Our home, Santa Barbara, California, is a coastal paradise that has captured our heart many many years ago.

Wherever we lived in the past – whether in Los Angeles, Zurich (Switzerland), Seattle and San Francisco – , we would always travel to the “Cote d’Azur” of the US West Coast, and enjoy everything that makes this place so compelling to us: natural beauty, fascinating flora and fauna, rich history and culture, stunning architecture (which ranges from Spanish Colonial to Mediterranean Revival), and a great local food and wine scene.

While the 2 years of the Pandemic were challenging for us (like to millions of other people), it allowed us to relocate to California’s Central cost and turn this ‘Happy Place’ as travelers and visitors into our forever home – while keeping our jobs and work remotely..

One of the main reasons we love living in Santa Barbara is its location. Nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the city boasts miles of pristine beaches, lush parks, and scenic hiking trails.

But not only that: The city is just a 30-minutes drive from the wine country in Santa Ynez Valley, which is home to over 200 wineries and tasting rooms. There, we take scenic drives through the rolling hills , sample some of the region’s finest wines, and enjoy the picturesque views all year around.

As somebody once said: “Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends.” In the spirit of these words, we are lucky to call Santa Barbara home.

Here are a few photographic impressions of our first years at the American Riviera.