Observation: Sand sculptures...........

In Ocean beach........

In a county fair.........

In Coronado beach.......

Place: Coronado city and the Hotel Del.....

Few days back, I got to visit the Coronado Island in the Pacific....

Though it was brief, I got to have a look at the very popular Hotel del Coronado, the world-famous resort, wooden structure built in Victorian architecture, that boasts of hosting many celebrities in its heydays and continues to do so...

The Hotel...

It's the backside of the Hotel..it looks multiple times more appealing from the front, which I missed during this visit...

The planned city streets....

Bank of Coronado...

I thought to visit it again and get a taste of its renowned beach, theater and the ice cream....

During Christmas, I got  an opportunity to revisit ...true to its elegance and heritage and fame, the iconic hotel was illuminated with holiday lights to every tourists's joy...

Here, I am on the deck of the Del...The twilight creates dramatic backdrop..and the glittering ship in the distance bolsters the holiday spirit...

Fauna: Rendezvous with the sea lions........

It was a sunny and moderately windy day in Newport Beach. Leaning against the fence atop the wooden pier I was enjoying the sparking, silvery, rippled waters of the Pacific. An unusual grunting and groaning noise startled me out of my spell. That is when, Surya showed me the pair of sea lions swimming below the pier, creating the grunts. I had seen a few of them in captivity, in LA and San Diego Zoo. But, getting to see them in the wild, in the Pacific Ocean was altogether a unique experience. The larger of the duo was emitting that funny sound and asking for food. It was sheer fun to watch the critter catching the food scraps thrown  at it and craving for more. Peeping the slick head with the big whiskers, it resembled a bald old man. Sharing the tremendous glee we had...........

The first glimpse of the pinniped.......

The pair discussing foraging strategies or may be sharing sweet nothings.........

I am hungry...got some food?...

The oldie face with the big moustache-like whiskers....

Close-up...

Swimming with the long foreflippers like a mermaid....

The spotting certainly made my day.....When nature decides  to entertain,  it's much more gratifying than human orchestrated amusements...

Since then,  have got to see many of them.........like this one....a couple of days before, we had been on a whale-watching trip to the Pacific. The boat was gliding past the pods of dolphins while the red floating buoy grabbed my attention. A passel of sea lions were lying on the pedestal, heaped on each other. Despite the constant ringing of the huge bell,they were in slumber, enjoying the mid-day sun...

and like this.........posing with them....of course from safe distance........

Place: Pacific Ocean view from Crystal Cove Park..............

The picture postcard view of the Pacific Ocean from the entrance of Crystal Cove state Park. Had not I seen this incredible scenery myself, I would not have believed. Notice the distinct strata of blue and white, perhaps, a phenomenon linked to the sun-kissed rippling water.

The ridge-top vantage point offered some more breathtaking views of the magnificent Ocean.

Framed by abloom wild mustard and chaparral....

In the golden mustard field .............

The promontory jutting into the Ocean..........

Vast...limitless....

Who doesn't love watching the roaring, thundering, crashing, undulating, rolling, booming, reverberating waves?  The rising and falling surfs are spellbinding enough to mesmerize all and sundry. Some incredible seascapes captured in Crystal Cove State beach........Enjoy the marching battalions of waves....the bubbling, effervescent froths.....the flying pelicans....

Spouse is having a good time....