A visit to the Catalina Island

Catalina Island is one of the California's Channel Islands according to Wikipedia. I never really  rely on leaky Wiki so I checked on the National Parks Services website and Channel Island National Parks does not really include Catalina Island among its  Channel Islands. The National Parks Services only  include Santa Barbara, Ancapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel, according to my Your National Parks Guide magazine. 
Catalina Island actually reminds me of Mindoro, one of Philippine Archipelago's hundreds islands. The sea vessel ride took me back to that long ago trip I made with Bobit, Beng, Jing, Meann and Minda as we set off to Puerto Galera. It was an Employment Research Division getaway from our cubicles at the Institute. The ERD getaway to Puerto Galera has always been my point of reference for  island getaways. 
I didn't think I would be needing Dramamine for the ride. RN thought my motion sickness could probably be all in the mind. But he remembered the Dramamine moment I had at Coney Island in NY when we rode a space roller coaster. I am glad I was able to abort the drama just in time to watch the dolphins that seemed to welcome our boat  to the island.
The happy sight of the sea mammals swimming and jumping alongside our sea vessels was worth  all those Dramamine moment.  The dolphins are such lovable animals and they remind me of domestic pets in all their adorable cuteness. I was glad  seeing them as free animals and not at SeaWorld. The wild life spectacle was priceless.
The Catalina Casino is not where gamblers go. It is actually a historic landmark built in the 1920's housing a museum, theatre and ballrooms among others. The word casino comes from the Latin word casa, usually referring to a building structure where people gather. The most prominent person who lived in the island was William Wrigley, Jr., famously known for the Wrigley's Spearmint and Juicy  Fruit chewing gum. The Catalina Conservancy Group now manages the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Gardens where the remains of the former chewing gum magnate were initially entombed. 
Meeting a published book author was an added treat to the day trip to the island. At the Wrigley's Plaza on the way back to harbor, I slowed down to scrutinize titles of the books on display in one art festival tents.  The lady who appeared to be in charge of the books on  display asked if I am a reader. I was not able to think of a quick glorious answer to her question. I couldn't think of myself as a kindle. I looked around for RN who have walked on and the lady seemed to take me for just another tourist passing by. To her surprise, I went back and asked her how much any of the  books are. The books were probably cheaper and quicker than buying them at Amazon so I bought a buy one take one deal with the author signing on. I thought of Lin Robinson while I snapped an iPhone photo of Gil Lefebvre, the second author I have met in person. 
 






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