Santa Barbara
Tuesday,
7/21:
Son Matt’s having a good time doing
music in Santa Barbara, why should he have all the fun? A parental visit sounds good to us. Our very early flight leaves on time before
7am, but rerouting around some thunderstorms makes us late into Chicago. Luckily, connecting flight also delayed,
we’re only a little late into LA at 11:15.
Pick up our Thrifty car, a Neon, and head to Santa Barbara about 100
miles up the coast. Clouds there, some
hazy sun later, about 75°. Weather along the coast usually low clouds
& fog in the AM (a “marine layer”), at least some clearing by mid-to-late
PM. Plus nice cool temps & fresh
breezes. Into the Sandpiper Lodge,
outside the city but on the main road, so easy access. No AC when we arrive (tho it hardly seems
necessary), but install it by our return on Thursday. A drive thru ritzy Hope Ranch residential
area ̶
beautiful homes and landscaping
̶ and along the shore and harbor
areas, views of surfers, beach volleyball, other California diversions.
We meet up with Matt at Music Academy of the
West, in Montecito, where he’s rehearsing w/ percussion buddies. A walk around the pretty grounds w/ flowers and
a giant fig tree (these are common around here), then into Montecito to an
Italian restaurant that’s a favorite of Matt’s.


Up early, cloudy & cool. After a nice continental breakfast at the
motel, north to Solvang, a Danish-themed village (in California?) that’s a major
tour bus destination. We have a “Danish
breakfast” of hardroll and, of course, a Danish, then walk around a bit to view
flowers, windmills, etc. Have to call
Thrifty because our car is having increasing problems shifting (especially into
drive and reverse!). Directed to a
franchise in San Luis Obispo (on our way) to have it checked; they discover we’re
almost out of transmission fluid because of a leak, give us another Neon.
After Solvang a drive through Lompoc, flower
fields used for seed companies. Only a
few in bloom, but this is supposed to be spectacular in June. It’s a very agricultural area, workers harvesting in a lot of places. We also pass an “oystrich” ranch (OK , so I
misspoke ̶ seafood on my mind ̶ but
do you think Marjorie could just let it pass?).
After switching cars in San Luis Obispo, a “California lunch” of
sandwich w/ guacamole and sprouts, then strolling a bit, seeing the pretty
mission in the center of town.
On to
Morro Bay and Ascot Inn; a nice room good views of the harbor and Morro Rock, a
massive volcanic outcropping in the middle of the bay. We like the town, uncrowded and
laid-back. A walk around the Embarcadero,
then excellent seafood dinner at Dorn’s overlooking the bay. After-dinner drive out to the Rock (now
connected to the mainland): surfers, pretty flowers, lots of birds (this whole
area is a bird sanctuary). Tho we had a
little sun at San Luis Obispo, it’s remained cloudy here. But the horizon is brighter, a scenic view of
the setting sun in the distance along the coast.





After another California lunch at Cambria, a nearby artist colony, 130 miles back to Santa Barbara. We pick up Matt at the Music Academy and drive around in the hills above Montecito, including a stop at San Ysidro Ranch, a retreat for the rich w/ lovely grounds & “cottages” (this was where John and Jackie Kennedy had their honeymoon). Incredible estates all through these hills. We also encounter a place where a stream runs right across the road ̶ must be a problem when there’s much rain. Then to dinner at the beautiful home of Matt’s “host” family. All “students” (who range in age from 16 to 30+) at the Music Academy have sponsors. Matt’s sponsors (for his fellowship, which paid all expenses plus a nice bit extra) were unavailable, Mary & Doug stepped in. Doug’s in London on business, so it was Mary & 5-year-old John, a real cutie who greets us at the door, helps serve, draws a picture for us. Mary invited some friends to join us, including John & Georgia, whose daughter has the apartment across the hall from Matt in NYC ̶ small world! These are really rich folks, also very hospitable folks. Matt says they’re nicer than the rich in NY. After dinner we drive Matt back to Cate School, a private school in Carpenteria where he stays in a dorm. Luckily a friend comes just in time to open the locked gate so we can get in.
Cloudy & cool AM again. The ground is wet, so there was rain or maybe accumulation from the misty fog. No rain here in the last couple of months, which is normal, but El Nino had dumped 36” earlier in the year (about triple the normal). A walk around downtown Santa Barbara, quickly learning pedestrians have the right of way (and are given it!), tho Matt says there are hefty fines for jaywalking. A beautiful city: pretty shopping areas, lots of flowers everywhere, old adobes.


