Monday, August 31, 2009

For Sale

Lovely paintings for sale.
I was wondering if the artist was selling his bicycle or just showing it off.


- Karen

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Any Guesses?

Saw several of these unique configurations on the street this weekend.
Can anyone guess what they might be used for?


- Karen

Friday, August 28, 2009

Train Interiors

Following up with my previous post in Niles, we happened to be there when several newly restored trains were opened to the public for the first time. Our conductor at the entrance volunteered to pose for pictures.


Built in 1954 with larger windows, this Southern Pacific #293 train, traveled between Oakland, CA and Portland, OR.
I have not made up my mind about the red seats.


My favorite, the Southern Pacific #1975, the "All Day Lunch" car.


Southern Pacific #2979 lounge car built in 1912 looked the most comfortable and cozy.


- Karen

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Niles History

Niles in imprinted in its neighboring hills

Entry into the Niles district

The Niles District in Fremont, California is a small part of the San Francisco Bay Area, but holds some unique history. Back in the 1850's it was a midway point train stop for people traveling between Oakland and San Jose about a 40 mile one-way trip.

It had the first flour mill in the United States and the largest rose plantation in California.

In 1912, Essanay Film Studio headquarted here filmed many of its cowboy adventures in town and around the picturesque hills. Click here for history & pictures of Essanay.


- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson
Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson
U.S. Army

Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson, the electronic warfare officer of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, talks with local Iraqi kids while on a patrol.


Photo courtesy of United States Army
Taken by Pfc. Evan Loyd

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

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, August 24, 2009

Feeling Silver

Will paint myself silver, wear a mask and silver toga for tips.


- Karen

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Contradiction?

Is this considered a contradiction? A church reflected in the window of the "Carpe Diem" restaurant?


This is the St. Blasiuskirche church in Salzburg seen in the reflection above. In the 1300's, it was the city's hospital where townspeople provided food to its patients.


Have a nice weekend!

- Karen

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Kevin, Our Tour Guide

On our last full day in Munich, we happened to be in the right place at the right time to learn about a free city walking tour.
The tour starts off with a group photo seen here with Kevin, front & center in red.
As the walking prolongs, the group starts to dwindle. Four hours of walking through various cathedrals and historical buildings can be taxing.


Here we stop at a replica of the city. I felt sorry for Kevin who does these tours several times a week. He was losing his voice as he disseminate his stories and historical facts over the city noise. However, I am sure Kevin would promptly be cured after a few beers.
Click here to read about Kevin and his other Munich cohorts.

If you will be visiting Europe, click here to read about New Europe Tours complimentary excursions. From what I learned, these are volunteer tour guides and their only payment is through the generosity of others in the form of gratuities.
If they love the city and meeting new people, I can see why they do it.


- Karen

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Vaillancourt Fountain

Since 1971, if you pass by San Francisco's Embarcadero area, you will not miss seeing this 200 feet long, 140 feet wide, and 36 feet high concrete fountain.

Most people consider this the "Vaillancourt Fountain" after its sculptor Armand Vaillancourt. However, Monsieur Vaillancourt prefers to call his creation "Quebec Libre!" for his support of Quebec's sovereignty movement from Canada to become its own independent country.


- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Pfc. Tavonte Johnson
Pfc. Tavonte Johnson
U.S. Marine Corps

Pfc. Tavonte Johnson, a field radio operator with Headquarters Company, 7th Marine Regiment, provides security after a simulated attack by a suicide bomber on Aug. 8, as part of 7th Marine Regiment’s pre-deployment training exercise.


Photo courtesy of United States Marine Corps

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

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, August 17, 2009

"Thick Tower" Restaurant

"Dicker Turm" literal translation from German to English means "thick tower". While traveling through Germany last Spring, friends took me to this historic family-owned restaurant which was once a medieval castle in Esslingen about 8.7 miles (14km) from Stuttgart.


Entrance to the restaurant famous for its Baden & Swabian style cuisine of the southern Germany region.


