OMG! I have died and gone to heaven! Everytime I crave pasta, my taste buds long for the flavors of this delightful restaurant smack dab in State Street in Santa Barbara, California! They provide you unlimited complimentary garlic cheese bread that is so addicting! It's perfectly crunchy on the outer layer and pleasantly soft middle with the perfect amount of garlic and cheese. Just absolutely divine!! My favorite dish is the Bellagio which is farfalle pasta with smoked chicken, mushrooms, red onions, sundried tomatoes, and roasted garlic-parmesan cream sauce. I have tried to find a similar dish in every pasta place that I go to, but my tummy is loyal to this dish!! This restaurant gets SUPER packed and there's usually a wait if you don't get there early enough. Try to call ahead and make a reservation or else you could be looking at over an hour's wait!! But it's oh so worth the wait! They have a full bar so you can order anything from cocktails to fine wine! You can opt to either dine in or they even have outdoor dining on the sidewalk or even at the bar-type area. I heard that they even updated their menu and now offer organic pasta at no extra charge for their dishes!! YAY!

Today a special day. Up to Los Angeles. But that is a day drive. We realise know how big America is. Big, great and beautiful. In the morning we left Santa Maria, but it is a waste to spend the entire day in the bus. There is so much to see. And why not the city of Santa Barbara. It is a more common town. A town with an Mexican past, like most Californian cities, and colonial buildings. The Santa Barbara "Mission church" is old and absolutely great. It had the statue of a catholic church, and artists make the most beautiful chalk drawings just before the church. Than we visited the Courthouse the Presidio, were the entiry history of California is painted. First California belonged to Spain, than Mexico and after the gold ruch to the United States. The Courthouse and Presidio are really great buildings to see. Also we saw some convicted people with chains on their legs walking from the Courthouse (at home we can only see handcuffs). Santa Barbara is OK for a quick visit.

My Santa Barbara experience lasted for about two and a half days.

I swam next to a sea lion. Not in a romantic Flipper-kind-of-way. He didn’t really give a shit (or she, but I don’t think so, because of the beard). Mr. Sea Lion just popped up every 5 minutes took some air in, and before diving again had a good look around in his snobby, neglectful and arrogant fashion. That’s what happens to aristocrats whose status is purely based on inherited tradition rather than personal achievement. Max Weber always knew it. I tried to demean him by holding my breath longer than him, but failed shamefully.

I played 5 hours beach volleyball with a bunch of language students. What a blast! I LOVE beach volleyball!
Really burned myself along the way, to the point where I started getting shivers. Not good. On the bus back to my motel the driver, a big guy with fingers like little sausages, saw it and said “Buddy, have a look at your legs. You are burnt!” Me, looking at my legs: “Yeah. I’m burnt.” “Buddy, you should put some Aloe Vera on it!” Sure enough, he stops the bus right next to an Aloe Vera plant, I get off, grab a leaf, jump back on the bus and now the driver and most of the other passengers tell me how to dissect and use the plant and how great Aloe Vera is. Awesome!

I went to the weekly market, listened to a group of hippies or Christians singing (whatever their view of the universe was, they seemed cheerfully peaceful), bought organic strawberries, peaches and blueberries. Had them later on with a big pot of yoghurt and some nuts (the fruit not the singers). Delicious!

Spend half a day recovering from being burnt. Walked through Santa Barbara’s cute little world of shops and started fun conversations with random people.

I had my first US-burger.

I met a surfer gal that showed me around in her old Ford, though the wildfires blocked us from getting into the mountains.

Got bad news. My TravBuddy Heather who had invited me for white water rafting and a rodeo show in Sacramento had become ill. Bummer! Fortunately, being the kind person she is, she hooked me up with a friend in San Francisco though (who didn’t know me at all). So I had to rearrange my travels last minute and luckily got the very last place on the bus from Santa Barbara to San Francisco.

