Sacramento: Humidity, Ghosts, and a Really Good Taco
okay, so sacramento. it wasn’t on the ‘must-see’ list, honestly. i was chasing a lead on a vintage synth - a Roland Juno-106, specifically - and the trail ended up here. turns out, the guy collecting them also runs a tiny, unbelievably good taco truck. priorities, right?
let me tell you about the weather. i just looked and it’s… clinging to everything right now, like a damp blanket. ninety-one percent *humidity, which is wild. the thermometer said 9.64 degrees, but it felt like 9.2. honestly, it’s the kind of air that makes your hair frizz and your existential dread feel extra potent. the locals seem used to it, though. they just… exist within the moisture.
and the neighbors? well, if you get restless, San Francisco and Lake Tahoe are within shouting distance, apparently. i overheard someone at a coffee shop (more on that later) complaining about the weekend traffic to Tahoe. apparently, it’s a nightmare. they were very specific about the nightmare.
so, the synth. didn’t get it. the guy wanted way too much. but the tacos… oh, the tacos. “El Sol” - find it. seriously. it’s parked near the Old Sacramento Waterfront (check out reviews on Yelp). i heard from a guy with a truly impressive handlebar mustache that the al pastor is legendary. he wasn’t wrong.
“Don’t go near the Crocker Art Museum after dark,” the barista warned me, wiping down the counter. “Old Man Hemmings haunts the place. Says he doesn’t like modern art.”
apparently, sacramento has a thing with ghosts. i’m not usually one for that kind of stuff, but i did wander around the Old Sacramento area at night, and it’s… atmospheric. creaky buildings, gas lamps, the whole nine yards. i even checked out some ghost tours (TripAdvisor has a bunch listed). i didn’t see anything, but i definitely felt a chill. could have been the humidity, though.
let’s talk coffee. i stumbled upon a place called “Temple Coffee Roasters.” it’s… serious. like, really serious. they take their beans very seriously. i overheard a conversation about “notes of bergamot and a hint of volcanic ash.” i just wanted a latte, but i felt deeply unqualified. it was good, though. very good. you can find more about them here: Temple Coffee.
and the Midtown area is pretty cool. lots of vintage shops (i found a surprisingly good selection of band t-shirts) and quirky bars. someone told me to avoid “The Pour House” on Tuesdays - apparently, it’s karaoke night, and it gets… intense. i didn’t risk it.
“That place, Frank’s Hot Dogs? Don’t even bother. They use frozen patties. Frozen! It’s a disgrace to the art of the hot dog.”
i also spent an afternoon wandering around the California State Railroad Museum. it’s… a lot of trains. if you’re into trains, you’ll love it. if you’re not, maybe check out the Sacramento History Museum instead. i’m more of a “wander aimlessly and get lost” kind of traveler, but it was a nice way to kill some time.
overall? sacramento surprised me. it’s not glamorous, it’s not flashy, but it’s… real. and the tacos are worth the trip alone. plus, the air pressure is a solid 1020, which is good, i guess. i don’t really understand air pressure. i’m going to look for more vintage synths now. maybe in Portland*.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/the-quiet-corners-of-kyoto
- https://votoris.com/post/bangui-budget-brawl-the-real-cost-of-staying-alive
- https://votoris.com/post/religious-and-cultural-diversity-in-boston-more-like-a-tattered-collage-of-trying-too-hard
- https://votoris.com/post/cape-town-on-a-19degree-night-a-drumfilled-drifters-mess
- https://votoris.com/post/lindi-legs-when-humidity-attacks-a-runners-soul