Tourists

I saw these happy tourists proudly posing for photos with their country flag.
Can you guess which country they are from?

- Karen

Smoking Zone

Remember those days when you could smoke anywhere? The smoking area inside Munich's airport has dwindled down to this tiny enclosure. It almost feels like smokers are endangered species on display.

- Karen

Crab Fishing

What is everyone looking at? On this particular weekend in San Francisco, I spied this particular family crab fishing by lowering their hoop nets from the pier. It is definitely a sport that requires patience. Once the net is dropped in the water, it is a waiting and hoping game. By the way, crabbers must have a fishing license even for 1 day.

When the crabbers weren't looking, a seal like the one at the lower left hand corner of the picture did a little fishing on his or her own.

I am not sure if this creature is the same as the one above, but a handful of seals were making their rounds in the area hoping to get a meal.

- Karen

Fort Point Interior

Fort Point, aside from being a historical landmark, it is also an American Civil War museum.

Stacks of powder kegs for the cannons. I hope they are empty.

These were probably not the actual boxes from the 1860's, but in any case, they did not store bread as we know it but a cracker or biscuit called "hardtack". Made of flour, water, and salt, it was said to be hard as a rock and had to be dunked in liquid to soften. Nevertheless, it could last for years and was the staple food of Civil War soldiers.
Click here for a history and recipe of hardtack.
If you want a box of your own, click here.

With long corridors like the one above or below, a photographer can have some real fun here.



Have a nice weekend!

- Karen

Fort Point Exterior

In continuation of my post from Tuesday, this is how Fort Point looked like back in 1865.

And this is how it looks today. It does look slightly different with the Golden Gate Bridge over its top.

Looking at the fort's courtyard in the other direction. Some renovation is currently underway.

- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Pvt. William Long
23 years old from Conway, Arkansas
D Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry
June 1, 2009


"My brother taught me valuable lessons and made me the man I am today," said Pfc. Triston Long, brother of Pvt. William Long. "My commander said, 'Make your brother one of us.' I will miss my brother with all that I am, and I serve in honor of him."

Pvt. William Long had just completed basic training and was set to ship out on June 8 to his first duty station in Korea when he and Private Second Class Quinton Ezeagwula were shot outside a Little Rock, Arkansas Army-Navy Recruiting Center by Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad. They were in Little Rock to speak to with potential recruits about their experiences.

Pvt. Long's father, Daris Long, a former Marine, wrote a letter to give to him when he shipped out for South Korea. In that letter he wrote, "Your day only ends when you’ve done your duty. You and your brother … are both heroes for having the moral courage to stand up when your country needs you most. You are in my hopes and my thoughts and my prayers. You are my son, you are my hero. I love you. Semper fidelis."

Along with his father and brother, Pvt. William Long is survived by his mother, Janet, who had served in the Navy herself.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From RedState, Sipsey Street Irregulars & Army Times with help from Kathi

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Cannon Fire Demo

This docent is shouting "Cannon Fire Demo" as visitors pass through Fort Point. A fort strategically located underneath the Golden Gate Bridge to protect the west coast of the United States during the Civil War era.

Dressed in Civil War Union soldier clothing, this First Sergeant stands at attention posing for tourist photos.

Here the First Sergeant demonstrates how to use the ramrod to push the gunpowder to the end of the barrel. It was a mock demo and nothing was actually fired; otherwise, I would not have been standing this close.

- Karen

Public Structures

A 7-foot public structure named "Digital DNA" made with circuit boards into a shape of an egg stands in Palo Alto, California, where Silicon Valley began.

A wooden globe by San Francisco's waterfront reminds people to do their part for the environment.

Have a nice weekend,
Karen

On the Side of the Road

The other day, my friend and I drove through a rural part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
This lonely gnarled tree on the hillside caught my eyes.

Later, we caught this cow sleeping under a tree. If you click on the picture for a closer look, you can see he/she has its eyes closed with what looks like a smile on its face. Happy cows do come from California like the commercial says. Although, it is sad to see markings on his/her hide.

On this stretch of the road, we saw a turkey scurry away just as we drove by.

- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc A. Lee
28 years old from Hood River, Oregon
Navy SEAL
August 2, 2006


"Marc was amazing. He was my best friend, my love," his widow, Maya, said.

