The blogging begins with us already in Capitola, getting coffee. This is Mr. Toots, a popular place that is much more popular at night. I drank my first mocha here around 8 p.m. sometime in October, 1987. Good times.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/3471767575_7c20470441.jpg)
Mmm...cheesecake.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3471775079_6dd9cbc943.jpg)
From the window at Mr. Toots, you can see a bit of the Capitola Wharf, and what are now vacation rentals.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3471769199_60b1f17e06.jpg)
When I was a kid, these were apartments that people lived in year-round, with families and everything.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3471771209_d9e1bb463b.jpg)
My dad had a colleague whose daughter lived here. She babysat me once or twice when I was around 8-years-old.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3472581796_7ff5d773a4.jpg)
Readers, I cannot overstate the extent to which these little studio apartments on the beach came to excite my imagination for years.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3472579966_166ec291d8.jpg)
Through the magic of blogging, we are going to teleport over to those apartments, right between the blue and salmon colored units and I'm going to show you a movie of me doing a 360.
(As I said, I think these are seasonal vacation rentals now, but some of them may be condos or regular rental housing. I really don't know.)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3471781333_1e15f9f237.jpg)
During the summer, the beach is packed like Coney Island, but this time of year, during the week, well, it's very relaxing.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3472589892_0aa871f05f.jpg)
So relaxing in fact, that here is a rare picture of your blogger--getting a smoochie even!
![IMG_6805](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3472506432_8933698d8b.jpg)
Moving on... The wharf is a simple affair.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3471784133_81f9f19fe1.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3471788249_a81d34f822.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/3472598824_1c93ecaefc.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/3471791105_06c661482a.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3472601042_6b4476eab9.jpg)
After visiting the wharf, we went back to the area around Mr. Toots. This time, instead of using magic, we walked.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3471778653_33dbddeaf8.jpg)
In the years after college, my friends and I came down here a lot and went to Zelda's
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3472674514_5470a59850.jpg)
Where you can have margaritas on the beach. Which is what we did. A lot.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3472675714_e7faa539fb.jpg)
Shopping in the immediate downtown area is fairly tourist-oriented.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3471869461_6142eec3a8.jpg)
Tho' I don't know people who buy clothes like this on vacation, so maybe not.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3472677014_7544d20267.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3472680024_ae4e9fd776.jpg)
These salt and pepper shakers are magnetized so the salt kisses the pepper...
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3472680852_95a2b4c471.jpg)
When I saw these, I sounded so gay
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3471873699_34ec14e91a.jpg)
Can you blame me?
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3471874755_3a32d0dc42.jpg)
Unfortunately, G recognizes no distinction between cute-and-kitschy and ticky-tacky, so none of these came home with us.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3472682538_ecb6a01f01.jpg)
But we can enjoy them right here, forever.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3471875259_334ac98e26.jpg)
Around the downtown area...do people prune juniper like this where you are?
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3654/3471798545_2c91b80e0b.jpg)
This is called cloud pruning; you should think of the balls of foliage as clouds. The Japanese word is niwaki. Some people hate it, but in my opinion, this is absolutely the only acceptable way to maintain a juniper. Obvioulsy, an expert maintains this specimen.
Ugh. Dietes. You know how I disapprove of Dietes.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3472679216_93b25d7c17.jpg)
If you didn't come to Capitola to shop for tchotchkes, drink margaritas, fish from the wharf, make out, or get caffeinated at Mr. Toots, you probably came for the beach.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3471801717_4d257c8819.jpg)
Noone comes to Capitola to catch the big waves, but if you're looking for some mellow surf, or just learning, this would be a good place.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3472671466_77874b8e9b.jpg)
Surfer girl
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3471802737_f73837ac6b.jpg)
Surfer boy
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3472673932_59ccf321e3.jpg)
The adoring fans.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3471861567_d6d50721c6.jpg)
While G and D laid on the beach and caught some rays, I did that thing I do and walked around the neighborhood with my camera taking snapshots.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3471808259_24b1130feb.jpg)
Jupiter's Beard or Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) loves coastal California. Loves it.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3472622182_96c1498d41.jpg)
So does this Mexican Fleabane or Santa Barbara Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3471810385_0c74eeea5d.jpg)
You know what? I like it too.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3472620750_abcef2de8c.jpg)
California poppies love all parts of California.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3472623576_3af17d4c9a.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3471859133_33185bd88a.jpg)
Welcome to residential Capitola, where people actually live
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/3471817193_7ce3abfeaa.jpg)
and plant Lavandula,
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/3471818563_433c03282e.jpg)
And roses,
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3471842723_426f50530f.jpg)
and Echium fastuosum syn. Echium candicans
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/3471833587_3f03d692a3.jpg)
No doubt one Echium would grow as big as a house here if one let it.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3471857969_a9d57b72f0.jpg)
(I can't imagine that anyone ever has.)
