Bubblegum Alley: This is a weird little space in between two downtown buildings. The entire length of each wall is covered, disgustingly covered, with chewed up gum. Evidently, the city authorities gave up on this little footpath alley decades ago, and let destiny takes its course. The result is a truly unique, though germy attraction.
We knew the wherebouts of this thing was somewhere around Higuera and Garden Sts. Before we saw it, we smelled it--strong odor of chewed spearmint gum, bubblegum, you-name-it- kind of gum. It was actually a larger set of twin gum walls than I had imagined. Oh, yeah, and the police officers who spoke to us at the University's orientation program told us that not only do people love to leave their gum there, they also like to pee there every night.
I just love the smell of a million people's chewed up gum in the morning!
Everyone likes to leave a little DNA behind. Carl made like he was going to push his dad into the wall, and my latent germophobia suddenly kicked in. Aaaaarrrgh!
Otherwise, San Luis Obispo is a beautiful little town on the Central coast. Surrounded by rolling hills, with the beach about 10 minutes away by car, this town is known for its fantastic Cal Poly University. A bargain university that provides a first-class education, they specialize in Architecture, Agriculture, and Engineering.
Here is the new college student at the sign on Monterey and Grand.
This is a typical dorm room. It houses two people. After spending his whole life in a tiny 1925-era bedroom, with 3 doors opening up into the space, Carl can already see that even with another person in the dorm room, he will have plenty of space. Even his closet, as tiny as the dorm closet is, is twice as wide as his closet back home. Having recently been to Europe, Carl commented that the cement buildings reminded him of the old soviet-era apartments he saw while he was on tour.
This is Musty the Mustang, who is the school mascot. Musty marks a memorial for Cal Poly students who have passed away over the years, from various wars, and a terrible airplane accident from 1960, that evidentally killed 22 or so people from the football team.
A shot of some of the student housing. You can see the big white P on the hill above the University grounds.
Back at the hotel in town. We stayed at the La Cuesta. Its right off the 101 on Monterey St, about a mile walk to downtown. This is a really nice hotel, compared with the rat trap across the street that we stayed at in April of this same year. Its got a clean solar heated pool. Complimentary Breakfast in the morning consisting of: bagels (with a toaster) oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, waffles, fruit juice, coffee, and tea. In the afternoon they have hot and iced tea and plates of cookies. They have a binder filled with the menus of every eating place in the area. Also, they have a bookshelf full of DVDs for you to watch if you want. We saw the one about the Frost/Nixon interviews, which was an interesting movie.
The water was cold, and I am spoiled by hot swimming pools. I got used to it once I got in there. The hot tub was great after the cold swim; it felt good after a long drive and a 5 mile walk around the town.
This cute little thing stands outside the Splash Cafe. They have breakfast and lunch there. It is a place I am sure we will try during one of our many trips to SLO in the next 4 years.
The Mission
For those who aren't aware of California's history, I'll put it in a quick paragraph. The Spanish Missionaries, headed by Juniperro Serra, (the statue in the photo above) started establishing Missions along a coastal route beginning in San Diego around 1769 and heading north, for two main purposes:to get a leg up on the Russians who also were exploring the territory, and to convert the Native peoples to Catholicism. San Luis Obispo came to be in 1772. The Friars finished up in Sonoma in 1823, and not long after that the Mexican Government basically evicted the Spanish guys and sent them back to where they came from. Politics, years of battles, and treaties have brought us to the here and now, where the Missions (or their remnants) are Historical Landmarks. Some are beautifully restored, others are rubble, from the centuries of earthquakes that California is famous for.
I had no idea that they named their bells until I visited this Mission.
If you click on this photo, you'll be able to read it better.
A view from the front.
Beside the sanctuary, was this beautiful grape arbor. And beside the arbor, were some very old bells.
This Mission has the biggest collection of items from its earlier days. There are rooms filled with artifacts from the early mission days, newspapers, clothing, Native American tools and clothing. So much to look at. This Mission, and all its treasures has been lovingly cared for. If you are in the neighborhood, its worth a stop, especially if you are into eras gone by.
This little stream runs right across the street from the Mission. This also appears to be the place where hippies, bums, and derelicts like to sit with their dogs, not doing anything in particular. There were lots of them there that day.
Yes, it has to be. There must be photos of the USPS office.
Here is another view of the San Luis Obispo Post Office.
SLO is a great little town. Downtown is walkable and filled with great places to eat and shop. There is just enough weirdness to make it an interesting place. I sure do wish I was the one getting to go to college!
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