Ojai

We visited Ojai yesterday. The name is the Spanish spelling of a Chumash word meaning "nest" and it's pronounced O-Hi. Ojai, like it's name, is nestled in a valley about 13 miles inland from Ventura, CA. 

The Coast Range of mountains are the backdrop surrounding the town. There are orange orchards. There is a Post Office with it's own bell tower.

Needless to say, the Post Office was built when it was important to make a statement. On the other side of the street is the "arcade" which offers some shopping for tourists and residents alike.

Not too far from the Post Office is a local museum, which is housed in an old Catholic Church.

I did not bother to take a picture of the new Catholic Church as it just does not have the charm the old one has. There are three "tony" private schools in town, Thacher, Ojai Valley (you have to board your horse at these 2 schools) and Villanova Prep (no horse needed). There's also a Hindu retreat center called Krotona founded by a fellow named Krishnamurti. (I don't know if you need a horse at Krotona)

Talk about a multicultural place...Chumash, Spanish, Catholic, Hindu...nestled amid the orange groves.