California Winery

All this California hospitality is certainly winning awards in my book.

Today we have been to Capitola - the nicest smallest City in the world - Sam and I loved it here. Theres hardly any beach bums (unlike some other places), there are plenty of ordinary people - working class types even - and the weather was brilliant after 12:00. Capitola has the feel of a touristy place, but with an honesty about it. More down to earth than other little places. But don't think Capitola is cheap by any means. It is not. Its just the atmosphere which is more real.

The property prices are sky high here, like anywhere else, and its a wonder anyone can afford a place. $400,000 buys you very little property here. Lets face it, that's a big mortgage. Imagine that on $6.50 an hour. That's a lot of hours. Property around this area is so expensive, that even in the good times a few years ago, the State couldn't afford the land to widen the freeway which runs past here. (The State certainly couldn't afford it now; even with the relative drop in land prices as it is pretty much bankrupt, and writing IOUs to its contractors...).

After Capitola, we visited the mall. My Dad actually bought some Levis. The worlds most popular (and perhaps the best) brand of Jeans. This is the first pair of Levis he has ever bought. They are slightly too long, however, because they come down just above his shins. (The white ankle socks cover up most his calves so that's ok, and the sandals are perfect on his feet). Socks and sandals. English people.

Following the new purchases (going to Gottschaulks netted me a pair of ordinary jeans for $6.99), we went back to the house for lunch, and off to Ken and Sue's for dinner and wine this evening.

What fantastic people, and hospitality. Great company and food, Tri-tip, bell peppers, wine, port, cheese, chocolate... To be fair, this is what California is all about. It was an 'awesome' evening (the word the natives use to describe something which is 'really good').

Dinner was served in the wine cellar - a converted, double size American garage, big enough for two Tahoe's (4 English cars, and 83.5 Smart cars) and lined floor to ceiling on 3 sides with wine. And we're not talking Blossom Hill here either. So good was the wine in fact, no one had a hang over this morning. Not that they didn't try hard for one. Boy did some of them try.