This is basically a 5 day party around the city celebrating the Spanish heritage of Santa Barbara during the first weekend of every August. I haven't been there in a long time, but as a kid, a teenager, and a 20 year old in college I loved it. There's something for everyone that enjoys mexican food, flavors, & fun. It's actually quite a cultural experience if you've never been to SB during this time. You will have several options for eating at many park locations around SB that also help to support the community. There are 1 or 2 parades that are on State Street or Milpas. I also recall a beer garden or 2 when I used to live there about 10 years ago (but I'm not sure if they've continued that tradition). There are several amazing shows around town that include the most amazing Spanish dancers, mariachis, art and of course...more mexican food! During the evening the local and out-of-town partiers pack up downtown State Street and crowd the clubs and bars all night long. It's a great time for college ages & older to party for the week...not sure the cops like it though! You'll find many people selling traditional "confetti eggs" throughout town (Cleaned out egg shells stuffed with confetti paper and/or glitter that you smash on/over peoples heads before they get you!). I remember it just used to be confetti, but I know that before I left town for college some people were including glitter...truly a pain to get out of your hair, but soooooo much fun to smash on other people's heads! I truly miss living there and enjoying this time of year there. Hopefully I can make it there next year and include my own personal pictures with this review...I'm sad I missed it this year AGAIN! If you want to include more or you think I missed something in my review please feel free to comment and add your advice!

I would finally leave LA - the place with all these awesome people. Ever tried to do a sit-up with an elephant on your chest? That’s how getting out of bed felt like. Fortunately, I love elephants, so I somehow managed.

Before I would catch the train to Santa Barbara I met Tracy for brunch in the cosy Alcove Cafe & Bakery. It was a fantastic brunch, apart from the fact that the fast approaching good-bye was numbing my taste buds. We chatted, watched some pictures and joked around until our emptying plates indicated the end of your little tête-à-tête.

Tracy had to get to work. We said good bye with a biiiiiig hug, after she had dropped me off at Jenn’s apartment, who later-on would take me to the station during her lunch break.
Jenn lives in LA downtown right next to these impressive corporate buildings, so her place is just a stone throw away from where she works. Also her apartment complex comprises a little green area with a pool. That’s where I chilled out, while I waited for Jenn to return. The thought of taking a sunbath at the pool in this little oasis of tranquillity, while being surrounded by skyscrapers made me smile.

Only an hour later Jenn came back and off we went to the station. The drive was a tiny bit emotional for me I have to admit. In a weird way I felt that I had known these guys for much longer than three days or so. But hey ho, life is like a river. It just keeps flowing. Time to say good-bye. Jen stopped the car, kicked me out of the door, threw my suitcase at me and left with screeching tires. “Bye Jen!” I waved my hand with a smile in my face. (Actually, I just made this last bit up)

The train journey was relaxed. I talked to this really friendly and super chilled-out surfer dude Vincent, who is taking over his dad’s furniture business. They produce bespoke furniture only. He gave me his Mens’ Health magazine as a present when we arrived in Santa Barbara.

At the station I asked a cab driver to help me to find a Motel. In an ideal world I would have couch-surfed in Santa-Barbara, but unfortunately my contact decided to behave in an awkward fashion, not replying to my emails or texts, so I decided to move on and stay in the Fiesta Inn instead.

The rest of the day I took to relax. I wandered around for a bit, had some good food, and I ended up watching half of a Star Wars episode. (Chereese, this one is for you!)

My Santa Barbara experience lasted for about two and a half days.

I swam next to a sea lion. Well not in a romantic kind of flipper-way. He didn’t really give a shit (or she, but I don’t think so, because of the beard). Mr. Sea Lion just popped up every 5 minutes took some air in, and before diving again had a good look around in a snobby, neglectful and arrogant kind of way. That’s what happens to aristocrats whose status is purely based on inherited tradition rather than personal achievement. Max Weber always knew it. I tried to demean him by holding my breath longer than him, but failed shamefully.

I played 5 hours beach volleyball with a bunch of language students. What a blast! I LOVE beach volleyball!
Really burned myself along the way, to the point where I started getting shivers. Not good. On the bus back to my motel the driver, a big guy with fingers like little sausages, saw it and said “Buddy, have a look at your legs. You are burnt!” Me, looking at my legs: “Yeah. I’m burnt.” “Buddy, you should put some Aloe Vera on it!” Sure enough, he stops the bus right next to an Aloe Vera plant, I get off the bus, grab a leaf, jump back into the bus and now the driver and most of the other passengers tell me how to dissect and use the plant and how great Aloe Vera is. Awesome!

