tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347218612024-03-13T00:48:27.097-07:00AVCR8TEUR'S PHOTO BLOGAVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.comBlogger1090125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-8804944456663493692014-10-18T21:56:00.000-07:002014-10-20T10:30:40.672-07:00Gate1 - Amadeus Royal<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the morning of the departure from Prague to the <a href="http://www.gate1travel.com/cruises/ships/ms-amadeus-royal/" target="_blank">Amadeus Royal</a> boat, we left our luggage outside our hotel room to be picked up by the crew and brought to the bus. After breakfast, we still had time to briefly do any last minute sightseeing or shopping. From the hotel, we left for Nuremberg at 1 p.m. on 3 separate buses. Halfway through the 3 hour bus journey, we stopped at a McDonald's in Germany, yes McDonald's, for a food and bathroom break. It was a good size location, but it must be on the main highway as it was crowded and it took awhile to place our food order. They took Euros and credit cards. After a quick 20 minute stop, we boarded the bus for the 2nd half of the drive to the Nuremberg port, also known as the Main-Danube Canal, and arrived by late afternoon.</div>
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The embarkation was painless as our 3 tour buses left Prague in a staggered formation so as not to all arrive at once. The receptionists welcomed us, we gave them our passports, and they gave us a key to our cabin and a key to a small safe in the cabin. Between my husband and I, we were given only 1 cabin key and 1 safe key. These were physical keys and not electronic card keys. The cabin key was attached to a huge keychain so it would less likely to be lost, but you will need a big pocket.<br />
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As a policy, they kept our passports for the rest of the cruise until we disembarked in Budapest. We had reservations about it, but it was a requirement so make sure you make copies of your passport before you leave home just in case. And, at no time during the rest of the cruise were we asked to present our passport during our tour so technically we did not need it.<br />
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After receiving our keys and cabin number, a crew member brought our luggage and escorted us to our cabin. Our cabin was on the Hayden Deck (lowest level) where there isn't much of a view out our window except to maybe look at the sky. If I got on a chair, I could see the landscape and water-level. My thought was how often are we going to stay in our cabin when we are out and about most of the day. With that in mind, we are light sleepers and the engine noise, sloshing of the water, going through countless <a href="http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_(water_transport)" target="_blank">river locks</a> were sometimes too much and they kept us up at night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.gate1travel.com/cruises/ships/ms-amadeus-royal/images/royCabinHaydn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.gate1travel.com/cruises/ships/ms-amadeus-royal/images/royCabinHaydn.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Picture from Gate1's photo gallery of a Hayden Deck cabin.</div>
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Our bathroom which looks similar to those on a large cruise ship except this one has a sliding shower door which I prefer.</div>
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The shower head and provided soap and shampoo.</div>
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Also, a hairdryer is provided and stored in the desk drawer.</div>
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Your cabin is made up while you are away on your day's tour and in the evening during dinner time, your bed is turned down and your cabin is tidied up again.</div>
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Closet space was very limited so don't pack too much or you will have to leave some items in your luggage. We hand washed a few of our wearables and left them hanging to dry in the bathroom. Since there was little air circulating in our cabin, it took them a few days to dry.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">On the first evening on board, everyone gathered for the Welcome Aboard program at the Panorama Bar (front of the ship) where we were introduced to the crew & tour managers. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks were served. Following this was the ship's safety briefing and port talk. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Every evening, one of the tour managers would speak 15 minutes about the next day's schedule and tour. Dinner is usually served around 6:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the dining room at the back of the ship immediately following the port talk.</span></div>
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These are some samples of entrees and desserts served on board. You usually have several choices of entrees and desserts to choose from and red and white wines are included at every dinner meal. </div>
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Every breakfast was a buffet with your typical eggs, bacon, sausage, cold cuts, cheeses, cereals, oatmeal, toast, pastries, coffee, juice, ..etc. I did not try it, but you can also order an Amadeus Omelette which is cooked to order and looked like your typical American omelette with eggs, meat, and cheese.</div>
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During breakfast, the lunch menu is already on the table for you to peruse and by lunch, the dinner menu is available for you to view.</div>
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Due to time-constraints such as afternoon tours, some of the lunch meals were also buffets which included a dessert buffet such as this. </div>
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The first evening's entertainer was this musician and comedian. Unfortunately, I did not find him funny.</div>
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The last evening on board were a group of Hungarian singers, dancers, and musicians. I thought they were really talented.</div>
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If you do not like the scheduled entertainment, you can always resort to reading, watching tv in your cabin, chatting with fellow passengers, playing games, exercising, connecting online, ...etc. Smoking is allowed outside of the boat.</div>
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There is a small library on board where you can borrow a book to read. There were only a handful of tv channels and most of them were not in English. We wanted to play cards, but there was only 1 deck of cards and some of the cards were missing. </div>
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And as for connecting online, the on board wi-fi was terrible and it was hit and miss. To get online, you had to ask the receptionist for a password which is written on a small slip of paper. If you have multiple devices like a smartphone and tablet, each of your devices require a different password and each will expire after 24 hours. I had better luck waiting until I got onshore to get connected.</div>
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This is the game, library, or sitting area next to the Panorama Bar.</div>
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Coffee and tea are available anytime by the Panorama Bar.</div>
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This is the exercise room. </div>
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I am not sure how many people actually used it after walking all day.</div>
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Going back to the river locks... Our tour manager said we went through 25 locks through the cruise. The first few were interesting, but after that, you couldn't wait until it was over. Don't miss out on seeing Europe's <a href="http://www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/the-rivers/europe/the-danube/" target="_blank">Continental Divide</a> marker, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wachau" target="_blank">Wachau Valley</a>, and the sail into Budapest. There should be sufficient notice to all the passengers on the intercom so you won't miss out. A few times, they made last minute announcements to look out the window at night to see some amazing sights especially passing <a href="http://www.austria.info/us/culture-art/linz-1149324.html" target="_blank">Linz</a>. I wished they had made those announcements during the day so we could have prepared.</div>
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Each time you disembark the boat, you will hand the receptionist your cabin key and in return, she will give you a paper pass with your name and cabin number. When you return, you hand her the pass and she will return your cabin key. This is how they track whether you are or not on board. You will also be handed a cool fruity drink and a hot wash cloth to clean your hands.</div>
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On the evening we docked in Vienna, a few of us took a taxi to <a href="http://www.sacher.com/sacher-cafes/sacher-cafe-vienna/" target="_blank">Cafe Sacher</a> where they make the world famous Sacher Torte. If you are interested in doing the same, have the receptionist hail you a taxi. Depending on when you leave, the cost is between 18 to 23 Euros each way. </div>
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Every evening, the next day's program schedule is placed in your room. If you go to the link, I have scanned the <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pr7560bfmp6ic4j/AAD6Sc83Rni6ngEJUQvsVhTDa?dl=0" target="_blank">Welcome Aboard letter, all the Daily Programs, and the Disembarkation Information</a>.</div>
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I hope this information is worthwhile to you. Thank you for reading...</div>
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- Karen</div>
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AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-21670823997258300122014-10-13T14:51:00.002-07:002014-10-13T14:51:21.236-07:00Gate1 Tour - Cesky Krumlov<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our second full day in Prague was a trip to <a href="http://www.krumlov.com/" target="_blank">Cesky Krumlov</a>, a medieval town dating back to the 13th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had an early morning pick up of 8 a.m. from our hotel. I, along with mostly everyone else, was hoping for a quiet 2+ hour bus ride so we could nap, but our enthusiastic tour guide talked the entire time.<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Upon arrival into Cesky Krumlov, you can see the map of the geography of the city with its horseshoe bend around the Vltava River. </span></div>
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High walls as you enter the city</div>
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Some activities you can engage in is river rafting on the Vltava River or you can sit in the outdoor restaurant and watch the river rafters go by.</div>
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The start of the tour was of the State Castle & Chateau</div>
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At the entrance to the castle, below the bridge is a bear. </div>
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I was able to get this quick shot before it went into hiding.</div>
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Within the Castle grounds. </div>
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I really like the paintings on the building walls.</div>
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A movie was to be filmed here and this is part of the movie set.</div>
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These animals are not real and also part of the movie set.</div>
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This our Gate1 tour guide who was showing us the Castle Museum.</div>
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View of the city below from the Castle.</div>
