Resting at Santa Barbara again

This piece of paradise seems to be the only spot in the US that is enjoying warm weather.  Cold and snow is the news from everywhere else.  Karina has been pressing us to stay and while away the winter and we have taken advantage of her hospitality and stayed, going on hikes and playing bridge as well as enjoying the amenities of the excellent local public library.

Here is a view of the foothills on one of our hikes.

And the view towards the sea.  Santa Barbara is not unlike Noosa on the Sunshine Coast in OZ.

The two dogs that come on hikes with us.  Lexi the champion agility performing Pomeranian and Alistair the tiny Yorkie.  Lexie is resting in the creek after an arduous hike and Alistair looking cute, his speciality.

We finally made it to the Santa Barbara Mission.  This was the tenth Californian mission established by the Spanish Franciscans in the 1780s.  The purpose of the missions was the Christianisation of the local Chumash Indian population.  The main building has been rebuilt many times after earthquakes.  It is a major tourist attraction and the missions throughout the state stand as a living testimony of th Franciscan contribution to the history of California.

Inner courtyard and the chapel.