Last Friday, I took the day off and drove down to Santa Cruz just to hang out. After the thick marine layer burned through, which took until about 1 p.m., it was a sunny, breezy day. In the morning, I drove around the residential area taking pictures (until one of the neighbors came out and started staring at me.) I then had lunch in downtown (which is quite nice but maybe a little bit generic) and then headed down to the boardwalk on a cruiser bike that I rented for $8. I crossed the San Lorenzo river over some old railroad tracks and made my way east along the cliffs overlooking the beach, until I reached the lighthouse. Pretty sweet stuff.

I really like Santa Cruz -- it seems like such an idyllic, laid back place where life is simply conducted at a slower pace. The guy at the bike rental greeted me with a big smile, handed me the bike with no questions asked, and when I returned an hour and seven minutes later, only charged me the $8 for one hour instead of $16 for two. Hell, I wouldn't mind spending my summers there. Or retirement.

P.S. the "Welcome Alzheimer's" sign in the previous post is actually in Santa Cruz; it actually says "Welcome Alzheimer's Foundation." If that sign looks familiar.. well, then it's because you have a good memory. Yes, Stanford had its Law School Formal there two years ago. But I've never been during the day, until now.