Oakland.
Fully enjoyed the Monterey Aquarium, especially all the stingray exhibits. I even waited with a crowd of kids and got to touch some — the “Big Skate” which were actually tiny, about the size of a corn tortilla (or a 45 record, if anyone remembers those) but with very soft, silky skin. There was another ray in the touch tank with the harder, bumpy, leathery skin I expect.
And there were some beautiful Amazon freshwater rays, with black skin and white polka dots, or brown with a spiderweb pattern, or tan with yellowish and brown spots. Not sure if any of my pictures will come out; took a bunch without flash just by holding the camera up against the side of the tank.
The kelp forest tank was my favorite, with a wave surge machine designed by David Packard.
Oh, and I went ahead and ate at Bubba Gump’s for lunch yesterday, Cajun-style peel-n-eat shrimp. I tried but could not resist — looking at (or swimming with) fish makes me want to eat them.
Next time I come through Monterey I want to take a scuba dive — I took a class a while back but never got my “card” because I didn’t get around to getting them a photograph.