I went to the weekly market, listened to a group of hippies or Christians singing (whatever their view of the universe was, they seemed cheerfully peaceful), bought organic strawberries, peaches and blueberries. Had them later on with a big pot of yoghurt and some nuts (the fruit not the singers). Delicious!

Spend half a day recovering from being burnt. Walked through Santa Barbara’s cute little world of shops and started fun conversations with random people.

I had my first US-burger.

I met a surfer gal that showed me around in her old Ford, though the wildfires blocked us from getting into the mountains.

Got bad news. My TravBuddy Heather who had invited me for white water rafting and a rodeo show in Sacramento had become ill. Bummer! Fortunately, being the kind person she is, she hooked me up with a friend in San Francisco though (who didn’t know me at all). So I had to rearrange my travels last minute and luckily got the very last place on the bus from Santa Barbara to San Francisco.

Santa Barbara's just stunning. We drove in at night-time along the coast and quickly found a great hotel on Bath St. It had a hot tub so we indulged and had dinner on the pier in Longboards. We got up early the next day to explore some more of Santa Barbara. It's full of mission-style Mediterranean-looking houses and looks like a playground for the wealthy. We had a cuppa and couldn't resist another drive around the town before having to carry-on, bound for Malibu and Hollywood.

Palapa is a Mexican restaurant on upper State Street and you are likely to find mostly locals in this area. I really enjoyed the shrimp caldo, which had an abundance of shrimp as well as vegetables and it came with chopped onions, cilantro, and lemon that I could add myself. We had the choice between flour or corn tortillas. Next time I’d like to try the meatball caldo, which they had unfortunately run out of last time we were there. My boyfriend had the combination plate with the cheese enchilada and chili relleno with refried beans and red rice. He enjoyed the home made hot sauce and it was indeed hot. Last time we had been there I had the chicken burrito and I liked that, too. It was huge I could not eat all of it, so I had the rest to go. My boyfriend tried the goat meat sandwich, which came with fries, and really enjoyed it. I tried some of it and found it quite tasty, too. I can't really describe how it tasted though, all I can say is that it had a richer flavour than other meats, and it reminded me a bit of pork. The waiters were always polite and helpful and as soon as we sat down one of them brought us chips and salsa. The restaurant also offers different Mexican soda pops, beers and my favourite Jamaica, which is a non-alcoholic drink made with hibiscus flowers. When the weather is good you can sit outside on the patio next to palm trees.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has put a hip spin on culture. Already known for its breathtaking exhibits the SBMA "Nights" event held throughout the summer turns art into a party and a once and a lifetime experience. Go: If you love art, live dj's, performances, martinis and are willing to shell out the extra cash for some VIP tickets. Don't Go: If you are looking for a quiet evening, are not a fan of the club scene, not big on the whole art thing, or looking for a family event.

I made a trip down to Santa Barbara CA for the last couple days and stayed at the beautiful Harbor View Inn. I was lucky enough to find a decent deal that saved me about an extra $40 a night which was nice because its a little pricey but well worth it. Situated on the white sands of Santa Barbara this picturesque ocean front get away offers spectacular views and luxurious accommodations perfect for a romantic get away or just some old fashion R&R.

While I was there I headed inland just over a mile to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. One of the exhibits, "Over Rainbows and Down Rabbit Holes" was a beautiful presentation of works created specifically for children's books. These creative pieces gave me a strong sense of nostalgia as it brought me back to my young school days sitting "criss cross applesauce" while the teacher read from an oversize book filled with images that challenged my imagination. It was interesting to look back on these images and see how each piece could represent a work of art on its own but yet mystically wove into the story providing a surreal vision of the authors words.




