1987/04 Monterey - Peninsula and Carmel |
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The rest of the peninsula is largely forested and populated with mansions, cemeteries, 
and golf courses such as the famous Pebble Beach. Some of the roads, like 17-Mile Drive are private or only open if you pay a toll, but for me the most memorable parts were the beaches and headlands. I was lucky enough to be walking along one of the beach trails when this sunset arrived.
On the other side of the peninsula is the little town of Carmel by the Sea, home of many notable residents, such as Doris Day, Phyliss Diller, and Clint Eastwood. At the time I was visiting Clint was the town mayor.
The residents define Carmel as a “village in a forest overlooking a white sand beach”. And they want to keep it that way.
The town has many odd byelaws, intending to maintain its ecology and its quirky character. It has no street lighting or parking meters, no sidewalks in residential areas, and doesn’t allow chain restaurants or any billboards. The houses do not have numbers and there is no home delivery. Mail has to be picked up at the Post Office. Couriers such as Fedex have to be given a “geographic address” such as “3rd house south from X/Y junction”.
There were a couple of tiny lots for sale, both of them costing many times the value of our house. The only picture I found of Carmel was this one of the town’s Presbyterian church.
They’ve managed to keep the beach pristine. I was there on one day when he surf was up. On another I joined the crowd sitting on the sand watching the sun go down. 
We were all disappointed as the sun plopped below the horizon with no colour at all.