Pachey

California is a bit of a microcosm of the US. It has damp places, desert, beaches, vineyards, mountains and cities. It has the very poor and the very rich. It has great art galleries and museums – and Disneyland!

California has four climates, and a long and beautiful coastline, as well as an interesting history (it was its own country for a very brief period). It has a lot of superlatives (highest and lowest points in the lower 48 states, most populous state in the Union, home to the biggest and oldest living things in the world).

In case you hadn’t guessed, I co-edited a textbook on California (which is why I know so many rather dry facts about it). But I like it because of its amazing landscape, culture and lovely, friendly people.

America is a wonderful place to visit – it’s so diverse, in terms of its people, culture and landscape. People are generally friendly and welcoming, and there’s tons of things to see and do.

It really is quite a different place from how the media portray it – of course it has its issues with politics etc, but the ordinary American people don’t reflect that.

Having one of the world’s best theatre companies right on your doorstep is fantastic, plus there’s heaps of good restaurants (the Oppo and Georgetown both spring to mind). The countryside around Stratford is very pretty – great for cycling and walking, plus it’s full of gastropubs.