Pictures for a Gloomy Midwest Winter

A little less than 1 year ago I took a trip to Newport Beach California.  May, 2010 to be exact.  I have been to San Francisco a couple of times, but never Southern California.  I am addicted.  SoCal is great.  The weather is perfect and the sights are fantastic.  I was staying in Anaheim.  I asked the concierge for the closest beach and he recommended Newport Beach.  Swore it was a short cab ride (I did not have a rental car).  Turned out to be the most expensive cab ride of my life.  Following are a few of my best pictures of the hour or so I had on the beach in Newport Beach.  I love them anyway, but it does bring back warm thoughts on a cole midwestern winter day.