Miles today: Only 6 by taxi but 141 in our new carMiles to date: 4595
Where are we again? Santa Cruz, on the Californian coast, 100 miles south of San Francisco
Fun fact: Curiously, the official mascot of the University of California at Santa Cruz is the Banana Slug. More self explanatory, the University of Berkeley’s official mascot is the Roach.
The Day’s Events: Well, we told you yesterday that we were hoping for a more interesting time today exploring the east bay of San Francisco; and we’re happy to report to you that we were right. (“When have you ever been wrong?” we hear you cry!)
After a less than promising start, involving wringing a free taxi out of the extremely surly motel receptionist in place of the free shuttle bus as promised on the motel’s website, we arrived at SF airport in time to pick up our new rental car. Sadly, no upgrades to a Mustang convertible this time, but we do have a perfectly serviceable Hyundai Sonata, which is good enough, we reckon.
From the airport, Malcolm navigated our way through the downtown San Francisco Interstates and on to the Back Bay Bridge, which took us over the Back Bay, logically enough, and into the Oakland area of the East Bay. Turning left, we made our way up I80 to Berkeley University, where we stopped to take a look around the
Sociology department - empty on account of it being a Saturday - and around the main campus - surprisingly busy with students, prospective students, tourists, and a bunch of youngsters learning to do the Lindy Hop (see right). We very quickly decided that we rather liked Berkeley, which seemed to be the very antithesis of Harvard uptightness, and we could imagine ourselves fitting in very well there, so much so that we have begun plotting ways in which we might wangle a sabbatical year there in the not too distant future.
After that, we drove further up Interstate 80 to Richmond, specifically to dine at the Mexican restaurant that was established in 1956 by our friend Marco’s grandfather (who is the central figure in both of the pictures behind us in the photo at the top of this page - click to enlarge). Although the restaurant was sold to a Chinese family, it still operates as a Mexican place, with very tasty food, it must be said: we recommend the guacamole and the enchiladas verdes.
From there, much against Malcolm’s ‘better’ judgement, we battled the traffic, so as to cross the Bay to the north of San Francisco, just so we could drive across the Golden Gate Bridge (see right). In some ways the Golden Gate Bridge is a bit of a swizz – it is neither golden, nor is it fitted with gates; but it is a bridge, 
which is probably just as well since we are not particularly strong swimmers. Once across the bridge, we drove through the Golden Gate Park and through town until we could get onto the start of the famously scenic Route 1 highway (see left), making a stop at Pacifica, famed for its very long pier out into the sea (see below), and before driving the cliff road on to Santa Cruz.
After a less than promising start, involving wringing a free taxi out of the extremely surly motel receptionist in place of the free shuttle bus as promised on the motel’s website, we arrived at SF airport in time to pick up our new rental car. Sadly, no upgrades to a Mustang convertible this time, but we do have a perfectly serviceable Hyundai Sonata, which is good enough, we reckon.
From the airport, Malcolm navigated our way through the downtown San Francisco Interstates and on to the Back Bay Bridge, which took us over the Back Bay, logically enough, and into the Oakland area of the East Bay. Turning left, we made our way up I80 to Berkeley University, where we stopped to take a look around the
Sociology department - empty on account of it being a Saturday - and around the main campus - surprisingly busy with students, prospective students, tourists, and a bunch of youngsters learning to do the Lindy Hop (see right). We very quickly decided that we rather liked Berkeley, which seemed to be the very antithesis of Harvard uptightness, and we could imagine ourselves fitting in very well there, so much so that we have begun plotting ways in which we might wangle a sabbatical year there in the not too distant future.
After that, we drove further up Interstate 80 to Richmond, specifically to dine at the Mexican restaurant that was established in 1956 by our friend Marco’s grandfather (who is the central figure in both of the pictures behind us in the photo at the top of this page - click to enlarge). Although the restaurant was sold to a Chinese family, it still operates as a Mexican place, with very tasty food, it must be said: we recommend the guacamole and the enchiladas verdes.
From there, much against Malcolm’s ‘better’ judgement, we battled the traffic, so as to cross the Bay to the north of San Francisco, just so we could drive across the Golden Gate Bridge (see right). In some ways the Golden Gate Bridge is a bit of a swizz – it is neither golden, nor is it fitted with gates; but it is a bridge, 
which is probably just as well since we are not particularly strong swimmers. Once across the bridge, we drove through the Golden Gate Park and through town until we could get onto the start of the famously scenic Route 1 highway (see left), making a stop at Pacifica, famed for its very long pier out into the sea (see below), and before driving the cliff road on to Santa Cruz. 
We decided to stop tonight in Santa Cruz, partly on account of us having heard of it before, and partly because Malcolm’s been coping with stress by saying “Santa Cruth” over and over. There's not too much here as far as we can tell; seems to be a bit of an uppity place with lots of "noisy young people" (to quote Malcolm). However, we did find a nice place to eat and to gulp down a bottle of Californian wine this evening, and tomorrow we plan to take a wander down the pier. After that, we're on to Monterey, Esalen, Big Sur, the Hearst Castle and San Luis Obispo.Ted’s Photo Blog
A picture of me, Ted, outside the Students Union at Berkeley, in me birthday suit. (Well, you’ve got to try to fit in, haven’t you?)
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