Day 5: Lazy Day in Carmel Highlands, Ventana

Time for some down time today as we are staying over at the Tickled Pink Inn.  I'm not sure how I feel about the Tickled Pink.  It has great reviews.  We have a very interesting room with a separate living area and a private balcony overlooking the ocean separate from others.  We were pleasantly surprised when champagne (well, at least sparkling wine in case the French are listening) upon arrival.  We have robes, slippers, free cookies, wine & cheese cocktail hours, free breakfast, hot tub, fireplace, etc.  However, I'm still not sure why they short sheeted my bed!  And not by accident.  It is their policy unless a guest complains, which I did.  We were joined in our lazy day by a new friend.
We didn't just lay around all day.  We managed a 30 mile drive back down the highway (and back) to have lunch at the very nice Ventana Inn.  We would have loved to have stayed at the Ventana Inn but it is out of our price range.  Lunch (steak frittes, for me) is as close as we'll get.   The weather continues to be great (lows in the low 60s, highs in the low 70s, bright sunshine).
Back at the hotel and after a nap, we head for the hot tub before another round of cheese and crackers and wine.  We have sort of settled into a routine:  a good breakfast (hotel or not) and a late lunch followed by wine and cheese or wine and snacks instead of dinner.
Tomorrow we move to Cannery Row in Monterey for Friday and Saturday nights.  We have decided to try our luck at whale watching again and have reservations on a Sunday afternoon cruise.  That will prohibit us from making it all of the way south through Big Sur on Sunday.  So we are staying over Sunday night at the Big Sur River Inn in the heart of Big Sur and plan to do the Hearst Castle in San Simeon on Monday.  That still gives us one entire day before we are due back in LA on Wednesday.

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