Santa Barbara Animal Adventure

Mr. P had a wonderful time traveling to Santa Barbara, California from January 31 to February 4 with Mara to meet up with her friend Tara! They encountered travel woes, a billion cute animals (including the cutest ostriches ever), they went to a film festival and hounded film star Jennifer Lawrence, went to the beach, watched butterflies mate, and went whale watching! How do you fit all that into a few days? Mr. P and his guest are pros at this kind of thing. Here we go:

A crazy layover in Denver for Mr. P and Mara as they missed their connecting flight.

Alas! A beach and a drink in Cali, just how this traveling pickle likes it.

Hello hippie cupcake!

Mr. P enjoys the view from the Santa Barbara courthouse tower. (Looks a bit European, eh?)

What up, Ben Franklin? You like chillin' with a pickle, or what?

Ben must have not liked chillin's with Mr. P. He put these pigeons on him! BIRD ATTACK!

Enjoying a bagel while waiting to board the whale watching boat! WHALES!

Tara and Mr. P trying to stay dry and look for whales at the same time.

Look out One Eyed Willie, we're coming up right behind ya! Well, Mr. P and Tara that is.

At a "weird bar." GAME OVER. Poor Mr. P, he's never been good at this game.

Hello film fest! Hello HUNGER GAMES star Jennifer Lawrence. Check out Mr. Pickle's bow & arrow! His skills could give Katniss a run for her money. In his mind.

Theater front. Trying to get his eyes on THE Jennifer Lawrence.

In the meantime, may as well practice some Katniss-style bow moves...

Alas! Jennifer Lawrence is spotted! Look at Mr. P, being all cute and blurry and stalkerish.

Pickle-blur inside the theater, waiting for J-Law to give her interview and get her award. Yes, inside! It was a beautiful, old-style movie palace! This green guy does enjoy a good film.

Checking out the butterfly preserve. The area is full of eucalyptus trees and milkweed plants, so it's an ideal place for them to stop on their migration to and from Mexico. Mr. P LOVES monarchs.

If you walk up a path from the preserve you end up on this bluff. Great view!

Mr. P's lovely hosts, Mara and Tara. No, their names don't rhyme, and he kept getting it all confused.

Attempting to feed the ostriches at the ostrich farm. OSTRICHES! They are sooooo cute and Mr. P just wanted to pet one.

Then he saw the signs and decided against it. Even though he has survived alligator attacks on more than one occasion.

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?

They stopped in a Frankenmuth/Gaylord-esque town (except a Danish version) in the mountains for lunch. It was strange to see a bunch of Nordic stuff in the middle of the California hills. The food was amazing though: Danish sausage, Swedish meatballs, cabbage, pan-fried potatoes, and of course, PICKLES! Mr. P was in heaven.

Onto a mini horse farm! Do you C Mr. Pickle?

After leaving the mini-horse farm, they passed by an animal rescue park/petting farm and had to stop. Mara says it was the happiest place she's ever seen. The animals were all running around in the same pens in harmony, and they were all so CLEAN! She tried to take a picture of Mr. Pickle riding on the tortoise, but it was too fast and he kept falling off.

The baby mini-donkeys like to snuggle with people at naptime. Tara and Mr. P. were happy to keep this baby company. Mr. P. tipped his hat down and was about to take a snooze, too.

Happy, crazy animals playing.

Hannah's mom runs the animal rescue. What a fun job!

When she would yell "Heeeeey, Tom!" one of the turkeys would gobble.

Last stop, the lavender farm! The lavender wasn't really blooming, but there was a fun purple store that sold lavender products. Mr. P. helped Mara pick out some sachets to take home!

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Alas, an action-packed trip comes to end. So much fun was had! Mr. P thanks his gracious hosts. It's amazing how every trip to California is so different!

Don't forget to check out his itinerary and see if you can fit Mr. Pickle into you travel plans!

New Orleans or Bust!

Mr. Pickle was the lucky guest on another business trip with Miss Olivia. This time they stayed States-side and headed to New Orleans from October 12-17. He's been one busy traveling pickle lately! And he's loving every minute. One minute he's in France, the next minute he's in the French Quarter.

Planning time! Books and beads.

Mr. P says hello to the New Orleans Convention Center.

Tiny swag at the neuroscience convention. (I said it was a busines trip!)

A beautiful early morning in Jackson Square.

Yes, yes, and yes. Beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde. He is looking like a most dapper pickle ready to devour ALL THE SWEETS.

Why must Mr. Pickle encounter alligators every time he visits New Orleans? At least he manages to escape the clutches of death each time. Phew.

Mr. P enjoys some unique corncob ironwork on Royal Street. He's the size of corn!

Eyeing some chicken and frog cakes at Croissant d'Or Bakery. I don't even want to know what these are. Thanks Olivia for taking him to yet ANOTHER bakery :)

They visited100 year old Central Grocery for a muffuletta, because apparently no trip to New Orleans is complete without this muffuletta.

Mr. Pickle checks out this original soda fountain at the Pharmacy Museum. This place sounds pretty cool!

Mr. P meets his first voodoo doll at the museum. He's not quite sure what to make of the poor thing.

Would you like some voodoo goofy dust?

This cute green guy makes a spectacle of himself at the spectacle display at the Pharmacy Museum.

An original pharmacy show globe! Mr. Pickle was happy not to break it.

Enjoying a view of the Mississippi River and the river boat Natchez and the plus-shaped World Trade Center.

Please take one pickle at Preservation Hall. Pickles for the soul!

How about a sip of a cherry hurricane wine slushie? Yes please!

Mr. P and Miss O enjoy a walk all the way down Magazine Street with a carrot, beet, kale juice. Yep, this pickle digs kale.

They even caught some Lousianna-made shorts at the NOLA film festival!

Fpr some reason, pickle things are everywhere. Like this pickle bottle stopper. Mr. Pickle is perplexed, his face just doesn't show it.

Wow! Olivia sure can pack in some sight seeing while on these business trips, and Mr. P is always happy to guide her along.

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Next up is Chicago and some east coast touring. Check out his itinerary and let me know if you wish to take him with you somewhere! He'd love to show you his hat collection.

Auf Wiedersehen, Your Highness

Mr. P had a most fabulous time touring a bit of England and Germany with Donald from April 21-May 7. They were on a mission of film festivals, and Mr. Pickle got to take in some of the sights along the way. He had such fun, and came home with a bit of the German language under his belt, thanks to his gracious host.

 Taking a breather at the Brandenberg Gate in Berlin, Germany. 

 He fell in love with old buildings! Such architecture! Like this cathedral in Berlin. 

A sunny dip in the flowers in Oberhausen, Germany, with a film festival on his mind. 

Mr. P checks out the beauty of the Kensington Gardens in London, England. Apparently this is a place of elegant avenues and architecture.

 Elegance indeed, for this royal pickle at the Kensington Gardens.

Mr. P enjoys the view from Ormskirk, England.

All aboard! Mr. P sees circles as he waits at Paddington Station in London. I wonder what he's glancing at...

A few weeks, a few countries, and a pocketful of fun. It was Mr. Pickle's first trip to Europe and he was enthralled to take in some of the culture. He's totally switching gears for his next trip and is on his way to the Bahamas! It's only May and he's been all over the world! Have I mentioned how jealous I am of this little green guy?!

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Do you have a trip coming up that you think Mr. Pickle would enjoy?? 

Check out his itinerary, and email nomadicpickle [at] gmail.com if you want to take him somewhere. His summer is wide open!