People & Places
Living in Santa Barbara
Catherine Deshayes jumped at the chance to study for a year in Santa Barbara, California. She certainly wasn't disappointed
Four years down the line she can't help but wax lyrical about the sand, the scents and the colours.
Living in Santa Barbara is the American Dream. An hour north of LA, it's a playground for the rich and famous, all desperate to escape LA's life through a lens. My American dreams came true for one unforgettable year of fun in the sun, which has put everything since in the shade.
University of California prospectuses promised a palm-fringed paradise, nestled between mountains and sugar-white beaches. One of America's richest towns, Santa Barbara plays host to Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jackson, whilst many other stars have holiday homes along the coast.
The town owes its American Dreaminess to a 1925 earthquake, after which the town was rebuilt in Spanish-style terracotta, complemented by cool aqua tiles and lush greenery. It is a fantasy film set, with year-round sunshine, feather soft sand, crystal fountains and Baroque Church Towers. State Street, the main drag running through the centre of town, boasts exclusive boutiques, sculptures of glass dolphins, and shoals of glittering beautiful people. Even McDonalds is housed in a sun-dappled hacienda-style villa.
Santa Barbara's nickname, the 'American Riviera', is spot on. White sailing boats loll on gentle waters, and designer-clad locals wander languidly along spotless pavements. The rustic pier buzzes with seafood restaurants and aged fishermen, and local school children learn to swim in the sea, their matching red caps like fireflies glinting on the crest of each wave. Old couples snooze in candy-striped deck chairs, whilst in the background, cafés and bars spill supermodels onto the street, clutching bespoke coffees. The Santa Barbara Mission, an old religious building, is now a much visited tourist attraction, set in rose gardens, and full of beautiful antiques. Up in the Santa Ynez Mountains sits Michael Jackson's infamous Neverland ranch, surrounded by vineyards, cycling and hiking trails. The sunshine has made the grapes so lush and fragrant that the air is a heady bouquet of mulled wine...
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