I began talking to various individuals about the art, memories and so on and came to hear of a great event hosted by the museum. For the 5th year the Santa Barbara Art Museum is hosting "Nights" an outrageous and hip event where people can enjoy the SBAM art exhibits while sipping (or aggressively downing) martinis, wine tasting, dance to live music, taste local food and participate in interactive art stations.

Starting Thursday May 15th from 5:30pm to around 8pm this unique art experience will be rockin the 3rd Thursday of every month until June. Be sure to check their schedule for dates, times, and exhibits.

For all you art goers, a must see event! The art-a-fair in Laguna Beach in Southern California, June 7th-August 31 brings artists from all over featuring an array of works and styles. For all the budding artists who want to participate submissions may be closed but get your work ready for the next year and be sure to submit early!

Have an Art-A-Fair
The Art-A-Fair Festival is the ultimate destination for lovers of art to visit this summer! Nestled in a colorful garden setting in romantic Laguna Canyon. the Festival is an enjoyable place to spend a summer day in the historic art community of Laguna Beach

Open seven days a week, visitors are offered the opportunity to view and acquire art directly from the artist exhibitors, finalists of a national juried competition. An exciting variety of two and three dimensional art is represented including oils, watercolors, pastels, acrylics, drawings, mixed media, photography, sculpture, jewelry glassworks, pottery, and furniture...Read More

Where to Crash:
Staying in Laguna can be a little pricey but certainly worth it with beautiful hotels such as the Casa Laguna Inn and Spa. If you're looking to stay within a budget and want to explore a little more of Southern California take a look at the surrounding cities such as Anaheim. There are some amazing and inexpensive rentals near great attractions such as Disney Land, Universal Studios and of course for you sports fans Anaheim Stadium home of the Angels. I found some great deals on a wonderful vacation rental the Hotel Pepper Tree only 16 mi. from Long Beach and 45 min to Laguna. Situated next door to the Dan Miller Golf Course this exotic Spanish style get-away sets you in prime location to experience all Anaheim has to offer.

If you have any suggestions please feel free to send me a message or comment to share your advice!

I can't believe I am leaving Santa Barbara! I will miss my friends here, and the ocean, but I am excited for the trip! Before I left SB, I went a bit trigger happy with my camera! I took my parents to the Santa Barbara Courthouse, which is a beautiful building in downtown SB. When I went here with Jamie (during her farewell picture time), we discovered you could go to the top of the clock tower, and get a great 360 view of the city, so this time I took my parents.

I was now in my mum's home town, visiting friends and expolring the sights for the first time on my own.
The weather was perfect and my small beachside house provided amazing views for me to wake up to each morning.I took the shuttle along the waterfron each day into the city center, a great way to get around for 25 cents!
Cruising down state street, a favourite of mine, taking in the culture of the area and its various dynamics..... The stores varied from small cheap thrills to expensive boutiques in which it would be necessary to take out a mortgage to buy anything!
My time here visiting family and friends was well spent as I was able to soak up some atmosphere at the same time.

We headed off to Santa Barbara to see the world's largest fig tree, the beach and the Santa Barbara Mission. We did not know that the missions along the Pacific Coast were an attempt by the government of Spain and the Roman Catholic Church to thwart settlement from the north by the Russians. A walk on the pier and on the beach topped off the day. We saw seals in the harbor.

On April 6th I will journey to Molokai,  Hawaii’s fifth-largest island, to further my spiritual growth and development, and to internalize the ancient art-form of LomiLomi.  Taught by an authentic Kahuna, myself and 29 others will venture out into the Hawaii jungle to learn the touch medicine of a beautiful people.

Molokai  is only 38 miles long and 10 miles wide at its widest point. Often called "The Friendly Island" , Molokai is the legendary birthplace of hula and is soaked in history and culture.  An island where no building is taller than a palm tree, a paradise where there’s not a single traffic light, Molokai is a reflection of how Hawaii used to be.  Here the aloha spirit flourishes.

We will wake every morning with the sun.  We will come together in silence and meditate for an hour.  We will then awaken our bodies with an hour of yoga.  Together we will hike out into the jungle to learn and experience the depth of Aloha (the breath of God) and give thanks for life. 

I am filled with gratitude.  I dedicate this experience to spirit.