Ah, getting your vehicle's oil changed: it always takes longer and costs more than one thinks it ought to. But at least one has the opportunity to catch up on back issues of Time magazine while earnest men inform one that one's air filter needs to be replaced.
Santa Cruz's streets are not like American streets. American cities usually live on a grid, which is one of the constituent elements of American naivete. Brought up to be friendly and honest, living in towns with easy-to-navigate streets, we travel only to find that the rest of the world is cautious and cold and that their streets were established by decree of the Bishop some 1100 years earlier and have not changed since then. Like those of European cities, Santa Cruz's streets loop randomly, radiating out from the old mission that stands at the center of town. Highway 1, which becomes Mission St. while in town, goes west when it says it's going north and goes east when it says it's going south. Streets change names mid-street and, since the planning board was always stoned, the streets constantly recycle names (W. Cliff Drive, E. Cliff Drive, Cliff St., Cliff Ave., Cliff Ct. [I'm not making this up]). In short, being able to navigate Santa Cruz proves that one has put down roots.
Santa Cruz: come for the otters, stay because you can't figure out how to get back on the highway.
12.13.2006
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5 comments:
Dude. You can totally change your own air filter. Don't let them do it for you.
It's hilarious trying to tell anyone how to get around Santa Cruz if they've never been here: "Ok, so Mission turns to Water at the clocktower..." "Soquel Drive is not the same thing as Soquel Avenue..."
Or trying to tell people how to get around campus: "Go up the acid steps and you'll be at Kresge Town Hall when you see the naked man"
I love our special little town.
E: noted. This time it didn't have to be changed, but that's because I let them change it last time.
H: it's definitely growing on me, especially now that it finally gave Becky a job.
I figured out why I couldnt post a comment: I dont have a "google account". So uh... I guess thats required when posting on your blog now.
Good to know!
:)
I love twisty, crazy towns! I especially like it that I don't have to drive in this one - I can't imagine trying to navigate one way streets that end up running into churches almost a thousand years old, or at least past the half millennium mark. Santa cruz sounds nice. And interesting!
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