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Published: July 17th 2010
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Monterey
Monterey Marina They say that California cows are happy cows. It is a commerical they play on tv here quite often. Anyway, I know why they are happy cows.
I left Napa and travelled the Pacific Coast Highway, Rt 1., through Monterey to Santa Barbara, actually to this weird Danish town Solvang, but I’ll get to that. Anyway, Rt. 1 is a must drive. It’s not that scary, and it is the most beautiful drive I have ever been on and that includes every national park I have hit so far. What is also amazing, is that it is so untouched. Very little exists on the coast from Monterey to Santa Barbara. However, there are some ranches and on these ranches are grazing cows. They have beach front property. They graze on mountains with the most amazing views. They have endless miles of grass, ocean, and mountains. There life may be short (go meat) but they definitely live it to the fullest…top real estate for these babies. And so, California is not false advertising about their cows.
Anyway, my mom and I were headed down Rt. 1, to Santa Barbara for a whale watch, however, a softball tournament also ended up being in
Monterey
Sea Lions at Monterey Marina Santa Barbara, so, we were left homeless. I ended up booking us a hotel in some random town called Solvang. I was incredibly nervous we would be in some ghetto somewhere, but to my surprise we were in little Denmark-seriously, like windmills everywhere. I absolutely could not tell you what the hell this town was doing in California. It’s German, Austrian, Dutch, Danish architecture just didn’t belong with the rest of central California. This town was 35 miles away from Santa Barbara, it was surrounded by mountains and vineyards, much like Napa and Sonoma, and it was utterly adorable. So quaint, so cute…so lucky we ended up there. Ate some delicious gourmet Italian, stayed in a hotel with down comforters, and the next day headed off to Santa Barbara. Solvang…look it up, so weird.
So today, I left Solvang, and traveled to Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is also very cool, very California. We went on a whale watch and were able to see the 2 blue whales. Now, for those of you who don’t know and are actually reading this, blue whales are quite rare. They are also the largest mammals on the planet, their tongue is the size of
an African elephant! So seeing a mother and her calf was quite awesome. We stalked them for a while then proceeded on to the Channel Islands National Park. This place is also quite beautiful with all of the sea caves and mountains jetting from the Pacific, it looks very majestic and almost like LOST. Our captain was also quite crazy and navigated us into one of the sea caves, he had mad boat skills. Following that, we returned to Santa Barbara and were greeted by Pacific Common nose dolphins. I have videoed them jumping by our boat, I’ll post it
After Santa Barbara, it was time to sit in some So. Cal traffic. It’s actually friendly laid back traffic. But there is a lot of it. They just don’t tailgate the crap out of you, like some other places I have been.
Los Angeles is where I am now. At some crappy hotel in Venice Beach. We had amazing Mexican for dinner along with some beer. I was craving beer as I have been a Wino since Jen and Stew’s wedding. Tomorrow, I am beaching it all day and am even debating whether to take a surf lesson…hmmmm…
So
today began in Danish Land Solvang, in the middle was a whale watch, and it ended in L.A. on Venice Beach, I can’t complain. Until next time…
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delia
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solvang
that was one place I forgot to mention when we were talking about cali...my friend Jacque and I did your trip only the other way from LA up to San fran...we stayed in Solvang too.. they have amazing german food at this little place across from our hotel...it is a strange town in the middle of hip california but so cute! I am so jealous! I want to be with you!!Have fun and tell Maria her little gnomes should be done by the time she gets home!