The world is filled with magic places. The right nexus of site, scene, scale, and subject will leave deep and lasting impressions. Forty years ago OTR discovered such a place sitting hundreds of feet above the Pacific Ocean between Carmel and Big Sur. Its name was Nepenthe--meaning "no sorrow" in Greek--and today marks its 62nd birthday. Nepenthe is the story of what happens when a family discovers their home site is so beautiful it demands to be shared with others. Today, the original restaurant and terraces--designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright--have been joined by a cafe with a breathtaking view of the Sur coast and The Phoenix Shop, a unique world-themed store guaranteed to grab attention. Every turn you take at Nepenthe is a discovery of human and natural landscapes both real and imagined.OTR has returned to this special place at every opportunity over these last forty years. Sadly, it hasn't been nearly enough times, but OTR thinks there could never be enough experiences there to be sated. The solace comes in knowing that once you visit, you never really leave the magic.
So "Happy Birthday" to Nepenthe and the Fassett family descendants who run the place and ensure that the hospitality and magic keep flowing.
Readers can learn more about that magic here. Be sure to click on the "Stories & Folktales" link to start. OTR thinks you'll want to visit soon to see "no sorrow" for yourself. The food is expensive, rich, generous, and quite good for what has become a iconic tourist stop on Highway 1. OTR suggests the Ambrosia Burger as a filling, moderately priced meal. The Nepenthe experience itself is free. And priceless.
The illustration is the cover of a new book about Nepenthe by Romney Steele, granddaughter of the founders, Bill and Lolly Fassett. Autographed copies are available from the Phoenix Shop website.
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