Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Today we went to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History - I think its one of the few things that I haven't done yet in SB. I'd heard it was very cute, and it was - looks like nothing has changed since about 1950.

The displays of animals were really quite amazing though, even under a layer of dust. With different sections on insects, marine life, mammals, and birds, it was really a very thorough example of wildlife native to Santa Barbara, California, and America.

The Bald Eagle. This is one nasty looking bird. Built to pray on those small than them. A strange animal to pick for your national symbol i would think. I much prefer the Emu and Kangaroo, Advance Australia Fair.

Speaking of nasty looking birds - this is the Californian Condor, which we think we spotted at the Grand Canyon. With a wing span of up to 3m - its also one HUGE bird. A HUGE UGLY bird! Freaked me out a bit actually.

There was also a dispay for ''El Día de los Muertos'' (Day of the Dead or All Souls' Day) - a Mexican celebration. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. Its really very vibrant and a true celebration - its not morbid and sad at all like the Catholic version, All Souls' Day.

Santa Barbara Mission

I finally made it up to the Santa Barbara Mission. (Excuse the clouds, this is unusual for SB)

The Santa Barbara Mission was established on the Feast of Saint Barbara, December 4, 1786 and was the tenth of twenty-one California Missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans.

 

More than 200 years later, the Mission continues to be the chief cultural and historic landmark in the city of Santa Barbara. Home to a community of Franciscan friars, the Mission also has a retreat center with guest rooms, conference rooms, a fully equipped commercial kitchen and dining room, a beautiful church with a large and active parish, a museum and gift shop, a cemetery and mausoleum, and ten acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.

 

As Murray put it... all the history is in these walls. Yes, he's turning into an old man.

 

The Mission's commanding position and grand proportions, graceful lines and soft, blending colors all reinforce her title, "Queen of the Missions."

Santa Barbara Seafood Festival

Going to the Santa Barbara Seafood Festival for me was the equivilant of Murray going to a Shoe Sale Festival. Hardly my idea of paradise, but thoroughly enjoyed by Murray.

It was a rare cloudy day here in paradise, but its nice to see that clouds to make an occasional appearance.

I think this might be Seafood as fresh as it gets. You pick out your Crab, Lobster (small lobsters were about 3lbs), or Muscles... There were a few other items available too. But this covered most of it.

Lobster $16/lb, Crab $2.50/lb, Mussels $4/LB.



You then decide if you want it prepared to eat now, or take home. For a $3 fee they do whatever needs to be done, and pop the lobsters into these boiling pots.

Half an hour later, your nubmer is called, and there you have it, fresh Lobster.

However, Murray decided that he couldn't eat 3lbs of fresh lobster to himself (wimp!). So he had himself a half lobster, and BBQed Albacore. He says they were delicious. I can't speak for the seafood, but the bread and salad was a little ordinary.

The Albacore and Lobster wasn't enough, so that was followed up by a quick 6 doz natural oysters, shucked right there in front of us, and a couple of bowls of clam chowder.


It wasn't all bad for me though, I did have a bowl of brownie, strawberries and cream. Then of course Murray needed to go home for a nap after all that seafood... so I went shopping and had many successes at Lucky and Anthropologie.

A good day for all :)

West Beach Music Festival

Santa Barbara West Beach Music Festival

Amazing! Best day out ever. Just chillaxing in the sun, listening to great music. Was really looking forward to Ben Harper, but he didn't do it for me. But the rest of the music was awesome. Almost wish that we'd had 3 day festival tickets rather than just Saturday.

I packed, I went, I conquered

Once again, I head off to Santa Barbara, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave? Its called this because before you can be free, you must be brave enough to pack.

First of all I had to gather all things which I wanted to pack. Good. Easy. Next.

Next task was to run around like crazy and gather all the things I'd forgotten about, desperately needed to take and simply couldn't live without for 3 months. Oh dear. This sitatuation was getting worse by the minute.

Then comes the hardest task of all. The culling. And really - I mean removing 2 of everything, then removing 2 more. Its less painful to do it that way - it doesn't feel like I'm getting rid of so much all at once. What probably makes this even worse was that I did "pre-culling" by taking 4 bags of stuff to an op-shop!!!! Yes, I am consumer-whore-hear-me-roar.

But you know what - I did it. 2 medium sized suitcases. 17, and 15kgs each. Awe-some. Leaving enough room to bring stuff home in.

...Well so long as I leave half of it here, and Murray packs lightly, there will be enough room to take my shopping home in.

Parade of Lights

First up just a couple of my fav shots from around the wharf tonight.

Around the Harbour of Santa Barbara tonight was the 23rd Annual Parade of Lights. The night begins and ends with a bang. The first bang is the start of the parade with a very festive Pirate Santa who sets off a canon to get the night started.

Then there is the 'lighting of the tree' on Sterns Wharf. (Before and after photos)

Around 25 boats, all lit up like Christmas trees, then parade around the harbour and wharf, with Christmas music playing and parties on every boat. The photos don't really do it justice, but it was a great sight. Cold - but great!

The Parade of Lights ended with a bang - of Fireworks! A great end to a great night.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

La Arcada was turned into a Christmas Village tonight. Carolers, Christmas cookies, Lights, and of course, the Man himself - Santa!

Sabado Historic Architectural Walking Tours of Santa Barbara

On the Sabado (Saturday) Tour, see the historic de la Guerra Adobe, El Paseo, the Hill-Carillo Adobe, the Meridian Studios, the Lobero Theatre and much, much more. Hear the rich anecdotal history of these buildings, their designers, and their builders. Learn what created the stunning transformation and forever changed Santa Barbara from ordinary to extraordinary. Celebrate with us the rich cultural heritage left by the first Spanish and Mexican settlers and those giants of Southern California Architecture Julia Morgan, George Washington Smith, Reginald Johnson, Joseph Plunkett and many others.

Casa De La Guerra, where the city held its first official meeting in 1875.

The historic courtyard of El Paseo,“Street in Spain”; De La Guerra St. Unfortunately this space is now taken up with businesses and offices, but it used to be full of cafes and botique shops which would have been fantastic.