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After our Castle tour, we had lunch at <a href="http://www.satlava.cz/page.php?sectid=satlava&artid=1&lang=en&mode=normal" target="_blank">Krcma V Satlavske</a> or Tavern in Satlavske Street.</div>
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We were placed in a cavern-like room with no windows. It was hot and cramped. </div>
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Meat was cooking on the grill as we walked in.</div>
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This is a sample of the lunch (included in the tour) which consisted of a choice of entrees, a soup, a drink, and a dessert.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAEJ0x1u3D4IidtqoTx9h-P2n0ZUt2MTagiY6VqFpeQnK1lyJMHBHTloCjoQiu5joWzxa_Nn5Qmz0-LLObDnlCWR_yr9JLuxO5DVAhyphenhyphendMMQX3Kg59NXDCnIckwyhEtSZmWGGc/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAEJ0x1u3D4IidtqoTx9h-P2n0ZUt2MTagiY6VqFpeQnK1lyJMHBHTloCjoQiu5joWzxa_Nn5Qmz0-LLObDnlCWR_yr9JLuxO5DVAhyphenhyphendMMQX3Kg59NXDCnIckwyhEtSZmWGGc/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
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After lunch, we were free to roam around the city.</div>
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At the main square was a Mustang car show.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhEZBZUnHHif01FmOtrfkkzm7Dd9VpnGsUFmgkbi-RUIckayTNpOM6qSKaao2940nsB7ZMYsXeEWF53CAPy16BnIoY894FTi2jFmhYCwWlBcTqr4xbkKDuf7CroF6v02LCt2G/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhEZBZUnHHif01FmOtrfkkzm7Dd9VpnGsUFmgkbi-RUIckayTNpOM6qSKaao2940nsB7ZMYsXeEWF53CAPy16BnIoY894FTi2jFmhYCwWlBcTqr4xbkKDuf7CroF6v02LCt2G/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
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Or, you can walk and shop along the narrow cobblestoned streets. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYMpH-Ys-d_U8I-PP5cks34CcgWycIi1Kycir7WB9LykLlZI2tA_tZChA9ApF3yO5UPFwHz0HMUjIcaucKMrclL_Gkr8BIbO5PSwhQgPZ10OXDmk-CuxhUrO_yu-aaDtDSHqg/s1600/IMG_2649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYMpH-Ys-d_U8I-PP5cks34CcgWycIi1Kycir7WB9LykLlZI2tA_tZChA9ApF3yO5UPFwHz0HMUjIcaucKMrclL_Gkr8BIbO5PSwhQgPZ10OXDmk-CuxhUrO_yu-aaDtDSHqg/s1600/IMG_2649.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
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Since the streets are so narrow, many building corners had concrete barriers to prevent cars from scraping the buildings. This particular building had a more creative barrier.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z5yT33V1lzfxSzU843Jj7AwpG4ouJaDBhkhyphenhyphenlOo-SATeDE8i_ZThek_BBCvh7QefMCG8IgOYF5rzdkbx_Kxttns4hdRY6YZWMqckJptH3l80xyc83gYvzLgM6Iev1HOE08Dn/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z5yT33V1lzfxSzU843Jj7AwpG4ouJaDBhkhyphenhyphenlOo-SATeDE8i_ZThek_BBCvh7QefMCG8IgOYF5rzdkbx_Kxttns4hdRY6YZWMqckJptH3l80xyc83gYvzLgM6Iev1HOE08Dn/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
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More city buildings with an artistic facade.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMWg05R0up-KdmGgiKicw1hSXDoZz4XxJKqpmQPPqdLD4g380Xy3AEWOwkYvKReRtbXNWf0mr1MKXXmU3IJbkk_P0c3fq55Sdtki4DKI4kLyS3flXNe34DQg6128GwU5AMwlE/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMWg05R0up-KdmGgiKicw1hSXDoZz4XxJKqpmQPPqdLD4g380Xy3AEWOwkYvKReRtbXNWf0mr1MKXXmU3IJbkk_P0c3fq55Sdtki4DKI4kLyS3flXNe34DQg6128GwU5AMwlE/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some stores with creative decorations to attract you inside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6b9AWu74UbcoclbN-jHf7ZNsjcjNzLz7ksypypzAqeA1O3gs2qkEAjHK8ET8cZT7OYdA1sxpiwpLdhRsWEgpK_LfBXUXj7MJxnjloP3uFnII1qp9G2OON_Draa2UuHUcNT2s/s1600/IMG_2645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6b9AWu74UbcoclbN-jHf7ZNsjcjNzLz7ksypypzAqeA1O3gs2qkEAjHK8ET8cZT7OYdA1sxpiwpLdhRsWEgpK_LfBXUXj7MJxnjloP3uFnII1qp9G2OON_Draa2UuHUcNT2s/s1600/IMG_2645.JPG" height="320" width="298" /></a></div>
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Wherever we went in Prague or Cesky Krumlov was this mole.</div>
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We found out it was a Czech cartoon character called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(Zden%C4%9Bk_Miler_character)" target="_blank">Krtek</a> from the 1950's and 1960's.</div>
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Have you seen this character before? It even went into <a href="http://www.dokosmuskrtkem.cz/wordpress/?page_id=528" target="_blank">space</a>.</div>
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After the tour, we arrived back to our hotel with still enough time to explore Prague in the late afternoon. My next segment will include Nuremberg and Amadeus Royal embarkation.</div>
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- Karen</div>
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AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-65926021311671683562014-10-04T12:21:00.000-07:002014-10-04T12:21:02.183-07:00Gate1 Travel's 14-Day Danube River Cruise Report - Part 1<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello,</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My husband and I recently returned from a </span><a href="http://www.gate1travel.com/european-river-cruise/default.aspx#01-DANUBE-CRU-1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">14 day Gate1 Travel Danube River Cruise</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> with pre-cruise days in </span><st1:city style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" w:st="on">Prague</st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, post-cruise days in </span><st1:city style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" w:st="on">Budapest</st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, and optional tours to Cesky Krumlov, </span><st1:city style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" w:st="on">Salzburg</st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> and </span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Schonbrunn</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">. Prior to my trip, I was only able to find a few reviews about European river cruise trips hosted by Gate1. I hope this helps future Gate1 Danube River Cruise passengers who plan to take a similar trip. Feel free to contact me if I missed anything. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Preparation before the trip</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Performed research online about the different itineraries, read Rick Steves’ book “Europe Through the Back Door”, listened to </span><a href="https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Rick Steves’ audio tours</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> free online.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reserved an airport shuttle service in </span><st1:place w:st="on">Prague</st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> so when we arrived, someone would meet us there without having to figure out transportation.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I highly recommend the <a href="http://www.prague-airport-transfers.org/" target="_blank"><i>Prague Airport Transfers</i></a> service.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can make a reservation a day or two before leaving and pay online with your credit card.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cost is 550 Czech Korunas or about $26 USD/20 Euros. It also includes a free 4-hour Prague city walking tour. Unfortunately, it starts at 11am and conflicted with our scheduled Gate1 tour. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/atm_machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/atm_machine.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not order any foreign currency ahead of time from my bank, but I did obtain an ATM/Debit card from my bank. Contact your bank and credit card company to let them know which dates you will be in which country and the rates they will charge for a <i>foreign transaction</i> and/or <i>ATM</i> fees. I also carried some US Dollars to exchange just in case my ATM card didn’t work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember that on this particular river cruise, you will need 3 different country currencies: </span></div>
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- Korunas in <st1:city w:st="on">Prague</st1:city></div>
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- Euros in Nuremberg/Regensburg/Passau/Salzburg/Melk/Vienna</div>
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- Forint in <st1:city w:st="on">Budapest</st1:city></div>
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<a href="https://www.aidshilfe-potsdam.de/CMS/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/9647497-leder-reise-koffer-mit-bunten-aufklebern-isoliert-auf-weissem-hintergrund.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://www.aidshilfe-potsdam.de/CMS/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/9647497-leder-reise-koffer-mit-bunten-aufklebern-isoliert-auf-weissem-hintergrund.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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We used 1 large suitcase and each of us carried a backpack. Gate1’s lengthy Travel Document that was emailed to us says dining room attire is casual. Most people dressed casual to business casual for meals in the dining room, but a majority of the passengers were dressed in suits and dresses on the last evening on the cruise during the Farewell Dinner.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">There is laundry service at the hotels and on the boat, but I did not use them and unfortunately forgot to note the prices. Most of my laundry was hand washed. There is an iron in the hotel in </span><st1:city style="text-align: justify;" w:st="on">Prague</st1:city><span style="text-align: justify;"> and </span><st1:city style="text-align: justify;" w:st="on">Budapest</st1:city><span style="text-align: justify;">, but not in your boat’s cabin. They do not allow irons in the cabin so if you need to use one, someone has to iron it for you. </span>There is a hairdryer, shampoo, and soap in the hotel rooms and in your boat cabin. </div>
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There are three available electrical outlets in your boat cabin - two in the main cabin and one in the bathroom for your electric razor. Don’t forget to bring several <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#CEE_7_standards_and_Europlug" target="_blank">Euro plug power adapters</a> and make sure your electrical device is 220v compatible; otherwise, you will need to bring power converters. All the countries you will be visiting during the cruise will use the same Euro plug power adapters. You can get one for a few dollars at the store or online. </div>
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<a href="http://content.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/transportation/black-white-boy-with-binoculars-in-sailboat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://content.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/transportation/black-white-boy-with-binoculars-in-sailboat.png" height="191" width="200" /></a></div>
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I brought a small binocular in case I needed to use it while cruising. I discovered it wasn't really necessary because we didn’t cruise too much during the day and when we cruised into the picturesque locations of the <st1:placename w:st="on">Wachau</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> or arrival into <st1:place w:st="on">Budapest</st1:place>, I was either busy taking pictures or just enjoying the view.</div>
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<a href="http://www.wcspittsburgh.org/image/Cell-Phones--Smartphones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wcspittsburgh.org/image/Cell-Phones--Smartphones.jpg" height="101" width="200" /></a></div>
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If you plan to use your cell phone, either get a SIM card, or notify your cell phone company that you will be overseas to get on an international phone and/or data plan temporarily. I did not get an international plan and opted to hunt for wifi signals. By the way, the wifi signal on the Amadeus Royal boat was terrible, but luckily, wifi was available in town. Many of the restaurants require a wifi password, so just ask them for it if you are dining there.</div>
