Santa Barbara

Last weekend, after seven and a half months, I returned to Santa Barbara on a daytrip by train.

Doing so was always a long day for me ... waking up before 4:00 a.m. to get ready especially since I cooked breakfast to sustain me until lunch time.

I left my apartment a little after 5:30 a.m. to catch the bus that took me to the subway station en route to Downtown Los Angeles' Union Station. Since my train didn't leave until 7:30 a.m., I had time to wait and relax while seated at the Station's sturdy but comfortable chair.

As I boarded, I remembered to sit on the correct side of the train ... with the ocean view. It took about two hours before the ocean revealed itself but when it did, I had nearly half an hour of it before disembarking at the Santa Barbara train station.

As usual, I went to the Wharf and walked up State Street. I had a quick lunch then enjoyed my favorite cupcake in a tree shade at Alameda Park. I then walked to Mission Santa Barbara where I passed by beautiful houses and gardens. The best surprise for me and the highlight of my trip was the Mission Rose Garden. It was amazingly in full bloom and with various colors to disappear yourself into! It literally felt that way when I sat on one of the benches with the rose bushes surrounding me. From there, the view was amazing ... of the Mission, the surrounding houses, landscape and ocean from afar!

I did a self-guided tour of the Mission afterwards and, among others, was again impressed by the grounds' Sacred Garden. Onwards to the church cemetery, it was a memorial to the natives, priests and other individuals who made Santa Barbara their home. Inside the Mission (church) itself, history, art and spirituality mingled to impress visitors.

Leaving the Mission, I lingered one last time in the Rose Garden. Before heading to downtown, I stopped by the Courthouse and took the elevator up the tower. It was a breezy afternoon but I had a beautiful view, including that of the Mission which now seemed so far away. I heard a couple with their young children pointing to various landmarks that explained where "Mommy and Daddy used to live ... where Mommy and Daddy got married ... where you were baptized ... where everything started for all of this to be happening now."

At the train station, the departure was delayed but we still made it on time back to Los Angeles. Remembering which side to sit, I had another spectacular view of the ocean/coast heading home. It was just beginning to get dark as I took the express bus back home, stepping into my apartment safely at around 8:30 p.m.

It was a long day, but a memorable, invigorating one. A friend can't wait to see Santa Barbara with her own eyes. We'll trek it together later this summer.