Hi Webmaster Sally & Andre Rieu Fans:

I am finally getting around to telling you about the small city where I live, Benicia, California. We are about 40 miles from San Francisco. It is a quaint little place with around 30 thousand people. The first day I arrived here I fell in love with the beauty of it. Even after 4 years, I am still discovering areas previously unknown to me. I love to explore here.

Benicia still has a lot of the "olden days" quality. Outdoor cafes on 1st St. as well as the cute little shops. Benicia sits on the waterfront of Carquinez Strait, and has miles & miles of trails, parks that can be walked with your animals. This is a pet friendly town; I even take my Heidi (my loveable dog) into the jewelry and bookstores. The post office also allows her in.

One of the things I love about Benicia is they make it easy to be outdoors. I found a spot overlooking the Strait where artists set their easels to paint. All around the waterfront are benches that make it nice to park yourself to watch sailboats or birds, maybe just to enjoy looking at the water and all the wildlife who live nearby. The sunsets are another thing that draws people to those benches, for they are incredible!!

In the Benicia State Park, which I live across the Freeway from, people really enjoy the peace and quietness of the area. I've seen so many different species of birds, and that is so exciting for me, being a lover of all animals. Owls have made their homes there and can be seen as you walk. It is a great place to walk the dogs, and I have seen lots and lots of them over the years, from the itty bitty to the huge. People ride bikes and jog in the park too.

Maybe you can tell that I love this little town. I've often thought how it reminds me of a Norman Rockwell painting. If you get the chance, come for a visit, I'd love to show you around.

Judy Carr