Geranium maderense, I would guess is a newish arrival..? I think I only started to see it around San Francisco in this decade.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3472659192_96e3985463.jpg)
A lot more South Africans now too. For example, a restio (I can only ID a few, and even then only sometimes):
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3471846141_9cbcfc2289.jpg)
Leucospermum (Protaceae)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3471837197_158c6e98f7.jpg)
Ah leucospermum...memories of remembering California in Hawaii...
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3471836201_4db49f1de9.jpg)
Melianthus will easily reach the eaves.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3472656046_f8a434d9fb.jpg)
The pepper tree Schinus molle (not from South Africa) is an old standard.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3471852571_4b780030d2.jpg)
Zantedeschia aethiopica is tantamount to a weed here (but I like it okay).
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3472660020_17182ab8bd.jpg)
I am always very approving of wisteria done right, as this one will be on a very sturdy structure like this, going away from the house.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3471854963_f5fafd17f7.jpg)
Typical loveliness:
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3472662350_3032015f3d.jpg)
Anyway, I think by now you probably get the feeling of what it's like to be here, and that's really all I ever try to do.
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3471856233_b238e8a507.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3471841553_2a27ed0afa.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3471839643_1e7fcf698f.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3471838607_188dc9049e.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3472632980_a90235ec57.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3472636474_31128e75c3.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3471821569_0932cfebde.jpg)
![Capitola, California](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3472639558_4c05e22298.jpg)
10 comments:
I always enjoy your tours and this one was no exception. We do junipers like that here as well, but it is not very common. Two of them mark the entrance to the garden center where I work. Those apt/condos look like something you would see in Med.
I love those stucco studios on the beach!
It makes me think of Portmeirion, the bizarre beachside town in Wales where they filmed The Prisoner.I have always wanted to go there.
Totally excited we get to be your next visitors from Seattle (I assume)!
That was a fun visit! I've lived in California all my life but never visited Capitola. Only passed it by on the highway. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the tour! The sound of the birds in the video really made me realize how much I need a beach vacation. Next time I'm visiting friends in the Bay Area I'll have to get them to take me here.
Cute picture of you!
Seagulls have such an evocative squawk. I get a strange, wistful feeling when I hear them for the first time after not hearing them for a long time.
Amy, if a couple connections hadn't brought me here, I would never have thought to visit Capitola either. Nearby Aptos is similar to both Santa Cruz and Capitola, but I've hardly ever been there. Once or twice, maybe.
Julie, Yes--you will be my next visitor from Seattle, and then we have new, different visitors in May!
Les, That Mediterranean stucco look is so appealing.
That was absolutely beautiful! I know I have been there but it was probably at least 30 or more years ago! I loved everything. Those salt and pepper shakers are soooo cute. I love the pigs!!!! I would have bought some(-: Thanks again for another wonderful tour!!! I loved it!!!!
CiNdEeS' GaRdEn
Geez, it's all so perfect looking. Very nice, but was there anything ugly there at all? (Do I sound bitter?) Oh yeah, the Dietes. I'm coming around to your opinion on that one, by the way.
Cute kissy photo also.
I guess taking photos at waist level with your moveable LCD display makes your photographic forays less obvious. I find taking pictures of people's houses more difficult. It must be a pesonality issue.
The neighborhood I have been through of late could not be more different from the cute California cottage gardens. Here there are yards of all grass with huge trees, mostly maples, completely beheaded on an annual basis. The few homes where real gardeners live stand out like a sore thumb.
Wonderful tour again. Scenes like that are why I once contemplated living in N.Cal.
That's a totally cute town! I'd love to live in a place like that-except when it's swarming with tourists. Just looking at the pictures is relaxing.
BTW, I LOVE the kissing piggies! Gotta find me some...
Post a Comment