San Juan Capistrano , General info:
8/10

San Juan Capistrano is a city with over 200 years of history. It's just a few minutes from the beach by car or bicycle (if you know what you're doing),

San Juan Capistrano , Different stuff:
8/10

San Juan Capistrano is the home of the "Jewel of the Missions," a 200 year old Mission founded by a Spanish Catholic Priest, Father Junipero Serra, who founded many other Missions along the coast of California. San Juan is also the home of the returning swallows. The Return of the Swallows is celebrated every March 19, and the Swallows Day Parade (the largest non-motorized parade in the Western United States) is held on a Saturday around that time. The day before the parade is known as "Hoosegow Day," where anyone can be jailed (for fun) in an old iron barred jail cell, especially when not wearing some sort of cowboy attire. Freedom usually consists of a "bribe" of a dollar or a kiss on the cheek from a lady friend for the jailor.

San Juan Capistrano , Don't miss:
9/10

During the Summer months, Mission San Juan Capistrano hosts "Music Under the Stars," featuring live Big Band, Jazz, Blues, and Classical music, as well as dinner and dancing. Across from the Mission is The Swallows Inn, a Bar and Pool house voted "Best Night Life" by the Capistrano Dispatch. Live music, dancing and fun, must be 21 to enter.

San Juan Capistrano , Food:
7/10

Cedar Creek in, at the corner of Ortega Highway and Del Obispo has very good food. Try the Monte Cristo Sandwich. Augustin's Mexican Food in the Farm to Market shopping center has excellent carne asada tacos. For a quick fruit snack, go to the Kinoshita Farm organic produce market at the corner of Alipaz and Camino del Avion. The Laguna Cliffs Marriot off Del Obispo just passed PCH has an excellent Sunday brunch

San Juan Capistrano , Hotels:
9/10

Mission Inn, next to the Mission, and Laguna Cliffs Marriot, off Del Obispo passed PCH

Stafford, Staffordshire , Cheap stuff:
1/10

The local market survives - just, given the competition it faces (see above). In the markey one may buy artfully camouflaged poor-quality fruit and veg (that's produce), dodgy electrical goods, replacement hoses for old washing machines and, an exciting addition to the local retail experience, Polish foodstuffs.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Different stuff:
5/10

Stafford has in recent years become home to a large number of mostly young people from eastern Europe. They are quiet, polite, hardworking, healthy and attractive, and perform sterling service in local shops and farms. This failure to blend in with the locals has caused some comment. Mostly appreciative.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Don't miss:
6/10

Um. The open-air Shakespeare at the castle at the end of June is fun. Unless it rains. The park alongside the river has been replanted and developed and is rather pretty in the summer. Unless it's flooded.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Food:
2/10

Don't ask. There are no decent restaurants in Stafford. Although the cafe in Marks is OK.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Hotels:
3/10

The Swan, an old coaching inn, on the main street. There are others, but none that I'd consider. There's a more upmarket one in the village of Acton Trussel, a few miles out of town.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Safety:
7/10

If you're in any way vulnerable (ie. aged, young, drunk or drugged, lost), best to avoid walking around the small areas of suburban low-income housing on the outskirts of town. Gangs of amateurishly unpleasant children and youths might well give you a hard time, in between smashing the glass in bus shelters and gobbing on the few remaining public telephones. Also, the town centre after 8pm on a weekend evening is the rightful domain of the drunken British young adult. There are drunken assaults, there is vomit, there are loud and ugly voices. It's not pleasant. Other then that, no probs.