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<a href="http://budapestpharmacy.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/pharmacy_green_cross2.png?w=150&h=150" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://budapestpharmacy.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/pharmacy_green_cross2.png?w=150&h=150" /></a></div>
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Although I didn’t venture into any pharmacies, we did see at least one at each location maybe with the exception of Melk because we just visited the Abbey and not the town.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Arrival at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Vaclav</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Havel</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place> (PRG)</span></u><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">There are ATM machines at the baggage claim and arrival hall areas .</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It was simpler to use than I anticipated.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Specify English on the monitor if it is not
already set, put your ATM card into the slot, enter your pin, press the button to the
pre-set amount in the local currency you want, and the money comes out. It helps to know the exchange rate so you know the amount you are withdrawing in US Dollars. I used the <a href="http://www.xe.com/apps/" target="_blank">XE Currency Converter app</a> on my iPhone. Depending on the ATM machine, you might or might not get a receipt so note how much you are withdrawing each time. It will also help to get smaller bills/coins to access the public bathrooms.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.prague-airport-shuttle.cz/wp-content/uploads/pat-drivers-2014a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.prague-airport-shuttle.cz/wp-content/uploads/pat-drivers-2014a.jpg" height="129" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Prague Airport Transfer driver was waiting for us after we
picked up our luggage from baggage claim. There were lots of people at the
exit.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Look for the person with the
<i>Prague Airport Transfer </i>sign with your name on it if you choose to use this
service. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">He spoke English, very
professional, and his car was very clean. FYI, we did not have to go through
Customs in </span><st1:city style="text-indent: -0.25in;" w:st="on">Prague</st1:city><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> as it was done in </span><st1:place style="text-indent: -0.25in;" w:st="on">Frankfurt</st1:place><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> during our layover.</span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It was about a 20-25 minute car ride from
Vaclav Havel Airport (PRG) to the Art Deco Imperial Hotel around 5:30pm on a
Thursday.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you want to pay tips to the
driver, money in Korunas, US Dollars, Euros, …etc. are accepted.</span><br />
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<u style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arrival at
the Art Deco Imperial Hotel</span></u><br />
We arrived after 6pm, checked in,
went to our room to freshen up, and unfortunately we missed the 1pm or 3pm Vicinity Walking tour and was late to the Welcome Briefing which started at 6pm.
Some people missed it all together because their flights didn’t arrive
until that evening. In the meeting with
free wine and snacks, they introduced the Gate1 tour guides, explained basic information, and discussed the next morning's activities,…etc.<br />
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The most
important to get out of the Welcome Briefing is to get a Gate1 lanyard with your
name, time of the next morning’s tour, and find out which tour bus you should
be getting on. We had about 128
passengers and they divided us into 3 buses. You were either on the Red, Blue, or
Yellow bus. This information is also
listed on a board in the hotel’s lobby which looks like this.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><u>Art Deco Imperial Hotel</u></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The <a href="http://www.hotel-imperial.cz/?lang=en" target="_blank">hotel</a> is celebrating its 100th year anniversary in 2014 and it has quite a past. These are pictures of our hotel room. We were on the 6th floor and had no windows except for a skylight. The bathroom had marble floor and walls room, a shower stall and a bathtub. The tub was a little high so we had difficulties getting in and out. Not sure why we didn't use the shower stall instead. Free wifi was good and you will need to enter a code to access it. The elevator is quite small and will only fit a few guests at a time.</span><br />
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I think the hotel's buffet breakfast was served from 6:30a.m. to 10:30a.m. downstairs in its beautiful dining room. It included eggs, bacon, sausages, cold cuts, fruits, oatmeal, various pastries, coffee/tea, juices, ...etc. Tour groups other than Gate1 were also staying at the hotel where it got quite busy so much so that some people had to be turned away to come back later when seats were available.</div>
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The hotel is within walking distance to many restaurants and shops. If you like to grab a quick bite to eat, you can visit the <a href="http://www.palladiumpraha.cz/en/" target="_blank">Palladium Mall</a>'s top floor food court only 2 blocks away.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Prague</u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobqXlE_nuUmhWqhlpo5vJU_FCKEdSymoHgfz0mpPd2AiRstMC7hICVFEnqzNgOezZ4N-tNDWybdqzTW7R1GECfpPwjrcYcaVImvao8l7Sf1RbbVX6UGRjRx3loiySJ6a-mfj8/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobqXlE_nuUmhWqhlpo5vJU_FCKEdSymoHgfz0mpPd2AiRstMC7hICVFEnqzNgOezZ4N-tNDWybdqzTW7R1GECfpPwjrcYcaVImvao8l7Sf1RbbVX6UGRjRx3loiySJ6a-mfj8/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Here's our Gate1 group waiting for our tour buses to arrive in front of the Art Deco Imperial Hotel for our first bus tour in Prague.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We visited </span><a href="https://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle/prague-castle-tourist-information/visit-of-prague-castle.shtml" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Prague Castle</a><span style="text-align: left;"> and arrived just in time to see the changing of the guards. After a tour by the local guide, we had some free time to visit </span><a href="https://www.katedralasvatehovita.cz/en" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">St. Vitus Cathedral</a><span style="text-align: left;"> and the Royal Garden.</span></div>
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Changing of the Guards ceremony at Prague Castle</div>
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St. Vitus Cathedral exterior</div>
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St. Vitus Cathedral's impressive interior</div>
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Prague Castle's Royal Garden</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">After visiting Prague Castle, the bus drove us into the heart of Prague where we had a walking tour which included the outskirts of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josefov" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Jewish Quarter</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Town_Square_(Prague)" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Old Town Square</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> where we hovered in front of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_astronomical_clock" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Astronomical Clock</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> just in time to see it spring into action at noon. You can even venture to the top of the Old Town Hall Tower </span><span style="text-align: justify;">to get a view of the city.</span></div>
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At this point, our city tour ended and we tipped our local guide and driver. Gate1's guideline for tipping is $3 per person per half day for the guide and $2 per person per half day for the driver. Since we did not participate in the afternoon optional tour, we had the rest of the day to explore on our own.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">We asked the tour guide to suggest a place for lunch. She did not make a particular recommendation, but told us to stay out of the touristy and pricer locations of Old Town Square and instead walk to restaurants located on the side streets. While looking around, we saw a bride and groom eating at </span><a href="http://translate.google.cz/translate?hl=cs&sl=cs&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.udvouvelbloudu.cz%2F" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Restaurace U Dvou Velbloudu</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> (Restaurant With Two Camels). Well, if they are eating there, it must be good. We found outdoor seating, ordered from the English menu, and ate our first traditional Czech meal (Roast duck with red cabbage, bread, and potato dumplings). When writing this post, I discovered this restaurant is highly rated in </span><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g274707-d1785671-Reviews-Restaurace_U_dvou_velbloudu-Prague_Bohemia.html" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Tripvisor</a><span style="text-align: justify;">. </span></div>
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After lunch, we explored more of Old Town Square, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bridge" target="_blank">Charles Bridge</a>, and <a href="http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=605" target="_blank">Wenceslas Square</a>, during the day and night. </div>
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Powder Tower a few minutes walk from the Art Deco Imperial Hotel.</div>
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The Municipal House where concerts are played is also a few minutes walk from the hotel.</div>
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Old Town Square area in the evening.</div>
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The view of the Charles Bridge from a restaurant lookout.</div>
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View while on the Charles Bridge</div>
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View of the people walking on the Charles Bridge</div>
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View of the St. Vitus Cathedral in the distance seen from the Charles Bridge at night.</div>
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View of the people walking on the Charles Bridge at night.</div>
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National Museum at Wenceslas Square</div>
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Art Nouveau architecture of the Grand Hotel Europa in Wenceslas Square. </div>
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Fresh fruits, gifts, toys, ...etc. were seen at the Havelske Trziste market.</div>
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What to eat?</div>
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Prague is inundated with eateries like this interesting cafe in the middle of the boulevard in Wenceslas Square.</div>
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We found this piglet being roasted outside a restaurant. </div>
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280g grilled pork with sauce, cabbage salad, and bread for 350 CZK ($16 USD)</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trdeln%C3%ADk" target="_blank">Trdelnik</a> (Chimney Cake), a traditional Hungarian sweet pastry, was sold everywhere. Of course, we had to try it and it was delicious!</div>
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If you have a sweet tooth, bakeries and ice cream stores are everywhere.</div>
