MALIBU, CARPINTERIA, SANTA BARBARA

The beauty of travelling, and not being organised enough to make actual plans (we like to think of it as being spontaneous) is being able to jump in the car and go check a place out just because someone says it’s worth seeing.  We were very grateful that Sarah brought Carpinteria up in conversation as we were talking the night before, as it turned out to be one of the favourite places we visited while in the States.  If we HAD to choose a favourite that is – which we’d rather not do as the whole trip was pretty amazing.

We travelled down through the canyons from LA, via Malibu, eventually finding ourselves in Carpinteria. The kids broke out their swimmers while I stood watching from somewhere much drier, marvelling that this was the middle of winter and daydreaming about the idea of moving from one side of the world to the other, and living a life beside the seaside.
After a very late lunch, where we initiated the kids into the pure bliss that is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we headed up to Santa Barbara – which could also be popped into the favourites basket.  This is one place I wish we’d taken more time out to see. Though we did get to see the (reportedly) biggest Moreton Bay Fig tree in the US (the last shot below, taken with my iphone), which happened to be by the train line. So at least one tree-climbing, train-loving member of our family figured we’d seen everything we needed to.  Alicia-Rae and I will be back one day for the shops.  Oh yes we will.

We hung around Santa Barbara until well after dark, eating our combined weights in mexican food from a local restaurant, leaving thorougly confused (again) by the tipping system over there. I’m guessing we left behind a wake of greatly offended people who are still vowing never to serve another Australian again. On behalf of us all, I’m sorry.

narrelle x