Santa Barbara!!!

          I am home!  Actually, I have been home for well over a week now, but every time I sit down with the intention of posting I get so bogged down with sorting through pictures I fail to get anything up.  Not today!  I have narrowed it down to forty-three pictures – I know, I know, forty-three is hardly narrowing – but we packed a lot into those few days.  Enjoy!  :D

The Beach!

Molly, the cute little dog belonging to the family Stephanie and I stayed with.

While waiting for Taylor to finish his final class, Eric, Stephanie, and I explored an old cemetery.

This one appeared to be made of sandstone.  It is amazing how long it has lasted.

There were some impressive mausoleums, too.

Coffee!!!

My Shakerato.  Small cup, big punch.  (And really yummy!)

The Courthouse.

There was a lot of this going on.  ;)

The architecture was so beautiful.

The clockwork.  We were there to hear it strike!  At 1 o'clock.  :(

The Santa Barbara Mission!  (My favorite part of the trip!)

I caught a glimpse of two monks across the courtyard.  One lingered long enough for this special picture.

The woman who inspired Scott O'Dell's prize winning novel, Island of the Blue Dolphins.

The Cathedral's entrance.

Simply breathtaking.

At the Marina Museum.  A working replica model of the very first seaplane.

The Nordkap.  Built by Dwight Brooks in 1981, this 8.5 Ft 285 Ib working model can catch live fish!  If it senses the fish is too large, the line and net automatically detach to prevent the fish from capsizing the boat.

Amazing building art!

Some of them were even interactive!  :D

I love walking along the wharf.

 

Graduation day!

The Siblings,

The Friends,

and --most importantly-- the Girlfriend. <3