The compass points further south. We drive into to Solvang, a town that looks like being punched out of Denmark and replanted into California. It was founded in the beginning of the 20th century by Danish immigrants, whats not only reflected in the many Anderson and Petersen name plates. The once started Southern Scandinavian architectural style was consequently continued till today. Corresponding souvenir shops and restaurants shall not be missed. Santa Barbara in comparison looks like copied from a Mexican picture book. The here located meteorological divide makes itself imminently felt with raising temperatures.
We go on the Pan Americana to Malibu and to Los Angeles, with 15 million inhabitants after New York City USAs biggest conurbation. Actually it is a densely packed accumulation of a multitude of cities for which one of the cities names was chosen standing for all of them. Six-, seven-, up to twelve-lane highways cut through the Moloch. The excellently fully developed road network was recorded as exemplary for long time. Unfortunately the town planners poorly looked ahead and relied on private transport in a one-sided way. After the system collapsed about 20 years ago, and without being able to build multi-storey freeways due to the constant earthquake risk, everybody put up with the all-day endless rush hour. There are stricter emission rules in California to counteract the threatening smog risk than in other parts of the country. We find an above-average number of hybrid cars in Los Angeles.
Thanks to Lissy navigation through countless motorway intersections is relaxed, and we eventually reach Irvine undamaged. We visit Camille, the super-sporty iron woman whom we met while hiking in Grand Staircase – Escalante.