Recently, we were fortunate enough to escape up the California coast, winding our way past San Simeon where William Randolph Hearst built "La Cuesta Encantada" or the Enchanted Hill.  From there we continued on to Piedras Blancas beach, the Elephant Seal Rookery, where we had the privilege of watching hundreds of mother elephant seals nursing their young and generally sunning themselves, lazing and flopping about. Passing miles and miles of coastal wildflowers and wind bent Cypress trees, we finally landed at the magical town of Big Sur, CA. There we were treated to a mountaintop home where our hosts gave us the main house all to ourselves! The serenity was overwhelming as ocean breezes swept through the valley below. The views were spectacular and the sunsets sublime. Of course we stopped by Esalen and went for hikes through the woods, along the river, and out to the sea.  But mostly we just basked in the peaceful Spring air, clearing our minds as hawks hovered and families of deer tip toed by.  River and Sky

And strolling in the garden we discovered 2 very well accessorized Buddhas...  

and very lazy elephant seals...