Food

Breakfast: On Sunday, I went to the Crepe Place and had three rolled crepes with chocolate sauce. It was very good. I’d definitely recommend them, and they are good if you like to eat breakfast late. However, I wanted to get up and get out during the week, so the Crepe Place didn’t work out in the manner I was thinking of. I mainly stuck with Linda’s Breakfast Place that my friend Gwen suggested – its a typical diner-style food and good options. I mainly had the egg, bacon and pancake combo – if I have a good breakfast, I usually don’t need lunch, or if I do have lunch I have a late lunch/early dinner.

Dinner: On Saturday, after dealing with tearoom business, I drove to downtown Santa Cruz next to the boardwalk and ate there. I didn’t really have time to check out the boardwalk and I wish I had, but it really wasn’t part of the intention of my trip there – I tried to stay away from touristy areas for a reason. A bit too materialistic in my opinion. I had a burger and guacamole at a near by restaurant, unfortunately I didn’t remember the name. Whenever I was in downtown Santa Cruz on Pacific Avenue, I ate at Pizza My Heart that had good pizza – its open late too so if you went out and did shopping or explored during the day then ate late this is a good option. I ate here when I went shopping on Pacific Avenue and the last evening after the public circle and tea house spa appointment. One evening I drove out to San Jose to try Falafel’s Drive In as it was San Jose’s oldest restaurants. I had Peta bread and humus and onion rings. Really good food and I’m glad I went there. Being an Aquarius that is heavily influence by Capricorn, I planned the trip around the 5 senses and 5 elements; good food, amazing sights, sensual aromas and earthy textures. 5 elements; earth (beach/forest), air (mountain), water (beach/spa), fire (sun, creativity), Spirit (meditation, healing, etc). Capricorns tend to experience the world through those sense. On Tuesday, after my trip to Big Sur, I went to Saturn Cafe and I was really disappointed in my experience there. Firstly, my entree came before my appetizer – my waitress apologize but still, I had two very large plates of food. I must’ve been tired because I ordered something and it was totally not exactly what I expected which is my fault. I ordered nachos and it was expecting just cheese, and maybe guacamole but no, it was huge with other things that I didn’t like. If the waitress asked me if I wanted to choose the things on there then I would’ve done that. Didn’t occur to me to do that – but then again I was tired. What I ate was delicious but I felt really bad for not finishing everything. Those nachos could’ve easily fed 5 people by itself. If I had seen pictures on the menu or something and known that it was huge – again maybe the waitress should’ve said something too. I tried to be polite about it and they gave me a box to put the food to take home. I didn’t order anything else and left her a good tip. To make up for it I went over to Penny’s Ice Creme afterwords and had some yummy ice cream. It was the best ice cream I had ever too – expensive sure, but so worth it!! After shopping on Pacific Avenue one evening I went to a cupcake shop on a side street called Starz Cupcakes. They are very good.

 

Shopping

I did some shopping before my first Tea House Spa experience and stopped by a cool new and used bookstore on Pacific Avenue which is called Locos Bookstore . Since Santa Cruz is spiritually minded, it was nice to see the New Age/Metaphysical section right up front and not stuffed in the back of the store. I had to ask if they had tarot cards though, they keep them under the counter for whatever reason. I bought a book on Celtic Prayers and Incantations by Alexander Carmichael. I never seen a book on celtic prayers and incantations before. Thought it might give me some more substance in my practices. I also bought a new used tarot deck that was based on the Esoteric Design of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn by US Games. Very cool imagery. I also happened upon the an herb shop called, The Happy Herb Shop I didn’t buy anything but it was a cool shop to check out.

Sunday, I went to the Capitola Art and Wine Festival as I mentioned in the Activities section in this series. I mentioned that there wasn’t a whole lot of art out there in my price range, but I did by a poster that Liz Lyons did. Apparently she’s a well known artist in the area and I swear I’ve seen her work before. Anyway, I didn’t notice that the poster was from a previous festival and not the art and wine festival of 2013 since she did that poster too. But I was mainly focusing on the art on the poster and not the date. (photo to the right not mine)

One day during the week, I think it was Monday, I went and did some shopping on Pacific Avenue. I discovered a really cool retro shop that had retro style dresses and bright accessories. My mom and I had been looking for a ‘little black dress’ and I found one in my size in one of those styles! I had always love the retro style dress and I could never find a size that fit me. So I bought it along with a pair of earrings. I also went to a metaphysical store on the other end of Pacific Avenue called Serpent’s Kiss and bought a few things there. I had been looking for a Labordorite ring as it’s good for protection against Psychic vampires and attacks… and thought this trip was a good time to buy it. I found one for $36 at Serpent’s Kiss. I also bought these cool votive spell candles for $6 each; one for prosperity and cleansing. I found a really cool pyramid necklace and pyramids are a sacred symbol to me.

I bought a few things at Big Sur too. It was expensive so I didn’t buy much. I bought petrified wood and two post cards.

I went to the Land of Medicine Buddha on the last full morning and really enjoyed my experience there. I felt a deep connection to Ksitigarbha – the destroyer of Negative and Troublesome thoughts and bought my first statue of him there.

 

 

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