Kepa found himself sitting at a long table covered in a bright red table cloth. Spread out in front of him were plates of cooked steak, fried potatoes, and salad. Large bowls were filled to the brim with beans and bread. Carafes of wine were spaced evenly down the length of the table. An older […]

“What is this place?” asked Kepa. All of the windows were shuttered and the door was locked. There were no other cars parked in front. “It seems… closed?” Maite looked around, walking to the side of the building. “There’s a fronton,” she said. “I assume this must have been some kind of Basque place?” Kepa […]

Kepa nearly hit another car as he pulled over to the shoulder and stared out the window. “Bakersfield?” he said, looking at Maite. Maite just shrugged. “I don’t know anything about it.” Kepa pulled out his phone and did a quick search. “Looks like it has a long history of Basque sheepherding. It’s about two […]

They spent midday in Monterey, where they first stopped at the aquarium. Though Kepa had often gone to the beach to relax, and had even gone spearfishing in the ocean when he was younger, he had never really appreciated the multitude of colors that ocean life displayed. The tall glass panels revealed an almost dervish […]

The next day, they got up early. Once the car was packed with their suitcases, Maite checked them out while Kepa went to get coffee and breakfast. It wasn’t long before they were sitting in the car, ready to go. “So, it’s almost five hours to Santa Barbara, where Javi lives,” said Kepa. “I say […]

I’m rebranding the story — the plot continues, but I thought I’d add a little bit of a splash. After a delayed start to their day, they headed out to the street.  “Do you still want to check out those gardens?” asked Kepa as they strolled past a few cafes that were packed with students. […]