From the lobby is the dimly-lit long and winding staircase leading to the dining room. From the signs, "Treppe" means "staircase" and "Aufaug" means "elevator".


My friends and I arrived early for lunch on this particular cold and wet Friday morning. We were the only ones in the restaurant and served by whom I assume is the owner.
The tables were beautifully laid out and you can almost see the curvature of the building.
Sadly, while researching the restaurant for this post, the husband & wife owners will be retiring and the restaurant is closing on January 1, 2010 as seen on their website.
Now, I wished I had taken a picture of the owners during our visit.


From my window seat, I could see the town of Esslingen below.


- Karen

Friday, August 14, 2009

Blue Angels

I am concluding my air show series with the Blue Angels. No doubt they were the highlight of the show. Their precision flying maneuvers speak for themselves.







Happy Friday,
Karen

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wow, What a Gutsy Ride!

Just when I kiddingly said, wouldn't it be interesting to see a wingwalker at this air show when Teresa Stokes jumps out and does her fearless acrobatics in mid-flight.
Here she is leaving her seat and walking onto the wing.
You will have to click on the photo to get a larger image. I really wished I had a longer lens. :)


Held in place just with a lap belt.


Teresa's been doing this since 1988 and the last time I rode a rollercoaster was years ago. I am sure my piddly 2 minute amusement park ride pales in comparison to what she is feeling in this photo.


More mid-air acrobatics


As if standing on her feet wasn't hard enough, here she is standing on her head.


Teresa takes a much deserved victory lap to a cheering crowd.

To read more about Teresa, click here.
Also, I got to give credit to Gene Soucy for his skillful flying. He had some colossal responsibilities!


- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Gilbert
Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Gilbert
U.S. Navy

Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Gilbert, assigned to Headquarters Company of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB 74), donates blood during a blood drive for his six-year-old daughter at the Naval Construction Battalion Center base chapel. Gilbert's daughter has been diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor and is receiving chemotherapy at Tulane Childrens Hospital.


Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan G. Wilber courtesy of United States Navy.

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

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, August 10, 2009

Robosaurus - The Real Transformer

This weekend's air show also featured the 40-ft. Robosaurus, the world's largest fire-breathing "CARnivorous" robot. Here he is strutting through the crowd looking for something to eat.


He picks up and crushes a car effortlessly.


The car is carried several stories up into the air.


Robosaurus takes a bite and burns the car to a crisp within minutes. It should have no problem disposing those "Cash for Clunkers" cars.


- Karen

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Up in the Sky

Looked up in the sky and happened to see a helicopter and birds between the buildings.


- Karen

Friday, August 07, 2009

Food Vendor Statues

I shall call this one self-condimentation; yes, that is a made-up word. It scares me to think what it will do next after dousing itself with the various sauces.


I shall call this one self-indulgence. How many of us still want to eat food we sat on?


Happy Friday,
Karen

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Desperados Mystery

The dictionary defines "desperado" as a bold, reckless criminal or outlaw. I wonder what this wagon is about in the middle of a park in Munich.

Does anyone know or want to venture a guess? I have no clue.


- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Lance Cpl. Jeremy P. Tamburello
Lance Cpl. Jeremy P. Tamburello
19 years old from Denver, Colorado
1st Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
November 8, 2005
U.S.M.C

His parents didn't want him to enlist, but it was his passion for helping people that led L/Cpl. Jeremy Tamburello to the military. "He was a very noble, very compassionate, very brave man" said L/Cpl. Tamburello's father, Kevin. "He knew that he was going to have to go to Iraq and he knew that he might die, but he went anyway."

L/Cpl. Tamburello was killed by an IED while conducting combat operations near Rutbah, Iraq.


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

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, August 03, 2009

All Heads, No Tails

During a visit to Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada a few years back, I passed by a room filled with waxed head figures on display. A little odd I have to admit.

To read about how wax figures are made, click here.


Have a nice week,
Karen