computer history museum field trip:

Last Friday, the boys and I went with A. and J. and their kids to the Computer History Museum.  I haven't been there since just before they renovated it, and it looks pretty amazing now.  Sure, I miss the quaintness and simplicity (and where did the robotic arms go?), but this is a computer museum in Silicon Valley after all, so changes and upgrades come with the territory.

My friend A. received a Groupon from her friend, so we all got to go for free.  Naomi was in school so couldn't join us.  The visit would count as a field trip for Lucas, but that meant he had to answer a few questions from me when we got home, and we'd document it.  It's interesting, and somewhat vexing, to see how he fills in his blanks.  For example, he thought that computers (integrated circuits, to be more exact) got larger, rather than smaller, over time.  I'd usually go over it with him beforehand or during the trip, but I was pretty distracted with Isaac, and Lucas can't really read the displays himself.  The language in the videos was a little advanced for him, too.  So without my being there to explain things better, I think a lot of what he saw went over his head.  The one thing he did remember was storage--from floppies to CD's.  It's hard to believe how much has changed over my lifetime, even over Lucas' lifetime.

One of the exhibits, "Deleted City," covered the preservation of geocities/homestead pages after Yahoo! went and deleted them all (mine included--that was where Manny and my original website was located).  But I want to thank those who painstakingly backed up all the sites--you can still see a piece of our history here with the last photo posted from when Naomi and Lucas were at Carl's Jr playground in 2009 (before they tore that down, too).  There is a Ranma 1/2 panda gif at the bottom which I had since my senior year in college.  I'm not that sentimental, but for some reason I didn't want to abandon it even when animated gifs were becoming obsolete.  

The trip got off to a rough start with Isaac.  We went in to watch the orientation video.  Isaac wanted to be one of the big kids and climb up onto the bench himself.  He looked like he was going to fall, so I put my arm behind him, which set him off, so I took him out.  He let out some blood-curling screams.  A museum worker hurriedly went and got a canister full of candy and stickers for him to choose from, but he refused them.  He just wanted to scream.  So while A. and J. took Lucas ahead, I had to discipline Isaac and calm him down for what felt like 15 or 20 minutes.  He was better after that, but at times I had to keep Lucas and Isaac apart so they wouldn't get into conflict.  I also kept them out of the video game section, or I'd probably have another protest on my hands when we had to leave.  We had lunch with the group, but Lucas didn't make it in time to sit on the stools with the other kids.  Later, he saw the Golden Gate Bridge on the Google maps simulator, and he was like a kid in a candy store, but the minute he got on, some kids pushed into him and into the joystick, so we lost the bridge.  Lucas was disappointed but took it in stride.  My kids don't like to push their way to the front, and I've raised them to not push back, but sometimes it means they miss out or kids cut in front of them often.  But it pays off in relationships--our friends generally don't have me-first mentalities.

J's daughter L. was the first guest in the history of the Computer History Museum to correctly guess how many microprocessors fit in a tiny container!  She didn't win anything, but we gave her a round of applause.

I can no longer understand semiconductor engineering like I used to.  I still get how p-n junctions work and remember many of the technical terms and processes, but I can no longer remember how I'd actually use governing equations to engineer a chip.  I incurred quite a debt to go to Stanford to receive a Masters and worked as an engineer before going into program management, so it's a shame to forget what was once so familiar.  I guess I could brush up on it or take a refresher course for free, but my mental capacity and schedule are so limited, and I'm just not as passionate about it anymore.  But there were a few moments at the museum where I felt like a kid again and remembered how fascinated I was by technology and electronics.  I remembered fixing electronics with my dad, the thrill of using CAD for the first time, literally geeking out with fellow engineers over ethernet cards and laser discs (lol) at UCLA, building my first computer, designing chip packaging with simulation software, and, best of all, all the engineering experiences I had with Manny, from grad school classes to working at the same company.  My other passion in school was history, so really this museum was just up my alley.

Naomi had an unexpected minimum day, so we had to leave early.  I didn't see it on the school calendar.  I only received a call the night before, and there was no reason given.  She and A.'s oldest and J.'s oldest are very close in age, and it's bittersweet to think back to when we were all in the nursing room at church.  Now, A.'s oldest is taller than me (at only 11!), and J.'s oldest is sharing his vast knowledge of technology.  All the children are growing and changing so rapidly, like the technology we saw, and soon they'll be off on their own.  I try to remember to not be in such a hurry to get there, but to make the most of each day I have with them.

Simpler and yet not-so-simple times.

Lucas told me later he didn't know this entire thing was a computer.  I think it was a JOHNNIAC, but I don't remember for sure. 

A rotating model of an early computer company, with an entire floor dedicated to a computer.

The storage exhibit, which I found fascinating.  Isaac and Lucas were more interested in spinning the spinner.

A neat arch display of game-changing software, including Windows, Office, and it probably had Linux, Adobe, and Aldus in there somewhere.

The video game section had Pong, Pac-Man, and other games, but I kept the boys from going in.  I don't know if the kids would be as impressed as I was the first time I played those games, but they were mesmerized by this projected Pac-Man moving as it does in the game.

Sitting in a self-driving car.

Boys watching the mapping simulation.

Lucas fascinated by the simulation of San Francisco on the panels.

ten years!

A trip down memory lane with a mini-slideshow. I tried to include a photo of just the two of us from every year. I was surprised to find that we had no photos of just us in 2007 or 2008:



It's our "tin/aluminum" anniversary. Here we are at ten years already! To be honest, years six and seven were the trying ones, so getting to number ten was a breeze. :) I made Manny a year-by-year scrapbook of our decade together. He's into recording memories and making lists. That new printer really came in handy.

Even though the pictures and words make us look flawlessly in love, we are in fact flawed people. Yet God is ever-faithful, ever-present, and everything to us. When I felt like I ran out of strength to go on, I went on in His strength. He has not only sustained us, but has blessed us immensely.

Manny gave me a beautiful anniversary band. It is lined with Moissanite, which I found out sparkles better than diamonds, is cheaper, and doesn't fund wars/genocide--but I don't judge you if you wear them (my engagement ring has a diamond, too)! I don't wear much jewelry, but I like what rings symbolize, something unbroken and unending. It's a pledge, a promise, a public declaration. Yet they are just rings. Manny's fingers plumped up, so he hasn't worn his band in ages. Time for a replacement, maybe?

Below are some wedding memories we posted on our old website. I forgot about a lot of these. Guess that's why I have the blog.

During the ceremony, the ring bearer began making random motions like picking his nose, and the flower girl copied his every move.

