New Year holidays trip. Part 1 :)

How did you meet New 2011 Year? :) I met it pretty much exciting . In my mother country we believe that your new year depends on how you met it: if the holiday was cheerful, next year will be pleasant and joyful.

So... My hubby and I decided that we have to spend the holidays traveling because we really like it. And yes, we'd love to travel a lot next year :). So... San Diego was our destination for this time.

It's already kinda our family tradition to go this time of a year to San Diego. LOL We've been there 3 years in a row. Usually, we've gone there on Christmas, but this year my hubby couldn't make it on Christmas.

We hit the road on January 31. Our first day route was on HWY 1 which is a really scenic place on California map. It runs along ocean shore waving, and you'll never know what is waiting for you around next turn... what view is waiting for you... Weather forecast has shown that it should be partly cloudy. Well.. it was partly sunny. :) I would say very very partly sunny. Honestly, I was expected to take a lot of pictures on the road, but it was so gloomy... the sky and lighting was so boring... See yourself..





We've been driving whole day and arrived at night to Solvang. Solvang is a small town in California which is built in Dutch style. It's like a small fairy tale town lost among California's hills. I've been there before in my first trip. So I knew what to expect, but this time Solvang went beyond my expectation. :) It was like to get in small and festive doll town.




Lights are everywhere...



It was New year night, and we planned to have a holiday dinner at some restaurant. I was surprised because all restaurants were closed. I mean, restaurants in historical downtown. I mean ALL restaurants were closed over that night. We found only one bar with sign that they work late on New Yer night... UNTIL 10 P.M. It was a little disappointing but on the other hand, there were very few people on the streets. We could just walk around, take night pictures, and nobody spoiled my photographs showing up on them :).


Especially, I was impressed by shop windows. They were decorated so nicely!


This is a beer mugs shop. So many of them, and everyone is a piece of art.


I felt like I really got in a doll town. :)



And of course Dutch bakery :)


But night walking was not the only one our activity that night :) In the hotel, our holiday feast and Champagne were awaiting for us... Yeh, we brought them in a case we couldn't get a table in a restaurant. I was worried all restaurants are overbooked. Well... they were just closed.

More pictures from this trip :)