Bakersfield

Since we wanted to see the Redwoods, there was no way we could drive all the way to Huntington Beach in the same day. Plus-we're on vacation! Who wants to stress?

So we stayed in a Holiday Inn Express, right off the highway, strictly picked for it's accessability to the highway. It turned out to be a hidden gem.

The room was very nice. Of course, we had highway noise but who cares when it's too hot to even think about opening any windows. It was a suite with a separate sleeping area, two big beds for the kids. Wifi and breakfast was free. It was really simple and small but there was this little pool in the back.

The temperature was well over a 100°F and it was a welcome relief. It wasn't very scenic (again, next to the highway) but we were glad to get wet!

I had been given a restaurant recommendation by Alice's husband Scott when I was in Sacramento. He explained that there is a big Basque population in Bakersfield and I asked the staff how we could get there. The guy at the desk confided in me that it was kind of far away and not in a very good section in town. He gave me the name of another Basque restaurant which he said was almost as good, just down the street.

Daniel's cousin married a Basque girl and we went there for the after-party a few years ago. Plus, I've been to the Spanish Basque region when Todd was teaching English there.

I jokingly asked if anyone spoke French and the hostess didn't say anything. She took us to a corner table and announced "The waitress who works here is French Basque. This will be a nice surprise!" She was very nice and told us her story. "Every year I'd say 'another year...' and thirty years later, I'm still here!" I actually had never heard a real French Basque accent (the cousin's wife grew up in Paris) so that was interesting.

The food was good and it was a really local crowd. It turned out to be a good experience, for what was just meant as a stopover en route down south.