welcome to Whitecaps

The sun is out, the sky is blue, cloudless and fogless. And this is Carmel we're talking about! We are happily tucked up in a gorgeous home on Scenic Road. Across the street, the beach and the endless sea. This is what I saw when I stepped out on the front porch this morning.

The house is full of light from big windows, sky lights and an atrium garden. The kitchen looks out to the sea so you can do dishes while watching the surfers. Yesterday afternoon we took a walk on the beach, watched the dogs frolic and play, and thought about our Mexican beach. If the sand and sea were this beautiful in Cuyutlan the place would be a tourist mecca; as it is, since it's not very pretty it hasn't been overrun, and I don't think it ever will be. Around 6 PM last evening I looked out to the sea and it was dotted with wetsuit-clad surfers; it looked like a flock of pelicans floating just off shore. I guessed these are the 9-to-5'ers who hurried down to get in a couple of hours of surf time.

Later today our hostess and I are going to "do" Ocean Avenue, Carmel's main street. It's crammed with little shops and cafes and bookstores. A great strolling street. This place reminds me of La Jolla before big development razed Prospect Street and built high rise office buildings. It's also a little like Del Mar with sidewalk-less streets, hidden lanes with interesting houses, and wild, colorful gardens.

This bright little pocket garden is along the fence in our interior patio. In the back of the house, near the above-posted sign is another tiny garden spot bright with flowers. They love this climate.