Day in the Life of an Idiot

I am quickly depleting my lifetime allocation of the usage of the word "amazing."

Yesterday, rachelmanija offered to try to find us a tidal pool and, since we were on the road, continue up to Santa Barbara for brunch, bookstores, and botanical gardens. And, let me just say: AMAZING.

The drive up the coast was as lovely as all the travel guides promise. The landscape here remains a constant source of wonder for me. It is so very clear that we are from a different ecosystem, almost nothing looks the same as Minnesota. I took a lot of pictures a the botanical garden, but those didn't entirely capture the alienness of seeing ficus trees the size  and girth of oaks... or discovering pomegranates growing as a hedge.

And, I don't know about you, but I did not expect Los Angeles to smell faintly of eucalyptus.

The beach that Rachel found us was stunning. I mean, maybe it was run-of-the-mill if you're living with an ocean view every day, but Mason and I were nearly giddy. Mason finally put his toes in the water... and promptly never wanted to take them out, except to climb the rocks. We found cool shells and attempted to reconstruct a giant lobster corpse that had clearly been some animal's feast.   



It was everything we wanted and more. I seriously will never be able to thank Rachel enough.

Then we drove past avocado orchards and berry farms to Santa Barbara, which was very picturesque. Everything on the main drag was in Mission style, that ochre tiled architecture you associate with the southwest. 

We went to a brunch place called Scarlett Begonia, where they had food with descriptions like "avacodo-massaged kale." Rachel got a drink called "Tears Of A Thousand Unicorns."

Then bookstore shopping, ice cream at a creamery, and then up into the hills to the botanical garden.  

I was not expecting to get to see California redwoods, but we did. The are also every bit majestic as advertised.



I took way too many pictures of the flora, but I mean it has been an obsession of mine since arriving here.




The drive back to the hotel was pleasant, mostly because of the company. Rachel can (no surprise,) spin an excellent tale. I do very much wish we lived closer, as I'd be over at hers gossiping and chatting all the time. 

Today is our last day. Our flight leaves late, 6:40 pm, so we are doing dim sum with Rachel and maybe getting a chance to climb Culver hill, but after all the walking yesterday, maybe not. Will report tomorrow and thread in all the pictures!