Three Cent Stamp
Amusing musings and streams of consciousness

This weekend, Bill and I headed over to Santa Cruz, as I wanted to take pictures of the town before everyone was out and about. I was particularly interested in taking architectural pictures and those of storefront windows, and I knew this would be difficult in the middle of the day.  So early Sunday morning we drove out to Pacific Avenue, a very touristy area, which is usually crowded anytime the weather is great – like today.  In the summer you will typically find street artists performing for tips or just for fun and a wave of Hawaiian shirts, since it’s only a few miles from the beach. But this morning, aside from a few locals, the guys washing the sidewalks and one homeless guy sleeping at the café outside the bookstore, there were few people around and about. We walked up and down the streets snapping away, both Bill and I taking well over a hundred photos (they add up fast). It was easy to tell the old architecture from the newer buildings that we were forced to rebuild after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 (5:04 pm, on October 17, 1989 to be exact).  Four of the oldest buildings that had been destroyed had been built in 1894 and had withstood the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.  Many of the buildings that fell, which subsequently had to be demolished, were on Pacific Avenue.  Bill and I did not live here then, and in fact we had not yet even met. But I do remember the quake very well. At that time, I lived about 35 miles away and I had just gotten home from the hospital that morning after having had surgery. I had taken a pain pill and just laid down to rest. I was on the phone with my boyfriend at the time and I heard him say, “Oh shit” and then the phone line went dead. Thank goodness we haven’t had another shaker like that again.

The weather  on this early Sunday morning was eerie, because it feels just like that of a perfect, spring day. The cool, crisp fall scented air is gone. The only hint that we are given that it is autumn is the colors of the trees in yellows and pumpkin orange.  There are a few locals scurrying about this sleepy morning, getting coffee, breakfast and the morning paper. The few people we see are wearing shorts. I wish that I had worn shorts, too, for the light sweater I chose to wear was already making me feel warm.  But I didn’t exactly plan out the morning out very well. We have only enough change to feed the meter for 40 minutes, which I guess worked out OK in the end, because I also didn’t bother to charge my camera battery and by the time the 40 minutes are over my camera is out of juice.  On the other hand, I dragged Bill out earlier than he likes and he’s now getting cranky and in need of caffeine. So we pack up, head back to the car where Webster greets us as if he hasn’t seen us in two weeks, and head out for breakfast. Perfection. 

 

 

Before the crowds arrive.

 

Older Architecture … buildings still standing.

 

An example of how the town was demolished by the 1989 quake.

 

Newer architecture, after the the earthquake.

 

Locust Street, off Pacific Ave. A popular intersection where street performers usually entertain locals & tourists.

Tags: autumn, California, earthquake, Fall, Fun, Santa Cruz, Weekend Fun