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.