Ray and Kevin bought us a cleaver as a gift, which Ray then had to bring aboard the plane [this was in 2000 and of course isn't funny now]. He had a bit of trouble with the metal detector and inspection.

The lion dancers practically tossed a salad on the dance floor with all the lettuce. They cleaned up afterwards, but missed a piece that adhered to one of my sneakers during our first dance. I was slipping and sliding everywhere, imploring Manny to help. The guests thought I was intensely and adoringly talking to him. (I had totally forgotten to change back into my pumps, too, and did the waltz on tiptoe.)

During the bouquet toss, Manny's sister turned around and told all the ladies to back off. Our cousin Roseann was photographed in mid-air, leaping for it (but Dolly still got it).

We had a lot of trouble checking into the bridal suite, and thought we might not have a room. It turned out our room was reserved under
"Martinez." The Disney Wedding Manager had reserved our room under the alias so that no one would disturb us, but no one told us!

J.P., our friend who is in a wheelchair, was at the head of the conga line, which grew so long it weaved in and out of the ballroom.

My parents had never been to an American wedding before ours. My father was supposed to be outside with me before our entrance, but he accidentally went up the aisle. An usher had to guide him back up the aisle so I could walk down.

As Manny was reciting his portion of the vows, he stumbled at one point. I laughed, but then stuttered at the same part during my turn. We had some trouble with the grammar ("unconditionally commit" vs. "commit unconditionally"), not the vow!

The bridesmaids and honorary bridesmaids serenaded us with their rendition of "Glory of Love" during the reception.

The whole church exit photo with all the bubbles was staged. No one was around when we first exited, because we walk up the aisle before the guests do. So some people snuck us off to the side, had everyone position themselves with the bubbles, and then we stood in front of the door and pretended to just come out of it.

europe 2004, part 3 of 3 and photos:

Europe 2004 Photos Part 1
Europe 2004 Photos Part 2

Day 11 - Lucerne & Mt. Stanserhorn

We retreated from city life and hopped on the coach for our drive to Switzerland. Lake Como is a must-see if you're out there. We arrived at Stanserhornbahn to ride the cute little train up to the gondola station. We saw farmhouses, cows, and perfect piles of firewood (the Swiss are known to be perfectionists). The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was scarier, so this wasn't too bad in terms of swinging. Seeing the Swiss Alps from the top of Mt. Stanserhorn was unforgettable. I was too scared to go on the observation platform where one could look straight down.

We crossed the Chapel Bridge into town to shop for more souvenirs at Rutteman's three shops. The original wooden Chapel Bridge burned down after 500 years, so the people pitched in to build an exact replica. After shopping, we went to check into our hotel, a former jailhouse called Lowengraben. Much of the jail is the same since they turned it into a themed hotel. We were in a jail cell, and I slept on the top bunk. Surprisingly, this place had the best shower and one of the more comfortable mattresses of our trip.

After a dinner of curry chicken and rice at the hotel, we actually went back out into town this time. We went to see the Lowendenkmal Lion, carved into a huge rock in memory of the Swiss soldiers who died trying to protect King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution. The lion looks so sad. Lake Lucerne is fed by a river from the melted Swiss Alps glaciers. Lucerne itself is so clean. It appears quaint, but on the way to the lion, we walked through a rather posh shopping area.

Day 12 - Lucerne to Paris

It was a long driving day, but we got into Paris an hour ahead of time, which allowed a little driving tour through the city before going to the Eiffel Tower. We had a wild ride around the Arc de Triomphe traffic circle. There is no exaggeration in the reports--it is a complete mess. There aren't any lanes and people are coming at each other at all angles. Too much fun (as long as someone else is driving).

We visited various plazas and learned about Parisian culture and history. It was a perfect time of day for viewing the sites and getting an idea of what we wanted to see the next day, our free day in Paris.

That night we went up the Eiffel Tower. I was already pretty scared at Floor 2, but we took the lift and shot up to the top, Floor 3, and the view was truly breathtaking. At 10:30, the sun was barely setting, but we finally got to see the Paris lights before descending and returning to the coach to take us to one of the Hotels Ibis, where we we stayed for two nights.

Day 13 - Paris

This was our most jam-packed day of the trip. In the morning, the coach dropped us off at the Concorde. We then:

1. Walked to the Louvre
2. Walked to Saint Chappelle cathedral
3. Walked to Notre Dame and waited in a long line to climb the 422 steps up the towers to the top
4. Had lunch at a cafe in the Latin Quarter, where the young folks hang out
5. Rode the RER metro to Musee D'Orsay, an Impressionism museum
6. Walked and walked and walked to the Rodin Museum
7. Walked and walked and walked and walked to the Eglise du Dome, which houses Napolean's Tomb
8. Crossed the romantic Pont Alexander III bridge
9. Rode the metro to the Arc de Triomphe and climbed 270+ steps to the top
10. Had dinner along the Champs Elysees at none other than... McDonald's!
11. Rode the metro home to our hotel. Our feet were killing us, but it was all worth it.

Public transportation in Paris was superior to that of Rome or London, although those were convenient as well. Knowing a little French will help you get around easier.

Day 14 - Paris to London

Ok, the home stretch! We were extremely satisfied with the value for the price of this trip. I was pretty tired on the last day. I wore a skirt on the last day because I was out of clothes, but some people said they were impressed I fit two weeks worth of clothes in carry-on size luggage and a backpack. I rolled them up and pushed the air out, but I did have to wear all my pants and jeans twice. In Italy, there might also be a chance to do laundry. But travel light, because you have to lug those bags everywhere, and up flights of stairs.

On our way back to London, we stopped in Canada. No kidding. Vimy Ridge is a piece of land in France that was returned to the Canadians as a WWI Memorial. The Canadians had scored an important victory in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. We didn't even have to pay for the public restrooms since we weren't technically in Europe. :) The grass was torn apart by the war, and even recently they found more mines. So when they say, "Keep off the grass," it's not about aesthetics.

europe 2004, part 2 of 3:

And...we're done.

Day 6 - Munich to Austrian Tyrol, Wattens, and Itter

We went from the Bavarian Alps in Germany to the Austrian Alps, stopping briefly at a lake in Zugspitzblick (probably called Lake Zugspitzblick) before reaching the rivers of the Austrian Tyrol for our whitewater rafting excursion. The water was freezing, and I was hoping not to fall in, but the outrigger made us all jump in the river and rescue each other as a safety drill. At one point, we were supposed to lean back while holding on to our partner's oar and dip our head in the water. I think Manny's partner gave him too much slack and he slipped into the water, butt first, and ended up with his ankles by his neck. The outfitter, an Englishwoman, said, "I said yeh head, not yeh a*se!" We were all overcome with laughter and forgot to help Manny out of the predicament, so he had to jump off and come back into the raft himself.

