A couple of Christmases ago, Van gave me the gift of a getaway somewhere, to be determined. It was a wonderful gift - I need fewer tangible things (though I still enjoy tangible things) and appreciate experiences all the more. A getaway? Yes, please!
It took us some time, however, to get to a point of scheduling it. There was always a commitment, or it was too close to a commitment. Another Christmas passed, and then early this year, Van kind of put his foot down and said that I needed to pick a date. So I did. And I left it to him to decide on where. Moreover, I asked him to surprise me. So he did.
We set out from Pasadena for points north - that was the only clue he gave me and the only one I asked for. In truth, I was more than happy to be surprised. It's been months in the making, but I could wait. Still, I turned over possibilities in my head as we drove. On the 210 and then the 5? I had an inkling it would be Tahoe or Yosemite. And then on the other side of Santa Clarita, he veered off the 5 to head toward Fillmore. OK, so maybe we're going up the coast somewhere. I knew we were headed to someplace I hadn't really spent time in before, so it wasn't Paso or SLO. Hmmm.
A quick stop in Fillmore at the awesome Roan Mills Bakery,
and then we were on the road again. I knew it couldn't be Ojai. We then stopped for some browsing at some stores in a plaza in Montecito. Once done, we headed along some back roads into Santa Barbara, or so it seemed, likely intending to take the 154.
Wrong. As we rounded one corner, I saw a hotel sign, and then the hotel drive came into view. Our destination? A few days staying in a gorgeous hotel in the hills above downtown Santa Barbara. Wow!
Here's the thing: yes, I have been to Santa Barbara previously. I can recall all three times I have stopped for lunch there, en route north once and south twice. And that's all I know of the city. I had no other experience of it. And I had wanted to see it some more. A fine choice by Van.
We checked in to the hotel. Van had stayed at the El Encanto a number of years ago, and he wanted to bring me there. I am glad he did. The room was fantastic,
and on a glorious break from the June Gloom, the hotel and grounds looked so beautiful in the sunshine.
Once settled, we took ourselves to the hotel bar for a light cocktail each before heading out to dinner,
and with that, thanks to this wonderful man,
our long weekend was underway.
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