The surfer chill and the lion

Random Santa Cruz gates
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Myriam, delight of my existence, picked me up on Thursday afternoon. We were headed for her home in Santa Cruz, a small surfer town one and a half hours south of San Fran (just up the coast from the beautiful Monterey Bay).

The reason for the quick two day trip was not to experience Santa Cruz but more to catch up with friends but we still managed a walking day-tour of the center of town, the Boardwalk and ... well lets just say 'also took in some of the local wildlife'. Myriam likes to call these groups of people 'contact high's' on account of the prevailing fug of skunk cloud that surrounds them. I do not beg to differ. It is a surfer town after all.

It feels mismatched but undeniably cute.

The marvellous Myriam
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Santa Cruz was somewhat disconcerting upon first impressions. Pieces of it don't really seem to fit together. Churches abound, the ocean is prominent, vw vans litter the streets along with the more typical jacked up monstrosities USA'ians seem to prefer, and interspersed between turn of the century quintessential USA architecture are 'beach-side' houses in bright colours. It feels mismatched but undeniably cute.

The boardwalk is an experience which echoes of stereotypical USA entertainment. Everything is gaudy, colourful, extremely loud. The rancid smell of deep fried everything permeates the buildings so that even in the off-season, when the boardwalk is closed to custom the aroma of hot-dogs on a stick and deep fried mars bars remains to entice the palate. In typical USA fashion games involving guns abound, 'fun for the whole family' screams from promotional posters, showing children brandishing weapons with smiling parents looking on with pride as they shoot at random human and animal targets. Makes a girl feel safe.

House of Horror on the Santa Cruz Broadwalk
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We also took a slight detour down the pier just off the Boardwalk to take a peek at the dozing sea lions. Oh so blubberous and oh so beautiful. And remarkably 'meh' about humans in the near vicinity. They stretch out along the lower structures of the pier, sleeping in twos and threes, whiling away the afternoon. Animals after my own lazy heart.

Speaking of lazy, Myriam and I decided that we would meander back towards home by way of the shop 'Chocolate'. A small, delicious cafe on the main drag of Santa Cruz. Absolutely delightful. I was hoping to loose weight this trip what with all the walking - unfortunately I just can't seem to say no to a good chocolate...

Sealions under the pier.
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But such is life yes?

Due to plans hatched by HRG for the Saturday night, I was to travel back to Oakland/Berkley the next day by bus. The 12:30 Greyhound doing the honours... hmmm bus travel in the US - interesting. It is certainly a great way to meet people you would not otherwise. I met a young man called David who liked to chat to random people and who advised me that the BEST BBQ in California is a small place called Everett and Jones in Hayward CA. If I ever stop in Hayward I plan to put his statement to the test, until then onto Oakland/Berkley and a weekend of high spirits and cold beer.