Carmel-by-the-Sea

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Fo what is becoming an annual road trip with my mom and dad, we visited a quaint and charming little city called Carmel-by-the-Sea this year. Once we arrived, I couldn't help but feel that we entered an artist's haven.


It's a really small city filled with nooks and crannies with a lot of inns that are surrounded by flowers. Too bad we were here only on a day trip; it would have been nice to stay here for a few days to really have a chance to explore the place.



And Mommy just had to go inside a few of them to inquire about their room rates.

Anyway, what I really liked about this town is the series of shops on the main road. Unlike in the shops in the malls, the attendants in and the owners of the shops here were warmer and more hospitable. I felt like I was back in the Philippines. For Mommy, it's the first time (I think) that someone helped her fit shoes. And the staff at the Tiffany's store here were really kind; they weren't in a hurry to go to the next client. The prices of the items here were high though... well, that's what happens when people get quality service, right?

Aside from the cheery shopping atmosphere, I also liked the winter scenes of the window displays and the artwork in the Dr Seuss shop.



As we walked further in town, we whiffed the scent of perfume; we followed the smell until we reached a shop called Ajne. The owner, Jane Hendler, creates customised perfume blends for her clients using natural raw materials. She extracts essential oils herself. And her clients include movie stars and hotels.


As the day started to wind down, we found a road that runs by the coast. And this was where I started to understand why artists love staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea: the landscape here at sunset is gorgeous!


As we drove back to Pittsburg, I took a mental note: we'll visit this place again.

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