After a warm shower and lunch in the mountains, we headed out to the Swarovski Crystal Museum in Wattens. The displays were incredible--I especially liked the red and gold crystal dragon, but I definitely didn't like the price tag. We bought a few souvenirs and browsed the rest. Too bad we didn't know about the giant maze in the shape of a hand until we were leaving.

We checked into the Gasthof Itterwirt (see some photos of Itter here), where Big Momma's son looked like Patrick Swayze and their huge behemoth of a dog slept in the car.

Day 7 - Austria to Venice

Another early departure. We crossed the tallest bridge in Europe, the Europabrucke, to Italy. Stef, the tour manager, pointed out that the sign said it was a 192 m bungee jump, but the bridge was 190 m high! Oops. We drove through Verona (Romeo & Juliet), and the countryside was very pretty.

Venice is sinking, about a foot every ten years, I believe. It adds to its mysterious character and beauty. We arrived at San Marco (St. Mark's) Square. The pigeons, aka rats with wings, see people as free vending machines, so C was unsuccessful trying to run at and scare them. I didn't know if there were more people or pigeons. At the Square are St. Mark's Cathedral and the Camponini Tower. Without a map, we just followed the signs to Rialto Bridge. The streets are kind of crazy, so the tour manager said we were better off without a map. Our umbrellas came in handy. Most of the tourists scattered when it started sprinkling, but it didn't really phase us.

It cleared up just in time for our gondola ride. We had great company (the Aussies) and they let Manny and me sit in the couples' seat. Several in the group went to the optional Venetian dinner. The three of us decided to splurge and eat at a restaurant by the canal and Rialto Bridge called Cafe Saraceno. I had the lasagne al forno followed by the scallopine marsala and tiramisu for dessert (that's still skipping the antipasti and salad). We ran back to the coach in the pouring rain and dried off back at the hotel.

Day 8 - Venice to Rome

What a difference a day makes, from cold rain to hot sun. Italians reportedly don't do breakfast or ice, so lukewarm milk and hard rolls it was. The countryside was filled with red poppies and orchards. We passed by enchanting Tuscany as well. We entered Rome and checked into our rooms at the Hotel Villa St. Dominique. Not as nice as Venice, but it was good to be somewhere for more than one night so we didn't have to repack and drag our luggage on the coach the next morning.

We had a group dinner at Pastarita Pizzarito. Very large portions of pasta for a reasonable price. They had a tasty creme de tartufo (truffles) sauce. Actually, it seemed they had every kind of Italian pasta and sauce. And the combination was your choice. Our group took up the entire bottom floor. It was a pleasant atmosphere, not extravagant, but very comfortable.

Then we went out for our night tour of Rome, which sometimes Contiki conducts in the morning or afternoon, depending on your arrival time and the weather. We saw Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and had gelati at Piazza Navona. It's not just a dessert; I would eat it all day if I could. The train had stopped running, so we walked quite some distance to take a tram to a bus stop. The bus driver was on a break, so we had to wait. We finally got back after 11:30 p.m., but we had lost a person along the way. Thankfully, she got back via taxi.

Day 9 - Rome

Our Imperial Walking Tour began at the Colosseo (Colosseum). We boarded the crowded metro (Monday morning rush hour) and bam! there it was. It's odd to see an ancient treasure just sitting on a street with billboards and traffic lights (which no one seemed to heed). We saw the Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forum, Arch of Titus, Temple of Venus, Temple of Vesta, and Palantine (sp?) Hill. The hill housed the Roman Emperors, and it is believed Rome was built with this as the starting point. The ruins were magnificent, but certainly not as much as they originally were, covered with white marble. The marble and metal rods holding it were all removed and recycled. I lost track of the building names after this.

After having another fresh pizza for lunch, we headed over to Vatican City. It was quite a long line to the Vatican Museum because it had rained the day before, so all the tourists had come out. But it was definitely worth the wait. The Sistine Chapel was incredible. We were admiring some carvings in a dome, then at a second glance, we realized they weren't carvings. Michelangelo was a master of perspective--a lot of it looked three-dimensional, especially La Volta, the famous ceiling. You could sit and stare for several minutes, but photography is not allowed. St. Peter's Basilica made me feel like an itsy bit--it was so huge that even with all the tourists, it still looked empty. At certain times, a large ray of light comes in from one of the windows, but we didn't get to witness it. We spent a lot of time in Vatican City, so we didn't return to any of the other sites. We walked out around the piazza, mailed out postcards, and then made our way to the Spanish Steps. We returned to the hotel for a dinner of pasta followed by chicken and potatoes and dessert.

Day 10 - Florence

Firenze (Florence) was next. The walking tour wasn't too good, even though it was free. I recommend skipping it--the guide seemed to be making up some of the stories anyway. We started out at the St. Croce cathedral, went through Uffizi Gallery, out to Ponte Vecchio (which we'd already visited that morning), and then finished at the famous Duomo cathedral. After the tour, we went to the Accademia to see the newly restored statue of David. It's magnificent to see in person, not just because of the size, but also the detail. Again, no photos allowed. In Italy, there are African vendors that sell knock-offs everywhere. They sometimes have a lookout because the Florentine police usually force them to pack up and leave. I found out after the fact trying to purchase sunglasses.

We saw Pinocchios everywhere. We held on to ours so he wouldn't get lost in the shuffle. We also had some more gelati. Then we went back to check into the hotel (more stairs!). Note: Don't drink the tap water in Italy. Some foreigners can handle it; most cannot. We decided not to join the others for the optional Tuscan dinner, so we tried to find a place close to the hotel. After an hour of searching, we finally asked the front desk and they guided us to the Aulisio Ristorante. Great place, but by this point we'd had so many pizzas, pastas, calzones, and pannini sandwiches, we lost count. I think I should've had more gelati, though.

europe 2004, part 1 of 3:

This was the mother of all (our) travelogues and our longest trip to date. I'll have to break it down and leave out the photos till the end. This should be it for the major page transfers for you to scroll past. The rest will just be summary posts.



Day 1 USA to London

In May 2004, we took the two-week Contiki European Discovery tour with C. Contiki tours are for 18-35 year-olds and are usually made up of travelers from the U.S., Australia, and Canada. We had a fabulous time.

