fh_trips | Backpacking trip: Santa Cruz, Tuesday

Entry tags:

graduate backpacking 2010

Backpacking trip: Santa Cruz, Tuesday

It's a gorgeous 72 degrees in Santa Cruz, today, with bare whisps of clouds tracking their way across a gorgeous blue sky. It's the kind of day summer dreams are made of. Time to hit the beach, or stroll downtown, and love the hell out of that California sunshine.

[ooc: ~~OCD on its way~~ and we're open for business]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Santa Cruz Hostel. There's a group of surfers from New Zealand checking in. Watch out for any errant surfboards.

For those not into surfing, there's beach volleyball or kite flying or some very nice rocky areas to clamber over and relax in.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Someone's gonna have to win a giant stuffed animal at some point, right? Game rigging has no chance against Fandom-grown talents.

Dinah had her eye on a striped stuffed tiger. No reason. Nope. Nooooo. Heh.

Santa Cruz Harbor. There's more volleyball, or boat rentals, water taxis, and ecological tours. And, of course, some fine shopping and dining opportunities.

The lovely city itself. Don't miss the street performers while wandering about.

Priestly's not working today, but Jen's behind the counter, and Trucker's even managed to wander in for the afternoon.

Stop in for some browsing, and she might just tell your fortune.

At the very least, she'll probably know your name.

Oooo. Crystals and fortune telling. The kind that wasn't from a world where you *knew* it would work. Dinah was wandering through the aisles, looking for more souvenirs.

An older woman with long, curly blonde hair turned from where she was arranging a series of incense holders in the back. "Well hello, Dinah."

"Hello--" Dinah stopped with a little jade elephant in her hand, blinked, then grinned. "Did Priestly tell you about me? Are you Zo?"

"He's told me a little." Zo nodded. "And I am. How are you, today?"

"Awesome," Dinah admitted, sauntering over, and studying Zo with the a light of speculation visible. Trucker's Zo! Hmmmmmmm. "I'm really loving Santa Cruz, it's just so beautiful. And homey at the same time. I'm picking up souvenirs for my friends, and trying to think what to get a few of them."

"Well, perhaps I can help, then." Zo smiled. "What sorts of gifts are you looking for?"

"Ohhh," Dinah tried to decide, then realized, "Something blue for Karla. That's her favorite. Maybe crystals? Umm. Something cool and Native American for Roy, if you have anything. He's Dineh." She paused, trying to think of what for Momoko or Triela. "Aaaand I'm not sure about the others..." What the heck would Jaime want, if it wasn't another engineering toy?

Zo started making her way slowly around the shop, picking up fetishes and crystals as she went, putting some back and keeping some with her as she felt out what might work for Dinah's friends.

"I expect they'll like whatever you'll pick out for them," she said a little vaguely. "Simply because it's from you."

"Oooo." There was a little silver Kokopelli fetish that Dinah loved, that had to be for Roy. "You think so?" She grinned at Zo, thinking of Lena, and said, "Hopefully." She looked over in the direction of the diner, and said, "Priestly thinks you're pretty cool... Ooo, the blue quartz for Karla. Hmmmm." She paused, thinking of Triela's ongoing transformation into an almost-adult, and said, "Maybe some earrings... Priestly said you're psychic?"

Zo laughed. "Does he? I think I have some jewelry back in this corner. . . ."

No, she wasn't going to confirm or deny any psychicness.

Was she? Maybe? She certainly knew what to find for Dinah's friends. Dinah was torn, thinking that dangling earrings would look great with Triela's new look, but she'd be all 'no, I can't wear them when I work', bah.

"Any suggestions of cool places to go while we're here this week? There's so much to do."

"I usually enjoy some of the quieter beaches. But I suspect you'd be looking for something a bit more active."

"Maybe," Dinah agreed, looking mischievous. "Oh! Jen and Priestly are looking for a place to live. If you could keep an eye out for something nice, that would be a help. We might go apartment-hunting once the week's up... Ooo!" Dinah had found a little hands-on locking-pieces puzzle that would be perfect for Jaime. "This too, please."

Plus, it would give Zo a good reason to stop by, and then maybe Trucker would talk to her! Maybe?

"I'm sure they'll find something lovely." Zo took the selections up to the counter. "Now, I think I can manage a 'friend of a friend' discount."

"Excellent!" Dinah grinned and bounced over, pulling out her checkbook. "Your next coffee at the shop is on me."

Don't miss the bunches of museums and parks around. Or swing by the Art Institute and see if there might be some student shows open to the public.

It's warmer than 72 outside where I am now, and it's four AM. The heat index has us at 101 F tomorrow. How is this fair?

Ahahaha. I'm so not sure whether to be relieved or sad that Karla's not on this trip...

It's too bad this is all pre-Piper arrival. There'd be some lovely exploding heads if she were hanging about.

KARLA! GET OUT FROM BEHIND THAT COUNTER!!!

Piper: Huh?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Backpacking trip: Santa Cruz, Tuesday

The Hostel

The beach

The Boardwalk

Re: The Boardwalk

The Harbor

Downtown

Downtown - Beach City Grill

Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Re: Downtown - Zo's crystal shop

Downtown - Moddable areas

OOC

Re: OOC

Re: OOC

Re: OOC