Nicci Travel

Capitola, California

Life was conspiring against me completing my one year of daily blogging. (Today is the last day.) I had hoped to take new photos today but had forgotten to take all my cameras including my phone. But today, Capitola looked much like it did in June when I posted this picture (except for the cute seal we saw today, *heart pang*) so I decided to go back and do a painting rendition of that photo.

On that day I also didn’t have my camera so the phone saved the day.

One of these days I’ll get to the beach with my DSLR. Maybe on a stormy day…
I think that long dark streak is seaweed.
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Nicci Travel

Christmas from around the world, Santa Monica California, Leanne Cole Photography

I need to do two posts today because I took some new Christmas photos for Leanne Cole’s Christmas from around the World series and the deadline is today. Actually, I’m a little late. There are already some gorgeous photos on her site so perhaps mine will go up next week. But do click on the above link because the photos have so much heart they brought a tear to my eye.

These were taken at

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To put it in context, this is the beach scene in California during the holiday season:

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Nicci Local, Travel

Out and about in San Jose

Across from the very modern and fancy Santana Row is this old coffee shop. The sign is so faded you can barely see “Coffee.” Circa 1950s?

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But here’s some important news. There are food trucks at Valley Fair mall! Here’s the mall entrance:

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And right down there, in front of a restaurant (!) are a couple trucks:

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I’m surprised the mall allows them to compete with their tenants.

I didn’t notice the  strings of lights until I loaded these pictures this morning. Interesting how many things we don’t notice.