Today we drove down to Newport Beach and spent the afternoon in the sun and on the sand.  Can I just say, “Ahhh!”    So much better than navigating the crazy traffic in Los Angeles.   We saw a pod of dolphins swim by, not 100 yards off shore, and I watched pelicans dive bomb for fish all afternoon, which was incredible!  These enormous birds circle around, maybe 15-20 feet above the water and then all of a sudden they fold their wings against their bodies and drop like missiles head first into the water.   It is the most amazing thing, and I got a video of it, sort of, but we left Maya’s good camcorder at the house so it’s not the best quality.   Still, you can get the idea:

Today was much more my idea of a vacation.   Here we are, on the beach:

Maya in silhouette

Maya & me, with Ben behind us

Ben & the Newport Pier

Joshua & Ben, digging tunnels

The tunnel project continues

“I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.”  Bill Bryson – Neither Here nor There