Then out to Mission Santa Barbara, a lovely complex with rose gardens in a park opposite the main church. A family burial plot includes a woman who was born in Ballston Spa (near Albany). Back to the Sandpiper, we encounter a group in town for a corporate track meet this weekend.
Beautiful sun starting at about 4:30, out to Stearns Wharf to beat the crowds for dinner. Good seafood at Moby Dick, apparently a favorite of Frank Sinatra. Excellent views from the wharf of the city & mountains beyond. People fishing, many pelicans hanging around for handouts ̶ what clumsy birds they are on land!
Cloudy & cool morning (what
else!). To a farmer’s market downtown
with Katrina & Yin. Marjorie says
it’s the best she’s seen, lots of wonderful fruits (peaches, berries,
etc.). We pick up some sprouts &
stuff for Sunday dinner in Manhattan Beach.

We meet Matt after his orchestra rehearsal, walk around with another swing through the market, then after lunch head up to Cate School. Beautiful views & grounds, avocados & oranges growing in the surrounding area. More sun today beginning about noon, best weather so far, nice views of the mountains.
Back to the motel to relax a bit before going to the Botanical Gardens up in the hills. This displays a variety of California vegetation, including desert-like areas, a canyon, redwoods. Nice, but not really the kinds of flowers we were looking for. Back into Santa Barbara to Alice Keck Park, which is just perfect: tranquil and uncrowded w/ many flowers, palm trees, a pond w/ impressive water lilies, lots of turtles, a variety of big colorful koi fish. Dinner outside (w/ guitar accompaniment) at Old Towne Cafe in a courtyard in El Paseo (an older shopping area in the heart of downtown).
A short walk to Matt’s orchestra concert in Lobrero Theater. Matt is disappointed by a somewhat mixed audience reaction to a contemporary piece, which we enjoy, in part because it features some good percussion. We fail to find Matt after the concert because of some mixed signals, but enjoy dessert at an outdoor cafe on the main street. Santa Barbara is really hoppin’ on a Saturday night. It’s also very easy to get in & out of the city, and very tourist-friendly for parking ̶ we parked in two places in the heart of downtown for about 4 hours for only $1!

We meet Matt after his orchestra rehearsal, walk around with another swing through the market, then after lunch head up to Cate School. Beautiful views & grounds, avocados & oranges growing in the surrounding area. More sun today beginning about noon, best weather so far, nice views of the mountains.
Back to the motel to relax a bit before going to the Botanical Gardens up in the hills. This displays a variety of California vegetation, including desert-like areas, a canyon, redwoods. Nice, but not really the kinds of flowers we were looking for. Back into Santa Barbara to Alice Keck Park, which is just perfect: tranquil and uncrowded w/ many flowers, palm trees, a pond w/ impressive water lilies, lots of turtles, a variety of big colorful koi fish. Dinner outside (w/ guitar accompaniment) at Old Towne Cafe in a courtyard in El Paseo (an older shopping area in the heart of downtown).
A short walk to Matt’s orchestra concert in Lobrero Theater. Matt is disappointed by a somewhat mixed audience reaction to a contemporary piece, which we enjoy, in part because it features some good percussion. We fail to find Matt after the concert because of some mixed signals, but enjoy dessert at an outdoor cafe on the main street. Santa Barbara is really hoppin’ on a Saturday night. It’s also very easy to get in & out of the city, and very tourist-friendly for parking ̶ we parked in two places in the heart of downtown for about 4 hours for only $1!
Sunday,
7/26:
Cloudy AM, but sunny by 10:30. To Mass at the Mission, the oldest continuous
parish church among the missions out here.
The church is filled, congregation and priest are very spirited
singers. We pick up Matt for breakfast
at a nearby IHOP.


