Santa Barbara, California – Christmas Day

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

First up was church services on this early Christmas morning as the Burns are Catholic and still practice on occasion. Not only did Uncle Woody wear Christmas colors for the day, but Sophie went to church with us, kind of. She waited for us in the car.

Nope, we’re not at Jack-in-the-Box or at Cajun Kitchen; we’ve driven over to Santa Barbara proper, and if we are over the water, we’re not eating at the last remaining Sambo’s Restaurant either.

The pelican seems to mean business by glaring at us as if we could just pull a fish out of our pocket or something.

Breakfast was a special affair as we’d never eaten out here. We’re at Moby Dick Restaurant on Stearns Wharf. Not sure how many photos I have of Tata and me as she’s so reluctant to have her picture taken. I’d wager this is the one and only photo of her and me on Christmas day ever.

This giant fig tree in Santa Barbara has been here forever, or at least as long as I can remember, and in my memories as a child, it’s always been just this big. See human for scale.

Sophie, the German Shepherd; Caroline, the German Wife; and Uncle Woody – the invader of Germany on the beach in Santa Barbara.

A beautiful and memorable Christmas day in sunny California, in love and with family.

Santa Barbara, California – Christmas Eve

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Goleta, California

We know the routine well: wake up and get out the door as it’s time for coffee and breakfast at Cajun Kitchen, just around the corner from here.

Woody Burns in Goleta, California

At the dog park on the bench is Uncle Woody; our Aunt Ann (Tata) is sitting behind him as Chester comes over to not only bask in the sun but in the affectionate petting from our uncle.

Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, California

After those formalities are out of the way, we convince our aunt and uncle to head up to Solvang with us. As they’ve grown older, and now with my father having passed away, they don’t get out much. When my father was still alive, they’d drive out the 140 miles to his house to deliver a ton of stuff they felt he needed that they’d collected either at Costco or from various sales at the local grocery shops Tata frequents. At other times, my father would meet them about halfway between his home and theirs in Calabasas at an IHOP.

Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, California

Our first stop was at the Old Mission Santa Ines, which we’d not visited before. We’ve been working on trying to see all of the California missions.

Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, California

Inside Old Mission Santa Ines.

Solvang, California

We passed through Solvang for some window shopping but already had plans for lunch, so this old Smorgasbord will have to wait for a future visit.

Caroline Wise and Woody Burns at Pea Soup Andersen's in Buellton, California

This was the payoff for Tata and Woody traveling with us; it turns out that it had been years since they last ate at Pea Soup Andersen’s in Buellton. They love this place in part because I think it reminds them of life some 35 years ago when the place looked the exact same as it does now.

Beach on the Santa Barbara Coast in California

Our drive back to Goleta.

View from Cathedral Oaks Road in Goleta, California

The hills north of Cathedral Oaks Road on the way to Place Drive.

288 Placer Drive in Goleta, California

Christmas Eve with the Burns at 288 Placer Drive, an address forever seared into my memory.

A Bit of Culture in L.A.

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Indian breakfast in Little India Los Angeles, California

We went over to Little India in Artesia to get breakfast at Annapurna Cuisine because we love pongal (the stuff on the right), and idle and sambar are pretty good, too. In Phoenix, there is zero opportunity to have such a meal unless a friend makes it and invites us to their house.

Raenu, Arturito, and Caroline Wise in China Town Los Angeles, California

From there, we went over to Chinatown with Raenu and Arturito, looking for bargains. Actually, I don’t think Arturito cared one bit about shopping, he was a hard read to know if he was even having fun. I guess he’s kind of like his dad, Arturo Silva, an old friend of mine (this is his son) who is the master of the emotionless face.

Los Angeles, California

Hanging out on Olvera Street in the old Pueblo of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, California

Shopping for more bargains.

Los Angeles, California

From there, we hopped over to Little Tokyo but took no photos of that excursion before we started our drive east in earnest.

Raenu, Arturito, Caroline Wise and John Wise at Ten Ren Tea Time in Los Angeles, California

Earnestly until we got to Diamond Bar so we could stop in on Ten Ren’s Tea Time and introduce these guys to boba tea, at the time in the early 21st century, it wasn’t a thing among America’s youth yet. And so, this was Caroline’s birthday weekend.

Disneyland – Caroline’s Birthday

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Here we are at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, also known as The Happiest Place on Earth. Indeed. Tomorrow is Caroline’s 37th birthday, but that’s a Sunday when we have to drive home, so here we are on Saturday, planning on being here until the wee hours.

It’s the holiday season, not that you’d know it by looking at Tom Sawyer Island or the paddleboat, but this is a clue to where we are heading the first thing this morning.

That’s right, the Haunted House in Jack Skellington style because we just love its “Nightmare Before Christmas” theme.

Now as I run out of things to write about, I’ll point out that it is September 2022 when I’m writing this post. This trip to the Magic Kingdom was taken the year before I started blogging, and I’ve just now gotten around to adding it to our semi-permanent record (as if something can exist on the internet permanently).

Because it is Caroline’s birthday, we’ll do all the sappy romantic things.

Oh yeah, we brought friends along with us! Meet Raenu and Arturito; no, they are not a couple; they just met yesterday, as a matter of fact. You might notice we have a Park Hopper Pass.

Caroline Wise at Disneyland in California

The shirt Caroline is wearing was purchased in December 1992 while visiting Paris, France, and EuroDisney because that’s where we went for her 25th birthday. Then, in 1994, it was the shirt she wore when we were married in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Little White Chapel.

The flash on the camera foiled Caroline’s ability to keep her eyes open. This might be the last time I ever attempted to use a flash with her.

We’re down for a Christmas parade.

And then back to California Adventure for some thrill rides.

Maybe too thrilling.

Even more thrilling.

If I’m not mistaken, California Adventure closed before Main Street, so we still have time for more Disney excitement.

Nope, we’re done.