Even Here

This morning, my husband and I took a nostalgic walk through the newly-refurbished El Encanto Hotel. Even without the sorely-missed, shabby-chic patina of age, everything looks lovely and elegant (and expensive)! We could well imagine the joy of relaxing in the garden or restaurant or… WHINE, WHINE, WHINE! What was that? Oh no. Leaf blowers. Even here.

Aren’t leaf blowers supposed to be illegal in Santa Barbara? And why would paying guests hoping for a peaceful retreat from the noisy world come to an expensive hotel that allows such a jarring racket, going on and on? One can only imagine the pain of waking up at the El Encanto after having enjoyed a few of those sunset cocktails the night before. What are the managers thinking?