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Friday, May 29, 2020

My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz

Pieter did surprise me with a companion ticket to San Francisco, so I could tag along to Santa Cruz, California.
 For a couple of days, Pieter had to do training at the Pescadero farm for Campbell Soup.
And... my Mauzie girl, the little black & tan Dachshund went with us!
My very first PUMPKIN encounter too, this is near Santa Cruz on October 18, 1983
And of course viewing the famous Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz along the rugged San Mateo coast line...
It is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast!
PUMPKINS everywhere around...
BRUSSELS SPROUTS...
As the daughter of a market gardener, this was HEAVEN!
It is quite a windy road along the Pacific coast from San Francisco to Santa Cruz...
Santa Cruz, California's natural surroundings looked so different to me!
Our hotel room had the Pacific Ocean View...
Sunrise at 7:00 AM
On October 19, we had breakfast at the Santa Cruz Fisherman's Wharf
From the hotel I also could walk right onto the wharf...
In the distance, under the big seagull, you can see Hotel Dream Inn where we stayed.
Did enjoy my lunch with yummy scallops at the GREENHOUSE restaurant at the FARM together with the manager's wife, Donna Richards.
Bought some small cactus and seed bread... Would have loved to buy some gorgeous large cactus but how to take them back on the plane?
Did walk around at the wharf and viewed the seals...
Seals and brown pelican on the wharf...
Yes, those seals all sleep on those wooden beams!
After work we all gathered at the home of Don & Donna Richards, the farm manager and went out for dinner at Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, CA with its very steep cable car! Click for short video of it.
It is one of the most unique restaurants in the West.
Later I would have dinner here with my Dad... that will be featured in another post!

Stay tuned for our next stay in San Francisco...
Thanks for visiting!



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34 comments:

  1. HelenMay 29, 2020 at 10:09 PM

    Greetings! One of my all time favorite places... Santa Cruz. I have great photos of sea lions and shops and antique places and colorfully painted homes. I know how much you must have enjoyed it. Happy weekend to you and to Pieter. And of course, San Francisco I have visited more times than I can count ... looking forward to your pics.

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 29, 2020 at 10:22 PM

      Dearest Helen,
      So happy to read also about your affinity with Santa Cruz! It sure was a magical area and I always have loved going there, also numerous times! Even got to take my Dad there but that will be in a future post...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  2. ParnassusMay 30, 2020 at 3:46 AM

    Hello Mariette, The California coastline is truly magical. I'm glad you got this perfect introduction to it. You could spend a lifetime there and never run out of things to explore!
    --Jim

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 30, 2020 at 8:00 AM

      Dearest Jim,
      You are so right and it is for a reason that certain stretches of it belong to the most scenic routes of the USA.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  3. Elisabeth PalzkillMay 30, 2020 at 6:03 AM

    Liebe Mariette,
    liebe Grüße und frohe Pfingsten
    Elisabeth

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 30, 2020 at 8:00 AM

      Liebe Elisabeth,
      Frohe Pfingsten auch zu Dir!
      Alles Liebe,
      Mariette

      Delete
  4. roughterrain craneMay 30, 2020 at 6:51 AM

    I hope you still now can see seals and pelicans at that wharf.

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 30, 2020 at 8:01 AM

      Dearest RTC,
      It has remained like this, over the decades but I've not been there lately...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  5. Anne Hagman-NiilolaMay 30, 2020 at 9:32 AM

    Very interesting! A huge amount of pumpkins in the field. I look forward to the next post ;-)

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 30, 2020 at 11:50 AM

      Dearest Anne,
      Yes, it was a completely new sight for me, coming from the Old World...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  6. WillyMay 30, 2020 at 11:33 AM

    Prachtige foto's Mariette. Leuk om die zeehonden van zo dichtbij te zien. Fijn weekend, lieve groet

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 30, 2020 at 11:51 AM

      Beste Willy,
      Dank je en ook de geluiden van de pelikanen en de zeehonden was bijzonder!
      Liefs,
      Mariette

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  7. TamagoMay 31, 2020 at 11:37 AM

    What a great trip, Mariette! Such beautiful sceneries. I’ve never seen pumpkin field that vast and it’s a spectacular view especially with Pacific Ocean in the background! Seals are adorable. I remember when I visited San Francisco, I saw seals sunbathing on a wooden platform. I would love to visit Santa Cruz and the hotel you stayed would be a great choice :-)
    It’s wonderful your Mauzie got to travel with you. She must have had a fun time there!

    Happy weekend to you, Mariette xo

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 31, 2020 at 12:28 PM

      Dearest Tamago,
      Yes, it was a great first trip for me to the West Coast!
      Mauzie was a real darling and very smart and well behaved.
      Hugs to you and happy weekend too!
      Mariette

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  8. VENTANA DE FOTOMay 31, 2020 at 1:50 PM

    Un buen viaje, que ahora recuerdas con gran cariño.

    Has captado en él buenos paisajes y lugares con mucho encanto.

    Besos

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 31, 2020 at 11:46 PM

      Querida Antónia,
      Sí, esa sección de California tiene algunos lugares encantadores y las fotos dejan que nuestra mente se quede allí...
      Abrazos,
      Mariette

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  9. Stevenson QMay 31, 2020 at 7:31 PM

    To see pictures of the Bay Area with much less structures and more of nature makes me very happy. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful memories of Santa Cruz Mariette! Have a great new week!

