Solvang and Ostriches

Since moving to L.A., I've been hearing about all the really cool things one could do outside of L.A., and a couple weekends ago I got to experience one that I've heard about for quite some time......visit Solvang.


Solvang is a Danish settlement up near Santa Barbara. It has all sorts of old world charm including a windmill, trinket shops, and most importantly Danish Bakeries......nummy, nummy bakeries. There's some excellent grub to be had starting with the giant pretzels (provided you don't ruin it with the accompanying pasteurized processed cheese product). I also got to sample my very first aebleskivers (i.e., Danish pancake balls), which my Scandinavian-descended friends had been telling me about for years. Then there is the Kringle a GIANT pastry that is filled with mazipan goodness (word of warning: it can be somewhat addictive). Of course there are chocolate shops and candy shops and fudge shops.......perhaps it's a good thing I only spent an afternoon there.

Anywho, after having gained 5 kabillion pounds in sweets, I waddled away from town to visit Ostrich Land, an ostrich farm where you can risk life and limb (or finger) to feed the giant birds.


While I slightly exaggerate the risk involved, those fowls are not what you would call warm and fuzzy. They go after their food like a jack-hammer, and they could do some serious damage to anything that gets between them and their food. Just ask my friend whose sunglasses were attacked by one.

After being overwhelmed by the size and lack of manners of the ostriches, I opted to feed the slightly smaller emus. However, they held an intimidation of their own. When you get up close and personal, you can't help but notice the resemblance between these creatures and their ancient ancestors.........the velociraptor.


But I still managed to let them have a little food.........provided they didn't get too close.