This trip was planned almost a year in advance and we still had trouble at the last minute when someone from Contiki inadvertently cancelled C's booking. Then the night before departure, I misread the tickets and we almost missed our flight. But once we set foot in Europe, it was all uphill from there. Or should I say upstairs, considering how many steps we climbed during the trip!

Sitting in the exit row on route to Chicago was comfortable, but the flight from O'Hare to London's Heathrow Airport was an entirely different story. At least our luggage didn't get lost. Manny, C, Pinocchio (a present from Manny when we were dating), and I were immediately greeted by a friendly Englishman. Note: Be prepared for a long line at Heathrow Airport.

Day 2 London

After 13 total hours, we arrived in London at about 7:30am -- ahead of schedule, thanks to the unusually cooperative weather. We were exhausted, but our travel adrenalin kicked in and we were on our way. We arrived at the hotel after 10 a.m., took a while to check in, and then decided to have lunch at an Italian deli before heading out to central London. But how would we get there? We know; let's hop on the Underground even though we have no idea what we're doing! So we looked at the map, shrugged our shoulders, and hopped on the Piccadilly Line to Green Park.

Green Park was one of the most beautiful, well, green parks that we'd ever seen. We crossed through it to get to Buckingham Palace. There was only a rock/plaque, reminiscent of a Walk-of-Fame star, dedicated to Princess Diana (unless we missed the big memorial somewhere). The guards were like toy soldiers from a distance and someone was winding them up quite a bit at that moment. They hardly stood still for me to get a shot.

Then on to Victoria Memorial, which has a spectacular fountain. We strolled along smelly Birdcage Walk, picking up the pace when it became truly odoriferous, and finally arrived at the area where Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey were located. We decided we were too pooped to ride the London Eye, so we headed back and went to orientation at the Royal National Hotel.

Day 3 - London to Amsterdam

On Day 3 we met our driver Stu from Australia (he looked like Anthony Hopkins and sometimes looked at people like Hannibal Lechter). However, he was very pleasant and I don't know how he kept so alert driving as much as he did. We boarded our comfy coach at 6:45am and drove through London before arriving at the ferry station. The food on the ferry was like Disneyland--way overpriced--except with ten times more mayo. I should've taken a picture. The mound of mayo on our fast food looked to be about one cup, no exaggeration.

Stefanie, our most excellent tour manager, set the expectations upfront (you're a peein'--as in European--when I tell you to, you won't be thrilled about the hotel rooms, you must get to the bus early in the morning or we're leaving you, we can't control the weather, you must learn to speak a little of the European languages, and we'll be moving fast). We then went to our home for the evening, the Hotel Lake Land Jachtaven.

We had yummy roasted chicken and potatoes for dinner and headed out for our "candlelit cruise" around the canal belt. Various cheeses, crackers, and wines were provided. By now I recalled that the sun doesn't set until 10 or 10:30, so it was pretty bright out for a night cruise. We saw the Oude Schans clock tower, Montelbaanstoren, and the tippy houses, which, as the name says, were houses that looked like they were about to tip over. Then our tour manager took us on an evening tour of the city and we passed through the Red Light District, where there are a lot of marijuana cafes and prostitutes in windows. Just keep your eyes forward. We still had the next day to see more sites as well.

Day 4 - Amsterdam & St. Goar (Germany)

We skipped the diamond-cutting demonstration and went out on our own little walking tour. We hit the Bleomen Flower Markets first to try to find tulip bulbs, but alas, they didn't have any left that were certified for bringing back to the U.S. Then we tried to walk up Kalverstraat, a major shopping thoroughfare, on our way to the Anne Frank Huis. But Ocean's 12 was being filmed there, so we had to find an alternate route. That's tough when all the streets are angled and the names begin to look alike. Somehow once again we didn't get lost and made it to Dam Square, which has a nice church and monument.

We just followed the signs from there to the Anne Frank Huis, which I thought would just be a look at the hiding place, but it was a well-designed museum strewn with videos, photos, diary entries, and historical facts. Her writing is deep, yet innocent. I came out of the Anne Frank Huis a bit different from when I'd entered. We walked up another shopping street (Nieuwendijk?) and had lunch. I really enjoyed trying new drinks in Europe.

On to Germany: This little quaint town of St. Goar in the Rhine Valley was a place to relax and be refreshed. There is a statue of Loreley, which is a legend of a woman in the river or sea that was so beautiful that men, entranced by her beauty, would jump in after her and drown. The Hotel Montag is located right by the Rhine River and behind it are hills and castles. We had a nice pork dinner that night and had another laugh at the bathroom. C and I headed out to watch the sun set over the river and take photos.

Day 5 - St. Goar to Dachau to Munich (Germany)

Ascension Day meant that most of the shops in Munich would be closed, so our tour manager decided to take us instead to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside of Munich. After seeing the Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam the day before, we almost "followed" her here, to a place of great torture and tragedy for the Jews, church leaders, and other people Hitler deemed enemies. We watched a documentary (check beforehand for the language schedule) and I could barely stomach it all.

Afterwards, we made our way to Munich's Marienplatz to see the Glockenspiel. Although it wasn't running, you figure that if it was and I took a picture, it would come out about the same as the one I took. :) We headed to the Holiday Inn to check in. It was a real contrast to the guest house we'd stayed in the night before. A lot of Germans waved to us on the bus from their BMWs and Mercedes.

We joined a few others in the group for dinner at the Hofbräuhaus beer hall. Although we're not big drinkers, we did enjoy the fun and friendly atmosphere. The band plays some great German songs, some English ones, and they even played a Chinese song and invited a Chinese man to sing it. Pretty amazing. I really enjoyed my grillwurste and sauerkraut. The Radler wasn't bad either. It's a light beer mixed with a lot of Sprite. If it weren't for the smoke, we might have stayed longer.

Next up will be Austria, which was Manny's favorite stop. The hills were alive!

mexican riviera cruise 2003:

Just a few more to go....still pre-kids and pre-digital camera.

February 2003 - Each year, we tried to do something new and different for our trips. For our third anniversary, we took a 7-day cruise aboard the Carnival Elation down the west coast of Mexico. Our port stops were Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas. Manny's parents accompanied us on our voyage at sea. We weren't sure whether they wanted us to invite them, but when we mentioned the trip, they responded, "I think we can make it"--so that made it clear. :) We were all first-time cruisers, so we had nothing to compare it to, which madeit better for me. Manny prefers to spend more time on land; I don't blame him.