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This lady was making our freshly made waffle topped with strawberries and chocolate. Mmmm!</div>
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Along with food, there are never any shortage of street performers like this dance couple who drew in the evening crowd.</div>
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Just looking at these street artists is making me tired.</div>
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This anonymous gentleman was trying to make enough money to buy an engagement ring.</div>
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This concludes part 1 of my Gate1 Danube River cruise report. At this point, I don't know how many more parts I will write or even if this report generates any interest, but I hope it does. </div>
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In my opinion, Prague was my favorite city on the 14 day trip. I wished I had more time to explore the rest of the city, but I was happy I was able to visit the city that has been on my bucket list for a long time.</div>
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The next segment will be on the optional tour to Cesky Krumlov and the embarking on the Gate1 Amadeus Royal boat which would be our home for the next 7 days.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">- Karen</span><br />
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</span>AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-53466281487508250962013-06-04T15:00:00.000-07:002013-06-04T15:00:07.218-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Posing Goat<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxaO0FFcxmlmXL9CMG2iC0DwAWaTMlR3Hy3RPAaCLuAqf_e4aSUBNNlTELQ89IZcYcE67UPB_r70z1eic6kUhFxJeITPNdlXdCzwntT5za5c-gR60KFcsdeqWmElku2KHrgpu/s1600/IMG_3179.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxaO0FFcxmlmXL9CMG2iC0DwAWaTMlR3Hy3RPAaCLuAqf_e4aSUBNNlTELQ89IZcYcE67UPB_r70z1eic6kUhFxJeITPNdlXdCzwntT5za5c-gR60KFcsdeqWmElku2KHrgpu/s400/IMG_3179.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a></center><br />
- Karen<br />
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AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-84092069403156580182013-06-02T11:30:00.000-07:002013-06-02T11:30:01.005-07:00More on the Peanuts Gang<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbotya0qyZxJef9ZBzfF0dFrwZj5WZvRBo3RHGLn_alR9tZdd3IMopTeczwIG2G2TaAuXIztIuZANIZXeNYL6MUsBvAKIMC3vIvaO-hPOnnrv65ImIUcOmNh9Wvk9vFo0EkU-2/s1600/IMG_5266.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbotya0qyZxJef9ZBzfF0dFrwZj5WZvRBo3RHGLn_alR9tZdd3IMopTeczwIG2G2TaAuXIztIuZANIZXeNYL6MUsBvAKIMC3vIvaO-hPOnnrv65ImIUcOmNh9Wvk9vFo0EkU-2/s400/IMG_5266.JPG" width="400" /></a><center>A few weeks ago, I had a post about the Charles M. Schulz Museum.<br />
Across the street from the museum is the Warm Puppy Cafe where Mr. Schulz had many of his daily meals.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vbbGOwS5tPld1F6R7ffTCJpjbDnZZrD7ggiZ1CHJkVI4zTE3ZXKnNdmESCjpSRL-L_zf30Lrf14rKCqCt5PfAaptH46IAx911y6qlxcVeFPApAG0E9nyIlG5uJG6auxa3C1c/s1600/IMG_5467.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vbbGOwS5tPld1F6R7ffTCJpjbDnZZrD7ggiZ1CHJkVI4zTE3ZXKnNdmESCjpSRL-L_zf30Lrf14rKCqCt5PfAaptH46IAx911y6qlxcVeFPApAG0E9nyIlG5uJG6auxa3C1c/s400/IMG_5467.JPG" width="400" /></a><center>It has a cozy fireplace to keep you warm.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBLkT3XifqXvrbqqrVgotXtecTlizOeA0jxTM1taElaE2jlwabYhYXPe2Fx7DtHctscTkVK52M8VukspGX266-iE4cR8N1wGEK1RA9P2zCPplXJ1YVsU6FUnU8EasgdkWeeqy/s1600/IMG_5469.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBLkT3XifqXvrbqqrVgotXtecTlizOeA0jxTM1taElaE2jlwabYhYXPe2Fx7DtHctscTkVK52M8VukspGX266-iE4cR8N1wGEK1RA9P2zCPplXJ1YVsU6FUnU8EasgdkWeeqy/s400/IMG_5469.JPG" width="400" /></a><center>This is the interior of the cafe with an assortment of sandwiches and drinks for a quick meal.<br />
Here's a <a href="http://www.snoopyshomeice.com/pdfs/WarmPuppyMenu.pdf">menu</a> if you are curious.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj3wPNevQce9vNbHi9dp2YunZGMIeLPH3QnMrfeRyIonk4mc35XZYC2bWMlsp4qMUQmiRIIfwUMYmhBqIUx4-rlmMBBRslQpcedNqm9yvzbW6LGO1xoM74rXiLMAVI53Lucqb/s1600/IMG_5295.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj3wPNevQce9vNbHi9dp2YunZGMIeLPH3QnMrfeRyIonk4mc35XZYC2bWMlsp4qMUQmiRIIfwUMYmhBqIUx4-rlmMBBRslQpcedNqm9yvzbW6LGO1xoM74rXiLMAVI53Lucqb/s400/IMG_5295.JPG" width="400" /></a><center>There is also an ice rink next to the cafe where patrons can watch skaters while they eat. Sorry, I do not have a photograph of that, but outside the rink, you can see Charlie Brown in a hockey outfit.<br />
Mr. Schulz was an avid hockey player and held many hockey tournaments at this rink.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1MbiPzPYJTNEF9GhrNM7wIyrkZe9aMwaU5nRPbz4BcTqjmCq-jzur4NEHQxlyFfctwpGyzpFy2EWfJDHvWfqXEwyFQGX88jig9_hhwhqEASvhGzokHHsJ0cTi6Hc1FPun7eX/s1600/IMG_5314.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1MbiPzPYJTNEF9GhrNM7wIyrkZe9aMwaU5nRPbz4BcTqjmCq-jzur4NEHQxlyFfctwpGyzpFy2EWfJDHvWfqXEwyFQGX88jig9_hhwhqEASvhGzokHHsJ0cTi6Hc1FPun7eX/s400/IMG_5314.JPG" width="400" /></a><center>Next to the cafe and ice rink is a huge 2-story Snoopy gift shop.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5ixLOJmMhJdE-2XDVJCbadTYvTY6rSUWnWbsi7DKZNFi0w64ihDgx2wjuOKZ8-8_zthHWHU44geuiFagU1I6PPQNsu0oDcx_8khOnjpyefNJWwCcBAY1NHrSyjmnNJVtAvW5/s1600/IMG_5892.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5ixLOJmMhJdE-2XDVJCbadTYvTY6rSUWnWbsi7DKZNFi0w64ihDgx2wjuOKZ8-8_zthHWHU44geuiFagU1I6PPQNsu0oDcx_8khOnjpyefNJWwCcBAY1NHrSyjmnNJVtAvW5/s400/IMG_5892.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KuHfCDsXmktOoA7Bex-7CDF2AHhHi2LkHf_93eSJbLPRLcel7R8Fz_ZxN4inMS_3JAeY9bQasxcfg-xvdjhAOVQJNaIshFNq7iP4W9KEoSglT0mRBze817SH361C57-ECP-n/s1600/IMG_5850.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KuHfCDsXmktOoA7Bex-7CDF2AHhHi2LkHf_93eSJbLPRLcel7R8Fz_ZxN4inMS_3JAeY9bQasxcfg-xvdjhAOVQJNaIshFNq7iP4W9KEoSglT0mRBze817SH361C57-ECP-n/s400/IMG_5850.JPG" width="266" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAew50rn7lAvDV5db7IYWUs-gUsg6nxc2yKniN0s0uB6hIioRcpYd8XyjqdvW9XHwx0gLcikWaRYc0VIMyjQpSHx3rGme3xN3Nsnoeo4vrzeyHvUaK3JsUaSZ3gcuGD1FvOL7c/s1600/IMG_5865.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAew50rn7lAvDV5db7IYWUs-gUsg6nxc2yKniN0s0uB6hIioRcpYd8XyjqdvW9XHwx0gLcikWaRYc0VIMyjQpSHx3rGme3xN3Nsnoeo4vrzeyHvUaK3JsUaSZ3gcuGD1FvOL7c/s400/IMG_5865.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><center>A few miles away in downtown Santa Rosa, several Peanut characters are on display. <br />
Yes, Mr. Schulz and the Peanuts gang made quite an impact in the area.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-18722158561079725292013-05-31T13:04:00.001-07:002013-05-31T13:08:51.889-07:00Skywatch Friday - Wings of Freedom Tour<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPefClBCFTMv54lvKHE0OtsF_IK8ufurEughaJQ-JHRlzbQK3wIVg17VDG45Ep-4b3Tw9Nb3_RkNha1JsmQVWg4dprW3YQRlTdFcVBisupZr0PQ06Pcy-w8tB8FdmdRQXmque3/s1600/IMG_6714.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPefClBCFTMv54lvKHE0OtsF_IK8ufurEughaJQ-JHRlzbQK3wIVg17VDG45Ep-4b3Tw9Nb3_RkNha1JsmQVWg4dprW3YQRlTdFcVBisupZr0PQ06Pcy-w8tB8FdmdRQXmque3/s400/IMG_6714.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This past Monday, we visited the <a href="http://www.collingsfoundation.org/menu.htm">Wings of Freedom Tour</a> to see vintage World War II aircrafts.<br />
The weather was rainy and cold, but that did not stop people from coming to see these restored beauties. Although I did not know how some people were able to stand there for an hour in just shorts and t-shirts waiting in line to get inside to see the bomber's interior.<br />
The aircraft in the foreground is the B-17G Flying Fortress built in 1945 by Boeing/Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, Calfornia.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpbSZy28y6t0dfldqVP_R_L00zMl5Mqmh15aoZ8EUmeK3lkRo74chGlLqvW8Arr_nOwx3WGU4slEDKEPMmHtNw7rElfuoB_m-GoXLeVFSx7MQGM5uO0N9GCSQtWi_-QZug-Xl/s1600/IMG_6677.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpbSZy28y6t0dfldqVP_R_L00zMl5Mqmh15aoZ8EUmeK3lkRo74chGlLqvW8Arr_nOwx3WGU4slEDKEPMmHtNw7rElfuoB_m-GoXLeVFSx7MQGM5uO0N9GCSQtWi_-QZug-Xl/s400/IMG_6677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the B-24J Liberator bomber built in 1944 by the Consolidated Aircraft Company in Fort Worth, Texas. Its role in World War II was to fly missions over Europe and the Pacific as a strategic bomber.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wYk_g82PDvznj-CklZSiiuQyjuW3nCQCxPPn1C7Vhn22QYLOdZ_9QUq0HUIHPd-Ur6wMozEwAZg9mxcbRpaTrGcH1kZWI29OEHhay1ZmYQqmRCaxzgZYWsypWP1Dvb51hcqt/s1600/IMG_6811.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wYk_g82PDvznj-CklZSiiuQyjuW3nCQCxPPn1C7Vhn22QYLOdZ_9QUq0HUIHPd-Ur6wMozEwAZg9mxcbRpaTrGcH1kZWI29OEHhay1ZmYQqmRCaxzgZYWsypWP1Dvb51hcqt/s400/IMG_6811.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MOor_Gs3E5Jerqi0P0IW41C6Ui6mGxPNoWidacTGxUwXpYNnfv6PLiyxfXgkD74vAg79fnBPaAUDlKt1odqacQj3yCF3Ok6ullkoigU9DHwAB8tvPnIPGEt0vUXTMdG9XlRy/s1600/IMG_6814.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MOor_Gs3E5Jerqi0P0IW41C6Ui6mGxPNoWidacTGxUwXpYNnfv6PLiyxfXgkD74vAg79fnBPaAUDlKt1odqacQj3yCF3Ok6ullkoigU9DHwAB8tvPnIPGEt0vUXTMdG9XlRy/s400/IMG_6814.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLRVX-vszLe76KYbgS9hJes5l0es8wEgeErZwHrSfWzGJCIJ1DwdhSOSkk-tDRHMOTnA0hvTZ1Bv9L36xnQ5AYWt4hqWO10dYwOZQOWI64FZCWnQ8ORjPKkRQGG6XWTKsCF_a/s1600/IMG_6818.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLRVX-vszLe76KYbgS9hJes5l0es8wEgeErZwHrSfWzGJCIJ1DwdhSOSkk-tDRHMOTnA0hvTZ1Bv9L36xnQ5AYWt4hqWO10dYwOZQOWI64FZCWnQ8ORjPKkRQGG6XWTKsCF_a/s400/IMG_6818.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPU9J-NIwVQEeCB06-YnfnyT-2ztk9t2ghbkU4RgF-PZ1E-wDqT9JkmI_Ct0V2KfQTLcX9qoMhw38Fcvs_yp-MMInG8WyMsVTvQqUk3-9tx7E2nkzKmQcEp2Ub1qnwoHgN7jyv/s1600/IMG_6819.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJZ6xB7s0_FLEF4eKlEGbVuQvE4L4jiJRXrmZgaIdGjrDUU7ZNiYW0zwle7kZ10dKoSiyUwwOG-k0Wx6DxDKSroGjjg-i6qAbTCz122jDMYgIRGRFIsYHeEJwP4UYWED_wqul/s1600/IMG_6819.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJZ6xB7s0_FLEF4eKlEGbVuQvE4L4jiJRXrmZgaIdGjrDUU7ZNiYW0zwle7kZ10dKoSiyUwwOG-k0Wx6DxDKSroGjjg-i6qAbTCz122jDMYgIRGRFIsYHeEJwP4UYWED_wqul/s400/IMG_6819.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Also on display were tanks and even a replica German Scout Car in the 2nd to last photo.<br />
The volunteers dressed up World War II military outfits and the tanks were from the local <a href="http://www.mvtf.org/">Military Vehicle Technology Foundation museum</a> which I did not know existed until I saw them there that day.<br />
<br />
Visit other <b><i><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Skywatch Friday</span></a></i></b> participants.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-53736564225889295152013-05-28T11:36:00.001-07:002013-05-28T11:36:07.596-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Kerouac Alley<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0qHUPBF2zmxPdoWXXlZBO3QXeqY26OYkVkRg7sx7BMeIyBEU6_m2bYH46-mUxpJqt-zNm35E5ZB3dBkyBTfmJ8efE3fNfrOb7dn5InoJRJsw4FJ6XerpApOD8q5GnefPXK1x/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0qHUPBF2zmxPdoWXXlZBO3QXeqY26OYkVkRg7sx7BMeIyBEU6_m2bYH46-mUxpJqt-zNm35E5ZB3dBkyBTfmJ8efE3fNfrOb7dn5InoJRJsw4FJ6XerpApOD8q5GnefPXK1x/s400/photo+(1).JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC36ATTyzEhD84CUZ_Q4DarUnBj-fn8xiHvxxhEMzY6vpYC3WMJSeY8rXeypr5YwNDULJY0RLQN_yWnNsQtlQWOM_pLswd177Z6aPLmxt-xV9JxA7KnlBbTEVSooLizP1JpwJ8/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC36ATTyzEhD84CUZ_Q4DarUnBj-fn8xiHvxxhEMzY6vpYC3WMJSeY8rXeypr5YwNDULJY0RLQN_yWnNsQtlQWOM_pLswd177Z6aPLmxt-xV9JxA7KnlBbTEVSooLizP1JpwJ8/s400/photo+(3).JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho39MellWVm1-g_Qjxed7uIrsXbZsGPEhbYrkplx5vyL5fK3Ew6lbG01t3U55xP_znb5AiNt_cm_5GTf7xeiG_rLBp0rpCZBphvYzpq8RahvO55O0WlI_dd5BgfruShqMrI5Y4/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho39MellWVm1-g_Qjxed7uIrsXbZsGPEhbYrkplx5vyL5fK3Ew6lbG01t3U55xP_znb5AiNt_cm_5GTf7xeiG_rLBp0rpCZBphvYzpq8RahvO55O0WlI_dd5BgfruShqMrI5Y4/s400/photo+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsxqnfJaKej4lTV2bAEe3MY0ArHyss3GtTfDnyjdf91ujFf4f-uYp67a0Uj0tCg6AdWGdzUwJBjFIaggwJ74iytRpFmQRqcxZJDOqgromKbov1Aau50IpxPsKLOAajSbgU8qO/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsxqnfJaKej4lTV2bAEe3MY0ArHyss3GtTfDnyjdf91ujFf4f-uYp67a0Uj0tCg6AdWGdzUwJBjFIaggwJ74iytRpFmQRqcxZJDOqgromKbov1Aau50IpxPsKLOAajSbgU8qO/s400/photo+(5).JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bWBTVCXKxAN1d7S5tZ9uPRIiGNEBkC_xu_3V0R8Yf-MpSnmfufj5blPZKiDSduQMdI7HU6gjmr2Z3Tv-GCEWb2bwVonLwm40PXJs3cC8omJCHA9ZyRDQ55rTziWXF1Im9sqz/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bWBTVCXKxAN1d7S5tZ9uPRIiGNEBkC_xu_3V0R8Yf-MpSnmfufj5blPZKiDSduQMdI7HU6gjmr2Z3Tv-GCEWb2bwVonLwm40PXJs3cC8omJCHA9ZyRDQ55rTziWXF1Im9sqz/s400/photo+(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a></center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-10278314757454384852013-05-26T00:30:00.000-07:002013-05-26T00:30:00.677-07:00From Old-Time Television to Ignite Video<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBXn5VgYSHhAyaWvGwOgAoSWdoS276Cb19Taw1q5ouMsH2Qt3eBYH9TsvU6XOqwy7Gx1CWexjCcRM3CO0LQ8NYa35f1xnSm8oTA82Q9QRxh89YyGxUic2c_C6u9wZ0o_XoBEP/s1600/IMG_4623.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBXn5VgYSHhAyaWvGwOgAoSWdoS276Cb19Taw1q5ouMsH2Qt3eBYH9TsvU6XOqwy7Gx1CWexjCcRM3CO0LQ8NYa35f1xnSm8oTA82Q9QRxh89YyGxUic2c_C6u9wZ0o_XoBEP/s400/IMG_4623.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>On a recent San Francisco walking group meet-up, we passed by a historical building that was known as the Farnsworth's Green Street Lab.<br />
