Solano Avenue is our nearest boutique-y shopping street, five minutes walk from Uni Village. Every year they hold a street festival and parade, and today was their 35th (the same number of years as my parents' marriage. Coincidence?)
With students working, other partners committed to other things, and Ian and Ellen off in Napa (wine tasting...again!), the unlikely trio of Dana, Megan, and me made our way up there this morning. I'd expected a small gathering of street stalls from local vendors, but as soon as we were washed away by the sea of human traffic we realised that this thing was huge.
The entire mile-long street had been blocked off with around 12 stages for music and dancing set up along its length interspersed with food stands, local organisations' stalls, artists, shops spilling out onto the pavement...the local cinema was showing free cartoons, there was a Scientology stand with several anti-Scientology protesters stood in front shouting, and a group of Morris dancers (better or worse than Scientology? I'm not sure). The whole thing was bookended by fairground rides.
After three hours we'd fought our way to one end and back again, and emerged replete with free balloons, pamphlets, seeds, stickers, pendants, and pens. Meg was a star, walking almost the entire time, and now she's having a well deserved nap. In the meantime, something long hoped for has arrived in the village...
Two princesses.
All a bit busy.
Meg grabs some energy-restoring provisions.
You travel six thousand miles to escape, and then what happens?
Supermodel and designer baby.
Food offerings are as healthy as ever.
Can't think what to put here...