Day 1 Embarkation - Bon Voyage!
We boarded the ship, took a self-guided tour, stopped to eat, checked into our cabins, did the lifeboat drill, and left the port in San Pedro around dusk. The ship was beautifully decorated and we thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful meals.

Day 2 At Sea - First Formal Night
During the day, we continued to tour the ship as all signs of winter weather disappeared. Breakfast and lunch by the serene ocean was exciting and relaxing all at once. Dressing up for a fancy dinner and theatre show without ever seeing a bill was a delight.

Day 3 At Sea - A Major Splash
We spent our day in the sun and in the pool. Ignoring age conventions and self-consciousness, we repeatedly went down the water slide with the kids. After the swim, we ate, watched the ice carving demo, and learned magic tricks from the guest comedian/magician.

Day 4 Puerto Vallarta - Anniversary Getaway
Our parents took a cruise excursion, so we went our separate ways for this first day. Throwing caution to the wind, without any detailed maps available, we made our way by taxi, bus, boat, and foot to Yelapa. That bus ride was so scary--we were leaning off the cliff on a few of those turns. The town was somewhat hidden away, and it only got electricity about five years prior. There were no signs or cars--it really felt like a native village (except for the other tourists, but even they seemed to become one with the locals). Upon arriving in Yelapa, we hiked up to the waterfall, through the village, and down to the beach for lunch. It seemed almost surreal. The children were so cute. Why, oh why did we forget to ask them to pose for a picture?

Back in town, we saw some wonderful sights in Viejo Vallarta and downtown. We returned to the ship and watched the Folklórico show. The staff had invited local performers aboard the ship to entertain us, and that they did!

Day 5 Mazatlán - A City With Character
Manny and I don't usually match clothes intentionally, but we couldn't resist the call of the red. We took a morning tour of the city and it covered just about everything we would have wanted to see: the main cathedral, the Papantla Flyers, a flea market, and the famous cliff divers. You have to take the tour guide's facts with a grain of salt, but it doesn't make it any less enjoyable. Unlike the cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta, Old Mazatlán had flat roads and buildings with a resemblance to those in New Orleans.

Day 6 Cabo San Lucas - A Thing of Beauty/Formal Night #2
Every port offered something unique. Cabo San Lucas had its strength in natural beauty. Los Arcos at Land's End in Baja is magnificent in pictures, but truly astonishing in person. That was the most enjoyable boat ride any of us had ever been on, with very little bouncing and a very friendly captain. Afterwards, we sunbathed and watched the waves roll in at the Hacienda, a hotel right on the beach. The second formal night was great and we enjoyed looking at the midnight Grand Gala Buffet, but never ate any of it. It really looked too good to eat, but we weren't that hungry either.

Day 7 At Sea - Dreamland
We finally ordered room service and rested for most of the day. We really felt the ship move this day as we were speeding back to the port. It was sad to know it was coming to an end soon. No more palapas (those straw umbrellas) to lie under, no more cute Mexican kids, no more eat whatever & whenever you wish, and no more of the Carnival staff from around the world.

Day 8 Debarkation - Hello, Real World
It took quite a bit of time to get off the ship, but it was still too soon! We all had a great time and everything turned out even better than we expected. ¡Viva La México!

TIPS: 1. In Mexico, most servers will not bring you the check unless you ask for it so as not to disturb you.
2. The stop at Cabo will become a full day once Elation is replaced by Carnival Pride (I think) this September. [no idea what the current status is]
3. Shop in Mazatlan or the less touristy parts of Puerto Vallarta. Cabo San Lucas vendors will charge much more.
4. Be kind to the Carnival staff--they have an extremely difficult schedule to handle.
5. Take advantage of all there is to do on the ship. Early seating is good if you like to eat dinner early and stay up at the lounges in addition to taking in a show.
6. But late seating is good if you like to not have too many kids around and also have more seats available at the show. There are two shows on the formal nights to accommodate both seatings.
7. Learn the ship vocab (aft, starboard, knots, tender, etc). Ships and boats are not the same thing.
8. We never had to exchange our money. The vendors gladly accepted US currency.
9. Go during a full moon. It made for nice romantic nighttime walks.
10. Pack lightly if you can, and make sure you go online and look for reviews that tell you what to bring. An alarm clock was indispensable for us.

san francisco & monterey 2002:

One more month to move everything over...feel free to scroll...

September 2002 - C finally had some time off from work, so we had 3.5 days to take a whirlwind tour of San Francisco and Monterey Peninsula. We heard that September was the best time of year weather-wise, and this week was no exception.

Thursday - Science Day:
Golden Gate Park: We started at one of the windmills, near Ocean Beach. Then we headed to the Japanese Tea Garden, which was quite beautiful (and had the nicest restrooms of any park we'd ever seen). Man, that bridge was steep. Next was the Conservatory of Flowers. The building itself is under renovation, but the gardens were open. C and I liked the dahlias, which we called pom-poms. Then we headed to the California Academy of Sciences. This was quite a field day for us three engineers. The "Skulls" exhibit was slightly disturbing, but we did find a photo of a very happy pig there (and its skull). We had a picnic lunch by a statue which the high pressure sprinklers had washed that morning. We had a nerdy discussion about them as well.

Fort Point/Golden Gate Bridge: C had just seen Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, so we stopped at Fort Point National Seashore to see the Golden Gate Bridge. But Manny wouldn't re-enact the famous scene with me. :) It was a clear day, and not too windy. We walked partially across the bridge. Next was getting to the Palace of Fine Arts. Forget the map - we just kept driving towards the dome, and finally got there.

Palace of Fine Arts/Exploratorium - The Exploratorium sent us into mental overdrive. It was cool to see the images on our credit cards under UV light. On the infrared screen, C's backside was burning hot. We figured out it was because of the backpack. We had reservations for the Tactile Dome, a brainchild of August Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola's brother and Nicolas Cage's father). In it, we basically crawled around in total darkness and slid down slides. Poor Manny - his slight belly proved to be an obstacle and he got stuck on the slides a couple times. We walked around the Palace of Fine Arts. The swans were quite people-friendly. Then we had to rush to my hip-hop dance practice. I made dinner (something like chicken a la king with cheese and rice) and we watched CSI to finish off our science day.

Friday - Ocean Day:
Old Monterey: It is pretty quiet here with historical sites and a nice marina area. We were only here briefly.

Cannery Row/Fisherman's Wharf: Cherries Jubilee, where classic cars line the street, started this day. We ate at Bubba Gump, enjoying the hush puppies (great dipping sauce) and other deep-fried seafood plates. Then we were ready to see the jellyfish and otters.

