Catalina!!!

Saturday was Catalina day! My mom took Ben and I, Michael (my brother) and his GF, and Matt to Catalina Island. We needed to get an early start so I woke up super early for a short run, about 5miles. Breakfast was yogurt mixed with Flax Plus and a little Go Lean Crunch.

I had some watermelon on the hour long boat ride to Catalina.

We’re here! It was so hot. Beautiful, but hot. We rode that boat you see behind us, the Catalina Express.

We wanted to find a hiking trail, but the closest one was a 20 minute walk away. So, we went for it. What the guy who directed us to the trail didn’t mention was the 20 minute walk alone was all uphill. Once we got to the top of the hill we decided our time on the island was too short to go for another long walk/hike so we turned around. It was nice to just walk around the streets and check out the homes and the campsite. I packed us PB&Js for lunch.

We also shared an orange. I don’t think Ben wanted to share! We were drinking a ton of water too. In the end we walked for over about an hour and a half before taking a break.

When we got back we walked to the Casino. Turns out the Casino is a theatre. “Casino” is Italian for house or casa or something. At that point we didn’t care and were annoyed that we walked over there. I guess we’re not becoming millionares on this island. We did get this picture on the walk though…

We stopped to sit down at the beach. Ben took a dip in the water. There were signs everywhere that said no swimming because the water is full of some crap that will kill you, but he didn’t care. I made an ice cream run because I’d rather die from artery clogging ice cream than a

flesh eating rash. I had the one on the right, strawberry frozen yogurt on top and pistacio on the botton. I ate the whole thing plus the cone. Normally Ben and I share ice cream, but I wanted to treat myself with my own. Bad call – I felt like crap after. And why didn’t I get chocolate something or other!? I got pistacio because Ben hates is and I can never get it when we share. Boo.

We went on a tour next. It was on a “bus trailer” that was attached to a truck. The driver was crazy and almost killed us 5 times. But, he was very funny and did stop to let us take some pictures…

Catalina is know for their Buffalo. Actually, according the tour bus guy, Dave, their scientific name is Bison. Isn’t that so scientific sounding? Anyways, there are about 200 plus of them living on Catalina which is pretty cool. 14 Bison were brought over in the 1924 for the filming of a movie and it was decided just let them stay.

I got to touch a buffalo/bison guy.

I love beautiful green hills.

I also love the ocean. I love places like this that have both so close together.

Dinner was at Antonio’s Pizzeria and Cabaret. We sat on the patio right by the ocean. The table shared appetizers: calamari and fried zucchini. I had one of each. Yes, that is a Corona in the picture, but I didn’t have one. I don’t like beer. I can’t even make myself drink it I think it’s so gross. Isn’t that lame?

I ordered the swordfish, butter sauce on the side. Since I ordered the butter on the side I justified having a piece of my mom’s Calzone. I ate one of the pieces of garlic bread, half of the fish and pasta and most of the veggies.

I also stole half a piece of Matt’s mushroom pizza and a bite of Ben’s.

It was such a long day. We got back around 9pm, took a shower and got ready for bed. I was a little hungry, but I may have just been dehydrated. I had some watermelon, 1 small cookie and half a cup of PB puffins.