We were up and going by nine this morning. We headed down to the lobby dining area for the Best Western breakfast. Upon arrival in the lobby we realized that there would not be a seat for one, let alone the eight of us. I guess this just confirmed that nine o'clock is a popular breakfast time and that we apparently aren't the center of the universe in the eyes of the hotel, otherwise they would have surely saved us a table. Next time we should invoke the privileges of our "Diamond Members" to secure us a reserved breakfast seat.In any case we picked up coffee, juice and trays of fruit, yogurt, muffins, etc. and brought it back to our room where all eight of us sat before a fire and planned our day.
For the morning event we walked the several blocks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. After the picture of eight we headed in and were directed to the Open Ocean area for an 11 AM feeding.
In the Open Ocean tank were tuna, both bluefin and yellowfin, dolphin aka dorado aka mahi-mahi, a variety of small sharks, a few rays and a large school of sardines. The show began on time and soon the squid and pelletized fish food were cascading into the tank. The tuna and dorado are the voracious eaters and they dived into the squid. Later the much smaller sardines, all schooled into a bundle eased toward the pelletized food near the top of the tank. What's not clear is why the more voracious eaters didn't charge into the school of sardines, but discipline was maintained and all fish types played their roles perfectly. Of course during the emcee's dialog of the feeding we did hear about conservation, sustainability and what we should look for in our seafood lunches and dinners for the day.
After the feeding we meandered throughout the aquarium marveling at creatures most of us would never see anywhere but in an aquarium setting. Again, as at Newport, OR, the aquarium's housing of the various jellyfish were some of the most spectacular displays. In one section of the facility there was a bird display with a variety of seabirds but the focus here is on life in the sea not over the sea.
In walking over to the aquarium this morning Dennis and I, as we tend to do, take picutres of people, places and things. A woman got out of her car and "wondered if she could ask us a question". Being the polite fellows that we are, we responded "Sure." Her question to us was "Why do tourists take pictures of signs?", to which our reply was "Why do you think we're tourists?" The dialogue continued as she quickly told us of her world travels and that she only takes pictures of scenery (or important things). It was just a weird but memorable encounter.
As the day was warming up we returned to the hotel after the aquarium to shed coats and sweaters before the lunch event. 
A decision was made to drive not walk to the Monterey version of Fisherman's Wharf. We all piled in to Denny's Ford Expedition 8-seater (a monster truck) for the short ride over. After parking we acted as older people do by needing all eight of us to weigh in on how to pay the centralized parking meter, nevertheless we figured it out and were ready to help the even older people there after us.
At the parking meter station the boys from Indiana noticed a John Deere tractor on display. Well, they couldn't stay away and insisted that we take their pictures standing by the big green and yellow machine. To paraphrase a country song, "you can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy".
At the wharf there is a huge marina, mainly for personal boats of all shapes and sizes. Once again, you look at a marina and even on this most gorgeous, warm and sunny weekend day, very few boats left their slips. What is it with boats?
We proceeded to the wharf and walked by numerous restaurants most hawking their version of clam chowder in small paper cups. We sampled a few and settled on Abalonetti Seafood Trattoria where we sat outside with the flies and dogs. Actually the flies were few but the dogs, well let's just say that the table adjacent to ours had eight humans and 5-6 dogs, all very docile and behaved. The meal was good, there were salmon salads, mussels, shrimp and crab salads and several of us had the BACON laced chowder. Very good.
En-route back to the car Chris was pulled like a magnet into the chocolate store where as it would be they were more than willing to part with some of the dark chocolate.
Once back on the road we headed for the Naval Post Graduate school, home for Pat and Jack back in the 70's. With the government's high security levels, there was some trepidation about our being able to enter the gated and heavily guarded facility. So in we go, with our driver, the one without a government ID. So Denny hands the guard Jack's ID, the guard looks at it and welcomed us aboard; I don't see the resemblance but I guess in the guard's opinion Jack and Denny look something alike, it must again be an Indiana thing.
After driving around the school grounds someone noticed the NAVEX gas station, where we were able to save a $0.20-0.30/gallon on the 8 or so gallons delivered into the tank.
Once back at the hotel, some walked, some napped, some watched the Red Sox vs Tigers and/or college football but in general the activity level was relaxed awaiting the next dining venture.
Around seven all were dressing for dinner, no jeans tonight. We gathered around 7:30 and ventured into the cool and foggy night. Arriving on time at The Sardine Factory we checked in and waited a few minutes while our table was readied. No easy task fitting a table for eight into the "Observatory" but that they did and soon thereafter we were seated under the stars, prepared for dinner. Amongst us we ordered a variety of entrees, all paired with wines of many color. Some had the abalone bisque for a starter, a house specialty; two had sea bass, three had beef short ribs, one had petrale sole, one had mussels & pasta and one had prime rib, all excellently prepared and enjoyed. It was a great night, a great setting and a great dinner.
Venturing out into the foggy night once again, we all settled back into our hotel rooms and the day was done.
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