Monterey Bay Aquarium: One of the things we all have in common is an affinity for animals, but that wasn't evident as we sped through all the exhibits, except for the jellyfish and otter feeding. We were right up to the window during the otter feeding. The otters were adorable - scratching themselves, hugging each other while swimming by, and generally showing off. The sea turtle was cute. They need more of them in this place.

17-Mile Drive: Most people will say this drive is overrated because of the price, and we agree, but I guess it's private property, so they are at liberty to charge visitors. The weather was perfect as we stopped at the various points of interest such as the Lone Cypress Tree and Point Joe. At Point Joe, an odd little patch of grass lay on the flat surface of a rock formation, part of a nearby golf course. We took a little shortcut to get to the gate to Carmel.

Carmel-by-the-Sea/Carmel Beach: This town is so quiet and quaint, lined with shops that look like old village cottages. We had dinner there and then moved on to the beach. Carmel Beach is beautiful, with white sand and aqua waves. We were enjoying the view when this dog (husky?) just came running to us. We petted her a little, and she wanted more. Then she started following us as we were walking up. Her owners called her, but she kept following us. When her owner came and asked her whom she was going with, the dog paused and then went with us again. So finally the dog came to her senses and we headed out to find a restroom on the beach. It was clear on the other side, which was not as pretty. So we watched the sunset, and a couple cute basset hounds wandering around, from the port-a-potty area.

Saturday - Walking Tourist Day:
This was our day to get the "full effect" of the City. We took a map from our AAA book and set out on our journey on foot. We also booked the Alcatraz After Dark tour.

Our path (map below):
1. Parked at Pier 39, walked along the Embarcadero
2. Past the Cannery to Ghiradelli Square
3. Cable Car down Hyde and Powell
4. Union Square - FAO Schwarz, Westin St. Francis
5. San Francisco Shopping Center
6. Back up to Chinatown
7. Late lunch in North Beach
8. Through Washington Square
9. Up the hills of Lombard Street
10. Back down the hill via Hyde Street
11. Head back to Pier 39 for early dinner
12. Board ferry for Alcatraz After Dark



Points 1-6: We skipped Fisherman's Wharf. When we got out of the car, we headed straight for the chocolate at Ghiradelli Square. We had a banana split for breakfast and looked around as they set up for the Chocolate Festival. We didn't stay long. We hopped on the cable car and headed out to Union Square. SF Jazz was performing in the Square and we walked around before stopping at FAO Schwarz to play with Patrick the Pup and the "Big" piano.

To our disappointment, the giant Sanrio was gone. So we had to settle for a tiny one at the Shopping Center. The curved escalators were interesting. We then went on a little adventure trying to ride those zooming elevators at Westin St. Francis. But they blocked off the access to the public. We ended up just running around the hotel and through various floors before giving up. Then we walked back, skipped the Financial District, and walked through Chinatown.

Points 7-11: Chinatown in San Francisco has more Chinese than any city outside of China and more Chinese than all the other Chinatowns combined (we hear). We walked through Waverly Place, with a nice view of Coit Tower as well as the TransAmerica Building, and headed for North Beach. It was 2:30pm and we had to eat. We tried a new restaurant called the Trattoria Pinocchio. Great lunch special - C had the spaghetti carbonara, Manny had the penne arrabbiata and I had the spinach & eggplant lasagna. This was fuel for us as we walked up Columbus and then literally up Lombard. We skipped Coit Tower because it was such a clear day that one could see it from anywhere. We reached Lombard at twilight, so it was major photo glare time. Then we watched the cable car head downhill and followed it.

Alcatraz After Dark: C and I decided on clam chowder in a bread bowl for early dinner--perhaps because of those ubiquitous Boudin bakeries. We found one at Pier 39. We then waited in line for the "Alcatraz After Dark" tour. We enjoyed the sunset, the guided walk up to the top, the new digital audio tour, and the lighting in the prison. We were pretty exhausted as we headed home.

Sunday - Friendship Day:
After church, we went to an upscale mall and had a quick lunch with T. We decided to just stay home and hang out in the afternoon. We watched The Miracle Maker (claymation) and also played DDR. All our guests used to play it, because people want to try it, just not in public! We had three mixes at the time: the original Bemani, Disney DDR, and Konamix. You can guess which one C picked, in her Eeyore shirt. We had a relaxing afternoon just hanging out and then took C to the airport that evening.

kauai 2002:

For our second anniversary in February 2002, we spent a week in Kauai, aptly referred to as "The Garden Island" of Hawaii. Its lush plantation is diverse and abundant, its tourists relatively few, and buildings cannot be taller than the tallest coconut palm. Thus, Kauai seems more tranquil and private than Oahu or Maui. We checked travel newsgroups before planning the vacation to learn from more experienced travelers. The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed was also an excellent resource (thx T!). This was our first major trip with my in-laws, too.

Day 1, Arrival Day: We arrived Friday afternoon, checked into the Hanalei Bay Resort in Princeville (north shore), and headed down to the Happy Talk Lounge to enjoy the live entertainment. Then we had a fancy dinner at the Bali Hai restaurant, still enjoying the music. Jazz, Hawaiian, or folk musicians performed nightly at the open-air lounge.

Day 2, Relax Day: After a very early breakfast, we took a short and scenic walk/hike to Hideaways Beach. We then headed east to the Kilauea Lighthouse and watched the whales. Some people go to Kauai in February just to see them. We drove west to Hanalei to try Tropical Taco (good food, but a little expensive), Bubba's Burgers (just okay), and Paradise Shave Ice (passion fruit...yummy). We then took another hike down to Queen's Bath before heading to dinner.

Day 3, Church/Beach Day: After listening to hymns sung in Hawaiian at church, we headed to the beach. Po'ipu is known as one of America's most beautiful beaches. Unfortunately, it is in the south shore, and the speed limit seldom goes above 35, so it took some time to get there. My father-in-law and I were able to snorkel for a while, but I couldn't hold the camera very still. When it began to rain in the later afternoon, we packed up our beach mats (only $1.49 at the local store) and headed back. We took a dip in the jacuzzi before dinner.

Day 4, Packed Day: We left early in the morning to get to the heliport in time for our helicopter ride. The owner, Chuck, was a great pilot and tour guide. We saw the Na Pali Coast, "Jurassic Park Falls," Waimea Canyon, and entered the crater where the wettest spot on earth is located. After this, we stopped to gaze at Wailua Falls and then had lunch and some chocolate macadamia nut ice cream at the Coconut Marketplace, a hidden shopping gem on the east shore. We took a Wailua River boat ride to Fern Grotto, on which they taught us basic hula dancing. Manny only made it halfway through the lesson. Lastly, we headed to Smith's Tropical Paradise to take a stroll in their garden before the imu ceremony, which was the raising of the pig for the luau.

