My Christmas Vacation Road Trips

I knew it had been a while between posts, however I didn't realize that it had been over two years. Happy New Year to all. I ended my year with a Thanksgiving to New Year's vacation. It was great to spend time with family and friends during the Christmas holiday season and also to catch up on sleep and home projects. The first part of my vacation was, for the most part, uneventful until around midnight, Christmas morning. As I was saying Merry Christmas to my wife, my phone goes off with a page for a 2nd Alarm structure fire at a furniture manufacturing plant in Carson. I could not resist going out there being that I was only about 20 minutes away in the city of Bell.  After the New Year, we took my wife's nephew and his girlfriend to visit the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley. I was looking forward to seeing the California Christmas exhibit. There were many Christmas trees, each with a theme that was a representation of a particular region in California. Some of my favorites included the San Francisco Bay Area tree and the Wine Country tree. We then headed to Grant Park in Ventura. Located in the hills above the downtown area, the park is home to the Padre Serra Cross and some spectacular views of the coastline. With my wife back to work, I flew solo on the rest of my road trips. On Monday, I headed out to Montecito and spent some time with the good folks at Montecito Fire Station 91. I then visited Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Built in 1936, this beautiful mission-style church reflects the architectural patterns of the Pueblo Indians and Spanish-Colonial design. For lunch, I stopped at Tinkers Burgers in Summerland right at the Evans Avenue exit off Hwy 101. What drew me to the restaurant was the smoker sitting outside. I tried their tri-tip sandwich and Cajun fries.  The tri-tip had a great smoked aroma, and the barbeque sauce added some great flavor. The Cajun fries had a great kick to them. While I was eating, I saw one of their cheeseburgers being served, and I quickly realized what they are well-known for.  On Wednesday, I paid a visit to the Santa Barbara Mission. I have photographed this particular mission several times, but I never get tired of its architectural beauty. Christmas wreaths adorned the entrance as the Feast of the Three Kings had just passed the day before. My road trip was completed  in Ventura County at the Meditation Mount in Ojai. Located at the end of Reeves Road, just north of Boccali's, Meditation Mount offers breath-taking views of the Ojai Valley and the orchards below. The serenity of this unique location is a perfect way to get away and detach from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That is all for now. Have a great weekend!



Los Angeles County Fire Engine 95 attacking a 2nd Alarm Commercial Structure Fire in Carson



Bay Area -Themed Christmas Tree Ronald Reagan Library 



The Cross at Grant Park



Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church



Our Lady of Mount Carmel Interior
 

Mission Santa Barbara



View of the Ojai Valley from Meditation Mount



Trail at Meditation Mount



Cloudy Sunset Behind Palm Trees in Oxnard

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Happy Fall Everyone!!! It sure has been a long time between posts. That is probably because almost everyday I wake up, it is time to go to work. On Saturday, September 22, 2012, I boarded a plane with my father at the Bob Hope Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena Airport headed to Big D. That's right, Dallas, Texas. My dad and I continued a tradition we had put off for a couple of years of going to see the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. We were going to see them play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the home opener in Arlington. After the Cowboys meltdown against da Bears on Monday night, we soon realized that it was the right decision to go see them the week before. Following stops in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Amarillo, we touched down at Dallas Love Field. Once we checked in to our hotel, we visited one of our famous stops in Texas, Whataburger. Our next stop was the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas. This beautiful cathedral is a sight to see. Upon entering through the doors, one cannot help but marvel at the stunning architecture and the brilliant stained-glass windows. On Sunday, two hours prior to kick off, my dad and I arrived at Cowboys Stadium. I did not realize that we were going to be in the Club Section. All I can say, is thank God for the covered dome and air conditioning because it was a scorcher. While the game, itself, was not pretty, the Cowboys did come away with a 16-10 victory. The feeling of being around so many Cowboys fans along with the sights and sounds of the game are what bring me back each year. Afer the game, we headed out to Colter's BBQ for a hearty dinner consisting of brisket, ribs, and my favorite, their cheese potato casserole. Our last day was spent visiting with Dallas Fire Station 50 and some sight-seeing in Downtown Dallas. Our last stop was the Original Market Diner for lunch. Located almot underneath an overpass, the diner can easily be missed. I had a smoked turkey and cheddar melt. This sandwich sure delivered on flavor. I would definitely recommend this diner for a quick, tasty lunch. My only wish was to have more time to see the all sights the lone star state has to offer. So long Big D! We'll see ya'all next year!!!