It looks like an ordinary structure although uniquely sits on the foot of a hillside with homes towering overhead and I probably would not have known of its historical significance if not for the marker next to it.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-gKbngNQ7u0XRxA8HNPaOiVZeStk3rsJi75SpOWY1gwm1czH56DnOwqdva44pp_o8cDUyF9CWYA-1P3JaefpDkJfTvKy8-F3GHsJEdLtsGpDRlWUKdFgWINKd-Iy0DtowgIl/s1600/IMG_4610.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-gKbngNQ7u0XRxA8HNPaOiVZeStk3rsJi75SpOWY1gwm1czH56DnOwqdva44pp_o8cDUyF9CWYA-1P3JaefpDkJfTvKy8-F3GHsJEdLtsGpDRlWUKdFgWINKd-Iy0DtowgIl/s400/IMG_4610.JPG" width="350" /></a></div><center>Philo Taylor Farnsworth, a pioneer in electronics, lived and worked at this location where he invented and patented the first operational television system on September 7, 1927.<br />
You can click on the above picture to read the marker.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh716wepOXoO8NO_NznIC-ugEDz2A7djZrtXa1_h1vj9qDYH11qsG6Kic00Zd-LsBYxnUQs-q97Aa_zBfP4ymYKBL4Js68ArGz-JLqT9h3VIzC1ASPDbUGqucU4KAaxl0PDwu/s1600/IMG_4620.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh716wepOXoO8NO_NznIC-ugEDz2A7djZrtXa1_h1vj9qDYH11qsG6Kic00Zd-LsBYxnUQs-q97Aa_zBfP4ymYKBL4Js68ArGz-JLqT9h3VIzC1ASPDbUGqucU4KAaxl0PDwu/s400/IMG_4620.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>The lab is now the residence of Ignite Video.<br />
This was posted on their front door.<br />
Do you feel ignited?</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d4Gn9wo_a-MILFUW0glfzCGw-3oj8i17YM0ryvLih4IacOzN57H42lcr6JnNc14HBOLabls9nhVt4RAfqfRL_gNLUQ-IUP8BWdJQujzHJpmMPm1IE29rf1r_IrLvKAl3pgTj/s1600/IMG_4612.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d4Gn9wo_a-MILFUW0glfzCGw-3oj8i17YM0ryvLih4IacOzN57H42lcr6JnNc14HBOLabls9nhVt4RAfqfRL_gNLUQ-IUP8BWdJQujzHJpmMPm1IE29rf1r_IrLvKAl3pgTj/s400/IMG_4612.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>When the employees saw us lingering outside, they invited all of us inside to look around.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ4AiQIBVkPMvg6-QOX0k9TyfzWpy3D2J94Q7FGZ5qh1pzLxaEkdbSXZpqUtIGqFZcWeGa3v-04_PZgBsK1hl4N76LOoEWf1s1vRT0LMn3v2RteAelxMrLpkBbQxY4C7by5Iw/s1600/IMG_4616.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ4AiQIBVkPMvg6-QOX0k9TyfzWpy3D2J94Q7FGZ5qh1pzLxaEkdbSXZpqUtIGqFZcWeGa3v-04_PZgBsK1hl4N76LOoEWf1s1vRT0LMn3v2RteAelxMrLpkBbQxY4C7by5Iw/s400/IMG_4616.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>I like how they decorated their office.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ1qGdEScPj5Bq0g7RXP6XdmFGS24L7VFGwuJtUFytfHwaRWDzHxr6BXR15f26ontTBtJ07RWsJHnkJbpA4y0QmD6VYrfH0ScI06BfkxO9qmUw1Hpuqm8VlEfDN6WriXtPWnB/s1600/IMG_4617.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ1qGdEScPj5Bq0g7RXP6XdmFGS24L7VFGwuJtUFytfHwaRWDzHxr6BXR15f26ontTBtJ07RWsJHnkJbpA4y0QmD6VYrfH0ScI06BfkxO9qmUw1Hpuqm8VlEfDN6WriXtPWnB/s400/IMG_4617.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><center>Inside Ignite Video's office is a dedication to Mr. Farnsworth.<br />
You can click on the picture to read it, but if it is too small, you can click <a href="http://www.sfcityguides.org/public_guidelines.html?article=343&submitted=TRUE&srch_text=&submitted2=&topic=Inventions">here</a> to read his biography from another source.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-71684238502136011822013-05-23T21:57:00.000-07:002013-05-23T21:57:57.520-07:00Inside the Charles M. Schulz Museum<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8q81nqe0fTZ1nEud0InFO2MDwqLHelsq8quwzXCI1cn2Ct-JP56U_d3g0bkicHQTbV17Bk-2DpMpxI_L2WXN8_thg6JcdCuSlYfSI0CmHpgIfFTDAzbCAhBnnepDiQO31NwN/s1600/IMG_5364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8q81nqe0fTZ1nEud0InFO2MDwqLHelsq8quwzXCI1cn2Ct-JP56U_d3g0bkicHQTbV17Bk-2DpMpxI_L2WXN8_thg6JcdCuSlYfSI0CmHpgIfFTDAzbCAhBnnepDiQO31NwN/s400/IMG_5364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Several people are interested in seeing the inside of the "Snoopy" museum after my last post so here it is.<br />
When you first walk into the museum, you see a tall ceiling and a huge mural with Peanuts characters.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFYqarwWPs2Dsi0owaBoZ4t9vn96B6h86KbcRhmAXWB-Zq2PGFzA-lzTa8RhH4-haM5OwyWlHh9FDHlXua-ViDfMoldzcLqpj_-4NO1p_fbEiOdqG0RFoiKbaZRDBSNploaqo/s1600/IMG_5327.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFYqarwWPs2Dsi0owaBoZ4t9vn96B6h86KbcRhmAXWB-Zq2PGFzA-lzTa8RhH4-haM5OwyWlHh9FDHlXua-ViDfMoldzcLqpj_-4NO1p_fbEiOdqG0RFoiKbaZRDBSNploaqo/s400/IMG_5327.JPG" width="301" /></a><center>If you look closer, you will actually see the mural is made up of multiple Peanuts comic strips - 3,588 separate tiles to be specific selected by Yoshiteru Otani.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IPBWYxceG1TPI07PPeL4SMdGeVFgsjz6nTKz3IiZmdgUsWVXkBkEYkV9Qy3OSIzedxhPWoyD7uTe7sWkhqaZoR7O73jcEUafiYWexIBc8Mf0VNy8_pSEhJZRf8gO_kAvIpIW/s1600/IMG_5338.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IPBWYxceG1TPI07PPeL4SMdGeVFgsjz6nTKz3IiZmdgUsWVXkBkEYkV9Qy3OSIzedxhPWoyD7uTe7sWkhqaZoR7O73jcEUafiYWexIBc8Mf0VNy8_pSEhJZRf8gO_kAvIpIW/s400/IMG_5338.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Another section of the museum are more Peanuts comic strips displayed in glass cases and in poster form.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXSNDNIdGH3_kJd782H8ynreUQ31nDITlozfU_zYd_JgXP0J6klcNEvaq0hSCx8AJOw4byz7dV4tPEtxPjFAPQOBI42_z21VBYVli5sJ7349cYYun0McU2LV7yox06QwrG5im/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXSNDNIdGH3_kJd782H8ynreUQ31nDITlozfU_zYd_JgXP0J6klcNEvaq0hSCx8AJOw4byz7dV4tPEtxPjFAPQOBI42_z21VBYVli5sJ7349cYYun0McU2LV7yox06QwrG5im/s400/IMG_5346.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k-sEq0EP3fhSrkAMNZKLUNend80wbP6SeHTPTPbMmReNqT-kl_E997tn4fjjxEKnFJUNxCMEnHui37-ZXzoWw_9B56CfqDlSXWdf9GGe7gius1nMOjNWTFx2w03sYR3Z9Yqd/s1600/IMG_5364.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>You can sit on the comfortable sofas and look through scrapbooks kept throughout Mr. Schulz's life.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7VpbF4v9AWZ_L8liKQVSxveWZcGSK4tGORVcGjSG_hnmtRUMFAIjt3Nx6pIsnSjFFChr3BI4I_J7RG7dyt5_cbFawZUDMQDmFQEDnVNXxX_dkCDfXSm5s58zFGPDMGWddOsW/s1600/IMG_5353.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7VpbF4v9AWZ_L8liKQVSxveWZcGSK4tGORVcGjSG_hnmtRUMFAIjt3Nx6pIsnSjFFChr3BI4I_J7RG7dyt5_cbFawZUDMQDmFQEDnVNXxX_dkCDfXSm5s58zFGPDMGWddOsW/s400/IMG_5353.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>On the 2nd floor is everything about Mr. Schulz's life from birth to death which you can read about <a href="http://schulzmuseum.org/about-the-man/">here</a>.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYypeQx-VJEMIoSMqaTpvDIoTUthNzQNy3gHqYMjTxjhxNYY6U6Bt9ESILtz9LgM9QmkBcAa-KCw0pXd2AZVOq_eYDWDM5XyzvXACTNunPWqEI4gyzJRbEDQZ_fnfLJKwefWeU/s1600/IMG_5359.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYypeQx-VJEMIoSMqaTpvDIoTUthNzQNy3gHqYMjTxjhxNYY6U6Bt9ESILtz9LgM9QmkBcAa-KCw0pXd2AZVOq_eYDWDM5XyzvXACTNunPWqEI4gyzJRbEDQZ_fnfLJKwefWeU/s400/IMG_5359.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Mr. Schulz's office was moved to the museum. This was where all the magic was created.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPzxYdccHo2jOpNmLl_PDYeZpv_1g1n2VeahsyUziyypv9gb-Vyc42VfaTIC1nknyk-NM2uoSCbOEtjR82v0AGZ8g0qD4FkJB7OZsdu5CPysdWrLnWwGOEzpD_O-5gF06zsyF/s1600/IMG_5354.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPzxYdccHo2jOpNmLl_PDYeZpv_1g1n2VeahsyUziyypv9gb-Vyc42VfaTIC1nknyk-NM2uoSCbOEtjR82v0AGZ8g0qD4FkJB7OZsdu5CPysdWrLnWwGOEzpD_O-5gF06zsyF/s400/IMG_5354.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>This mural was painted by Mr. Schulz in 1951 for his daughter's nursery room at his Colorado home. You can see early signs of the Snoopy and Charlie Brown characters.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTPUz1GSjYKEoDKDqENhyphenhyphenHtXWxB3Mgzb1SffeKvzMIibTQBG3voNwHpRl1fjCccprv2h_6oTdnimra2RC0kmCye9iahHJ-S_9EDBDc7CMDaD3QLbQMDUrgsNROB6mbTQ65ZJs/s1600/IMG_5350.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTPUz1GSjYKEoDKDqENhyphenhyphenHtXWxB3Mgzb1SffeKvzMIibTQBG3voNwHpRl1fjCccprv2h_6oTdnimra2RC0kmCye9iahHJ-S_9EDBDc7CMDaD3QLbQMDUrgsNROB6mbTQ65ZJs/s400/IMG_5350.JPG" width="251" /></a></div><center>This is the life-size Lucy's Psychiatry Booth just like the one in the comic strips.<br />
You can read more about the booth in <a href="http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/Lucy's_psychiatry_booth">Wikipedia</a>.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnE8yrvA4o5ehXgXOIdKfBCvbwQpMwKOU0wv0TpL3OpnWbG1B1la1sOk5ly41MOVwXnycj14Pk47kuHyflmJMMSxu9iGZyvAsC9FhyGlsLYtR014iIx5ZeTiBAbYcsBcPcMFf/s1600/IMG_5383.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnE8yrvA4o5ehXgXOIdKfBCvbwQpMwKOU0wv0TpL3OpnWbG1B1la1sOk5ly41MOVwXnycj14Pk47kuHyflmJMMSxu9iGZyvAsC9FhyGlsLYtR014iIx5ZeTiBAbYcsBcPcMFf/s400/IMG_5383.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>In the back of the museum is the garden setting. I saw birds and various Peanuts characters like the ones below.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgmT-YVEGOJceOlu8KpZ9eslPJ3D96QeTvCWvhVj00ap73ilZYns5xSc0lPneJZubaKBs3tvKU_r1Wz9buecWAyk7E9xczNtK5_3aPU51ghTft7MUeeJmWLi66IOYgU_W2OVl/s1600/IMG_5365.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgmT-YVEGOJceOlu8KpZ9eslPJ3D96QeTvCWvhVj00ap73ilZYns5xSc0lPneJZubaKBs3tvKU_r1Wz9buecWAyk7E9xczNtK5_3aPU51ghTft7MUeeJmWLi66IOYgU_W2OVl/s400/IMG_5365.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidl5YCd-6a7lpe0aifxp1H_DTdNCGLcYV_DVNf5gs5TgUqu9z3QjsbVJ59yaP0OJJBG8U9k0PNpvvIRsqwj9-ymSFj1PqZvQBidvebrCYSR-ewAu2UQ6fnvlFyySvvWLd3xfa1/s1600/IMG_5370.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidl5YCd-6a7lpe0aifxp1H_DTdNCGLcYV_DVNf5gs5TgUqu9z3QjsbVJ59yaP0OJJBG8U9k0PNpvvIRsqwj9-ymSFj1PqZvQBidvebrCYSR-ewAu2UQ6fnvlFyySvvWLd3xfa1/s400/IMG_5370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-7716880345124428832013-05-21T15:00:00.000-07:002013-05-21T15:00:02.591-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Outside the Charles M. Schulz Museum<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhe7Z7JmAtd7K7LyBE3eQ5GUY1bDqQi2dGJikyqmNLfzx4n-C4WSZXd5fEVUdDaS2_51FwMcN-JgxOTcqczK90GYY2fP4dFXLmX9Ng1lFT3OF2AttiVvDhETK9JmNtnuskGj4/s1600/IMG_5242.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhe7Z7JmAtd7K7LyBE3eQ5GUY1bDqQi2dGJikyqmNLfzx4n-C4WSZXd5fEVUdDaS2_51FwMcN-JgxOTcqczK90GYY2fP4dFXLmX9Ng1lFT3OF2AttiVvDhETK9JmNtnuskGj4/s400/IMG_5242.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpPh-fO6ugZoPEbzSPuqKvDynzBHEEqfkVlAK2eCQO1lzJm8WYH3NMmhT5dnsMLsHyYmi6cozPA1wqeCXdX7t8-3iXNKBSrEau5rIAH0LTawPkKy8lw-yQ04X0TpmoVAggvfr/s1600/IMG_5237.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpPh-fO6ugZoPEbzSPuqKvDynzBHEEqfkVlAK2eCQO1lzJm8WYH3NMmhT5dnsMLsHyYmi6cozPA1wqeCXdX7t8-3iXNKBSrEau5rIAH0LTawPkKy8lw-yQ04X0TpmoVAggvfr/s400/IMG_5237.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuHyOhv4clao7jll5tuqT3f-wqXfuimLh_r5wAs_6Qi7901vJv2en2g_M30VXofz0ucOcJUvNym89ZOlsyl1JTsaWOuLGUPZ1HhaG3fMMHF-WV7blQKQ56TrxVvaMZffHMxDt/s1600/IMG_5244.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuHyOhv4clao7jll5tuqT3f-wqXfuimLh_r5wAs_6Qi7901vJv2en2g_M30VXofz0ucOcJUvNym89ZOlsyl1JTsaWOuLGUPZ1HhaG3fMMHF-WV7blQKQ56TrxVvaMZffHMxDt/s400/IMG_5244.JPG" width="295" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a>,<br />
