Catalina is a tourist attraction. Tourist trade income is it's main if not only source of income. So if you go there expect to be welcomed in grand way as soon as you get off the boat. We had not been prepared for the show that the island people presented that day. People dancing, singing and passing out flowers. All in colorful custumes and live music. I gotta admit it was exciting and comforting all at the same time.

My mom's cousin Shela and her husband Bob were waiting for us. They led us through the crowd and out of the terminal building. Got my first real look at Avalon. It's hard to believe that I would come to take this place for granted. I don't think beautiful is nearly enough to describe this ocean side retreat. It was picture perfect.

Bob and Shela owned a hotel in Avalon. The El Miridor. It was one of four in Avalon if my memory is correct. It was located about two blocks from the boat dock. We walked the distance with baggage and little brother in tow. We would be living in the hotel for the time being. It was a nice place, not fancy but clean. Shela and Bob lived in a small house behind the main building. There was a nice court yard between the two buildings. We would live in two rooms on the second floor. These rooms were on the back of the hotel and had a balcony the overlooked the court yard. There were two large palm tree's in the court yard that had benches built so that they formed a complete circle around the tree's. All kinds of flowers in flower boxes and a small pond with Gold fish. The whole yard was walled in on one side. Because of the nice ocean view the seaward side was not walled in. The hotel was located on a fairly high hill so the view was great.

My first meal on Catalina was a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with orange juice. We ate outside while looking at the ocean. Sunny with a slight ocean breeze. It was my first ever BLT. I'd never enjoyed a meal so much as I did this one. 

As much as I'd like to have explored some more that first day I was, as was everyone else, pretty tired. Between the boat ride and getting settled in we were used up. Tomorrow was a new day. I went to sleep wondering if it was possible for tomorrow to be as nice as today had been.