Day 1 - 30/08/2022 - Santa Clara and San José

I didn’t exactly have the blissful night’s sleep I was sure I would have after leaving Liverpool at 5am to catch a MegaBus and basically pulling an all-nighter, having barely slept in the plane (but I did manage to fit in one Disney movie and two romantic comedies, so I’m not complaining). I had been to California for the last time three and a half years ago, with plans to come back less than a year later when a little something called a global pandemic happened and I instead spent the following year learning the valuable lesson that, regardless of how bad your financial situation is, you should never move in with your boyfriend’s parents, particularly when you’ve always had an inkling that they didn’t like you very much. Every part of me was clearly so excited to be back in California that I inevitably spent the entire night staring at the ceiling, with my body not understanding why we should be spending the first few hours back here lying quietly in the dark instead of being literally anywhere else celebrating the fact that we are young, alive, single and no longer under house arrest.

With about 30% of my usual level of energy, I was happy to spend the day at home catching up with my friends, who somehow enjoy spending time with me despite the fact that I’m so horribly young (okay, I will stop with the digs at the lady at passport control now).

In the evening, my friend Joseph kindly offered to drive me around (since I can’t and refuse to ever learn) San José, which I realised I really hadn’t properly explored the last time I had been here. We passed by some of the most beautiful houses I have ever seen, which reminded me that, much as I very much enjoy my newly-built flat, I still haven’t given up on the dream of one day owning a place that looks like a witch’s cottage. The first stop was the Rosicrucian Park in San José, which looks, to me, like a set in the Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra movie. As it transpires, Rosicrucian Park is the headquarters of the English Grand Lodge for the Americas of the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, who believe its members possess secret wisdom that was handed down to them from ancient times, and, amongst other things, have a little obsession with the Ancient Egypt.

After that, we walked around the streets of San José for long enough for me to really understand why someone would enjoy living there. Joseph took me to his art studio — which I loved! — one of the many places in town that is covered with amazingly cool modern art. The city is covered in murals and art installations made by local artists, and so many great restaurants and bars that I want to try that even with a month here I’m not sure I’ll get to all of them. I had the best mocktail I have ever had at Fountainhead (passion fruit juice, lime and mint), thanks to the bundle of joy that was bartender Claire, and then tried beer (and confirmed that I still don’t like beer) at ISO Beers. There, I made the comment to the incredibly nice bartender Lars that I couldn’t help but notice that Joseph had hugged him and not me yet, but phrased it so awkwardly that he thought I was asking him for a hug and promptly gave me one by going “Hugs are free, Rita!” So I think I made a new friend while simultaneously ticking the first socially awkward moment off my list (always inevitable when it comes to me!)

One of my favourite examples of Joseph's art - for more, you can follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeruch/?hl=en

California Theatre in San José

Rosicrucian Park