<a href="http://wordlesswednesdaybloggers.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Bloggers</a>, and<br />
<a href="http://blog.retrocollage.com/">Art of Retro Collage</a>.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-23958081469815064932013-05-16T23:09:00.001-07:002013-05-16T23:09:54.115-07:00Skywatch Friday - Christopher Columbus' Vista<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixes-ekw0ZUmCrm74n3Hsy6El_7t6tyHZG2vWJg_v2uj3WRyqU2yiP61G1Fc9PK-GWfQ6pSOtuXoMEjmXgJqL2LhkZBWoArG4pM6MaKCfSFOkNxCTlnr1GU5E7ZW7CKe8E2Sxx/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixes-ekw0ZUmCrm74n3Hsy6El_7t6tyHZG2vWJg_v2uj3WRyqU2yiP61G1Fc9PK-GWfQ6pSOtuXoMEjmXgJqL2LhkZBWoArG4pM6MaKCfSFOkNxCTlnr1GU5E7ZW7CKe8E2Sxx/s400/IMG_4763.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF8leA9fzTId5ZBXuF3zJjO4Y3B11vcaB1ehtFE2hyW0gMBDKZ_3KiY17u0ZJMTDTCRrAWdwLBD93GsOuqK0aqZrZ62gtRuV-rvN-wNHOXVs-ksEnnmKHjhfjGV9VSilnZbiH/s1600/IMG_4774.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF8leA9fzTId5ZBXuF3zJjO4Y3B11vcaB1ehtFE2hyW0gMBDKZ_3KiY17u0ZJMTDTCRrAWdwLBD93GsOuqK0aqZrZ62gtRuV-rvN-wNHOXVs-ksEnnmKHjhfjGV9VSilnZbiH/s400/IMG_4774.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevIwxhUVbBWPf11JoUCycPAz2f87dj5fP7XS2RcQ03xQHXqq6Lb1M0ghk2xmxYBizXs6Qmb3HJBdpdvEezo2FCJ4H1T0oLTzli9A4KwyDzqVMCzmSuvIFjuVyeLkT00r8d0vT/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevIwxhUVbBWPf11JoUCycPAz2f87dj5fP7XS2RcQ03xQHXqq6Lb1M0ghk2xmxYBizXs6Qmb3HJBdpdvEezo2FCJ4H1T0oLTzli9A4KwyDzqVMCzmSuvIFjuVyeLkT00r8d0vT/s400/IMG_4769.JPG" width="302" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppGkQg5Pk46mEmjrKOzmmURbEOYUvIxokL0aU8zOv08oBrLawdiXIwhvV_YS1hxvjz7OZYSP9CItGq11WWbm_TDkm5gncQed8XOysVKaqWFVKpZ1765s-gkJBVrUPu6KZNiyp/s1600/IMG_4780.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppGkQg5Pk46mEmjrKOzmmURbEOYUvIxokL0aU8zOv08oBrLawdiXIwhvV_YS1hxvjz7OZYSP9CItGq11WWbm_TDkm5gncQed8XOysVKaqWFVKpZ1765s-gkJBVrUPu6KZNiyp/s400/IMG_4780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>12-foot bronze statue of Christopher Columbus stands at the base of the popular Coit Tower in San Francisco.<br />
On a sunny day, he enjoys a beautiful view of the bay.<br />
<br />
Visit other <b><i><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Skywatch Friday</span></a></i></b> participants.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-74367457187364020312013-05-14T15:30:00.000-07:002013-05-14T15:30:01.491-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Run Home<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyklmOBLVB0WIBjQH1IlS_uQK2jeNN-vxHGPC4YnQtL5NyLrn2kubY4y7DK85ogfERB-mulF4bf6Egu53a0xZYO2XI291pKazpJ3pCC2Qjmem5vMB-Q0SGc2sVaPUfWjGrulse/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyklmOBLVB0WIBjQH1IlS_uQK2jeNN-vxHGPC4YnQtL5NyLrn2kubY4y7DK85ogfERB-mulF4bf6Egu53a0xZYO2XI291pKazpJ3pCC2Qjmem5vMB-Q0SGc2sVaPUfWjGrulse/s400/photo.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e3mM_s6D2_TVwIXKQBMjxdWUeOWNxVFliS024vwPuB2vDB9jnuCykB71BCheY1070rBQ7xOXWAdje0NCzG-y2h5IYFBkFFKlV_MsXzBnW1iIruzJ4ojUCo6txGjLI-FLTPeW/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e3mM_s6D2_TVwIXKQBMjxdWUeOWNxVFliS024vwPuB2vDB9jnuCykB71BCheY1070rBQ7xOXWAdje0NCzG-y2h5IYFBkFFKlV_MsXzBnW1iIruzJ4ojUCo6txGjLI-FLTPeW/s400/photo+(1).JPG" width="300" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a>,<br />
<a href="http://wordlesswednesdaybloggers.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Bloggers</a>, and<br />
<a href="http://blog.retrocollage.com/">Art of Retro Collage</a>.</center><br />
- KarenAVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-69741716573493994572013-05-09T20:05:00.000-07:002013-05-09T20:05:37.434-07:00Skywatch Friday - Cloudy Day in Wine Country<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu39nw13Fhw5lefj1Eh0Tkts1C4KU5CjITeJu0Y5lvn476W5TzrbF2Nq7orkaMtate_7n1-TeCsvpgiyDqvFPEFpjTvATU1w0JhKY3l03ed5v3dgNI5yArb0HIrtVZQZ4WxHfw/s1600/IMG_5544.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu39nw13Fhw5lefj1Eh0Tkts1C4KU5CjITeJu0Y5lvn476W5TzrbF2Nq7orkaMtate_7n1-TeCsvpgiyDqvFPEFpjTvATU1w0JhKY3l03ed5v3dgNI5yArb0HIrtVZQZ4WxHfw/s400/IMG_5544.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>Despite what the weather is outside, if you like the movies and wines, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, is a good stopping place to enjoy for a few hours during a trip to Northern California's Wine Country in Geyserville about an 1-1/2 hr. drive north of San Francisco. </center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_totfOlm6u7_jEs74B_fNP_ke3ZW3juA2p_TLHX_LyE3pr9KkUYsNRMqOPnM3Wzed17QtSZY_fq628IIBIjsfAP5hc7y4k4orMlsOwYcK-kWsIbFVw0RZ9XNIwV6uk6j_lN-/s1600/IMG_5526.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_totfOlm6u7_jEs74B_fNP_ke3ZW3juA2p_TLHX_LyE3pr9KkUYsNRMqOPnM3Wzed17QtSZY_fq628IIBIjsfAP5hc7y4k4orMlsOwYcK-kWsIbFVw0RZ9XNIwV6uk6j_lN-/s400/IMG_5526.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>Except in the winter, you can buy tickets to swim in this 3,600 square feet (334 sq. m) pool during the other seasons. <br />
In the spring, the pool is only open on the weekends; thus, the lack of swimmers on the Monday we visited.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1vo7W-xPSArLkwok8gv7YTbL_rRFP4bdWeJY0OOvFfLrqTNIUgES3cIYFuWFN2qsbFsAaWofK7vIP2fJ6abTgHgXdyB9kCUmyCC0Vs8qWpSTKKbQC0gCQ-liQS8g0IQlDn3F/s1600/IMG_5525.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1vo7W-xPSArLkwok8gv7YTbL_rRFP4bdWeJY0OOvFfLrqTNIUgES3cIYFuWFN2qsbFsAaWofK7vIP2fJ6abTgHgXdyB9kCUmyCC0Vs8qWpSTKKbQC0gCQ-liQS8g0IQlDn3F/s400/IMG_5525.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>You can lay by the pool and even rent a private cabine to change and shower.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPaSOR828wwkcm-KnJJ1gA7FPRuo20j2K2HYM7EQQO00rnLaQMznYHiTZe2CqwLYhtivDFcXGqeqZ_iCbR9i1tWDe5Jb2bWEsp3bK8Dz-GFlRBHmCsrdyweClUudBg0mi2C8K/s1600/IMG_5529.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPaSOR828wwkcm-KnJJ1gA7FPRuo20j2K2HYM7EQQO00rnLaQMznYHiTZe2CqwLYhtivDFcXGqeqZ_iCbR9i1tWDe5Jb2bWEsp3bK8Dz-GFlRBHmCsrdyweClUudBg0mi2C8K/s400/IMG_5529.JPG" width="287" /></a><br />
<center>This is what the cabine looks like inside.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu0f-Afn-paakI_zRNFOWcuHQxs8w-45ht8p6Poz9qBOqaUqYAoQK-ggqx4JrGK7nAmiILHEKvHkyHgU2s7WlPDgamtR1itfqIg4Qp4fAzWWKWZvHODuLi-4ySA7r6Y2YKIA0/s1600/IMG_5483.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu0f-Afn-paakI_zRNFOWcuHQxs8w-45ht8p6Poz9qBOqaUqYAoQK-ggqx4JrGK7nAmiILHEKvHkyHgU2s7WlPDgamtR1itfqIg4Qp4fAzWWKWZvHODuLi-4ySA7r6Y2YKIA0/s400/IMG_5483.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>Inside is one of several bars where you can sample different <a href="http://www.franciscoppolawinery.com/visit/taste-and-tour/wine-tastings">Coppola brand wines</a>. We decided on trying the "Family Flight" offerings which gets changed around weekly.<br />
We are not avid wine drinkers, but the 2011 Votre Santé Pinot Noir was my favorite.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcZHf7eXeixFnA_7dbY6XeqyxGqPvThVLAAtlbvSWwo7tLZF2hRUr0DuoBM-9YDiZbHMG3TKKWWnBngr49E7RAgmsW15qynsL3LSY-xJbnr5nELvyaPW4yWlkQvLLw8p54bT4/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcZHf7eXeixFnA_7dbY6XeqyxGqPvThVLAAtlbvSWwo7tLZF2hRUr0DuoBM-9YDiZbHMG3TKKWWnBngr49E7RAgmsW15qynsL3LSY-xJbnr5nELvyaPW4yWlkQvLLw8p54bT4/s400/IMG_5518.JPG" width="400" /></a><center>A restaurant for fine dining. Enjoy the <a href="http://www.franciscoppolawinery.com/visit/dine/rustic">menu</a>.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYejwh3dR0yw_eQDmFibmEZot5j63MUT1pPP5I5t2_J7qbhZHyEldJZWg1GAAWzvNkuShS7nBy5jhxOUgG20hVuTYuvZCdFHN2BDRkR0Kt-MFGTAe9WyRMd4BMQxEJxyOleywq/s1600/IMG_5486.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYejwh3dR0yw_eQDmFibmEZot5j63MUT1pPP5I5t2_J7qbhZHyEldJZWg1GAAWzvNkuShS7nBy5jhxOUgG20hVuTYuvZCdFHN2BDRkR0Kt-MFGTAe9WyRMd4BMQxEJxyOleywq/s400/IMG_5486.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>This is the winery's 2-story retail store and yes, there is a car from the 1988 Coppola directed movie "Tucker: The Man and His Dream" in the center of it all.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kx1LuERRKqGtG4OqvABY1cgbAjfoDt5Nil3yMxLNBsNZ03wfORh7AHbmigpMsuTT31j1IrsaujFEA1rSjoTEYk0HtKwi-zvpAbqRgQRq1ur8odaufKHWRn3MbyMy8ifarh4a/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kx1LuERRKqGtG4OqvABY1cgbAjfoDt5Nil3yMxLNBsNZ03wfORh7AHbmigpMsuTT31j1IrsaujFEA1rSjoTEYk0HtKwi-zvpAbqRgQRq1ur8odaufKHWRn3MbyMy8ifarh4a/s400/IMG_5502.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>On the 2nd floor are the ships used in the filming of the 2006 daughter, Sofia Coppola, directed movie "Marie Antoinette".</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnbLo39HcYc6gd6VGkoKhxEfrIZ9NeUxOGw3z9xlEGwHDPS0TJEQXRnbMVovFSXgoQcumz1SoAMLumNzGATPFIpPnV_s6RZsq81gDYdz7Z5X7mxTG5iSL0eNm5A3hIT3c5pTc/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf95XcVOAPVj69_U0uAV623NFzx0HZCOKJU9x8lrSWfjc6vlZqV8V7ry-HAVzsO-pcn0EGL79UtxS11mPpirDDy-ACndGq7PXzrdcmC2HHoVDSMZOaR5Ks5QGDQIwg8XCVd3zL/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf95XcVOAPVj69_U0uAV623NFzx0HZCOKJU9x8lrSWfjc6vlZqV8V7ry-HAVzsO-pcn0EGL79UtxS11mPpirDDy-ACndGq7PXzrdcmC2HHoVDSMZOaR5Ks5QGDQIwg8XCVd3zL/s400/IMG_5496.JPG" width="278" /></a><br />
<center>Around the various areas of the winery are different movie props on display such as these from "The Godfather".</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jWZllDAsV3WFeQvTCE-vUNbbBbVK_Bef8GHxsn3xqngGQ8M8DjcWO-etGXNTQad35KjrdWZ04W_803AnI0GLwkhALVJ1GvcZ2clWqY8yIr6OsamYyERe1TiZUP8qUdkLKXNJ/s1600/IMG_5493.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jWZllDAsV3WFeQvTCE-vUNbbBbVK_Bef8GHxsn3xqngGQ8M8DjcWO-etGXNTQad35KjrdWZ04W_803AnI0GLwkhALVJ1GvcZ2clWqY8yIr6OsamYyERe1TiZUP8qUdkLKXNJ/s400/IMG_5493.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>And, this desk and chair used by Godfather Don Corleone.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNxSEVhYNNTRwsssXf-ChbZF1NcigbqzsNfageHV76f_z-eI1F3cC56Lekl7jPols31yNx0fzz9a6Nim8OFCbB7jzrZAtNNarkugTLbBPxHKyrxXYFhHtY97uBbgOaG86gNDf/s1600/IMG_5511.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNxSEVhYNNTRwsssXf-ChbZF1NcigbqzsNfageHV76f_z-eI1F3cC56Lekl7jPols31yNx0fzz9a6Nim8OFCbB7jzrZAtNNarkugTLbBPxHKyrxXYFhHtY97uBbgOaG86gNDf/s400/IMG_5511.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>Props from the 1992 movie "Dracula".</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wXTVp3qPxtq3o6LdjrljsE7_T0m8FnLHrhuNZfuLS7dZVJwICcHAzMmv3fsUa8vFvIVkT0MkFwPhyphenhyphenjvbUt7W974jDZkyEgdsGX4veNDKPDcC5Micyv7Lfp10MVQtrwJsfdwU/s1600/IMG_5493.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcnJ5h40LrUZ9hDR6EuAsZ44-1tA6OLxSIFJeq6Ausgc50zwAvka3N6qcawMwnY-Xt6luF0mDjIX-s_G-b7NxFjzCMNFcFrHyephLz4XatZIsCSpXy3QlDvP3jhbF6BQdxBOo/s1600/IMG_5511.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xiqclRRGN1qvqQxI86pb5Z2WQ7Z-5aY1SJIGMaG4_VvAsel4oWFixq4A5aZiVQy1xxGp_Zg2SkiU36DlProX_4PZygPDthOT79gELikKCg1C3Lz8IVOtEipGaEwH8a6YxyKy/s1600/IMG_5490.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xiqclRRGN1qvqQxI86pb5Z2WQ7Z-5aY1SJIGMaG4_VvAsel4oWFixq4A5aZiVQy1xxGp_Zg2SkiU36DlProX_4PZygPDthOT79gELikKCg1C3Lz8IVOtEipGaEwH8a6YxyKy/s400/IMG_5490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>And the awards and recognition received by Mr. Coppola over the years.<br />
We asked someone if the Oscars on display are real or replicates. We were told they are the real thing.<br />
<br />
Visit other <b><i><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Skywatch Friday</span></a></i></b> participants.</center><br />
<i>(Note: Many of you wanted an update about the ill hummingbird baby we were trying to hand feed. We tried feeding him/her regularly baby bird food because the mama would no longer come by, but after a day or two, he no longer wanted to eat and we decided it was best to turn him over to the local wildlife center for better care. At this point, I am not very hopeful. Like reader/blogger, <a href="http://jennywoolftravel.blogspot.com/">Jenny Woolf</a>, mentioned "nature is cruel". Thanks everyone for your interest.)</i><br />
<br />
