The departure from Israel to CA on July 21st, coincided with, the Israel's fierce attack of the Houthis Hadida Sea Port, with Biden's dropping-out of 2024 Presidency race , with Netanyahu's traveling for his speech in Congress , and with the largest Global Cyber Outage, which had also immediately, impacted our travel, as well.
Hadida Sea Port Biden Flight Disruption
With almost all airlines refraining from flying into/out of Israel ,due to the Oct 7th/2023 on -going war, which was orchestrated by Iran and raging with the help of its proxies on 7 fronts , Delta Airline , the original carrier we were booked on, passed our reservation to the Israeli El Al. airline, the only that had kept flying in and out of Israel.
Thus we made it safely to Los Angeles, but problems started there at LAX airport, where many planes were grounded, as they did in many airports around the country..
Delta's early morning continuation flight to SFO - our final destination, got canceled,
The airline which was supposed to re-book us on the same day's next available flight , didn't do so, because of the cyber glitch backlog. Instead we were told that we were re-booked on a flight, departing only 2 day later.
Apparently, all other consecutive flights either got canceled or got filled up with the many stranded passengers. impacted by the same dire circumstances
The airport itself was mobbed with grounded wrecked passengers and hips piled up luggage left behind...
After some tough negotiation, we manged to get boarding passes on Delta's same day afternoon flight, which after waiting all day, at the frantic airport, we were informed that it also got canceled... There was nothing to be done for that day..
Back at Delta's Service Desk, insistence on booking us on another airline which could depart as early as possible next day,. bore positive outcome
We were transferred to United Air.. However the flight was due to depart only at
2:00 pm . So we were also given an overnight airport hotel accommodation and food allowance.
Our daughter Inbal and the grand kids who also flew back with us to LA on the same flight from Israel, and were lucky to be booked on an early Alaska Air continuation flight, made it back to the Bay area on schedule..
Making a" lemonade out of the Lemon" we were dished out , when spending the night at LAX airport, prior to the afternoon flight, we headed, the following morning, to Manhattan Beach which is situated about 20 minuted UBER drive. south of the airport
This quint Pacific coast beachfront community at southwestern Los Angeles County of California, of about 36,000 inhabitants, is located north of Hermosa Beach. another
quaint beach-front city, that together with Redondo Beach community, forms the 3 Beach Cities within the South Bay region. known for their moderate climate, beautiful prominent landscape, long/wide beach stretch, volleyball and surfing.
The quaint free aquarium at the end of Manhattan Beach Pier, hosts classes, parties & camps., and is the most recognizable symbol of the beach.
It offers the best lookout at the surfers in action below, as well
The Beach strip stretches approximately 3.4 km and roughly 140 m wide.
The majority of the land in Manhattan Beach was once exposed sand dunes, which now lie beneath the city's buildings and streets.
Around 1902, the beach suburb was named "Manhattan" after developer Stewart Merrill's home - the New York City borough of Manhattan
Every August, the city hosts the Manhattan Beach Open volleyball tournament and the International Surf Festival.
Many high-profile individuals in the sports and entertainment industry, live in Manhattan Beach due to its oceanfront desirability, top performing school district, and commuting distance to Los Angeles
The city has several distinct neighborhoods, including the "Strand" which is dotted with beautiful architecturally designed structures and which consists some of the most expensive real estate per square foot, in the United States.
It was so much smarter to walk outdoors on this charming upscale surfing community's Strand, by the beach, watching the surfers, bikers and beach goers, then sitting around in a third-rate airport's hotel.
The oceanfront homes that stretch along the bike path and walking lane of the Strand, are decorated with small flower garden patches
The "Hill Section" is also known for its high-priced homes. Many of the steep hills residences overlooking the ocean and offer panoramic sea and city views. are remodeled or newly constructed.
Manhattan Beach "business district" is located on downtown - the intersection of Rosecrans and Highland and has restaurants and shops.
We enjoyed a visit to a popular breakfast place in mid-morning.
Constructed as a house before the turn of the century, the building that now is Uncle Bill’s Pancake House remains mostly unchanged. exhibiting the charm and nostalgia of the once sleepy and relaxed downtown beach atmosphere, and offer great ambiance and breakfast food selection, which especially I inflicted by a "sweet tooth" enjoyed very much.
United Air flight departed, the following day's afternoon (July 22nd) the on time.
So a day later we finally, landed back in the Bay area, however with one suitcase,
(out of 5) not recorded and missing...
Getting over the jet-lag and 2 extra rides back to the SFO airport, in search of the missing piece of luggage, from among a "sea of misplaced suitcases" occupied the one week spent, being grounded, in..North. California, prior to heading on a 3 days road trip, our daughter Inbal planned, to South. California.
An hour and 40 minutes drive from Oakland, landed us at a 19c a fun adventure ride on the "Redwood Forest Steam Train" - at the Santa Cruz Roaring Camp
This hour and an half fun ride over trestles, through towering redwood groves up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, was a delightful activity for the family.
In the 1880s, narrow-gauge steam locomotives were used to haul giant redwood logs out of the mountains. Roaring Camp’s steam engines, date from 1890 are among the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines providing regularly scheduled passenger service in America.
The Pond Turtle Colony
By the steam locomotive and the Water Tank
More engaging activities for kids who are "wanted
Driving about an hour, south of Santa Cruz, in parallel to the shore, got us to Moss Landing, a place not to be missed. Each time we drive to Carmel/Monterey, we stop at this stop for a bite.
