MY FAVOURITE AUTHOR.

[ROBERT M.]

A TV series of Hamish Macbeth was made in the 1990's starring Robert Carlyle

[Pam]

Thats true, I used to watch it. I am not sure he was as much fun as the Hamish in the books. Have you read any of them

[ROBERT M.]

Just started to read ..........The Times We Had............the lifestory of famous silent screen actress (she did make some talkies too) .......Marion Davies ........Marion had a well known lifelong affair with publisher William Randolph Hearst. Marion spoke everything onto tape in the fifties, but the book was not published until 1972, 11 years after Marion passed away. Marion did not want the book published while she was still alive in case anything she said upset anyone.

[LindyG]

Ooooh, Robert, sounds good. My interest in that bio would be all the times she shared with Charles Chaplin who I adore.
They were very good friends, and Chaplin wrote much about Marion and Hearst and his times at their "castle" in Santa Barbara, and on their boat when it was down in southern CA.

Curious to know if she talks much of those times.
Please let us know if you recommend this book as a worthwhile read, after you've gotten far enough to know.

[ROBERT M.]

I'll let you know Lindy, but I haven't gone too far into the book yet

[Marian]

We visited Hearst Castle on a visit to the U.S. a few years ago. Very interesting place.

[LindyG]

Good for you, Marian, I'm glad you've been there to Hearst Castle and SB.
Even though I've lived in California more than 10 years (not currently) and have had several vacations there, I've always been either too far south or too far north in CA to get to Hearst Castle. I've heard raves from a lot who have been there though.

Santa Barbara produces excellent wines to brag about, too.

Marian, on that trip, did you go north to Big Sur and Carmel? I did that vacation two years in a row, two weeks each time, I love that wildly beautiful part of CA. Nature lovers' Paradise.
Carmel is like an enchanted fairytale village. I don't know a place in America that treats visitors as wonderfully as they treat you in Carmel.

[ROBERT M.]

Carmel is famous for Doris Day and Clint Eastwood too

[LindyG]

Yep, Robert.
I've enjoyed time at both of their "establishments". Doris' beautiful hotel was the first in Carmel to treat dogs like First Class guests. There's a painting on the wall in the garden lounge of Charles Chaplin.
It's a lovely spot, Doris' inn. So is Clint's resort, that's a great place to have Sunday Brunch, with a great band that performs (and Clint sometimes plays with the band, usually summer evenings, I believe).

I love Point Lobos for hiking along the ocean, watching all the mother otters with their babies in the ocean, tremendous numbers of birds, seals in coves, it's paradise. And NEVER any human crowds. Remarkable and rare!

[Marian]

Yes Lindy, we went to Carmel and took a look at Clint's Restaurant, I think it's called The Hog's Breath. Very pretty town. Someone told us there are no numbers on the houses there, that must make it difficult for new postmen!
Big Sur is beautiful, it reminded of Cornwall, but warmer! I loved the little animals everywhere that live among the rock outcrops.

[LindyG]

Hi Marian,
Clint owned the Hog's Breath a very long time ago.
Clint's resort I'm referring to is a vast complex outside of Carmel.
It's an old ranch that Clint rescued and refurbished the original buildings as a restaurant and several lodgings.
Very pastoral setting, with sheep grazing in the meadow.
There's a huge tennis complex. There's a view of the ocean from some rooms.
It's tranquil and beautifully done.

http://www.missionranchcarmel.com/

There is no mail delivery in Carmel. Everybody goes to the Post Office for their mail. You can walk the entire town.
I always do. I love the sweet enchanted village and all those adorable fairy cottages, most of which were built in the 1930s.
Wish I could live there!

[mariana44]

Here is my experience with Carmel---my friends and I were driving the Coast road from San Francisco to LA, and we were looking for somewhere to stay the night, so we knew we were close to Carmel, and decided to try and find somewhere there---we saw a sign saying Carmel Beach and headed that way, and just landed up in a large car park, with the beach in front--by now , it was getting dusk, and all around us, trailers and cars were arriving--everyone was heading down to the beach with their blankets ---it was like a scene from a Bobbty Darin, Sandra Dee movie--I half expected to see Annette Funicello, Fabian and Tommy Sands--it really took me back in time,. It was ust like "A Summer Place"--pure magoc.

However we had to head to town and find somewhere to stay--so as we had an early start the next morning, that was about all I saw of Carmel. !!

[Eman]

I'm in agreement with Lindy and Mariana, Carmel is pretty serene. I guess that's why the hippies always wanted to go there during the 60's and also Big Sur.

Mariana, you made me smile with your description, especially with the reference to the old films. I loved "A Summer Place" with Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. Pretty racy and adult for a teen film of it's time, same with the Spring Break classic "Where The Boys Are".

[LindyG]

Here is my experience with Carmel---my friends and I were driving the Coast road from San Francisco to LA, and we were looking for somewhere to stay the night, so we knew we were close to Carmel, and decided to try and find somewhere there---we saw a sign saying Carmel Beach and headed that way, and just landed up in a large car park, with the beach in front--by now , it was getting dusk, and all around us, trailers and cars were arriving--everyone was heading down to the beach with their blankets ---it was like a scene from a Bobbty Darin, Sandra Dee movie--I half expected to see Annette Funicello, Fabian and Tommy Sands--it really took me back in time,. It was ust like "A Summer Place"--pure magoc.

However we had to head to town and find somewhere to stay--so as we had an early start the next morning, that was about all I saw of Carmel. !!

That is a MAJOR BUMMER, Mariana. Of all the places in America to get a glimpse of, but not stay in.... oh man, you've gotta go back there some time. I went there two years in a row for a two week August vacation each time. And I want to go back, it was so magical. Both times, I was a solitary traveler, and I've never been treated so well anywhere in America.
The locals (who are WONDERFUL) told me it's best to go in September. If you go back, Point Lobos is not to be missed. If there's a Heaven, I'm convinced it's Point Lobos. Nature as it should be, humans are not permitted to destroy it.

Oh and, the best of many, many great restaurants in Carmel, for lunch and dinner, and the only restaurant in which I've been hugged and kissed by the host, is Demetra Cafe. Ranked #1 of 115 restaurants in Carmel/vicinity. Unforgettable. Even if they weren't such lovely people who treat you like family, the food is superb!

Another place I love north of Carmel, I bee-line to this place from the San Jose airport as soon as I'm in my rental car, is Gayle's Bakery and Rosticceria in Capitola (just south of Santa Cruz). Serving gourmet but casual fare from breakfast till late supper, and with the most fabulous pastry offerings I've ever seen/tasted, this place is another NOT TO BE MISSED.
http://www.gaylesbakery.com/

[mariana44]

Lindy---I would love to believe that I could return to US some day and revisit Carmel---plus some of my other favourite places, San Francisco,
Martha's Vineyard, Lake Tahoe etc etc--but I cannot see that happening---well, only in my dreams !!