- Karen<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-33033892704068473032013-05-07T18:44:00.001-07:002013-05-07T18:44:06.044-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Sleeping Monkey<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqKGLIT00TDibZ1JwqiEIzxTUNkHJzJ_4nY7GOfQGTk2VX7XYJEmONSPY3iq96QIFmJ69BZaFvQOi3P99IOBpKcmMeVgDqwnsNeojraYpThzB87XoOy5ryfMoFYTxUDM0bn65/s1600/IMG_5776.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqKGLIT00TDibZ1JwqiEIzxTUNkHJzJ_4nY7GOfQGTk2VX7XYJEmONSPY3iq96QIFmJ69BZaFvQOi3P99IOBpKcmMeVgDqwnsNeojraYpThzB87XoOy5ryfMoFYTxUDM0bn65/s400/IMG_5776.JPG" width="279" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlOOOFNpz1Ef2Yk6kKFvbqHCfhGd8WxduZ7VkXfMqAanKLzCmJO5TY-nGmI_btxTqNwZTWCS9aG7ZMTR8VU2b5EiRcD_XVNv03R8vdNljjrRDdfN7MRXrkqFIdJXEB71ps5-4/s1600/IMG_5780.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlOOOFNpz1Ef2Yk6kKFvbqHCfhGd8WxduZ7VkXfMqAanKLzCmJO5TY-nGmI_btxTqNwZTWCS9aG7ZMTR8VU2b5EiRcD_XVNv03R8vdNljjrRDdfN7MRXrkqFIdJXEB71ps5-4/s400/IMG_5780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a>,<br />
<a href="http://wordlesswednesdaybloggers.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Bloggers</a>, and<br />
<a href="http://blog.retrocollage.com/">Art of Retro Collage</a>.</center><br />
- KarenAVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-42721740514318354532013-05-05T21:35:00.001-07:002013-05-05T21:35:21.018-07:00Hummingbird Distress<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0zPwW8ZCpM4wX0fQcL0qT6hejbHpta5JISgV_J1qvuTaeOXLQD2W1nGLGHN1K0UAnglljYBFfe0sJLa8yNGs1aht5vcN3i8FiMtnF2IAyYr3zKMn26LjuIvx5EESBVaR00Ay/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0zPwW8ZCpM4wX0fQcL0qT6hejbHpta5JISgV_J1qvuTaeOXLQD2W1nGLGHN1K0UAnglljYBFfe0sJLa8yNGs1aht5vcN3i8FiMtnF2IAyYr3zKMn26LjuIvx5EESBVaR00Ay/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>The two hummingbird babies in our backyard started out fine a few weeks ago.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW9Kor0yhVaGCF9PL4s_mKXWPCTkJ0pWeQMgdD7qOaDTZEDhzHbMBhLUjhP5zX6-ZTHgw3NWKeqNwOaTb2UMit_mKG7zHiIC2rbFBOt639txSw75OUquvxORTTMgszRQKCCS0/s1600/IMG_5208.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW9Kor0yhVaGCF9PL4s_mKXWPCTkJ0pWeQMgdD7qOaDTZEDhzHbMBhLUjhP5zX6-ZTHgw3NWKeqNwOaTb2UMit_mKG7zHiIC2rbFBOt639txSw75OUquvxORTTMgszRQKCCS0/s400/IMG_5208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>But as time passed, one baby grew stronger and started taking over the nest leaving the other one with less space and having to hang over the side. The mother appears to be feeding both chicks as we sit and observe from a distance, but the one baby just did not mature at the same rate as its sibling.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtnjyOHRMpZOO9w4p8MLD7HTIYwJdyJ3uoRjae42NiXKi22modzLWqmsTkvFF_32G5mXdN1BcKbabSfh7j5SUOXf-rr3xZlEgZ8CEDI5W8mVvalkJUTbuvM_b2cdXg7JmJc_C/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtnjyOHRMpZOO9w4p8MLD7HTIYwJdyJ3uoRjae42NiXKi22modzLWqmsTkvFF_32G5mXdN1BcKbabSfh7j5SUOXf-rr3xZlEgZ8CEDI5W8mVvalkJUTbuvM_b2cdXg7JmJc_C/s400/photo+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>After three weeks in the nest, the stronger one fledged and was able to fly away while its weaker sibling has not developed "normally". The mother no longer appears to visit so we will be taking him/her in and hand feeding it.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-26475957825701898872013-05-02T23:10:00.001-07:002013-05-02T23:10:40.575-07:00Skywatch Friday - Beautiful Day to Fly an Eagle<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPay3QkT20ek0T6GTingLueRa7v6yTr76DUaYHo7FBZCPhRTZYOVr8Zh29nVDUUwCQ3-3AJQb7gY9dtozGgxvYxnGqDEFrkwlldaKpJFXSZh8h_0mbSKUPod7Gmuvjs0dn90R/s1600/Sequoia+Flying2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPay3QkT20ek0T6GTingLueRa7v6yTr76DUaYHo7FBZCPhRTZYOVr8Zh29nVDUUwCQ3-3AJQb7gY9dtozGgxvYxnGqDEFrkwlldaKpJFXSZh8h_0mbSKUPod7Gmuvjs0dn90R/s400/Sequoia+Flying2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>Sequoia, the 24-year-old eagle, has been getting her daily exercise here at Byxbee Park in Palo Alto, California since February, but I did not find out about it until a few days ago and I immediately went the next day to see this firsthand.<br />
I understand she might only be exercising here for another week before her feathers will start to molt and will not return until the fall.<br />
This was my first time being so close to a flying eagle.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqzXVqcIx1Z7hexhrbkCbkJflQXZzWg7KyFPfNWl-4Ykga1gX-P5quTJouSHyWBoKxmWtrMzxgQH2pHjAZiIUJdtxLswPc8vvi66ioEA5TAkvRKvdN5MN6C8i6ka7TSxDzORT/s1600/Sequoia+Flying.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqzXVqcIx1Z7hexhrbkCbkJflQXZzWg7KyFPfNWl-4Ykga1gX-P5quTJouSHyWBoKxmWtrMzxgQH2pHjAZiIUJdtxLswPc8vvi66ioEA5TAkvRKvdN5MN6C8i6ka7TSxDzORT/s400/Sequoia+Flying.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>From what I read, she is being cared for by humans because years ago a gunshot wound damaged one of her legs and paralyzed her tail to where she could not fend for herself in the wild.<br />
I am happy she can still fly.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU4pzw6kakk8PznJk33hYwgSBt1TD3spkwSu3h63JISBz124TJJ-LyLSfan2j5TA2Gdw8oKf4hHEmLc-R0KAdtn3M0o7okgJjYmqC_jQozx5M1tOKJeLbFbzLgwxKjUkZOmX_/s1600/IMG_5044.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU4pzw6kakk8PznJk33hYwgSBt1TD3spkwSu3h63JISBz124TJJ-LyLSfan2j5TA2Gdw8oKf4hHEmLc-R0KAdtn3M0o7okgJjYmqC_jQozx5M1tOKJeLbFbzLgwxKjUkZOmX_/s400/IMG_5044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>Three handlers accompany Sequoia to this park for about 30-45 minutes to let her fly and eat.<br />
The handlers form a triangle at different areas of the park. One handler blows his whistle and waves a yummy piece of raw meat to entice her to fly to him. Then the next handler blows his whistle and the whole process starts over again until they run out of food.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN52wyhCTKD7f3ME-XDjNaDozTihtCXlEOpByhn7n7YGPLdrg5mjBtAkyJLCGrKWrX1Ctg2ehR6YqMCWO14Zb3MUKjCnnbLHWtRrchdRHwwiMt5iYCAT_rl6umIGm6FybHZGuE/s1600/IMG_4928.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN52wyhCTKD7f3ME-XDjNaDozTihtCXlEOpByhn7n7YGPLdrg5mjBtAkyJLCGrKWrX1Ctg2ehR6YqMCWO14Zb3MUKjCnnbLHWtRrchdRHwwiMt5iYCAT_rl6umIGm6FybHZGuE/s400/IMG_4928.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>Here, one of the handlers displays the food high in the air to draw Sequoia's attention.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQJ3iiPMnv2P3RYILmtGcBj2XaQhoULK0ENIZ8PO2kLwt6PCKiPFdZFux8ikq6scVHhqIshM4cU95l7wsf5SDXNi9lfKzZ4HkkbDIweRPLFDmf4rJAtqeA0muimYouWrrhqsx/s1600/Sequoia+Landing.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQJ3iiPMnv2P3RYILmtGcBj2XaQhoULK0ENIZ8PO2kLwt6PCKiPFdZFux8ikq6scVHhqIshM4cU95l7wsf5SDXNi9lfKzZ4HkkbDIweRPLFDmf4rJAtqeA0muimYouWrrhqsx/s400/Sequoia+Landing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>She flies in and is about to land. Those are some sharp talons!</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkaNrZae4VOwGDqSxWrAUbAJwUB-os437jxMxEBXbp3rc7KpOZD538Lzm4Uq7BR7FZntAbNhcxtZKsaFgMTKQYOzCaOQAPrK1zPPTEO1fo7HNXNsrT_ZvIG4EBNY7gqr4a8GL/s1600/Sequoia+Pushes+Off.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkaNrZae4VOwGDqSxWrAUbAJwUB-os437jxMxEBXbp3rc7KpOZD538Lzm4Uq7BR7FZntAbNhcxtZKsaFgMTKQYOzCaOQAPrK1zPPTEO1fo7HNXNsrT_ZvIG4EBNY7gqr4a8GL/s400/Sequoia+Pushes+Off.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><center>The handler gives her a gentle push to help her lift off to fly to the next handler.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJX7BDNV4Pzzr1W7Pd8xr8yoTe2evocRHEHqltPWsUrWff4WZ_40J_5UsXYfL5NYX2sI7961JJrSHhmdjy9VcaL26_aeb2AW8UpJTmH-fyu5z-NkYW7uTikpCNK45ghNCemb-/s1600/IMG_5140.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJX7BDNV4Pzzr1W7Pd8xr8yoTe2evocRHEHqltPWsUrWff4WZ_40J_5UsXYfL5NYX2sI7961JJrSHhmdjy9VcaL26_aeb2AW8UpJTmH-fyu5z-NkYW7uTikpCNK45ghNCemb-/s400/IMG_5140.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Yes, it was a beautiful day to fly an eagle and to photograph her.<br />
<br />
Visit other <b><i><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Skywatch Friday</span></a></i></b> participants.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-38536724748353076382013-04-30T14:41:00.001-07:002013-04-30T14:41:54.115-07:00Wordless Wednesday - The Butts Stop Here<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy-t_pudBtH-uDtqF6BsnvNdNN21xc5tM1mwcIogOukA-NIaJYoHGhv69eFXxqwuTvB8uA9JT7QuTSZRyhRzsYarOrrAvtf4MSkLi5yk_qQfahXfJI5kUajCPml7RqJ4dnaZZ/s1600/IMG_3366.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy-t_pudBtH-uDtqF6BsnvNdNN21xc5tM1mwcIogOukA-NIaJYoHGhv69eFXxqwuTvB8uA9JT7QuTSZRyhRzsYarOrrAvtf4MSkLi5yk_qQfahXfJI5kUajCPml7RqJ4dnaZZ/s400/IMG_3366.JPG" width="274" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRPtHxq0mFwQv_SOvCQpHxyfZilLrPm20BDmMTc1xz4AFpBo6lFge7Hho-gIjxG-wD0Ijfe30xlmP3B6nSasWEYXcaUytrkvvn18xKgKWgK2d3Qpr3mkZnt7Zt87xhPdM7j4S/s1600/_MG_8810.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRPtHxq0mFwQv_SOvCQpHxyfZilLrPm20BDmMTc1xz4AFpBo6lFge7Hho-gIjxG-wD0Ijfe30xlmP3B6nSasWEYXcaUytrkvvn18xKgKWgK2d3Qpr3mkZnt7Zt87xhPdM7j4S/s400/_MG_8810.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJHGioCbtaG6qySsTwGNdU7LcViRnEYH7QSCwrL2eQ3XCVG2eO_RPZmUecH82Vd8oNxFw4sqTvosXkOs1OHOFnD57pF-bm1iJKAVSxjUzofwJKUKGt8uokY4gVGHrSrhqAYBz/s1600/P1020650.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJHGioCbtaG6qySsTwGNdU7LcViRnEYH7QSCwrL2eQ3XCVG2eO_RPZmUecH82Vd8oNxFw4sqTvosXkOs1OHOFnD57pF-bm1iJKAVSxjUzofwJKUKGt8uokY4gVGHrSrhqAYBz/s400/P1020650.JPG" width="295" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a>,<br />
<a href="http://wordlesswednesdaybloggers.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Bloggers</a>, and<br />
<a href="http://blog.retrocollage.com/">Art of Retro Collage</a>.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-45889961082379161112013-04-28T11:59:00.001-07:002013-04-28T11:59:45.268-07:00Magic Bus Tour<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIAMYIZz5_MvijmoVXBLxKywHeLSQYlo0qruHD1FjUWY5XnNTB3nV8TsmdZp15oydQdAoDxB_KL7uMG9FLEoantSUGJ8VTsdaILrSv1YJRlKXChK52Y9p1zfoKq1ENJkI9b-l/s1600/magic+bus.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIAMYIZz5_MvijmoVXBLxKywHeLSQYlo0qruHD1FjUWY5XnNTB3nV8TsmdZp15oydQdAoDxB_KL7uMG9FLEoantSUGJ8VTsdaILrSv1YJRlKXChK52Y9p1zfoKq1ENJkI9b-l/s400/magic+bus.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Living in a touristy area, I have seen many types of tour buses on the streets of San Francisco ranging from double-deckers with open tops to amphibious vehicles that go from land to water, but this was my first sighting of the <a href="http://magicbussf.com/">Magic Bus</a>.<br />
With a colorful bus that flashback to the 1960's and tour guides in groovy 60's era outfits, the trip takes passengers through the city's diverse neighborhoods that shaped San Francisco's history and cultural change during that time frame.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-1329613067785159642013-04-25T23:21:00.002-07:002013-04-25T23:21:14.984-07:00Skywatch Friday - Bay Views<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXLhxiExYjCCJJ5pPvJuULbBZ83HJQqJFCnP6LzrIt8pInuGHtTLyT2PVA_UR47gjN41VK9S93ajiBdGu1JhuJV6zk5T9dOcJk5keFXaI08jdaURDjJ5jaWLqzdPJ4ZR4oZ0q/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXLhxiExYjCCJJ5pPvJuULbBZ83HJQqJFCnP6LzrIt8pInuGHtTLyT2PVA_UR47gjN41VK9S93ajiBdGu1JhuJV6zk5T9dOcJk5keFXaI08jdaURDjJ5jaWLqzdPJ4ZR4oZ0q/s400/IMG_4722.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><center>With the San Francisco Bay Area's unique topography, we have 8 bridges that move the flow of traffic. A few weeks ago, I had a post about the Golden Gate Bridge.<br />
This week, it is the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge also known as the Bay Bridge as seen from San Francisco's Telegraph Hill where its elevation is at 275 ft. (84 m).<br />
It is a beautiful day for sailing.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDKwjYYAqckdzOj6pZ7bV25YWTaBsCO7yGfgPusTvmgQx4Ch7wAzP_n0xz8WDl2AhyphenhyphenxWNzo_iLlw3tB2HSgivTlpzzC-A5RK4nYbXbpmSw_drd9Fk1yY5WC52bo4Wj8gKA0AX/s1600/IMG_4720.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDKwjYYAqckdzOj6pZ7bV25YWTaBsCO7yGfgPusTvmgQx4Ch7wAzP_n0xz8WDl2AhyphenhyphenxWNzo_iLlw3tB2HSgivTlpzzC-A5RK4nYbXbpmSw_drd9Fk1yY5WC52bo4Wj8gKA0AX/s400/IMG_4720.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Also from Telegraph Hill, you can see the new Pier 27 being remodeled for the upcoming America's Cup races this summer. <br />
Two huge viewing stands are where I suspect people will sit to watch the competition.<br />
