August 31 Santa Barbara, CA

Surprisingly the train got into Los Angeles an hour and ten minutes early so we had a little time to explore around Union Station.

We took a stroll along Olvera Street which, although closed at 8 am on a Sunday (go figure), was really nice.  We will have to go back again when it is open.  Their website describes this street as:

Olvera Street, known as “the birthplace of Los Angeles,” is a Mexican Marketplace that recreates a romantic “Old Los Angeles” with a block-long narrow, tree-shaded, brick-lined market with old structures, painted stalls, street vendors, cafes, restaurants and gift shops.  Olvera Street was created in 1930 “to preserve and present the customs and trades of early California."  Many of the merchants on Olvera Street today are descended from the original vendors. 

Small shops on Olvera Street 

 Mural on the wall of the Mexican Consulate

By the time we got back on the train we were most impatient to get home but it was really lovely coming along the coast, checking out the campsites and reminiscing about times we spent in each campsite.  Pulling into Santa Barbara we saw a couple of people we knew and when we got off the train we had a wonderful surprise to find a group of friends to welcome us home!  What a treat!!

So now the 86 day adventure has finished and we’ve had an incredible experience!  Still, it's terrific to be home.

I think Liliana was glad to see us - she didn't run away and hide when we came in!!

 And amazingly, our luggage beat us to Santa Barbara as the bags were put on the earlier train we could have taken since we got in early. We decided to stay with the train we were booked on as we had arranged to have a friend pick us up - incredible.

Sending love R/P