Day 5, Hike Day: My mother-in-law had never been hiking before (other than our short hikes on Day 2), so she was amazed at herself for making it so far along the Kalaulau Trail. Some parts were pretty tricky and slippery, so at times it became a fun team-building exercise. The views from this coastal trail are unbelievable. It was the best trail we'd ever hiked. Not often do we get to see palm trees in the mountain and a turquoise blue ocean down below us.

Day 6, Garden Day: Due to rain earlier in the week followed by all the sunshine, flowers suddenly bloomed and beautiful colors appeared everywhere. It worked out so well that we could see one of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens on this day. We took the Allerton Garden Tour, which is great for garden-lovers like Manny's parents. They went home with lots of roots, seeds, and ideas. We had just enough time to head back to play tennis while our parents hung out at the pool.

Day 7, Kayak Day: The last full day we would have in Kauai. We couldn't believe it was all over so soon. The weather seemed just right for our little five-mile tour. We kayaked up the Wailua River toward and past Fern Grotto and then turned around. The most fun Manny and I had were when the large boats made waves and we would bob up and down. Otherwise, the river was pretty calm. Again, we returned to the pool and jacuzzi. We didn't eat out this night, but ordered pizza and watched a movie. Lots of family fun!

Day 8, Departure - What a day! I tried to eat everything in the fridge with a little help from Manny, but eventually gave up. The Kauai airport was evacuated just as we were about to board the plane, and then poor Manny was selected twice for the "random" or "arbitrary" security checks (as usual). We were very thankful to be blessed with a safe trip home and for our time with Mom and Dad.

We already have a bit of our itinerary planned for our next visit: Drive to Waimea Canyon, hike to Secret Falls from the kayak, Na Pali boat ride, hang out at Coconut Marketplace again...and we don't even know if we'll ever be back!

yosemite 2001:

Three in a row. Life after marriage and before kids, part 241.


At Tenaya Lake.

August 2001 - The trip was supposed to be a surprise from Manny, but I saw the bill in the mail. That didn't diminish my excitement, though. We left for Yosemite at dawn and arrived at about 10am. There was quite a bit of haze because of the recent fires. Manny said, "There's El Capitan" as we drove into the park, to which I replied, "Where?" But by the afternoon, it all cleared up. I had never been to Yosemite, and seeing Ansel Adams photos come to life and color was amazing. We expected many tourists, but the park was fairly sparse.

Day 1 was spent mostly going through the "Disneyland" area of the park - Yosemite Village. We walked around the entire village, from the Ahwahnee Museum to the Ansel Adams Gallery to Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. Most of the waterfalls are usually dry or trickling at the end of summer, so we were more or less surrounded by monoliths. We then drove to the famous Tunnel View area first documented by the Mariposas (kind of counterintuitive to call the military unit "butterflies"). We also took a short hike around Bridalveil Falls in its misty stage.


Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls (w/o the falls)


Amy climbing up the lower falls


El Capitan


Manny at Tunnel View

Day 2: 6am - Rise and shine! Now for some real hiking. We took a one-way shuttle up to Glacier Point, which is only open in the summer. One can also drive or hike up there, but we got to hear all about the history and recent news of Yosemite from our driver. We enjoyed looking around Glacier Point and reading the fun facts. The haze made the mountains look like a watercolor painting.

We arrived at the trailhead and began our journey. A receptionist had recommended the Panorama Trail, which starts from Glacier Point, goes down one mountain, curves around Half Dome through Illilouette Falls, then ascends another mountain to the top of Nevada and Vernal Falls. Then comes the most difficult part--descending four miles down the Mist Trail, which is a bit slippery and caused a bit of vertigo for me at one point (I have acrophobia). The first five or six miles were not too difficult, but Manny and I weren't so prideful after coming down the Mist Trail. With our knees buckling (and bees trying to fly in my mouth because of my lip balm), we made our way into Yosemite Valley and Happy Isles for the last leg of the trail--and we were definitely on our last legs! But we had no complaints about the amazing views and surroundings.


Amy at Glacier Point


View of Half Dome from the trail


Manny resting at the halfway point


Crossing Illilouette Falls, looking upstream


And downstream.


At the edge of Vernal Falls


Bottom of the Mist Trail

Day 3: We literally stumbled into the restaurant for the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (we seem to never pass up an all-you-can-eat opportunity while on vacation). Then we headed out to Tuolomne Meadows, which is also only open during the summer. It is about a 45-minute drive from the west entrance of the park. It might take even longer, being that one is bound to stop for photo opportunities along the way. We made our stop at Tenaya Lake. If I were more eloquent, I would attempt to describe it, but I cannot do it justice -- just see it for yourself. The drive has some hairpin turns and some points where one is practically driving on the edge, especially when a wide truck or bus in passing in the opposite lane. Nonetheless, it a fantastic scenic route. In Tuolomne Meadows, we had lunch and took the flattest trail possible. We limped around the Soda Springs and Parsons Memorial Lodge. A little girl told everyone not to step in the "horsey poo," so we were careful. We've heard that Tuolomne Meadows is great for hiking - the trails are very diverse, much wildlife can be seen, and the campsites are not very crowded. Someday, we'll have to return and experience it more fully.


Tuolomne Meadows - Cathedral Peak in Background

We headed back to the other "Tuolomne" where one of the Giant Sequoia Groves is located. The hike to the grove is supposed to be just a mile or two, but our calves were not happy going downhill. Coming uphill was much easier. "Giant" is an understatement for these sequoias.


The tunnel through a sequoia struck by lightning.


Standing next to a giant Sequoia.

Day 4: We again stumbled into the breakfast buffet, so the hostess recognized us. We just sat there and ate and ate and ate. Then we packed our belongings and headed home. Happy Trails!

seoul 2001:

June 2001: A last-minute five-day trip to Seoul for corporate regional meetings. The little Korean I'd picked up from my friends helped, but most of the time I was asking "yongorul malhashimnika" ("do you speak English?"). I could read Korean, but that only helped with locations--I hardly knew what the words actually meant. My Korean Air flight to Incheon Airport was not bad at all. The plane was surprisingly empty, and the meals were quite tasty. I discovered later that it was empty because Korean Air workers were on strike, My flight home was in danger of being cancelled.

