“I work everyday in these fields, I am ankle-deep in mud, all I smell is pattume, and in a couple of hours il vento will blow dirt and debris in my face. Next month the rains will come; they will soak me through, and I will have to carry those wet sprout sacks up and down these muddy rows. I work ten to twelve hours every day for very little money. My young son is sick and I cannot pay the doctor. My young wife is pregnant and our second baby is on its way. Where will I get the money to feed another mouth? I promised my beautiful wife an easy life in America; all she got was hard work and desperate times. If there is a God up there, why doesn’t he show himself? Why doesn’t he make my son well? Why doesn’t he help me? I need more money! O God, if you are up there, why don’t you wave your hand, and make things better for me?” Not really expecting an answer, the rancere lowered his head and with his shavola slowly returned to working the soil. Then from out of the thick, eerie mist, he thought he heard someone, perhaps a woman, say in a soft and gentle voice: “O rancere mi. Don’t you know? You live su per la costa—not Heaven.”

The scenic coastline of northern Monterey Bay has enthralled residents and visitors alike for well over a century, yet storms and relentless waves over time have taken their toll. The authors' collection of amazing historical images is juxtaposed with photos of those same sites today, to document the slow-motion drama of Santa Cruz County's ever-changing edge.

"First comprehensive book about the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Fred Swanton, "Father" of the Boardwalk; Cocoanut Grove ballroom; eliminating sin-- liquor and skimpy bathing suits; Neptune Casino-- tragic fire and reconstruction; famous salt water Plunge & Natatorium; Giant Dipper wooden rollercoaster; Casa del Rey luxury hotel; Pleasure Pier & Cottage City; Looff's 1911 Carousel; Seaside Company origins; Thompson's Scenic Railway; the Balboa 'pleasure ship'. Includes over 175 historic photographs and much more!"--P. 3 of cover.

For the first time a thorough history of Santa Cruz Island's tumultuous past is provided. In pre-Columbian times it was a source of wealth to the indigenous peoples--the place where they made their shell bead money. During the Spanish-Mexican period it was a smuggler's haven, where fur hunters avoided the customs officials.

A chronological and pictorial history of this seaside institution, commemorating the centennial in 2007. The over 500 photographs and lively narrative tell the story of the many attractions and characters that have made the amusement park a treasury of Americana.

Santa Cruz is located on the northern tip of Monterey Bay on California's central coast. Surfing was first introduced to the U.S. mainland in Santa Cruz by three visiting Hawaiian princes in the late 1880s. Since those early days, the Santa Cruz surfing culture has blossomed into a thriving lifestyle. Many of the world's most highly regarded surfers hail from Santa Cruz. In fact, Santa Cruz, or "Surf City" as its known, has become a popular destination for surfing aficionados of all ages. Surfing in Santa Cruz is a concise historical overview of the diverse and colorful surfing culture inhabiting the area.

Once there was an endless redwood wilderness, populated by only the hardiest of people. Then, the sudden blast of a steam whistle echoed across the canyons and the valleys-the iron horse had arrived in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Driven by the need to transport materials like lumber and lime to the rest of the world, the railroad brought people seeking out new ways of living, from the remote outposts along Bean and Zayante Creeks to the bustling towns of Los Gatos and Santa Cruz. Bridges and tunnels marked the landscape, and each new station, siding and spur signaled activity: businesses, settlements, and vacation spots. Summer resorts in the mountains evolved into sprawling residential communities which formed the backbone of the towns of the San Lorenzo Valley today. Much of the history of the locations along the route has since been forgotten. This is their story. Third Revision (February 2016) Addenda available at http://www.whaleyland.com/downloads/addenda1.3.pdf Exclusive CreateSpace Discount: Enter MU236Q6V into the coupon code field and get this book for $5.00 off! Offer only valid through CreateSpace. Review this book at GoodReads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25144919)