My first trip to California!

Last week I was in California for a meet up with all of my new co-workers.

I had the most incredible time! I feel like I just got home from summer camp and miss all my new friends – only I get to keep working with them every day!

Every year Automattic (my employer) brings all of its employees together for a week. This year we spent a few days in San Francisco and then went to Santa Cruz for some beach and pool side fun!

Here are some photos. OK a lot of photos. Click on the first one and you can scroll through the photos at a larger size, or hover over each photo for a description.

In San Francisco! Waiting at the airport for our shuttle.

Morning from the Westin. Westin is actually etched in the window.

Automattic lounge on Hawthorne Street

Our little WordPress museum

Inside our lounge, listening to 4 minute flash talks.

200 of my newest friends

Felt a little like summer camp 🙂

Working on our team projects

On-going ping pong tournament

Picked up my new Timbuk2 bag, complete with the WordPress embroidered logo

Surprises in my new bag

Happy coworker

Pint sized beers

California Pizza House

San Francisco street

Giants vs Padres game

Pre-game party at the stadium

and drinks!

And a view from the edge of the field

What perfect grass!

Me at AT&T Park

Co-workers waiting to get a tweet on the big screen

Victory!

Waiting for the game to start

Remote chopper like camera

Great game – final Giants game of the season

And they squeezed out a win!

Beautiful Santa Cruz sunrise

Morning view from my hotel room

Saw my first palm trees this trip!

The sound of the waves was awesome

Here is the hotel from the beach. All rooms face the ocean. My room had a big wide patio door, no screen, that I could leave wide open and enjoy the fresh air and ocean sounds

Me walking in the Pacific ocean!

The waves were really powerful when they hit the beach

Really nice sand beach

Lifeguards must have left for the season

Lots of surfers in Santa Cruz. This older man looked exhausted

Pool had a bar

And beautiful lawn chairs

View of the wharf from my room.

Palm trees are really cool. We had gorgeous weather. Down to 11-13C at night, but mid 20’s and sunny during the day

We had the entire Dream Inn to ourselves. Highly recommend this place – only hotel right on the beach!

Took a trip out to see the California redwood trees. They are SO TALL

Visited the Mystery Spot

Interesting place

Kinda gimmicky

So ridiculously difficult to stand when all your sense of level and balance is distorted

Worth a visit if you are in Santa Cruz

Our tour guide Jack

Lunch at the hotel restaurant, watching some of our brave coworkers returning from their surfing lesson

I could spend a few weeks on this chair. The bartender asked if I wanted a shot of rum on top of my rum. Yes was really the only answer. Same when she asked if I wanted whip cream 🙂

Imagine sitting in the sun without blackflies and mosquitos?

All night we could hear the sea lions bark. I walked out on the boardwalk one day to find where they hid out, sleeping under the wharf.

Found a take out place on the wharf for lunch

I’ve never had fish tacos, had to give them a try! I was a mess, covered in sauce, and had to fight off the seagulls and pigeons. They were ok though.

Walking back on the wharf, looking at the Santa Cruz boardwalk, complete with a roller coaster and ferris wheel

I felt like I was living in a post card all week.

Plaque for O’Neill’s Surf Shop

Flying out of San Francisco

Until next time California!