A Korean friend of mine said that the smog in Seoul was worse than L.A.'s and the traffic worse than New York City's. He was right, but there isn't all the rudeness and road rage. When I first stepped off the plane in the evening, it was very humid. The shuttle I took from Incheon to Seoul had no air conditioning, no windows that could be opened, and exhaust fumes trapped within it. I arrived at my hotel room at the Renaissance Seoul, passing through quite a bit of second-hand smoke, and became ill. But the great view of the city lights and the beautiful Korean decor f my room helped me relax. I had very little sleep but was up the next morning, ready to eat!

I met up with my coworkers Y and E in the morning and we were off to the world-famous Itaewon shopping district. E spoke Korean and he knew several of the good hole-in-the-wall restaurants. At one of the restaurants, I had dolsot bibimbap (a seasoned vegetable/rice dish in a stone pot). I actually bargained with a merchant for the first time, but I wasn't too good at it because I kept thinking of how my parents used to sell merchandise on the side of the road. Y was very good about stepping in when I felt guilty. I bought a few Korean dolls for friends and family. We then returned to our company's office at the hotel and worked for a while. Then we took off to some of the main malls to look around and to purchase some Korean pop CD's. At COEX, we were invited into the grand opening of Dave & Buster's and we played a virtual reality shooting game. That evening we met up with another manager and our director for dinner.

The next day we attended a field engineer workshop, where some people thought I was an admin, probably because I was just a woman with a laptop. I'm glad no one sent me for coffee. Sexism, racism, age-ism--I had it all when I was an engineer. Instead of the group dinner, I went out with my friend J, who was a former exchange student at UCLA and attended the same bible study I did. I hadn't seen her in ages, but our friend F helped us contact each other, sort of. When I called J at her house, her mother hung up the phone when I started speaking English. So I called her cell phone and was pretty confused by the Korean voice messaging service. The only thing I figured out was that I should push "2"--so I took the chance and left a message after pushing 2. It was a total shot in the dark and a miracle. J got the message, and we were on our way out for whatever she planned. Seeing her was the true highlight of the week.

Unfortunately, some of the places she wanted to go were closing soon, so she came up with a great idea. She said that because Korean women spend a great deal of time and money on their hair (which admittedly I don't but probably should), she would treat me to a haircut at a salon hidden inside COEX. We really did go through somewhat of a maze to find it. J knew the manager, so she did our hair herself while we ate fast food. The fast food restaurants (like KFC, McDonalds, etc) are huge in Seoul! We both couldn't stay out late, so that was the end of our short visit. I wish I would've had more time there.

We had our site managers' meeting the next day. It went well, but was thoroughly exhausting. Then we all went to dinner at the hotel's Japanese restaurant. Manny and I do not eat sashimi, but because I was sitting next to a Japanese executive, I ate it and forced it down whenever it started coming back up. The flavor was good, but the texture was difficult for me to handle. I've tried it so many times, and I mean the really expensive stuff, and have decided that it is not an acquired taste.

The morning before we headed to the airport, some of our group went to Namdaemun shopping district and the Gyung Bok Gung palace for some last-minute tourism. The latter seemed like an anachronism or oasis in Seoul. One of the main structures was closed for repair. I didn't have a chance to see the Olympic Park (from the 1988 Olympics) or the main amusement park, but in the limited amount of time I had there, seeing what I did of Seoul, and especially J, was more than I had even hoped for.

The Incheon Airport is remarkably designed - my picture below doesn't do it justice. If you ever visit South Korea, there are several indigenous sites located about four hours outside of Seoul.


Incheon Airport had a huge KFC that played Christian praise music.


A friendly Itaewon district merchant. Let me be honest and say that some Koreans do not like Chinese people (I have a couple personal accounts), but I look Korean, so I'm okay. lol


Pagoda just outside Gyung Bok Gung


Gyung Hoe Ru - a pavilion island situated on the water


Dong Gung Pavilion inside Gyung Bok Gung


J, me, and the salon manager, who was surprised I was not Korean.


The view from my hotel room.

point reyes 2001:

Another blast from the past. Sorry, I have a bunch of these to do and only one month left.

Point Reyes National Seashore spans about 30 miles and has been called a geological enigma. One day is definitely not enough to take in all it has to offer. Sam, Manny, and I went for a day-trip in April of 2001 and tried to at least take a few quick trails and see the Point Reyes Lighthouse. You may want to visit during the summer when the wildflowers are in full bloom and more wildlife viewing areas are open. If you enjoy marine life, find out when the best time is to watch the gray whales and visit the tidepools. There are a number of moderate to strenuous trails for the hardcore hikers.

We first took the Abbott's Lagoon trail. It's short and easy, and you can walk a little farther to reach the beach. Along the trail were a few California poppies. The beach seemed almost untouched--no seagulls, no trash, and almost no people in sight.

We then drove south to the Lighthouse Visitor Center. Sea lions and elephant seals can be spotted nearby. There are quite a few steps (about 300) to the lighthouse. Walking down the stairway, one hears the soothing sounds of ocean waves crashing and also people heavily panting on their way back up. The lighthouse was constructed in the late 1800's.

We then headed back to the Bear Valley Visitor Center to finish our visit with a few short trails - the Woodpecker, Kuke Loklo, and Earthquake Trails. These were easy educational walks.


Abbott's Lagoon trail


At the Great Beach


Steps to the lighthouse


Point Reyes Lighthouse


The view from the lighthouse

hearst castle and monterey 2001:

San Simeon and Monterey Bay

Manny and I spent a spring weekend in California's central coast in 2001. Friday, we stayed in San Simeon, home of the famous Hearst Castle, and Saturday we went to Monterey. We stayed at the Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront Resort with our AAA discount. The restaurant was good and they had bonfires by the ocean so guests could enjoy the sunset together [I hear they no longer have them].

First up, the Hearst Castle Historical Monument, William Randolph Hearst's incredible vision come to life. It is also known as La Cuesta Encantada, or the Enchanted Hill. This was our first time there, so we took the Experience Tour, which was Tour 1 plus the iWerks movie, "Building the Dream." Here is a bit of what we saw (flash photography was not permitted indoors):


Façade of La Casa Grande.


Tapestry inside La Casa Grande.


Roman Pool.


The outdoor Neptune Pool.

We watched the sun set over San Simeon and then had a delicious dinner at our hotel/inn to finish our day.


Watching the sunset.

The next day we were off to Monterey. We walked around Monterey in the morning, had lunch at Bubba Gump on Cannery Row, and then hit the Aquarium at noon.


Me.


The obligatory shell photo.