Popular Post Yessongs Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Posted September 6, 2021 So Rachanee and I hit San Luis Obispo for a week and stayed at the Madonna Inn. 3 hour drive down the coast of Calif here and the weather was just fabulous, 80-82 degrees every day. No smoke from the recent fires was a big plus. So the founder, Alex Madonna was a Construction/Architect guy and had 12 rooms built in 1958 here. Him and his wife were so happy, that the first travelers here got their $7 room rate refunded! I will let you in on a little secret, there are no more $7 rooms LOL! A total of 40 rooms were quickly built and completed in 1959. More rooms were added in 1962 and the final rooms completed in 1969 for a total of 110 rooms. All of these have a “unique” design “Portugal” “Love Nest” “Irish Hills” “Kona Rock” “Caveman” “Austrian Suite” “Jungle Rock” “Swiss Rock” the list goes on and on. Highly recommend to check the web-site to see all of these unique rooms. This place is booked far out I found out. The week we spent there I was able to get the “Paris Violets” room for 3 nights. A “French” themed room..Thai Spice would be proud of me LOL! The last 2 nights we moved into the “Crystal Room” where it was a “Glitter of Early Hollywood” By far though, the restaurant there is off the hook, looks kind of “Fuddy Duddy” when you first see it, all pink and all. The food is some of the best I have ever had, opening night for me was “Salmon” and Rachanee had “Mushroom Eggplant” The bar for Kahlua and Coffee after dinner was a nightly endeavor for both of us. The breakfast was also top of the line every morning. Jesus though, Sunday nights are “Senior” nights at the ball room, right off the restaurant right? They bring in the “Tommy Dorsey” orchestra! Wifey and I were the youngest people there, you should have seen some of these guys at age 90 throwing their wives/girlfriends around with their walkers LOL! I was ready to go back to the room, fire up the laptop, get on You Tube and see how they do the “Jitterbug” Come back and “Clear the Floor” and wifey and I would show the old folks how to “Cut the Rug” Hee Hee! So we hit the pool everyday for an hour or so. Took a trip to “Pismo Beach” where we walked around and drove back for dinner there also one evening. There are 2 “givens” when on holiday with wifey I can count on. She is going to find a “Thai” restaurant and an “Open Market” where we can walk around after dinner and bargain for goodies with the locals. She scored again LOL! Anyone ever try “Axe Throwing”? That looks like fun. Downtown San Luis Obispo is nice, very clean and people very friendly. Off to “Solvang” one afternoon to see the “Danish Capital” Nice lunch down there and that type of food is quite rich. I tried the “ Smorrebord” type of sandwich with rye bread..not bad. Wifey tried the “Frikadeller” Danish Meatballs, a bit salty for my liking. Here is the “rub” on Solvang, great place to see, walk around and take pics, brought a few “Danish” goodies back to the hotel right? Every shop we went in, there were no “Danish” people working there. All locals..thought that was kind of funny. Some of them were taken back when I asked them if they were “Danish” LOL! Off hiking one afternoon, 2 1/2 miles round trip, great to get some cardio after a few days….nice time down the coast. So Rachanee and I went to the Mountain Winery to see the Beatles tribute band called “The Fab 4” Friday night Aug 20th. Dinner at “Gardinos” Italian food in Los Gatos, then over to Saratoga after. Pulled into the parking lot at 6:30pm, humid weather, no breeze at all, 76 degrees. Walked around a bit, band scheduled to come on at 7:30pm. Met and talked to a few folks, one of the ushers was telling us “Billy Idol” was there the night before, quite the rowdy crowd she said. 7:45pm out comes “Ed Sullivan” impersonator, he was pretty good, you know “It’s going to be a really, really good show tonite” Told us what was going to happen and then up come the lights and says “Ok here they are…………...The Beatles” They must have pumped in the screams from Shea Stadium back in Aug 1965..it was fucking loud! Out the boys come, all dressed in their black suits and launch into “All My Loving” yep, the first song back in Feb 1964 on The Ed Sullivan Show. Wifey did good on the video here. The first hour was all “hits” that we all know and like, one right after another. “I Saw Her Standing There” “Twist and Shout” “ A Hard Days Night” “Eight Days A Week” “She Loves You” “I Feel Fine” “Day Tripper” wifey and certainly all the girls there could not hold back any longer for the final song in the first set for “Can’t Buy Me Love” and were on their feet throwing their hands in the air and shaking their “Booty” LOL! I wasn’t complaining. Their instruments are all top quality to get that Beatles sound you know? Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Hofner Bass and Ludwig Drums have a unique sound that only The Beatles are able to re-produce. Those “Vox” amplifiers you could hear that British sound only they can produce and that Rickenbacker I could feel in my chest, I kid you not. A quick 20 minute break and back on dressed to the 9’s with the “Sgt Peppers” outfits and boy they did not waste any time at all throwing down with the opener “Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” then on to a few other classics “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” “A Little Help From My Friends” “Got To Get You Into My Life” and then a blistering version of "A Day In The Life” Final clothes change and on to the 69-70 era with longer hair and such classics as “Get Back” “Come Together” then each band member did a solo, Paul did “Yesterday” John did “Imagine” (really well done) George did “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and then closed the show with “Hey Jude” where the whole audience was just really enjoying this final number……even me….Na Na Na Na Na Na …..Na Na Na…Hey Jude….even wifey knew the lyrics LOL! Out comes Ed Sullivan asking if anyone wanted to go home? Nope….Ok then….they came back for “Revolution” and if you are a Beatles fan, this is a great performance by these guys. Tickets were only $60 each and we were in the 8th row. It is so nice with all the crap going on in the world to get away from it all for 2 hours and turn back the clock to a time I wish was still around. Well done to the Fab 4……highly recommended to see in person. Hit a local car show here with my gym rat buddy Todd at a small airport in San Jose, used mostly for small aircraft etc. They also had some Military goodies to see. For my money though, I would take the 1965 “Mystic Blue” 302 Mustang. The guy who owned it told me it is not for sale, he has been offered $55,000 for it, but for $65,000 he would let it go. Perhaps the 1942 Willys Jeep might be a good bet also. The guy told me the “Gun and Ammo” come with it too no problem. Might be a good thing to have in my driveway……if the Taliban try and take my “hood” here LOL! 7 2 1
galenkia Posted September 6, 2021 Posted September 6, 2021 Awesome pics Mike, thanks for posting them. Looks an amazing place and that you had a brilliant time. Beautiful food and scenery. Love the car's, these old Yanks are my favourite. Could see myself cruising round Cally in one of them. 2
lazarus Posted September 6, 2021 Posted September 6, 2021 (edited) Thanks Mike. Looks like a lot of fun. Great photos. Wonder if anyone's dropped acid at the Madonna Inn? Far out... Edited September 6, 2021 by lazarus 1 1
boydeste Posted September 6, 2021 Posted September 6, 2021 Awesome Mike, good to see you making the most of the freedom. Thanks for sharing the experience. 1
Krapow Posted September 6, 2021 Posted September 6, 2021 Great pics as usual, love your 'out and about' pics, you and the wife know how to enjoy yourselves, and great to see anyone out and about enjoying life again since this shitstorm. 1 1
Pumpuynarak Posted September 7, 2021 Posted September 7, 2021 Fantastic pics and report Mike TFP. Glad you had a good time away from all the doom and gloom. Where you stayed looks interesting. Love the cars mate and yes i would agree with your choice. 1
Pumpuynarak Posted September 7, 2021 Posted September 7, 2021 10 hours ago, lazarus said: Wonder if anyone's dropped acid Used to be my saturday/sunday meds back in the 60's lol 1 1
Yessongs Posted September 7, 2021 Author Posted September 7, 2021 22 hours ago, galenkia said: Awesome pics Mike, thanks for posting them. Looks an amazing place and that you had a brilliant time. Beautiful food and scenery. Love the car's, these old Yanks are my favourite. Could see myself cruising round Cally in one of them. No kidding Alan, I still want that 65 Mystic Blue Mustang, shit I will check my Lottery tickets in a minute. If I hit, I buy you that one and I take the Mustang? Deal? 22 hours ago, lazarus said: Thanks Mike. Looks like a lot of fun. Great photos. Wonder if anyone's dropped acid at the Madonna Inn? Far out... Matt, guess who lives in "Arroyo Grande" about a 15 minute drive from the Madonna Inn? Yep, Jon Anderson from "Yes" I was looking around for him LOL! 20 hours ago, boydeste said: Awesome Mike, good to see you making the most of the freedom. Thanks for sharing the experience. Thanks Stu...Yeah I know it is good to be out and about...neither Rachanee or I are the "sit around the house types" at all. 17 hours ago, Krapow said: Great pics as usual, love your 'out and about' pics, you and the wife know how to enjoy yourselves, and great to see anyone out and about enjoying life again since this shitstorm. Thanks Krapow....I am sure you and your wife and everyone else take advantage of any time we can to get out somewhere..I did not think about Covid or any other crap for any of these gigs...it was nice. 11 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said: Fantastic pics and report Mike TFP. Glad you had a good time away from all the doom and gloom. Where you stayed looks interesting. Love the cars mate and yes i would agree with your choice. Thanks Cliff, yeah the "looms" at Madonna Inn are unique, great town and the coast in Calif is great for sure. Hope to meet up with you and wifey one day when we get back. 5
Aqualung Posted September 7, 2021 Posted September 7, 2021 Wonderful report Mike. I think you have surpassed yourself here. Excellent pictures as usual. Top notch stuff my friend. Any idea of when you will be back in Min Buri? Dinners on me if we ever cross paths in BKK.
Yessongs Posted September 8, 2021 Author Posted September 8, 2021 19 hours ago, Aqualung said: Wonderful report Mike. I think you have surpassed yourself here. Excellent pictures as usual. Top notch stuff my friend. Any idea of when you will be back in Min Buri? Dinners on me if we ever cross paths in BKK. Thanks Steve, not sure about Thailand. Certainly not getting anywhere near there until they get Covid a bit more under control. Am not going to go through the "process" they want you to do in order to get back there. Rachanee and I are having alot of fun here. 2
Butch Posted September 11, 2021 Posted September 11, 2021 Awesome set of pics and nice to see you had a great time. Stunning scenery and some cracking vehicles there. Thanks for posting! 1
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