We haven't posted our pictures yet, but we live in Santa Cruz, California, 5 minutes from several gorgeous surfing beaches. Our lovely 2-story 3-bedroom home is almost new.

UPSTAIRS: a master suite with a deep tub and walk-in shower; two single bedrooms which share a full bathroom; a laundry room with extra large washer and dryer. One bedroom also has a long couch and the other has a desktop computer, and a desk with office machines.

DOWNSTAIRS: a third bathroom; a large, elegant dining room; formal living room with a sofa which opens to a queen sized bed; lovely family room with leather furniture and TV and fireplace; wireless DSL and satellite TV with hundreds of [acceptable] channels including TV5Monde; large fenced-in back yard and beautifully landscaped front yard with covered porch and comfortable furniture.

This area is a microcosm of the entire USA, so you can see the whole country in day trips: mountains with towering redwoods (Sequoia) and hiking paths; several beautiful beaches with free concerts in the evenings and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (an amusement park on the beach); quaint villages on the beach which bring people from around the world; farm lands, rolling hills and peaceful valleys, surfing championships, deep-sea fishing, whale watching.

PERFECT WEATHER!!!! Not or humid, just a little coastal fog in the morning and beautiful days. 40 minutes from Monterey/Carmel/Pebble Beach/Big Sur, 80 minutes from San Francisco by car, 1 hour from San Francisco airport, 30 minutes from San Jose airport/Silicon Valley/major amusement parks, 5 hours drive to Los Angeles, 8 hours to San Diego, 4 hours to Lake Tahoe/Sierra Nevada mountains.

Our residential neighborhood is peaceful, with a pretty tree-lined street, right on the municipal bus route, near a college and a major University, but walking distance to stores and restaurants. All shopping and facilities and cinema, etc., is within 3-5 km. You'll love it.

For panoramas of California, go to:
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/california/california.php
http://www.santacruz.org/index.shtml

AMENITIES:
Garden, DSL Wireless Internet Access, Desktop Computer, Washer/Dryer, FAX, Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor, Dining room, Satellite TV, Stereo/HiFi, Balcony/Deck with outdoor dining.

We will include 2-for-1 coupons for you for restaurants, all activities, boating, golf, rentals, etc., our area, Monterey/Carmel, and San Francisco area.

ATTRACTIONS nearby:
Country club, golf, many excellent restaurants, shopping, theaters, health hlub, forests, ocean, mountain, trails, Lakes, biking, surfing, diving, hiking, boating

We are very tidy and careful with homes and furniture, etc. No pets.

Ron is a 60 year old personal fitness trainer and American football coach with a winning personality and a zest for life. He exercises and loves peaceful places.

Nancy is a 58 year old French teacher at a private Christian high school and a publisher of English language materials for teenagers and adults (www.beyondphonics.com). Nancy speaks French and Spanish, reads Italian and Portuguese. She is interested in everything medieval, reading, languages, anything about Europe, film, nature, culture.

Darren is a 21-year old University student (International Studies) and has studied Italian and Spanish. He loves music of all kinds, creating music on his computer, playing guitar and bass, singing, collecting books and videos about history and other cultures, classical literature. He will bring a very responsible friend, and they will be on side trips much of the time.