David Braun

I lived in Galway Ireland for 6 months. While there, I was fortunate to meet up with a man in a bookstore who introduced me to the “Blasket Island books.”

This was a series of books written by people of of a medieval mindset. They lived on an an island at the furthest reaches of Ireland, which was iteself at the furthest reaches of Europe. To reach the nearest town required rowing for 8 miles in primitive craft. No one on the island had ever been to school. No one could wite. In the 1920’s a British researcher sought these people out as a source for learning the proper way to speak Irish Gaelic as it had largely been lost on the main of Ireland. In exchange, he taught a few of them to read and write their own language.

The result of all this is that in the next 20 years this village produced a wealth of literature. See the listing here

It was the most powerful entre into the Irish existance and the gaelic mind I had ever encountered. It was made all the more powerful by reading it in Ireland on drizzly days before a turf fire.

Eventually I found myself touring the Dingle peninsula by bicycle and at the very tip I came accross the Blasket Islands Cultural center

I definitely recommend a stop regardless of whether you have read the books.

Bakersfield is a hard nut to crack

Although it is the inescapable pit that some of the dustbowl Okies have found themsleves trapped in for 3 generations, it is one of the few place in California that retains the true grit of those long gone days.

The Okies can still be found in Oildale which is just over the river from Bakersfield proper. They have given birth to Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and possibly Dwight Yokum. They are hard to distinguish from other blue collar types, but their influence is pervasive and if you meet up with one in a bar, a few beers (for the Okie that is) will probably set off a tour of cultural remeberances that you won’t soon forget.

The rest of Bakersfield is a strange mix of people wishing they were somewhere else. Some pretend to be LA social elites, other think they are surfers from the “coast”, yet others think they are gangstas straight outa MTV.

Methamphetamine is a massive problem in Bakersfield. It seems to affect all but the upper 40% of socio-economic classes. It may be one of the reasons that the town seems to be in such a time-warp.

Ultimately the gem that you will find in this town will come from within yourself. Bakersfield is a multifaceted reflecting mirror that illuminates the many aspects of Americana imbedded in all of us.

I suggest you check out:

Oil fields near Taft on Hwy 33
Basque food
Oildale
Trouts bar in Oildale
Beardsley Ave. in Oildale
Black Baptist Gospel singing on Sunday
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
Delongha Hot Springs on HWY 178

Since it is a private beach, Pirate’s cove is the only beach in SLO County that has both public access AND no rules. That means that dogs are fine, smoking is OK, drinking is accepted. The place also just happens to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the county with good protection from the wind. There are no signs showing the way. Contact me if you want to go and we can plan a trip.

Imagine a 50 mile long valley of native bunch grasses, spring wildflowers, no fences, no power lines, antelope, eagles, and one road. If you are a photographer bring a wide angle lens and a whole bunch of film. The Carrizo is an acquired taste for some, but very rewarding once you appreciate it for its merits. No services of any kind so you must be self sufficient. The summer is VERY hot. The winter is probably one of the best times as there is never much rain and the skys are dramatic when stormy. In the spring, the place is crawling with photographers.

Esalen was very formative in my college years. I found out that it was possible to sneak in and stay the weekend so I did… often. The grounds have been my ideal for what human spaces should be. The tubs are stupendous- natural spring water in stone pools overhanging the Pacific. I haven’t been back for a number of years, but it is time to return