ON THE ROAD TO MONTEREY, PART ONE

The plan for this trip started in July when I was first contacted by the PR agency for the Hyatt Regency, Monterey, to see if I would be interested in visiting their client’s property and trying out their new restaurant, TusCA. Well, why not? Mr. Muse and I often go down to Carmel for a quick mid-week get away, dog in tow, but we have never stayed in Monterey. Or, I should say, I have never stayed in Monterey. Mr. Muse stays here whenever there is a classic car event happening at nearby Laguna Seca or Pebble Beach. This was my first time.

We left the City today at 1:30. We were both starving but didn’t want to spend the time looking for a place to eat and a place to park. Besides that, once you have decided to get out of town, just get out of town. I knew we would find someplace to stop along the way. I just wanted enough food to stop the blood sugar from falling. We ended up stopping in Burlingame and had a great Middle Eastern lunch at MIJANA on Burlingame Avenue, just across from the train station. Chicken Shawarma, Fattoush (salad), Tabbouleh…delicious. With a quick stop at Peet’s for my wet cappuccino, we were ready to hit Highway 101. 90 minutes later we pulled into the driveway of the Hyatt Regency.

I love the Monterey/Carmel area. It always feels fresh and the air is always invigorating. It may be overcast in the mornings and afternoons but it never feels depressing. It must be something about the sweetness of the air that always says to me ‘relax, you are now on vacation’. Even when I travel here for work it feels like a brief vacation. No matter how long the work day can be, I leave relaxed and in a calmer state of mind.

The Hyatt property itself has been here for many years. They benefit from the wonderful landscaping (huge trees) and from being directly adjacent to the Del Monte Golf Course, the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi. Our suite is on the ground floor with the golf course right off our patio. Not being a golfer, I just turned to Mr. Muse and asked him if that cracking sound I just heard might be the sound of a golf ball being hit. We stared at each other and burst into laughter.

Once we got the computer up and running I toured the room. Calming shades of beige, well designed modern furniture, a walk- in shower to die for and two separate commodes. I’m sorry. Even if there are just two of you traveling together it is the little things at the end that can make or break a marriage and/or a vacation. Mr. Muse just found the ironing board and is ironing a shirt for dinner. I am sipping a glass of Pinot Noir and trying to resist the urge to consume the entire antipasta platter that just arrived. Prosciutto, salumi, cheese, pepper, olives….but wait, I have to save room for dinner. More tomorrow.