... stopped into a church I passed along the way ..

After leaving Colette and the San Francisco holiday Daphne and her 1:1 traveling companion went further down the coast with a group of friends from DC.


There was no longer anyone of  Daphne's size and even though they visited wonderful places, by the time they got to the Mission in Carmel by the Sea Daphne was feeling low and a little out of focus.

 
This is the 3rd Mission completed by the Spanish in California and is the final resting place of the founding father of California missions, Father Junipero Serra. It is quite lovely and the gardens are beautiful.

When they got inside the church Daphne's spirits rose. There in front of her was a whole village of little peeps. They were slightly larger than Daphne, but they were definitely her kind of people.

A large and elaborate creche was in an alcove displaying the everyday lives of its villagers while, on a raised patio in the background, Mary and Joseph rejoice in the birth of their son.


(The photographer apologizes for the blurry pictures. They were taken without a flash so as not to intrude on the wedding taking place in the chapel down the hall)

As Daphne finished her tour of the Mission she felt much better and more focused.


Life was good and she was happy again. Little peeps could turn up in the most unexpected palces







Next Daphne and the big peeps visit the Hearst Castle.


Stay tuned.

Hugs

Susan

Carmel Doll Shop - not to be for me.

The Carmel Doll Shop could be a wonderful experience - if you could actually get inside it.


So far I haven't been to Carmel, California more than once every 30 years, so I was excited to visit the famous Carmel Doll Shop.

It has wonderful antique dolls and dollhouse items.


When I arrived it was closed. The sign on the door said that if it was closed during business hours I should phone the posted number and someone would be there within minutes.


Heart aflutter I dialed the number.

The voice that answered was promising. "Carmel Doll Shop?"

I explained I was there and waiting for them to arrive within minutes so I could see the shop.

 But the voice had some crushing news. "The owners are at a doll show in Chicago and won't be back until next week."


I explained that I was leaving town soon.  Would they be back before Wednesday?

"No," the terrible voice told me. "They won't be back by then."

Heart broken and crestfallen, I could do nothing but take pictures through the windows and imagine that the wonderful antique items I saw inside that shop were selling at prices that I could actually afford.

Heavy of heart I consoled myself at a nearby cafe with a cappuccino and blueberry scone.


I will have to content myself with their website where I know the prices are out of my range. But to dream is to live - or some such ...



Hugs,
Susan

Daphne has left her heart in San Francisco

Daphne is unhappy to discover that a vacation must come to an end.

She and Colette bid each other a tearful adieu.


"Thank you so much," Daphne tells Colette. "I have had a wonderful time and I have learned so much. I really don't want to go."

"I had a wonderful time too," says Colette. "I hope you can come back soon."

As Daphne sails away from the city she feels as lonely as the single seagull that hovers over the ship.

She thinks about all the wonderful things she saw in the city.



The Trans America building was impressive.

She loved the painted ladies at Alamo Square.

Lombard Street was a trip.

Russian Tea at the Samovar was soooo cool!

And their visit to SFMOMA was even cooler.

Lunch in Sausalito was delicious.

But the best part of all was sharing the experience with someone who understands your language and talks your talk.


The girls will miss each other.


Farewell to San Francisco.

We will be back someday.


Thanks Carol and Colette for being the most fun, most gracious, and most compatible hostesses there could be.

Hugs and kisses

Susan and Daphne

Daphne and Colette go to UC Berkerly

The girls get a ride with J. to UC Berkeley.



J. went to Berkeley so she is an excellent tour guide.

What a beautiful campus." says Daphne. "How lucky J. was to go to school here."

Daphne and Colette are so busy looking around that they lose sight of J.


"Oh dear, where could she be?" the girls ask.

They decide to climb a nearby Hollyhock to get a better view of the campus.

"There she is!" shouts Daphne. She is so excited she falls off the Hollyhock.


"Don't worry, I've got you." says Colette.


"Oh, Colette, I'm so glad you've got my back." says Daphne. "Thanks for being there."



 "Whew," says Colette. "Now that we've found J. let's get a coffee and relax before we go home.
 

The girls settle in to a patio table and wait for J.  to bring them their Java.





"Wasn't that fun?" they ask each other.

"It would be great to go to school here." they agree.


Hugs and kisses to J. for the lovely afternoon and great tour. We had such fun, and we hope to see you again soon.

Susan.

Open up that Golden Gate ...

What a glorious sight!

Daphne is excited to ride the cable car to downtown San Francisco.


Colette has graciously offered to take the pictures today, so she isn't in many of these.

They decide to go to Ghiradelli Square first.

Daphne asks Colette why Ghiradelli is famous and when she hears it's all about candy she has to see it.

Daphne is tickled to see cable cars, just like the one she took to get here, on the package.

And the beautiful Golden Gate bridge is on these packages.







Outside the girls find mermaids in a fountain. "This is so cool," says Daphne.

"And here is the big sign." says Daphne with her best Vanna White arm sweep.

The waterfront across the street is beautiful.

"Let's have a coffee at the Buena Vista," Colette suggests. "This is the restaurant where they invented Irish Coffee."

"That sounds great." says Daphne, settling in at the bar. "I'm going to try one of those."







More adventures to come. Stay tuned.



Hugs
Susan

Castle In the Air

Daphne and Colette are strolling up Fourth Street in Berkeley when a beautiful shop catches their eye.




From the street they can see other mini people.

"Let's go in," they say together.


Inside is a fairy land.

 

There is a Chinese royal family dressed in exotic silks.

There are ancient castles.

And a beautiful Lenci Bo Peep has lost her sheep.


Hey Bo! Look on the other side of you. Your sheep are right there next to the big glass jar of babies.

Daphne and Colette have their picture taken with some of the shop residents. (Thanks to the permission of the kind shop keeper.)

Colette and Daphne even go under the sea to visit the mermaids. What an enchanted place.

There were wonderful antique miniatures in glass cases all around the store.

Daphne is curious and concerned. "Why do they have these people locked up? Is this some kind of zoo?" She is worried that someday someone might want to put her in this kind of zoo.

"No, no." says Colette. " They are in the cases to protect them from being damaged by the big peeps. They are very happy in their little homes."

Daphne is relieved, but still a little creeped out.


Visit Castle in the Air's website here: http://www.castleintheair.biz/

Or in person:
1805 4th St
(between Hearst Ave & Virginia St)
Berkeley, CA 94710

You will be enchanted.

Hugs,
Susan