Monterrey to San Francisco

Moving on from Yosemite, we stopped at the 1850 brewery and restaurant in Mariposa. What a cool place...great beer, nice simple but appropriately eclectic menu. The ahi nachos are stupid good...I will use no other flowery language...

Arrived at The Jabberwock Inn in Monterrey in the evening after a pit stop for sunset on Rt. 1. The Jabberwock is a literary nerd's dream...all references to Lewis Carroll, appropriate decor, all rooms have names from the poem. And in deference to Alice, there is a beverage fridge called The Rabbit Hole hidden in the stairs.

We stayed at the Mome Rath suite which was gorgeous. King bed, large jacuzzi tub, fireplace. 'And the mome raths outgrabe' on the wall. For the full reference, this is the Jabberwocky, an amazing nonsense poem I had to memorize in middle school...

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

      The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

      The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

      Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree

      And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

      The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

      And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

      The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

      He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

      Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

      He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

Ok so enough poetry. Let's talk FISH. We had a lot of it. I had a grilled abalone with risotto and shrimp at the Fish Hopper. Big menu, great views! We were pretty wiped out that night though, so retired to the Mome Wrath with our complimentary champagne and strawberries.

The 1: The coastal route to San Fran is pretty amazing...industry, farming (ARTICHOKES), fishing villages, and really good latin food. The Haute Enchilada in Moss Landing is super neat and fairly hidden. Fried artichokes and grilled octopus salad was a great little lunch. hauteenchilada.com

17 mile drive: just do it. It is beautiful. It doesn't take all day and you can marvel at the mansions and beautiful ocean views with seals, birds, random bunch o' mule deer.

On to Santa Cruz. I need a glass of wine...so where better than award winning MJA Vineyard! http://www.mjavineyards.com/ You will think you're in the wrong place...it looks like a warehouse next to a food market. But trust me, you have found gold. Marin is just your average guy who has conquered several agricultural industries and makes very traditionally aged cabernets and more. He also is a Kona coffee grower with amazing coffee. All of his wines have cheeky names like Intimidation and Dirty Old Man, which to me rings of a great birthday gift for my wacky friends. Needless to say, I am now a proud member of the MJA Ahola Wine Club (it's worth it).

We stopped for Sunset just outside of the city but I drank too much wine so I don't remember the place. Oopsy.