Newport Beach

Did you know that you can't own an Oscar? If you are lucky enough to receive one, you immediately sign papers saying when you die or if you don't want the thing anymore, the Oscar goes back to the Academy, unless you have willed it to a family member who is bound by the same rules. This is to avoid finding them for sale on E-bay. The Oscar is actually only worth $30 so it's strictly the sentimental value that is of any value. Forgot to mention that in the last posting.
With two days left in our visit, we chose to head south down the coast to Newport Beach. Being in Orange County, the wealthiest area in California with the top Mercedes dealership in the world, the real estate here is staggering for the tightly packed housing with waterfront or views.

On the way, we stopped in Long Beach to do some shopping and also had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory - actually didn't have any cheesecake. When we got to Newport Beach, we parked on Balboa Island and did a healthy 3 mile walk around the island checking out the prime waterfront homes averaging 3000 square feet and 4-6 million dollars, with a few heading up to the 20 million price range. And many had yachts moored at their front door! Yikes!


Before dinner we went for a drink at the historic Newport Landing, with a nice view of the little 3 car ferries that cross the inlet giving people a short cut to the peninsula from Balboa Island.


For dinner, we did an early celebration of our anniversary tomorrow and went to the swank Mastro's Ocean Club. The portions here were huge so we shared just about everything, salmon for Betty & Gary and rack of lamb for Dawn & I with side dishes of sauteed snow peas, garlic mashed potatoes and home made cream corn. I had started with escargots and Dawn shared the famous California wedge salad with Gary and for dessert only I had a creme brulee which was also shared.
It was a really happening place, with people packed, standing around the bar waiting for a seat and a parking lot full of every high end car from Masserati and Mercedes to Rolls and Lamborghini. Definitely an anniversary dinner we will remember!