In order to get to Catalina we needed to jump on a boat. We caught our boat in San Pedro. The area is a huge unloading point for ships coming in from Asia. This beautiful suspension bridge was built so these big tall ships could get into the docks. We parked right under it.
Here is some of the equipment used to move the containers off the boats and onto land. There are three of them here. And you can see the green, red, and blue containers on the boat (green boat) and also behind them on land. They look like mechanical dinosaurs. They are very quick at unloading the containers.
There was also a big cruise ship in the docks.
We arrived early so we walked around a little bit and found an old military boat parked in the dock. This is one of the guns that was mounted on the boat when it was in commission.
We found some seats near the front of the boat. The boat was nearly empty because it's the off-season for Catalina.
Mommy sure seems happy that we are leaving. It was quite cold on the boat so we had you bundled up.
Although you can see Catalina from the California coastline it isn't until you get close up that you can make anything out. Here we are pulling up to the island. This is a bad picture through a dirty window of the apartment complex we rented a condo in. Ours was near the middle of this complex.
And here's a picture of the 'Casino' which Wrigley built to promote the island. There is no gambling on the island though. It was used for big band concerts and balls. You can see the housing complex off to the right of the Casino.
After we got off the boat we took a taxi to the condo and unpacked. The condo was very cold. We had to turn the heat up and use space heaters to get the apartment warm. We did get to see a nice sunset on the patio though. It had a nice view of the ocean as well. You were just happy to be out of the bjorn and car seat.
We then headed out for some food. We picked a place called Armstrong's. We ordered some yummy oysters, fish and sourdough bread. It was a good restaurant. We met an old man who had retired on the island and he ate their 6 days a week (he went to a Chinese restaurant on day 7 in case you are wondering).
The next morning we walked around the very small town center. Including our condo complex, that is pretty much all the man-made points of interest on the island.
There was another cruise ship docked off the coast of the island while we were there. We made sure that we got our breakfast in early before the hoards of jumbo-sized tourists in bermuda shorts started rolling in and ruining our tranquility.
One of the days mommy gave you a bath and then had you try on your new judo outfit. Actually it's a bath robe present from your Aunt and Uncle Koh. Very very cute.
The other great thing about the island was 99% of the cars weren't cars. They were golf carts. One came with our condo. Here I am, deep in concentration, as I take a hairpin turn at a whopping 10 miles an hour.
Here's a nice picture mommy took of me taking some video of the ocean. We took a couple of trips up the roads that lead to the top of the hill near the city. There were some nice views from above.
Here's another nice view of Avalon Harbor. You can see the Casino and our condo complex off in the distance.
Here's a better shot of the town. You'll see some pictures late of yourself walking on that pier in this shot.
One day we went to the Wrigley Memorial Garden. It had lots of plants native to the island. It was one of my favorite arboretums because it had so many plants I'd never seen before. There are also some animals on the island as well. We saw two deer one night on the road and there are also bison roaming around.
Look at this plant. It looks like a tree with a bunch of aloe vera plants on top.
How about this one. Both mommy and I said it looked like an old man because it's hairy and the hair is grey. Turns out that is exactly what it is called - the old man cactus.
At the end was a memorial for Wrigley. It was kind of spooky like some Aztec ruin.
And we did the obligatory picture at the top.
On the way down we saw these pretty flowers.
It's a bird. It's a plane. No. It's a bird. There were lots of birds in the garden. Some of them made really loud noises when they flapped their wings. A big whooshing sound.
Here's a shot of the Casino. I walked out on a wave guard made of big rocks to take this shot. You are with mommy. If you blow the picture up you can see her sitting to the right of the Casino in a red jacket.
We saw some divers that day too. They had dry suits on because the water must have been freezing.
You were just big enough to see them over the wall.
We took the golf cart up into the hills again the next day. We had some nice views of the city below.
One day we let you roam free. Here we are on the pier that you could see from one of the previous pictures. You just loved walking back and forth. Here I am trying to coax you down to the end.
We forgot to take your bib off.
You loved the pigeons. You spent a good amount of time trying to catch them. I think we have that on video.
Here we are at the end of the pier using the timer feature on the camera.
Here you are checking out daddy in the shower. It'll be a while before you can take one of those. Much easier for you to take baths. While we were in Catalina you learned a new word - "Wow". You say it with the most precise diction imaginable. Perfectly pursed lips to start the enunciation and perfectly pursed lips to end it. I have it on video. Mommy and I can't stop laughing when you say it.
Well that's about it for Catalina. We didn't do to much but that's what vacations are for. We watched some television and read a little and lounged around. Quite relaxing. I think your mom and I would get a little bored on an island though. So at the end of the week we headed back. Here we are waiting for the boat to pick us up to take us back to Los Angeles.
One last feed before we get to your grandparents' house.
After we made it back to Los Angeles we headed for Oxnard where your grandparents Koh live to stay for the night. For a Korean birthday you usually get something gold (or so your mom tells me). You grandparents gave you a gold ring and a necklace. It's actually your mom's gold ring that she got when she was young. That makes it your first hand me down.
After staying the night we tried to make it to your great grandmother's grave site. The one who died when you were born. We unfortunately ran out of time though and had to detour on the way for the airport. Next time we'll make sure to head over there first.
The plane ride back was uneventful. You used to be very easy on flights but now you want to do things so you get bored easily (as does daddy). But you are still an easy kid to fly with and the rest of the passengers always stop by to say how cute you are.
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