San José (Sep. 4, 2019):
Baker
Los Angeles
Monterey
San Diego
San Francisco
Saint Joseph
Saint Louis the Bishop
Santa Barbara
Solvang
They're not from California, but I'm adding them because we also did them on this trip:
Grand Canyon (Arizona)
Las Vegas (Nevada)
Tijuana (Baja California, Mexico)
History of Saint Joseph in a few lines:
Origins:
The area where San Jose is located today was originally inhabited by the Ohlone people, who occupied the Santa Clara Valley for thousands of years. Their villages, routes, and subsistence practices formed a cultural fabric based on hunting, fishing, and gathering, closely tied to the natural environment. In 1777, Spanish colonists founded the Pueblo of San José de Guadalupe, the first civilian settlement in California.
Middle Ages:
There is no equivalent Middle Ages in this territory; while Europe was developing medieval structures, the region remained inhabited by indigenous communities such as the Ohlone, who maintained their own social systems, local traditions and a way of life independent of European historical evolution.
19th Century:
Following Mexico's independence in 1821, San Jose became part of the Mexican administration, characterized by agricultural and cattle ranches. In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, the area was occupied by U.S. forces, and in 1848 it was officially incorporated into the United States. In 1849, San Jose briefly became the first capital of the State of California. The arrival of the railroad in subsequent decades spurred its economic growth and improved its connection to other regions.
Present:
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, San Jose was known for its extensive orchards and fruit industry, earning it the nickname "Valley of Heart's Delight." As the 20th century progressed, particularly after World War II, the city evolved toward technology and innovation, becoming the heart of Silicon Valley. Today, it is a diverse, economically dynamic city and one of the world's leading technology hubs.
There's not much to see, but we found it really fun to see the typical fraternity houses on campus. In fact, we even went inside the university to check out the atmosphere 😅.
Google and Facebook are also there, where you can take the typical photo.
San José goes very well with San Francisco because of its proximity within the Bay Area and because it is the natural gateway to Silicon Valley, and with San Luis Obispo because it fits perfectly into routes that cross California from north to south passing through mid-sized cities, vineyards and quiet areas of the central coast.
Information obtained from the web https://www.exteriores.gob.es
Passport: It must be electronic and have a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of entry into the U.S. and at least two blank pages. The passport must have been issued after 2006.
ESTA form: Spanish citizens must complete the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) form at least 72 hours before their flight. This allows stays of up to 90 days without a visa. 40,27$/Person. LINK.
Return ticket: You must present a return ticket dated within 90 days to prove that you will leave the country within that time.
Travel insurance: It is recommended to have adequate travel insurance due to the high cost of medical care in the USA. In our case, we always used Iati, but lately we've been using Globalfine, which is much cheaper.
Vaccines: There are no mandatory vaccinations for entry.
Special conditions: If you have traveled to certain countries, such as Cuba, Iran, or Syria, after specific dates, you may need a visa instead of an ESTA.
International driving permit: It is requested through the website of the DGT.
It costs €10.51. The good thing is you can order it online and pick it up without an appointment. It took a couple of days for ours, then you go to pick it up and it's a cardboard card like the ones they had 20 years ago.
Travel insurance: It is recommended to have road insuranceHeh. The best known and most complete ones are Iati y Heymondo, if we don't need insuranceWe'll grab him with... oh fat Globalfine which is much cheaper, in this case we use Iati.
Payment card/currency exchange: we always go with Revolut definitely.
Roaming: NO There is, so if you have data enabled you can take a nice little gift back.
GPS: Maps.me Download the maps for Spain and they work great offline, whether you're on foot, by car, or on public transport.