SO CAL -- DAY 3

Another beautiful way to exercise -- run along the water -- as the start to our day.

We sadly said goodbye to our hosts in Santa Barbara!  With mutual vows to get together again, we headed back to LA.

Lunch at the Farmer's Market at the Grove was a visual delight, as well as a culinary extravaganza. So many options, three of us chose Korean BBQ and one a waffle -- any guesses who picked what?

On to LACMA (LA County Musuem for non-locals), which everyone (even Declan, the most museum-adverse in the family) thoroughly enjoyed. From an exhibit on German expressionist films to a room-sized model of imaginative cityscape to a floating rock to samurai swords, there was something for everyone!

The favorite for almost everyone -- yellow spaghetti installation in courtyard!

We had dinner with more old friends -- Liam's buddy from Cal, Mark and his family had us over for Thai food. More bonding over video games for the teens and chat about parenting and memories for the adults.

a little dog love for me (don't show Sebby!)

SO CAL -- DAY 2

Our second day in paradise began with a hike/trail run into the Santa Barbara mountains. Joel led us up these winding trails and showed all the beautiful vistas that were filled with fog that day. But even without the views, it was amazing. And as Joel pointed out, this was his daily exercise (in contrast with our treadmill slogs which is all we can do in Maine this time of year).

We then toured his school, which was so impressive and charming. A lesson on Bhuddism in a yurt, an art project of block-printing feathers for frames for scratch pictures of birds, a talk from the creator of X-box at morning meeting -- all kids happy and content in their work, and the classrooms opened to the outdoors! We were wowed by all we saw.

gardens on the grounds of the school

 Then, we headed into Santa Barbara where Cormac and Declan indulged their consumer sides and Liam satisfied his historic urges.

We visited the courthouse where unfortunately the murals were under restoration.

tile work inside the Santa Barbara courthouse

We climbed the bell tower and saw the Spanish-style architecture from above.

The Santa Barbara mission was another must stop for Liam.

oldest public art in California (mountain lion spout on top of wall)

Lunch was the most authentic tacos any of us have ever had. $1.60 per taco with choices like beef tongue or eye, as well as less adventuresome options like chicken fajita-style and roast pork, if you are ever in Santa Barbara do not miss going to Lily's Tacos.

We needed some dose of the ocean, so we headed to the beach and Stearns Wharf .

After a great day enjoying Santa Barbara with our tour guide Mary Anne, we headed to dinner with another set of friends who live out here. Visiting with old friends, like Alex and Andrew, who used to live in Bangor, has been another real pleasure of this trip.

even the highways are scenic!

Southern California -- Day 1

In the middle of the snowiest, coldest, Maine winter, we managed to escape to visit our friends in Southern California. Our trip was delayed due to a blizzard that wasn't, so we lobbed off the first part (sorry Venice Beach, next time) and with a shortened itinerary, prepared for as much warmth and sun as we could pack into four days.

We arrived at LAX at 10:30 pm (that's 1:30 am east coast time), so stayed at a cute 1950s Travelodge neat the airport. Not the most posh hotel, but we enjoyed their courtyard gardens (any blooming plants are a feast to the eye after months of winter tundra),

bird of paradise

pygmy palm

got some jet lagged sleep, had a run among the strip malls and parking lots that surround the airport, then headed north to visit our friends who live in Santa Barbara.

Some lovely coastal views along the Pacific Coast Highway brought us to Carpinteria, where Mary Anne met us for a taco lunch,
a stroll around town,

and a walk on the beach.

This sweet, little town on the coast made me start thinking about retirement in Southern California -- forget the fog of San Francisco, when you can have warm weather all year round -- but that's a while away.

The boys and I spent our afternoon lounging at our friend's house who live on the grounds of the school where Joel is headmaster,

while Liam and Mary Anne watched Natasha's middle school basketball game. She has never played indoors -- all outdoor courts!

An Italian dinner, some ice cream at Rori's, a game of Scattergories, and the end of our first day filled with reconnecting with old friends and relaxing in 70 degree weather.

