Getting to Know Monterey

Here we are a the Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey. I just have a few minutes to post some pictures while Vince takes a nap (then I am taking a nap, too! Our Pai wears us out!!)

We're having a blast, and can't wait to live here! We will actually be living in Seaside, which is a little more like a town you actually live in. Monterey is very much a resort town, and I don't think I would enjoy living in Monterey city limits. We drove by the military neighborhoods where we hope to live, and they look like a lot of fun, and the new houses are gorgeous (the old houses are ... well ... old, but the neighborhoods still look like fun). It's only a few minutes drive from downtown Monterey, and Russ will have a lovely commute down the highway next to the beach the whole way to the Presidio. 

Having lived in Utah so long, it's going to be weird to live in an un-planned city. You can tell that the city wasn't planned the way Utah cities are planned... the streets are confusing, every intersection has a different kind of stopping plan (stoplights across the streets, stoplights on the corner, stop signs on a four lane street... you get the picture). Not to mention dozens of one way roads, highways that weave in and out and around. It was really frustrating to drive around here at first, but then we just accepted that the Monterey Penninsula does not have planned cities, and we suddenly felt a lot more relaxed about driving around here. I'm sure once we live here I will get used to the winding streets and odd traffic patterns. Meanwhile, it looks like there is plenty to do, and we are only an hour away from my Aunt and Uncle in Los Altos! (which means we're only an hour away from the bay area, should we ever want to hit up the big city... although I really enjoy living in smaller places like Seaside)

Anyway - keep checking back for all the other pictures of our fun trip. I will probaby post them when I get home.