Then back toward LA, this time taking along
the coast highway (Rt. 1), slower but more scenic, especially around Malibu w/
houses up on the cliffs. We continue to
Manhattan Beach to stay w/ at Katrina & Yin’s condo (with beach view!). They’re selling this one to move to another
nearby ̶ they fix these places up as an investment,
which looks like quite a job. Down to
the beach. While Katrina bobs in the
surf w/ her boogie-board, we stroll along the edge of the water watching
surfers & shorebirds. I feet my
California experience is complete after two young men walk by carrying surf
boards and refer to some “dudes” they’d been talking to (Marjorie suggests
maybe they were talking about the “old dude,” meaning me). This is a nice area, much less crowded than
other beaches we drove past on our way down the coast. People walking, biking, rollerblading along
paths lined w/ flowers.
Katrina &
Yin fix a Cantonese-style dinner that includes lobster and a deep-sea fish from
Mexico. Marjorie thinks of this as a
private cooking class, but she contributes a peach cobbler, while I’m the
appreciative diner. Best meal of the
week!
Monday, 7/27:
Bright sunny AM, still cool but it’s
going to get hotter today. I walk down
to the beach before breakfast, enjoying another look at the flowers all around. We drive down to the pier and watched surfers
for a while, then a short drive to the car rental place and shuttle to the
airport. Our flights back are
uneventful, tho our pilot informs us over Kansas that we’re “in the same
airspace with Air Force One” (the Pres is returning from something in New
Mexico). Arrive in Albany a little
before midnight.
A great trip! Lots of walking, as shown by tan lines from
my sandals. We had been disappointed
that Matt wasn’t going to be at Tanglewood again this summer, but sure happy to
visit him in Santa Barbara. We hope his
music will continue to take him to places his parents would like to go. Of course, we didn’t have time to experience
everything. Lots of famous people live
in and visit Santa Barbara ̶ Matt’s seen “Elaine” from Seinfeld (she’s a
regular at piano master classes at the Academy), Dennis Franz from NYPD Blue,
Jonathan Winters, and others ̶ but we didn’t see any notables (tho we heard
Christopher Lloyd was at the orchestra concert). We also didn’t meet Mitchell Peters,
timpanist for the LA Philharmonic and Matt’s mentor out here. Matt really likes him, but he wasn’t able to
get here for the concerts this weekend.
No whalewatching, tho apparently it’s better than usual now for sighting
humpback and blue whales. And we heard
on the news there was an earthquake in the Santa Barbara area on Friday ̶ a
small one (2.3 magnitude) that we never felt.
Oh well, maybe we’ll do some of these things another time.
Other Southwestern Travels
California
(1972):
This is our “second honeymoon” (after
the excitement of the Ramada Inn in Milwaukee!
̶ shoehorned into the semester
schedule on a grad student’s budget). We
start in LA: Knotts Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Disneyland.
A drive north to Sequoia NP & Yosemite
(staying in the park lodge)
and make a new friend.

and make a new friend.
To San Francisco
and down the coast to Monterey Peninsula (including Lone Cyprus Pt), along the coast
road to Nepenthe’s on Big Sur.
In SF we
take obligatory cable car rides, visit The Cannery at Fisherman’s Wharf, views
of the city & bay from Coit Tower, crooked Lombard St, a ferry ride to
Sausolito. [Conferences have also taken
me to San Francisco a couple of times, as well as San Diego.]


San
Diego (1976):
A visit w/ Marjorie’s sister Mary
& hubbie Jeff in La Jolla (Jeff’s at Scripps Institute),
w/ our little 1-year-old
Matthew and their not quite so little Annie.
Pretty details walking around near where they live,


in La Jolla


and pretty sunsets


Another jaunt takes us to Coronado and a fancy hotel, a walk along the beach.








A brief visit across the border into Nogales, Mexico; Marjorie bargains for a blanket.
Other stops at Tumacacori Natl Mon (old mission church)



We look around Phoenix a bit: a pretty capitol
and Heard Museum.
Easter sunrise service at pretty Pagago Buttes.
Texas & Los Angeles (1987): Christmas & New Year's



and a pretty sunset
Then on to LA for New Year’s. Gerontologist friend Vern arranged a hotel for us until their houseguests leave after New Year’s. First up to Griffith Observatory for a panoramic view of LA.


LaBrea Museum,
and Beverly Hills.




Vern, Hannah and their girls head off afterward to the Rose Bowl game.




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