Afterwards, the building will be used as a new cruise ship terminal.<br />
<br />
Visit other <b><i><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Skywatch Friday</span></a></i></b> participants.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-81170886693544609122013-04-23T15:00:00.000-07:002013-04-23T15:00:00.824-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Teacup Poodles Ok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENP25dghfsYRmx-0pdr73Fuwbw-G4HE0mrSz2-yNcnobXNohNFKunLEpHBn61_FJ1Q94cWtfjatf5VNQ2xgIp5x5iPaA2x-8ZlZdyzFGSEtkPDSQ28-_21Yug4ox_qRuO424v/s1600/IMG_4667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENP25dghfsYRmx-0pdr73Fuwbw-G4HE0mrSz2-yNcnobXNohNFKunLEpHBn61_FJ1Q94cWtfjatf5VNQ2xgIp5x5iPaA2x-8ZlZdyzFGSEtkPDSQ28-_21Yug4ox_qRuO424v/s400/IMG_4667.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PtcdNe-4dPWY5gZdB8idmk1EA5ttteR9JGBtfpw_Swnx7dimVtAtMy-9NwV0vWR-14xjiMqQuUGvycfbOoI5Q9Leqh_rr-34S-5xeR8yCE_k9xNyN7jb9HdRFViqiLDaSyhU/s1600/IMG_4664.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PtcdNe-4dPWY5gZdB8idmk1EA5ttteR9JGBtfpw_Swnx7dimVtAtMy-9NwV0vWR-14xjiMqQuUGvycfbOoI5Q9Leqh_rr-34S-5xeR8yCE_k9xNyN7jb9HdRFViqiLDaSyhU/s400/IMG_4664.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxRCNoKoFH4x5v60ubLf8vhuZPCPr0Psfx_8lWux5Em5XeZjHkoJAUF3-fanMdFzMEh9CHzcaXMwOVOnRoCS_GmOGh8jF1E5qtpFuUe4_GOK_B0wrdWagneDvtoXynVc4RYaL/s1600/IMG_4665.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxRCNoKoFH4x5v60ubLf8vhuZPCPr0Psfx_8lWux5Em5XeZjHkoJAUF3-fanMdFzMEh9CHzcaXMwOVOnRoCS_GmOGh8jF1E5qtpFuUe4_GOK_B0wrdWagneDvtoXynVc4RYaL/s400/IMG_4665.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a>,<br />
<a href="http://wordlesswednesdaybloggers.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Bloggers</a>, and<br />
<a href="http://blog.retrocollage.com/">Art of Retro Collage</a>.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-74686634085368335802013-04-21T00:11:00.000-07:002013-04-21T00:11:01.569-07:00Mystery Man<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ezvZx2tCLTjHAwKI6BzgP5B_mrFR5qMJUDh6p5kmrSsGZC8pl_AeAX2SVhXMawlA5y2ovb9yWc6-P1BG8Dh9lfvAEtZYCVHl1y2NonSmAZ_aZl9RwCeOVi4wFQFdQDiwcN6t/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ezvZx2tCLTjHAwKI6BzgP5B_mrFR5qMJUDh6p5kmrSsGZC8pl_AeAX2SVhXMawlA5y2ovb9yWc6-P1BG8Dh9lfvAEtZYCVHl1y2NonSmAZ_aZl9RwCeOVi4wFQFdQDiwcN6t/s400/IMG_4698.JPG" width="276" /></a><center>Being such a nice day on Saturday, I decided to visit San Francisco for the third weekend in a row. <br />
This is unusual for me.<br />
I was roaming in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood and spotted this figure in the distance.<br />
At first I was unsure if it was a real man or a statue.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ362u8zS0HfWfnnNm_T_47R3r7sgkEhGnHI70Jn8lIVz2smMfqwRHN-VlDGx3WJihzRO_ohEPeA8Yjfc4trcfVTsB93_PKOekitewrxBJM4JHGCabXCgl5Ltk0lyWPwLqrnx/s1600/IMG_4696.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ362u8zS0HfWfnnNm_T_47R3r7sgkEhGnHI70Jn8lIVz2smMfqwRHN-VlDGx3WJihzRO_ohEPeA8Yjfc4trcfVTsB93_PKOekitewrxBJM4JHGCabXCgl5Ltk0lyWPwLqrnx/s400/IMG_4696.JPG" width="334" /></a></div><center>If you enlarge the photo, he seems to be staring at you. Spooky!<br />
I wonder who he is.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-67880937359315719012013-04-18T23:37:00.001-07:002013-04-18T23:37:24.618-07:00Skywatch Friday - Golden Weekend<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyzURZrLLJUCV1gLmwewutrl4u6BbfqrSFFg0VZO1WH-hNcrSR4PrSjKiwOY8-spG3JHEfErRYIyVHQB4U7BaKHaGMRt693cFk8aiWcj4jl1_JQnKuwqXcwek8vrYPwMhxBU7/s1600/GGB+vista.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyzURZrLLJUCV1gLmwewutrl4u6BbfqrSFFg0VZO1WH-hNcrSR4PrSjKiwOY8-spG3JHEfErRYIyVHQB4U7BaKHaGMRt693cFk8aiWcj4jl1_JQnKuwqXcwek8vrYPwMhxBU7/s400/GGB+vista.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<center>Weather reports say we are going to have temperatures in the 70's and 80's starting tomorrow.<br />
This is a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge from the San Francisco side.</center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_qifYXYUU_H9WPYdR4EhC33N3K806gS9l3xRVJr4FdnYlelrI7Zov2ZXMap28g_woiFnG84H6sRJlSp8uROaornt7CF9Im7atDJqzovYN3N2ArOO8SOUS0waFNIiha5VWKNa/s1600/Tanker.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_qifYXYUU_H9WPYdR4EhC33N3K806gS9l3xRVJr4FdnYlelrI7Zov2ZXMap28g_woiFnG84H6sRJlSp8uROaornt7CF9Im7atDJqzovYN3N2ArOO8SOUS0waFNIiha5VWKNa/s400/Tanker.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>If you live on the San Francisco side, you will have to pay at least $5 to cross the bridge. On a beautiful weekend day, expect hundreds of visitors to make their way up to the Marin Headlands to see this million dollar view.<br />
<br />
Visit other <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Skywatch Friday</span></i></a> participants.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-30529047560018524982013-04-16T15:00:00.000-07:002013-04-16T15:00:01.317-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Crazy Bird-Do's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLaId4cFiohkb7Q1S-zxdV2WhWfZwfEOTSNh8QOmdG2bzUBPh0uaeaYzn8o5S5ckNRlrlaX4gqvXUQyxfXRkk4vcwfNzh-qYGrqcMBdfktZ6PHk_9FGI2WwxKi9x0ZfA1TlFL/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLaId4cFiohkb7Q1S-zxdV2WhWfZwfEOTSNh8QOmdG2bzUBPh0uaeaYzn8o5S5ckNRlrlaX4gqvXUQyxfXRkk4vcwfNzh-qYGrqcMBdfktZ6PHk_9FGI2WwxKi9x0ZfA1TlFL/s400/IMG_1823.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPypG80NfU4g-Fvb2kAYN-P31RBd1LgNkyqAAAeU_B8tLkk6nM8jzvnheQiJD5M8Yxt3ZoDgla9kSAYripeSEQ5m-Zia1w9LVSq6M6fEeFF0JfQUkYFOalV2gnC0tBgU7F_vE/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPypG80NfU4g-Fvb2kAYN-P31RBd1LgNkyqAAAeU_B8tLkk6nM8jzvnheQiJD5M8Yxt3ZoDgla9kSAYripeSEQ5m-Zia1w9LVSq6M6fEeFF0JfQUkYFOalV2gnC0tBgU7F_vE/s400/IMG_2860.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37bUk2BYLiJXLP2VjMZDsTc34-M8XjRWY2EY6dneAk_W8_LOhJCb6IaXij6eeTYS9Cat6TXqHSxkhGG1l_TYQo_Q6wBfLmOygf0Y_QYKIFcecmIDH0w3LBdbSW31MRsJc9baZ/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37bUk2BYLiJXLP2VjMZDsTc34-M8XjRWY2EY6dneAk_W8_LOhJCb6IaXij6eeTYS9Cat6TXqHSxkhGG1l_TYQo_Q6wBfLmOygf0Y_QYKIFcecmIDH0w3LBdbSW31MRsJc9baZ/s400/IMG_2853.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikslNZ6WCECbjdMEQ4zDOBpK7L9Hk_1-5ZlVVBLkbSyYXXJzTo3aGAK0Jr0cRm0tnUWk3YjvSowL50__rPpaX6RYpjQapO7RlHgjJVqJ-0lgH0IDHl1fIWJTFggGGnrT4vfoUu/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikslNZ6WCECbjdMEQ4zDOBpK7L9Hk_1-5ZlVVBLkbSyYXXJzTo3aGAK0Jr0cRm0tnUWk3YjvSowL50__rPpaX6RYpjQapO7RlHgjJVqJ-0lgH0IDHl1fIWJTFggGGnrT4vfoUu/s400/IMG_1630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>Happy <i>Wordless Wednesday</i>!<br />
Visit other participants at <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Blogspot</a>,<br />
<a href="http://wordlesswednesdaybloggers.blogspot.com/">Wordless Wednesday Bloggers</a>, and<br />
<a href="http://blog.retrocollage.com/">Art of Retro Collage</a>.</center><br />
- KarenAVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-55370737131212893292013-04-14T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-13T21:15:25.277-07:00San Francisco Segway Tour<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxNlaTiEzfKrV3jvXc0JgeG2EMtcJXuMMfdUpY0i3gSnT5itOz1TAou7nw-0YzYF_rceQXNc5F7M6-3f4NLFl9LWb4BiKvj-K3NvbhqfANYMDPar7J59lRwhCi6fm31gWTEKi/s1600/IMG_4293.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxNlaTiEzfKrV3jvXc0JgeG2EMtcJXuMMfdUpY0i3gSnT5itOz1TAou7nw-0YzYF_rceQXNc5F7M6-3f4NLFl9LWb4BiKvj-K3NvbhqfANYMDPar7J59lRwhCi6fm31gWTEKi/s400/IMG_4293.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>I thought it was neat to tour San Francisco on a Segway, but here, they are going down Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r43EZsH7szpHQkp_OkqnALPDFLaONPFJ1foJsQHNfcuqclHQFVpaKC2IG6aemNQHhXSh6kI3I8Bqa_-MkawamVJy9Vtoj_YecV-j8UjgQqAtpxVn8CM-d61IJ5Z4f5dpm5fL/s1600/segway+downhill.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r43EZsH7szpHQkp_OkqnALPDFLaONPFJ1foJsQHNfcuqclHQFVpaKC2IG6aemNQHhXSh6kI3I8Bqa_-MkawamVJy9Vtoj_YecV-j8UjgQqAtpxVn8CM-d61IJ5Z4f5dpm5fL/s400/segway+downhill.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Unfortunately, there was another vehicle ahead of me so I could not record them going downhill; but later, I caught up with them and recorded this <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://youtu.be/CZDTYe5qiY0"><i>video</i></a> </span></b>condensed from 2:30 minutes to 40 seconds.<br />
I hope you took your motion sickness pills.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34721861.post-16559229745753565172013-04-11T15:35:00.001-07:002013-04-11T15:35:29.515-07:00Skywatch Friday - Palace of Fine Arts<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYssTgcH4d6ChWJS2J_V62esE3iYh1XGNI6sZP-IlCy-tqL3xXVcZjasfG3oGfxXvCddnygouwCOOVGXaRqVGtmBgb3kK4jd0D6N43l8B8ACf3zZkhcLfVUzjfaF6L7OlgLba/s1600/IMG_3986.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYssTgcH4d6ChWJS2J_V62esE3iYh1XGNI6sZP-IlCy-tqL3xXVcZjasfG3oGfxXvCddnygouwCOOVGXaRqVGtmBgb3kK4jd0D6N43l8B8ACf3zZkhcLfVUzjfaF6L7OlgLba/s400/IMG_3986.JPG" width="325" /></a></div><center>Last weekend was a beautiful day to visit the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.<br />
It was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition which included exhibits in Education, Liberal Arts, Manufactures, Varied Industries, Agriculture, Food Products, Transportation, Mines and Metallurgy and the Palace of Machinery according to Wikipedia. As a secondary purpose, it was also to celebrate the finishing of the Panama Canal and the resurrection of San Francisco after the devastating 1906 earthquake.<br />
After the exposition, it was scheduled to be torn down, but luckily locals petitioned to have it saved.<br />
Over the years, it became in a state of disrepair and in 1964 parts of the palace was demolished and recreated.<br />
Today it is a popular tourist attraction and a scenic location for wedding photos.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiog-7kc_r5K_geW1L05PLtnSCDKnqTQEWEkLf7cV-0Y0jxxwt_nC-jKyVvNm5Mr81kBalaIlhz3MIfShWg8h48OrSsjk3gwPiDeOTg5gaDDbT5ebQX-J9UrxxGrz9Qd_NpLS/s1600/IMG_4024.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiog-7kc_r5K_geW1L05PLtnSCDKnqTQEWEkLf7cV-0Y0jxxwt_nC-jKyVvNm5Mr81kBalaIlhz3MIfShWg8h48OrSsjk3gwPiDeOTg5gaDDbT5ebQX-J9UrxxGrz9Qd_NpLS/s400/IMG_4024.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><center>A short walk leads you to the Romanesque rotunda.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e7FVFPuI8RHLRN774Dt6M9wnj738E6RyVN_GBg26TgZ14uOQ1XSS5nfZZz4xB1Vg1HFAuITnGIOqfsVeuC-dDRUfL4R76n_vmKNS_0tRVLctR-4gy2ilAk8-GYoq0389faoz/s1600/IMG_4018.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e7FVFPuI8RHLRN774Dt6M9wnj738E6RyVN_GBg26TgZ14uOQ1XSS5nfZZz4xB1Vg1HFAuITnGIOqfsVeuC-dDRUfL4R76n_vmKNS_0tRVLctR-4gy2ilAk8-GYoq0389faoz/s400/IMG_4018.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><center>One seems to be transported to the Greco-Roman period in history just standing there looking at the columns.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-06kRaBRIreIrDy1b8Qa77byz1JLAYl5gPL8Jm-MXnzH9Mz8id-DXSbILrd3Wx4DtV58rBdK3x0zHZeyVMz5pWF1zq8-V9eEH9kdun0vsugm9rJv4Xlwfjrx287W3u59bLpYh/s1600/IMG_4020.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-06kRaBRIreIrDy1b8Qa77byz1JLAYl5gPL8Jm-MXnzH9Mz8id-DXSbILrd3Wx4DtV58rBdK3x0zHZeyVMz5pWF1zq8-V9eEH9kdun0vsugm9rJv4Xlwfjrx287W3u59bLpYh/s400/IMG_4020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>From what I read, the reliefs symbolize Greek culture and its desire for poetic and artistic expression.</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcqI21FXvWHP-q9DK_9ZLqs4vam3dCIAha5FPVMXtHVDbsIIt3ArexOgKAy_ASwVjzyD2Dohwj9QBSbKuF-boLMHTtK-LBT6Bdd92IHaQzhLzAmcl_J42zDnkh8SSerRJaa3w/s1600/IMG_4030.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcqI21FXvWHP-q9DK_9ZLqs4vam3dCIAha5FPVMXtHVDbsIIt3ArexOgKAy_ASwVjzyD2Dohwj9QBSbKuF-boLMHTtK-LBT6Bdd92IHaQzhLzAmcl_J42zDnkh8SSerRJaa3w/s400/IMG_4030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><center>And the figures at the top of the columns symbolize tearful women living life without art.<br />
<br />
Visit other <i><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Skywatch Friday</span></b></a><b></b></i> participants.</center><br />
- Karen<br />
<br />
AVCr8teurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17791962268368737548noreply@blogger.com14