AMERICA the 1st

OCTOBER 23rd DAY TWO Part 3

ARRIVING IN SANTA BARBARA (Spanish for City of Great Racks) - 1st Day Santa Barbara, where Sherry is staying,is a beautiful town that for a place with around 90 thousand residants doesn't really seem that busy. There are heaps of latinos, californian women and europeans too (I guess that covers everyone) , but its hard not to be intoxicated by the whole thing. Even just hearing people talk is cool. Lots of people riding bicycles everywhere. The town seems to be a cross between Lorne and Mexico. I can see why Sherry likes it here.

She told me over skype one night about the long walk she when her bike got a flat tyre. That was the same night where she was rejected by the 'Welcome to Santa Barbara' group. Apparantly she was not staying for long enough.

Anyway we got to the place where she was staying (Janet's), which is down Valerio St. off State St. I had a snooze and woke up around 3pm. We then headed down to the Wine Bar she had told me so much about.

I had a Stella Artoise, Sherry had a cider, we sat and watchd a duck diving, a kayaker having to contend with a coast guarding creating too much of a wake off his boat. We also discussed why this place wasn't busy. We just couldn't see it. Maybe it was too grown up or something? It was such a nice place with a good view. I guess it was a bit of a hike down from the main drag.

Whoops! I forgot to tip. The pier was cool. It's got quite a few shops, car spots and a couple of restaurants.

Oh yeah! I remember seeing my first 'Yield' sign. Yield as in 'Give way'.

We had Mexican for tea at the Sandbar on State Street. They had Game 2 of the World Series between Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Philidelphia Phillies playing. (this was the first year in history that baseball, football, ice hokcey and basketball were played on the same night.) We had borito's and fujitas. Fujitas you have to make yourself but they are damn tasty. My burito was too mooshy. You get a lot of beans with Mexican food in America. We then went to a 'Drug Store' to buy some cocaine. But they were all out. Boom Boom! Chish!! Nah... In America large milk bars or convenience stores are called 'Drug Stores'. It was awesome seeing all those brands you have heard on shows like Seinfeld. Valtoids (mints), Hoagen Daus, Radioshack, the IHOP. Booze is super cheap too. Beam, Turkey is like 25 bucks for 1.5 litres!

When we were walking back to the car an old homeless guy (i'm guessing) said how Sherry and I looked like a couple who had been married for 18 years. Nice. haha - were we fighting? did he want some coin? Probably, But we were walking arm in arm and enjoying our first day (now night) together in 2-3 months. I love it here. I expected much more natural hostility towards foreighners - or more to the point visitors. I guess America isn't New York.

When we woke up in the middle of the night i played Sherry some Midnight Juggernauts - a sort of retro band that i'd heard at JB and Sherry played me that Italian Ben Harper song. She said it reminds her of the music from the 'Holiday in Italy' episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond.