Arriving in Los Gatos is, in so many ways, like getting home: an English cup of tea; yoghurt and fruit for breakfast; a comfy sofa; plenty of rooms to spread out in; books to read and, of course, family. But - here's the thing, it's also very, very different. Every day starts and ends with brilliant blue skies and a startlingly hot sun. The streets are empty of people - everyone takes their car wherever they go, no matter how short the journey. Despite the wonderful weather, washing is almost always dried in the tumbler. Water is so short that while you can build a new swimming pool or install a new hot tub, you can't fill it. And the birds that feed on the bird feeders are not your common or garden bluetits and sparrows - they are hummingbirds.
Los Gatos is a town of just over 30,000, founded in the mid 1800's and named for the mountain lions that used to come down from the nearby Santa Cruz mountains. Near to the famous Silicone Valley, one of its largest employers is Netflix, who are currently building even more offices to accommodate their expansion.
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| Caro and Mike at the Winchester Mystery House |
It's a good hub from which to explore the area around: there's the Winchester Mystery House, where the heiress to the Winchester rifles fortune had workmen build continuously in order to save herself from the ghosts she believed were haunting her; there is the glorious coastline of Santa Cruz, where surfers sit around on their boards, waiting for the next wave, while seals bask nearby and pelicans fly overhead; there are so many fabulous restaurants to eat out in; there are reservoirs to walk around (if you are prepared to dodge the cyclists and joggers); there are numerous wineries where you can taste the local wines; but best of all there are friends and family to catch up with over wine, wine and more wine...
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| After the wine tasting... |
All in all, a great trip. Here's to next time...
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