Bressi Ranch, City of Carlsbad

Bressi Ranch is a huge suburban subdivision in the city of Carlsbad. As such, in the past, like so many other Ranchos in California would have been an extensive cattle ranch like Santa Rosa Ranch where we were yesterday.

Despite knowing what has been destroyed for these houses to be built we rather like the Bressi Ranch development. It has Peet’s Coffee - a regular destination, Trader Joe and Sprouts supermarkets and plenty of places to eat.

Unlike many areas Bressi has the feeling of a village community about it, with a town park and numerous other parks and open spaces and many huge houses. It’s a very wealthy area.

Todays blip is of one of those houses, shaded by palm trees with a fine display of poinsettias arranged outside. It’s all very strange. Poinsettias outside, hot during the day, Christmas decorations up on houses and streets, roses in full bloom then the sun sets around 4..45 and it cools off quickly.

We did a very un American thing today, walking a 3.5 mile round trip to the Draft Republic restaurant and tap room so we could all have a drink and not worry about driving.

Maddy came too, pushed there and back, asleep much of the time yet when she woke up she was agog with the sights and sounds around her. She was very content, snacking on baby titbits and bits of French fries, taking in the flashing coloured lights of arcade games and the action around the 10 pin bowling lanes.