Out and about in Santa Barbara

Just a few photos from Mum's time in Santa Barbara.

All the pelicans on one of the restaurants on the Wharf.


Mum with some salty sea dog!




This is the wine bar where I like to enjoy the sun and a glass of wine on the weekend. Its too windy to sit up there this weekend though!

This morning I had an hour or so to spare with the hire car I had to take Mum down to LA last night for the start of her tour around the Grand Canyon. So I explored the roads that go just north of SB.

And here is the hire car! Its made me realise how much I really miss having a car. So much more freedom. And so much more time! With a car i can just 'pop down the beach' rather than it taking me half an hour to get there then half an hour back home again.

Alcatraz - by night

30 or so years ago Mum missed out on a tour of Alcatraz. I was fortunate enough to take a tour on my last visit. So on this visit, we did a night tour of Alcatraz.

The boat approached the island which mysteriously became visible through the fog, as we circled the island to view it from all sides.


After arriving on the island we have a brief tour up to the cellhouse with a guided tour about the history of the island. Once we arrive at the top of the island we take the guided audio tour, the same that is available during the day. However certain parts of the island are open at night, which are not accessible during the day. Including the prison hospital.

This is one of the recovery cells. Originally all hospital beds were in one ward, but these were divided up into seperate cells, with a couple of beds in each to help seperate the prisoners.

And this is one of the operating rooms in the Alcatraz hospital! The only thing I can think of that would be worse than being in Alcatraz is being cut open on that table!!!

Free Willy - Whale Watching and Dolphins Diving

Leaving the harbour, it was a very grey looking day.


First sea creature sighting... Sea Lions i think...

This is way out by the Channel Islands, you can see the low cloud that is still around making everything very gloomy.

Believe it or not this is my first whale sighting. Not exactly the breaching blue whales I was hoping to see, but you can see the slight splash in the water made by a Killer whale.

Squeek Squeek!!!

Domingo Historic Architectural Walking Tour

I've really enjoyed other walking tours that I've done, and so why not in Santa Barbara? So on Sunday I thought I'd get out in the sunshine and take one of these walking tours. Walking always seems to be the best way to get to know a city. The buildings here are really nothing like anything I've seen in Australia, which I guess is because we don't have a Spanish herritage.

On the Domingo (Sunday) Tour, see the historic art and architecture of downtown Santa Barbara as it was reborn after the 7.1 1925 earthquake. From the Public library and it’s famous murals,

through La Arcada Court, (complete with turtles!)

up State Street, experience sculpture, famous courtyards,

historic Arlington Hotel, the Granada Theater and other architectural delights.

Learn about the architectural history and how the Women’s League and Pearl Chase forced the city to maintain an architectural integrity, beautiful public park spaces and rich landscapes making Santa Barbara “The Riviera of America”

Harbour and East Beach

In the Summer time when the weather is high,
You can chase right up and touch the sky.

I had a great day just hanging around the beach on Saturday, just soaking up the sun! Read more about the beautiful one day, perfect the next weather in Santa Barbara.

First I headed down to the Harbor and checked out where I'll be docking my boat when I'm rich and famous. Lots of people enjoying the sunshine, the market, and of course the restaurants.

Statue of a boy riding a seahorse, donated by the city of Puerto Vallarta, Santa Barbara’s sister city.

This is the dolphin fountain that is at the entrance to Stearn's Wharf, in between the Harbor and East Beach. Apparently some of SB's sister cities around the world have replicas.

So I just spent the afternoon being a lizard and reading my book while soaking up the sun before heading to the wine bar to listen to some Jazz. I think I might just stay here a while...