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 31, 2020 at 11:51 PM

      Dearest Stevenson,
      Don't think that Santa Cruz is part of the nine bay area counties. But it is a charming area and also its coastline along Highway 1.
      Fond memories forever.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  10. GiancarloJune 1, 2020 at 5:10 AM

    Un viaggio fantastico.
    Un sereno inizio settimana per te.

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderJune 1, 2020 at 6:51 AM

      Caro Giancarlo,
      Questo purtroppo non è stato un viaggio, ma ho accompagnato mio marito al suo lavoro... Per me la prima volta e così grande!
      Un abbraccio,
      Mariette

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  11. RosemaryJune 1, 2020 at 7:05 AM

    Dear Mariette - that area of the States looks very appealing - did you actually visit the city of San Francisco too.
    It is an area that I have thought about visiting, but I very much doubt if I will ever get there now. My granddaughter was supposed to travel there this coming September, but her trip, I suspect, will now no longer be possible.
    Hope that you and Pieter are keeping well.

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderJune 1, 2020 at 7:12 AM

      Dearest Rosemary,
      Yes, in my last line you can read that we went to San Francisco. That was the purpose of this companion ticket that Pieter got me, to join him to work and then enjoy together a weekend in San Francisco. Back then, it was our favorite city but through bad politics it has deteriorated badly and I would not want to go back again.
      Pieter went there 1st time in 1979 as a speaker at the North American Mushroom Conference and he stayed at the Fairmont Hotel then. Fond memories for both of us, and that's it...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  12. Mae TravelsJune 1, 2020 at 7:46 PM

    I remember many trips along the coast road -- Highway 1 -- from San Francisco to Santa Cruz and beyond. What a magical place! My first visit was long before yours, and my most recent visit was less than a year ago.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderJune 1, 2020 at 8:56 PM

      Dearest Mae,
      We both also made many trips there over the years but since 2001 I've never been back. Fondest memories though. Glad you know it that long, but I was only in the U.S. one year when I went for the first time...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  13. NieprujsietakJune 1, 2020 at 11:33 PM

    Mariette piękne miejsca jest się czym zachwycać i wspominać. Piękne zdjęcia. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderJune 2, 2020 at 7:18 AM

      Najdroższa Małgorzata,
      Tak, to są bardzo słodkie wspomnienia dla nas obu i miałem mój jamnik Mauzie ze mną jeszcze ...
      Uściski,
      Mariette

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  14. Endah MurniyatiJune 1, 2020 at 11:40 PM

    Wow... That's really interesting place! Stay safe and healthy

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderJune 2, 2020 at 7:19 AM

      Dearest Endah,
      Yes, it sure was and especially due to all the vegetables being grown there!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  15. Tammy@T's Daily TreasuresJune 6, 2020 at 12:18 AM

    I love that first photo with all the pumpkins. Never seen so many. And have never myself been to California. Being from the south, it always seemed like such a far away place when I was growing up. Have never had any reason to go there as an adult and at this point, not sure I'll ever make it. I do hope that we will travel again in the not too distant future. My plans were to be in the States by now visiting my boys and my mom & brother for the summer. Hope you both are well.

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderJune 6, 2020 at 6:23 AM

      Dearest Tammy,
      Glad you liked the pumpkins and since they were not yet introduced to Europe at that time, it was quite a sight for me as well.
      It was quite a journey indeed and through Pieter having to go there often for work, for farm reviews and some training, I got to accompany him. Airlines offered a great companion fare back then.
      Sad that all travel halted and so many are unable to see and visit their loved ones.
      Big hugs,
      Mariette

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  16. Marie-AnneJune 7, 2020 at 5:29 PM

    Dearest Mariette,
    Your introductory photo of your visit to Santa Cruz is so charming! I would have also been very impressed by so many pumpkins! I have had the chance to visit some places in California but not Santa Cruz. And I just loved all the scenery of the Pacific Coast. What a huge work you have been doing by scanning all those photos! I have to settle down and do the same as I am afraid all my photos will deteriorate soon or later. I going now to read your post about SF!!!

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderJune 7, 2020 at 6:58 PM

      Dearest Marie-Anne,
      Thank you, coming straight from the old world it was very impressive to both of us!
      Now pumpkins are very common all over for the Fall for decoration near the front door and for Halloween etc.
      It was sure quite a mega job for scanning some 32+ photo albums, one per day and I got it done! Slides I had done before. Scrapbooks last... and finally digitalizing all videos.
      A lot of clutter is gone!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  17. DebbyMarch 6, 2022 at 12:39 AM

    Thanks for sharing your post with me. That whole San Mateo coast, San Francisco and Santa Cruz is my old stomping grounds. After we lived a few years in the Haight Ashbury in San Francisco, my Dad didn’t like what he was seeing happening so they bought a house in Pacifica. As a rowdy teenager my high school would play Half Moon Bay high for the big Pumpkin football game and we’d throw pumpkins on hwy 1. The farmers would shoot buckshot at us. Fun times! Lol

    I really enjoyed this.

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    1. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMarch 6, 2022 at 4:48 AM

      Dearest Debbie,
      So glad for having met you via Blogger and this is special for you as well.
      For both of us these are very warm and special memories!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...