We left the school campus this morning around 8:00am. After driving for a few hours, we stopped near Solvang for lunch (unfortunately we didn't go into the town, so that'll be saved for another trip). We stopped at an unpromising strip mall with Carl's Jr and Taco Bell and such, but my keen eye spotted a little cafe I expected to be a diner but actually turned out to be the cutest little coffee/sandwich shop, and had a lovely breakfast/lunch.
We then continued on our way. The drive through wine country and then along the coast was absolutely beautiful. Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Fulbright showed us a video done by the BBC and John Cleese about beauty and how it's been studied through the human face which was really neat - a theme of this trip is going to be "beauty," both related to music and in general, and it fit with the scenery going by the window quite well.
We passed Cuesta College, where my middle school had participated in a jazz festival my 8th grade year. I didn't remember it one bit.
We then spent the afternoon touring Hearst Castle. For anyone who doesn't know, W.R. Hearst was a media mogul in the early 1900s, extending his influence throughout newspaper, magazine, and film, outbidding the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts at art auctions, inviting distinguished guests from Charlie Chaplain to Winston Churchill to this estate, which he built himself to emulate the beautiful castles along the Mediterranean sea. It's a beautiful estate, and contains many beautiful works of art, and is located in absolutely gorgeous natural landforms with a fantastic view of the sea. I highly recommend it if you are passing through the central California coast at any point in your life.
We went back down to San Luis Obispo for the evening, and were let out to explore the weekly Thursday Farmer's Market and find ourselves some dinner. Alex and I bought a bag of oranges to share for the rest of the trip, since we both love oranges and will be eating them for our breakfasts. We found a crepe stand in the Farmer's Market, settled down at a Pete's coffee, and had a delicious dinner.
The street performers were my favorite part. There was so much music lining every cranny of the market! And other interesting things to see as well.
So, now I am at a Day's Inn, staying up far too late to post this blog after making it through a lengthy Sociology chapter. Tomorrow we travel further up the coast, and you will hear from me at some point that night (probably very late again, like today).
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