Washington DC -- The Final Day

And we squeezed every last drop out of our final DC hours -- walked across Key Bridge to shop in Georgetown, said good-bye to Clucky who had an earlier flight, explored the Adams-Morgan neighborhood, guessed the country flags outside the embassies near DuPont Circle, and checked out both Air & Space and Natural History museums.

butterfly exhibit at Natural History Museum

boys insisted photo had to be taken of this end

KahBang bag was almost lost -- left behind, but luckily remembered and still there when we returned (urban miracle).

Then, bag became prop with scary bunny sculpture outside the Hirshorn.

And our final, final moments with the awesome Cailin, who drove us to the airport after a delicious dinner at We the Pizza. 

All in all, another great vacation exploring a beautiful city with our awesome family!

Washington DC -- Botantics and Capitol

We began our third day with a trip the National Botanical Gardens. When we were in Scotland, we lived almost across the street from Glasgow's botanical garden, so went there almost every day. DC's version did not disappoint. A musical themed orchid display also reminded us of Scotland, since we went to an orchid show there when my mom visited us.

My sister, Johanna, is known for finding
four leaf clovers, so this shot is for her.

Lunch at the National Museum of the American Indian is a great choice -- interesting, native foods in a cafeteria that looks out onto a waterfall.

We then toured the exterior of this museum which has great symbols incorporated into its architecture and landscaping.

Prior to lunch we saw part of American Indian protest on the mall -- protesting an oil pipeline in the West. Another DC must, according to my nephew Henry, is to see a protest! Glad we got one in.

The boys and I went to tour the Capitol while Clucky went to the National Gallery of Art to visit all her favorites from when she lived in DC.

A quick trip into the sculpture garden to see the famous and strange.

My favorite, the metal treee

Boys' fave -- Lichtenstein house

The boys opted to head back to the hotel, while Clucky and I went to the Freer Gallery to see the Asian art.  Amazing Korean pottery and Japanese screens and these two, who I loved!

Finally, dinner with Cailin at an Ethiopian restaurant near her house, and another packed day was done!

Washington DC -- Arlington and Zoo

Day 2 began with a trip to Arlington National Cemetery, mainly to visit Eugene, my mom's husband, who is interred there. Euge, as we called him, had fought in WW2, and on a trip to DC had decided he wanted his ashes at Arlington. Euge was a true Yankee farmer, who despite having won Megabucks, never strayed from his country values and decency. It's funny that he chose the urban-like "apartment buildings" of Arlington as his final resting place, but it is very peaceful there.

We then ate burgers at a place called BGR -- had to go since that is Bangor's airport code. Yummy and lots of food for little cost.

After lunch, we met up with Cailin and headed for the National Zoo. It was Family Day, formerly African-American Family Day stemming back from when African-Americans weren't allowed to attend the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Lots of people, cute animals, and police (see below).

Whole Foods sponsored the otter habitat, so all the babies had
vegie names, except for Kevin -- who was he?

Baby panda was the biggest attraction. We used Heard law to avoid the line
and stood in back just as the baby escaped its mother's cleaning and scampered about.

A trip to the big city is not complete without some brush with danger. We kept wondering why there was so much police presence, so we asked some cops at the Metro stop after we left the zoo. They cryptically answered, it's family day at the zoo. Although we could imagine the crowds at the Metro when everyone left at the same time, we couldn't figure out why there were probably more than 100 officers plus a command center trailer. Then, we googled and found out a group of boys had stabbed another boy there in 2011 and there was criticism that there wasn't enough security. So, safety first, but no big deal.

Until we are eating dinner across from a TV station which is broadcasting headlines and we see "Shooting at the National Zoo."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/neighbors-seek-answers-after-shooting-near-national-zoo/2014/04/23/0c9182f4-cafe-11e3-a75e-463587891b57_story.html
Luckily, we were long gone by the time this happened, but still a reminder of the perils of urban life.