San Diego Getaway

Around this time every year, my wife and I venture out to the San Diego area to attend the Firehouse World Expo, mainly to get a view of the latest in firefighting vehicles and equipment. Our first stop on Monday was the historic town of Julian. Being that it also happened to be the President's Day holiday, the area was packed with visitors. One of our favorite places to visit is the Miner's Diner, an eatery

that started off as an old fashioned soda shop. While the food was decent, the atmosphere is what makes this shop unique. Dozens of old time soda bottles and signs line the walls and take you back to a much simpler time when soda shops were the hot spots in town. Tuesday took us to the San Diego Convention Center for the Firehouse World Expo. At times, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning being around all those shiny, new fire engines. My wife and I met the California State Firefighter Association's newest mascot, Dollie, a 1 year old dalmation. Dollie was full of energy and a willing participant in photographs. Once we had finished with the expo, my wife and I departed San Diego for our next destination in Dana Point. Along the way, in Oceanside, we came across Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. Founded in 1798, Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is known as the king of the missions. The architecture and historical artifacts throughout the mission were breathtaking. Once in Dana Point, Lupe and I headed a few minutes north into Laguna Beach where we took in the sunset at Heisler Park. We ended our day with an outstanding dinner at The Cottage Restaurant in Laguna Beach. Located along Pacific Coast Highway, the Cottage Restaurant is a converted landmark home that opened its doors over 45 years ago. I chose the Filet Mignon while my wife had the Chicken Picatta. The filet mignon was perfectly cooked, and the chicken picatta was bursting with the flavors of olive oil and mushrooms. It is getaways like this that make my wife and I yearn for the next opportunity for a road trip.

California Lovin

On Saturday, our travels took us to the Point Fermin Lighthouse near San Pedro. Lupe and I arrived just around sunset. The ocean breeze was just strong enough to require a jacket. We immediately headed over to the lighthouse to photograph it before darkness fell. The Lighthouse at Point Fermin made us feel as though we were in a seaside town along the Eastern Seaboard. Along the way, we encountered a racoon who decided that he wanted to keep us company. The sun began to set with a glorious, bright orange fire to it. You quickly realize why Point Fermin is considered by locals to be one of the most romantic locations to view a sunset. That's all for now. Our next stop will be a return to Nojoqui Falls Park in the Santa Ynez Valley. From Lupe and I to all the moms out there, a very special and heartfelt Happy Mother's Day!

My Partner in Crime

Hey ya'all! It has definitely been way too long between posts. There are some exciting new changes coming to Rob's Mystery Escapes. Effective today, Rob's Mystery Escapes will now be known as Rob and Lupe's Mystery Escapes. My girlfriend and partner in crime, Lupe, will be joining me on this wild ride. Lupe is a first grade teacher, and has a love for traveling and discovering new locations to escape to. I am very proud and excited to have her by my side. Our blog will now feature photographs depicting the heroic actions of the brave men and women in the fire service and EMS. I have been photographing the fire service for over 15 years. Some of the things I have seen while on the fireline can only be described as remarkable. With summer vacation season just around the corner, we hope to embark on some amazing road trips and experience some breath-taking views. One of our first visits was to the statue of Chick Hearn at Staples Center. Chickie was and will always be the epitomy of Laker's basketball to me. His unmatched style of broadcasting added a certain flavor to the game that has been often imitated, but NEVER duplicated. It is great to have Chick's likeness guarding the home of the team that was so defined by his presence. That is all for now. To all mothers out there, especially the greatest one of them all, my own mom, Happy Mother's Day!!!

Hump Day Hike

Wednesday morning, I took a drive down to Debs Park which lies in between Highland Park and Garvanza. What was originally going to be a quick photo shoot, turned into a rather fun hike. The hiking trail ascends up a hillside to a small pond, and then continues on to some amazing views of Highland Park and Downtown Los Angeles. In the nineteen years that I lived in Highland Park, I never took advantage of this hiking trail. Deb's Park is easy to get to. It parallels the 110 Fwy, and is located off Monterey Road in between Via Marisol and Huntington Drive. Before departing Los Angeles, I stopped over at a Highland Park favorite, Folliero's Pizza, for dinner. I have been eating at Folliero's for almost 30 years. Back when they were located across the street in a little hole in the wall, my brother and I used to always pick up a pizza before watching the Lakers. Folliero's has that old-fashioned pizza parlor atmosphere. The staff is very welcoming, many of them having worked there for several years. The salads are fresh and the pizza is flavorful. Also recommended is their famous meatball sandwich. All in all, today was an opportunity to wax nostalgic. The work week is almost over. Hopefully the weather will be as great as last weekend. Until then, I bid you all adieu!

Tasty Tuesday

On Tuesday, I decided to visit my parents down in Los Angeles. We headed down to the Plum Tree Inn in Chinatown for dinner. A longtime favorite of ours, Plum Tree Inn offers delicious Chinese cuisine and an upscale atmosphere. Most of the dishes I regularly eat are chicken dishes. Their Won Ton soup is a great starter. Our three entrees included Black Pepper Chicken, Cashew Chicken, and a spicy Kum Pau Chicken. The staff is always friendly and accomodating. Plum Tree Inn is a great stop before catching a Lakers game at Staples Center or a Dodger game at the Ravine. I capped my night off with a visit to the Griffith Observatory. Once seen a place just for stargazers, the Griffith Observatory attracts many types of visitors. I came across prayer groups, tourists, and couples wanting to take advantage of the romantic views overlooking the Downtown LA floor. The Griffith Observatory is an attraction that can be visited throughout the year for spectacular views both inside and outside the famed obsewrvatory dome.