Fleeing to the American Riviera
Sometimes, one simply needs to get out of town. Perhaps you might owe money to mobsters who are now hunting you, wanting to collect on the debt you owe them. Or perhaps you might need to flee a raging disaster, like a fire or flood. Or perhaps the very sight of your home fills you with dread, as flitting shadows conjure dark memories that torment you, day and night. Or perhaps you just need a temporary change of scenery. Either way. Recently, my wife and I took a trip to Santa Barbara to celebrate her birthday. Santa Barbara, for those unaware, is a lovely city situated on the central California coast. It's kind of like if Santa Cruz had continued going to Sunday School instead of dropping out to dabble with peyote. Its mild climate and gentle shores make it the perfect destination for a summer getaway. What follows here is a chronicle of a getaway of this nature. DAY 1 We stayed at the Hotel Californian, which, despite lacking mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice (in o