This post is dedicated to Frank Castaldini, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in San Francisco, California. I have known Frank for several years through a real estate professional networking site and highly recommend him for anyone buying or selling a home in the San Francisco area. If he can’t help you in your specific locale, I know he can refer you to someone (almost) as good as he is.
Dedications are my way of trying to provide a little extra Google juice for people I have come to know and respect over the years.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
My birthday to myself last Sunday was a trip to Santa Catalina Island, a place that I’ve wanted to go for about 18 years, since the day I arrived in San Diego and saw pictures of it. Now through May 1, if you have a birthday, you can ride the Catalina Express to and from Santa Catalina Island from Dana Point, Long Beach, or the Port of San Pedro in Los Angeles — FREE! The caveat is that you have to depart on your birthday, but you can return anytime.
Following are my best eight pictures of the City and Port of Avalon, a little enclave of about 3,300 people.
The first two pictures are of the Avalon Casino, the signature building in Avalon. I think it used to be a casino in its early days but it is a theater and a theatre now:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
When leaving the boat dock, this building towers over you from the cliffs above:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
I thought it was going to be the most spectacular house on the island when it is finished, but in zooming in on it using the computer, I think it’s going to be a public lookout point. Might have to go back!
I think this condominium complex is where 75% of the Avalon population lives:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
We found a very nice restaurant at The Landing to have my birthday meal. The first picture above of the Avalon Casino was taken from the restaurant.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
From the restaurant we could see lots of parasailers:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Tuna fishing was once a big industry on the Island. This picture is of the Tuna Club, one of the first buildings on the Island, was also taken from the restaurant we ate at:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
It was a dreary gray morning when we left Long Beach, and even an hour later when we arrived in Avalon. As the day wore on, the clouds broke up and disappeared, the sun came out, and Avalon turned magical, looking like something out of Europe.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Russel Ray Photos 