Petty Officer Marc A. Lee joined the Navy in 2001 and became an AO after completing Naval Air Technical Training. Later that year he attempted to complete the grueling BUD/S program but caught pneumonia and had to drop out. He tried again in 2004 and completed the course.

On August 2, 2006, Marc A. Lee became the first SEAL to be killed in combat in Iraq when he was fatally wounded in a firefight in Ramadi, Iraq. The following is from the award citation:

"During the operation, one element member was wounded by enemy fire. The element completed the casualty evacuation, regrouped and returned onto the battlefield to continue the fight. Petty Officer Lee and his SEAL element maneuvered to assault an unidentified enemy position. He, his teammates, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks engaged enemy positions with suppressive fire from an adjacent building to the north.

"To protect the lives of his teammates, he fearlessly exposed himself to direct enemy fire by engaging the enemy with his machine gun and was mortally wounded in the engagement. His brave actions in the line of fire saved the lives of many of his teammates"

"It was so like Marc to give up his life to save his friends," his mother, Debbie Lee, told the Hood River News. "I am so proud of him. He is my hero."

Petty Officer Lee was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star with combat "V" for his actions in Iraq during his team’s combat tour and the Purple Heart medal.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

New Humane Society Facilities

A few months ago, a new Humane Society pet shelter & animal care facility opened in the area. It is a place for pet adoption, veterinarian service, dog daycare, pet grooming, pet training, education outreach, pet supplies, and a pet-friendly cafe.

The front entrance with a unique fountain and befitting statues. To the left, you can see the chairs in front of the pet-friendly cafe. Unfortunately, I was disappointed that the facility was closed the day after the big grand opening so I could not get any interior pictures.

The medical facility that cares for dogs, cats, rabbits, and more. If you click and enlarge the photo, you can see the name "Elvis' Reflection Room and Courtyard" on the left. I wonder what that is all about.

This is the dog park in front of the building. My dog, Maverick, in the distance, is breaking it in and is happy running on artificial turf.

- Karen

19th Hole

Are you good at hitting a little ball into a little hole? It takes me countless tries and sometimes I just give up after 6, 7, or more strokes. :)
If you enlarge the picture, you can see the sign that says if you hit a certain spot at this 19th hole that rings the bell, you get to win a free game and do it all over again.

Have a nice Sunday,
Karen

Traffic Control

Palo Alto, California's downtown painted their normally mundane traffic control boxes into works of art.

Note: After a few weeks of posting vacation pictures from Germany, I thought I would give you a break and post something different today.

Have a good weekend,
Karen

Facades

Interesting building facades seen in Munich.

Is there any doubt this is a detective agency?

You will have to click on this photo for more details.
On top of each of the figures label each one's occupation. Hopefully, I am translating the labels correctly from left to right...
"Burger" is short for Burgermeister or Town Master.
"Hausfrau" translates to House Mother.
"Kunstler" translates to Performer.
"Jvngfrau" translates to Virgin or Maiden.
"Gelehrte" translates to Scholar.

Statues from centuries ago. If you look closely, it looks like each statue is covered with netting. I wonder if they fear one or more might suddenly fall off.

- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Pablo A. Calderon
26 years old from Brooklyn, New York
1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
November 30, 2004


"He wanted to fight for his country," said his heartbroken younger sister, Lilliana Calderone. "He always wanted to be there."

Pablo Calderon joined the Army in 1997, right out of High School. "He went straight to the army from high school," said his sister. "He wanted to improve himself. He was proud. He loved his country."

Sgt. Calderon was killed when an IED was detonated near his vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Sgt. Jose Guereca of Missouri City, Texas.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com & NYDailyNews.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Metropolitan Church of Our Lady

A major landmark in the middle of Munich is the Metropolitan Church of Our Lady. It is also known as Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady, The Frauenkirche, ...etc. During my visit, one of the two spires was undergoing restoration.

You can see the enormity of its interior with the high ceiling and rows of pews that can seat close to 20,000 people.

Do you recognize the figure on the wall? This placard is dedicated to the current Pope Benedict XVI who was formerly the Archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982.

Lots of rules for visitors displayed in pictures and multiple languages.

- Karen