Phil's Fish Market & Eatery - where we had a great lunch, is a basic sea food establishment since 1982 ,which used to be by the water, in the small community of Moss Landing . This small community at Monterey County, is situated on the shore of Monterey Bay, at the mouth of Elkhorn Slough and at the head of the submarine Monterey Canyon
In the early 1860s Charles Moss, a Texas ship captain, established with the help of a partner a landing and wharf to handle the emerging grain trade in the Salinas Valley
Alas ,on this trip we discovered that Phil's moved to our disappointment, to another location , 15 minutes away, to Castroville, a town known for its artichoke crop and for the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival, leading to its nickname -"Artichoke Center of the World".
10700 Merritt St, Castroville
Located on the main road, it has no view nor charm but the hearty sea food is still fabulous.
It took about more 3 hours to drive down South from Moss Bay to Ragged Point on 101 HWY to reach our Hotel destination as the coastal scenic HWY 1 at Big Sur was closed
When planning your visit, it is best to go to the CalTrans website to check road conditions. If in doubt, call the Inn's front desk at 805-927-4502 or 888-584-6374
There are many points to visit when driving on the Pacific Coast HWY Road Trip
However, our daughter Inbal set her heart to visit the famous Hearst Castle/Ranch at San Simeon, thus we lucked out on staying at the fabulous Rugged Inn, situated on one of the most scenic points of the Pacific coast, which is highly recommend.
The stretch of highway between San Simeon and Ragged Point offers some of the most picturesque scenery in the world.
The roadway follows where the majestic Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, with spectacular dramatic views around every twist and turn.
The region’s coastal grandeur, includes, steep mountains, deep canyons, coves, beaches, hiking trail, water falls and wildlife.
19019 Highway 1Ragged Point, CA 93452 info@raggedpointinn.com
Toll Free888-584-6374
Restaurant Reservations(805) 927-5708
Hotel Information(805) 927-4502
The charming family-owned hotel Inn is situated on a cliff's, southern boundary to the Big Sur coastline, along Hwy 1. with the ocean wide open steeply, beneath it
out-looking points facing both north and south.
The manicured garden and grounds of this historic property, augment the surrounding natural beauty, and host outdoor concerts during the summer.
The Ragged Point Cliffside Trail. (moderately strenuous) offers a popular hike on Highway 1. on which a black sand beach & base of the 300-foot Black Swift Falls. (seasonal waterfall) can be encountered.
The nature trail is easily accessible from Ragged Point Inn, just off Hwy 1,
Other nature trails and visiting points
Spectating "man-made", or more correctly "woman-made grandeur," was the plan for
the trip's next day. -
A visit to Hearst Castle
The castle that was designed by the famous architect Julia Morgan, (1872 –,1957 ) for the newspaper mogul -William Randolph Hearst was a second time, for me,
When I first visited it, about 40 years ago, there was no visitor center nor organized bus shuttling of visitors to the hill's top.
The Visitor Center
Julia Morgan designed more than 700 buildings in California during her long and prolific career., but is best known for her work on Hearst Castle in San Simeon,
William Randolph Hearst ( 1863– 1951 ) was a flamboyant American newspaper publisher and politician who developed the nation's largest newspaper chain and media company- Hearst Communications. He was also a compulsive Art Collector,
in 1919 he started to build a grandiose estate on the ranch-land ( 83,000 acre cattle ranch now incorporated) that he inherited, which overlooks the village of San Simeon , and filled it with art object acquired at auctions houses from all over diminished Europe, after first World War.
He called the estate "La Cuesta Encantada" - Spanish for The "Enchanted Hill".
By 1947, the hilltop complex included a twin-towered main building, three sumptuous guesthouses, and 127 acres of terraced gardens, fountains, and pools.
San Simeon Point
Founded in 1836, San Simeon was first established when the San Miguel Mission was secularized and divided into three distinct ranches: Piedra Blanca, Santa Rosa and San Simeon.
20 years later, the town became known for whaling and an Whaling Station was established in the natural harbor at San Simeon Point around the grey whale migration, which can still be witnessed today off San Simeon’s high vantage points off its towering coastal bluffs.
By the 1860s, a drought and inadequate grazing land for livestock. drove Rancheros to sell their land., while simultaneously, the whaling industry had declined.
That left the town without the employment and economic boom it had experienced years earlier,
The economic decline of the region, gave an opportunity to the Hearst family to buy up land around the area. Later the village also served as an accommodation to many of the workers who participated in the megalomaniac building project of Randolph's castle.
Casa Grande -the main residential castle on top of the hill has more of a fill a Renaissance style Fort, gives, as it was constructed from tons of cement. The two churchy towers are similar to the ones found on top of the churches at Ronda in southern Spain., which Hearst was very fond of.
Hearst was inspired by the castles he'd seen on a European tour with his mother, as a boy, and wanted his home to emulate the palaces of Europe.
The Casa is a great museum filled with Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities – along with Old Master European paintings, sculptures, and decorative art; Chinese and Near Eastern art; and about thirty historic carved and painted ceilings from Renaissance Italy and Spain.
The 2 guided tours of the premises, we pre-booked (advance booking is required), lead us each for an hour and a half, through the external terraces first floor grounds
It was more then plenty touring for us ....
