Santa Barbara '17: Rainy Days in Movie Houses

We hit the ground running in Santa Barbara.  We arrived around lunchtime on the 1st, unloaded the car, walked the dog and headed off for a tour of the historic Santa Barbara Court House, conducted by Cherif, a friend of our hostess at Secret Garden B and B.  Cherif, also a baker, gave us a grocery bag of fresh rolls and ciabatta bread!

(A reminder that you can click on any photo to enlarge it to full screen.)

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Courthouse Interior

In our first twenty-four hours, we took the tour of the courthouse, attended the opening night film of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, "Charged;" and attended an award ceremony for Denzel Washington.  The ceremony included a ninety-minute interview with Denzel which was quite a treat.  In addition to his acting skills, he seems to be an all-around good guy who is more proud of his four kids' college diplomas than he is of his own accomplishments.

Then, it was off to the movies.  For the next ten days we indulged ourselves by seeing all the films we could manage.  We saw movies from Denmark, France/Belgium, Australia, Serbia/Montenegro, Spain, Croatia, Iceland and even the USA.  We saw some excellent movies, some average ones and one that left us wondering if there were any minimum standards for acceptance.

The timing of the festival was perfect for us.  It began the day we arrived and went on for ten days, and so did the rain for most of the time.  Almost every day brought overcast skies and lots of rain.  With all the rain, Santa Barbara is still mired in deep drought.

Smilin' in the rain at the downtown farmers' market on a break from the movies

Jazz man with a silken saxophone and a velvet voice at the farmers' market.

Strangers in the Night

One evening, I took a late night walk.  A moody rain was falling.  The hood of my raincoat covered my head.   A half block ahead of me a taxi stopped. A woman got out with a suitcase and walked up to her house.  As I approached, a second woman got out of the cab.  As I passed, I heard a high pitched, "Oh!"  I turned and said, "Are you okay?"  The young blonde woman said, "You startled me."  I replied, "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to."  Without another word, she spread her arms wide and wiggled her fingers in a come here motion.  I approached, and she wrapped me in a big hug and spoke to me in Spanish.  I don't know what she said, but a friendly voice speaks a universal language.  Before I could respond, she turned and headed toward the house.  "Good night," I called after her.

A Visit from Minnesota Friends

Toward the end of the festival, our friends from back home, Dave and Georgie, passed through Santa Barbara.  Like us, they've left winter behind.  While Carol and I stay put, Dave and Georgie lead a vagabond existence all over the southwest.  In honor of their visit, the rain let up for one day.  We had them over for a big breakfast and then took them on a walking tour of the mission neighborhood.  A good time!

Dave and Georgie lunched with us at El Encanto, our favorite place for a splurge.

One of the sights on our walk.  This is a small fraction of the frogs inhabiting the wall.

Dave and Georgie left and we went back to the movies.  And then one day, the skies cleared in earnest!

After ten gray days, blue skies!

With good weather, we hit the hiking trails again.  When the tides cooperated as well, we took Rowdie to the Hendry's Beach, where she delights in walking in the surf, barking at shore birds and taking in all the strange smells.  We also took a guided tour of Mission Santa Barbara, led by Cherif.

When Cherif led us into the church, the choir was practicing and we were greeted with a lovely solo of Ave Maria.  Cherif lowered his voice so that we had to lean in to hear him, which I did half-heartedly as I listened to the peaceful melodies of Gelineau Psalms.  The words of Psalm 23 flowed like clear water washing over rocks in a stream.

Wall at Hendry's Beach

Hiking the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains

Fog creates an eerie scene.  Santa Cruz Island seems to float in the sky.

Cachuma Lake, principal reservoir for Santa Barbara, is at 20% capacity.

Hendry's Beach is a favorite walk for Rowdie.

Monastery Window, Mission Santa Barbara

Cherif, looking a bit monkish himself, watched over by Junipero Serra

St. Barbara, martyred by her own father, looks over the altar of the mission.

Mission Santa Barbara

Neighborhood vegetation

Downtown Art Gallery

I hope they have separate entrances.

This coming weekend, a traditional treat is in the offing for local residents.  The "third weekend" of the film festival will offer free screenings of some of the best of the fest.  Will we be able to take in even more films?  There will be crowds, but you can bet we'll be there.