Our next stop was Santa Barbara to which neither of us had ever been. We had to be 'tendered' -- i.e. there is no port, the ship anchors out in the harbor and passengers board tenders and are taken to shore. Tenders are also the life boats and are comfortable and can seat about 150 people. The crew that pilots these boats are usually quite expert as were ours.
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This was the Santa Barbara Welcoming Committee. (I didn't take this -- Marge took it on the tender with her phone!! Her pilot backed the tender up so people could get pictures.) Aside from being large, loud, smelly, and territorial, sea lions are cute.
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We had decided that since the town was so close, we wouldn't do an excursion, but would set out on foot on our own. We wanted to walk around at our leisure and seek out a great place for lunch.
Richard and David walk ahead. (If this path looks familiar, it's where the opening to THREE'S COMPANY was shot (John Ritter on a bike going off into the sand...)
Streets were lined with beautiful trees and bougainvillea and for the first time, I wasn't the one saying "I could really live here!!"
Our first stop was at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, oftentimes seen in the silly but good show PSYCH.
The architecture is quite beautiful -- and department stores and movie theaters are all part of the landscape. This is a Macy's Department Store.
Our next stop was Arts and Letters Cafe, a lovely art gallery featuring several of Andrew Wyeth's original paintings as well as others, and an elegant farm to table cafe where we had a WONDERFUL lunch.
Richard and I then walked back to the ship, and Margie and David continued to meander through the stores and markets. It felt good to spot our temporary 'home' floating in the harbor.
We left that evening and sadly said good-bye to Santa Barbara.
.JPG)
This was the Santa Barbara Welcoming Committee. (I didn't take this -- Marge took it on the tender with her phone!! Her pilot backed the tender up so people could get pictures.) Aside from being large, loud, smelly, and territorial, sea lions are cute.
.JPG)
We had decided that since the town was so close, we wouldn't do an excursion, but would set out on foot on our own. We wanted to walk around at our leisure and seek out a great place for lunch.
Richard and David walk ahead. (If this path looks familiar, it's where the opening to THREE'S COMPANY was shot (John Ritter on a bike going off into the sand...)
We headed East on State Street into the center of town. Look at those mountains!!!
Streets were lined with beautiful trees and bougainvillea and for the first time, I wasn't the one saying "I could really live here!!"
Our first stop was at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, oftentimes seen in the silly but good show PSYCH.
The architecture is quite beautiful -- and department stores and movie theaters are all part of the landscape. This is a Macy's Department Store.
Our next stop was Arts and Letters Cafe, a lovely art gallery featuring several of Andrew Wyeth's original paintings as well as others, and an elegant farm to table cafe where we had a WONDERFUL lunch.
Richard and I then walked back to the ship, and Margie and David continued to meander through the stores and markets. It felt good to spot our temporary 'home' floating in the harbor.
We left that evening and sadly said good-bye to Santa Barbara.
