetery. The strength of this warrior angel is amazing. Found this one in the Church of St. Paul of St.... read more

My Angel Friend

I recently visited the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside. It has been a few years since my last visit and it didn’t disappoint. This Mission is a beautiful and serene place with its historical church, museum and cemetery. Prior to leaving, I visited the gift shop. And there I spied my angel friend. As lovely as the angel is, it was... read more

24 Hours in Pasadena

Even though I have lived in Southern California for many years, I’ve never made it to Pasadena. I know about it only because the Rose Bowl is played there. But recently, a relative’s milestone birthday celebration brought me to this interesting city. What first struck me was the architecture. Our hotel was walking distance from Old... read more

A Visit to Anacapa Island

I’d never heard of Anacapa until last weekend when my daughter treated me to a Wildlife Cruise. Departing from Oxnard, our three hour cruise included a trip to the edge of Anacapa. Despite the fact that many folks from SoCal have at least visited Santa Catalina, this was my first visit to the Channel Islands My daughter knew enough to... read more

Being a Local Tourist

I played local tourist this past week and checked out two spots worth sharing. One is familiar and the other is brand new. The familiar spot is the San Diego Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. Those of us who’ve lived for decades in North County San Diego still call it Quail Botanical Gardens. Since my last visit, they have moved the entrance.... read more