Category Archives: _North America_

Around the Pacific … and back to the Bay

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On Saturday we made a trip up to Marin Country and Agate Beach at Bolinas to meet a meetup group for a bit of tide pooling (with plenty of mussels, snails, algae and anemones to look at – plus the occasional hermit crab 🦀) and a short hike for great coastal views. From here it was back to town for a museum Sunday around the Golden Gate Park – incl. the Paul McCartney photo exhibition at De Young Museum.

Monday and Tuesday were easy days … essentially preparing for the next part of the trip (laundry, re-packing etc.) – followed by a walk to Bernal Heights for some great city views. More views were coming up on Tuesday during a tour of some of the more arty stairs around town.

Overall another great couple of days in and around San Francisco – just without the wine and no cioppino … thanks for a great time – and until next time.

Practicing for the tropics …

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I had some time to kill this morning before making it back to the airport. As I was fully loaded (minus my big pack), must museum’s were out of question (due to stringent rules on what not to bring) – so, I decided for the US Botanic Garden … with plant showcases from most environments (incl. the tropics – to try things prior to hitting those later on). My favorite of course remains camelia sinensis, which was also on display 🍵.

Another metro trip hit me to the airport – and from here it was on to Panama 🇵🇦

From Monuments into Space …

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Today I focused on the Western part of the mall and all the monuments to former presidents or other important people in US history, as well as the war memorials – from WW2, and the Vietnam to the Korean war … a tough, yet interesting ride through US (and world) history. My biggest Aha-moment was at the Roosevelt Memorial – covering the 1930s through (most of) WW2 to the birth of the United Nations – I wish today’s leaders would be more like him. From artistic/ architectural perspective I really liked the Korean War Memorial and how it pulls the spectators in, making them part of the cause to be remembered. I also liked the Martin Luther King Memorial and how the artist literally moved a stone.

After a history-heavy morning I made it over to Georgetown for lunch and a bit of retail fun (not that I bought anything) to make my way back to the National Mall (with a stop at the Kenn

A busy day along the mall

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Jetlag can be a blessing in disguise … I woke up early (but not too early), had  breakfast – finally leaving the hotel at around 8:00 and getting to the US Capitol just as it opened … no queues and easy access to the first guided tour of the day. The tour was a good one with a short movie about the Capitol’s history and the US legislative system … and then on through part of the building, incl. views of the rotunda and some of the many statues in the  building.

From the Capitol I continued across the street to the Library of Congress for views of the great reading hall and the many artifacts on display (incl. a Gutenberg Bible).

My next stop was at the massive National Gallery of Art and its even more massive collection. I eventually had to cut things short as my appointed time at the Washington Monument came closer.

After another security check here, it was into the elevator inside the monument for the 490ft / 150m trip up with great

Welcome to Washington, DC

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And here we are, the big trip has started – first stop: Washington, DC.

A quick and  fairly comfy flight got me across the pond from Frankfurt to Washington Dulles International Airport; a less comfy metro ride got me into town and my centrally-located hotel. After check-in and a bit of freshing up I made it over to the mall for some first exploration of town.

While walking towards the Washington Monument,  I realized quite a bit of helicopter traffic and also that streets were closed for car traffic – well, getting closer to the White House,  I saw why, as a helicopter was leaving there … who might be leaving here on late Friday afternoon possibly for a trip down to Florida?

I made my way to the North side of the White House and then on into town for dinner (pseudo-Korean … tasty, but certainly not Korean – except for the kimchi) and then a walk by the US Capitol – before heading back to the hotel for an early night.

Back to the bay – with flowers in my hair

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My more regular readers may remember that – over the years – I have done (more or less) regular visits over to the San Francisco/ Oakland bay area, to visit Lisa, who I had met back on my first trip to Antarctica – and whom I have stayed in touch with ever since. During Covid visiting was (obviously) out of question – but as things were clearing during the year, we decided to go ahead and I got myself a ticket to the bay for a week in late September/early October.

During Covid Lisa had moved from Oakland to San Francisco – so there was loads to explore: from house and garden to the neighborhood – with steep roads and the one or other viewpoints out to the city and the bay – and businesses around (incl. a newly discovered seafood place just a few bus stops away).

In San Francisco we covered the Exploratorium after dark (i.e. in the evening and kids free with easy access to all exhibits and experiments) and the De Young Museum (incl.  the exhibition on Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs).

We also did the (meanwhile customary) trip down to wine country – heading South for Santa Clara county and the area around Hecker Pass – with stops (and tastings) at three wineries. My favorite here was (once more) Hecker Pass Winery with its Italian-style wines, family-tradition and a philosophy, giving the wines more time than in other – more commercial – wineries. Just down the road, also Sarah’s was convincing, especially the superb selection of pintos (which to me felt overpriced, especially compared to what is available in Europe).

No trip to San Francisco is complete without a trip out to the bay. We used the ferry, to make it over to Oakland and Jack London Square for another bit of wining – with the focus now on (mostly) Zinfandels at the tasting room of Rosenbloom.

Otherwise there was plenty of time, to catch up on things, enjoy the great food, San Francisco has to offer (incl. a to-die-for-cioppino), some (more) wine – and (re)meet Lisa’s family and friends. Needless to say, it’s been a great trip and time – a great THANKS to the host.

Disclaimer: there were no flowers in my hair – due to a lack of the latter.

Oysters in San Francisco

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We took it easy today and had a leisurely start of the day. Around midday we made it down to Oakland’s ferry terminal, to catch a ferry over to San Francisco and a late oyster lunch at the Hog Island Oyster Company outlet right in the Ferry Building.

After lunch we enjoyed a walk along the piers from the ferry building all the way up to pier 41 with various stops on the way (including one at pier 39, to catch a glimpse of the sea lions). From here it was back to the ferry and across the bay to Oakland.

In retrospect this has been a nice week over in California – again with great food, great views, interesting excursions and drinks to try on the way – plus of course perfect company and hosts – THANKS Lisa and Harry – it’s been a great time (again)!

To the Ocean …

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The plan for the day was, to head up for the coast in Sonoma county, about 100km North of San Francisco.

As my hosts had to replenish their supply of sparkling wine, we had a stop at the Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville on the way. This winery (as the name might suggest) is specialized in the production of sparkling wine. We had a tour of the winery, to then make it for a tasting and an order. To me the sparkling wines were mostly too sweet, the (still) base wines though were decent.

We continued along the Russian River Valley – until eventually the river made its way into the Pacific and we had arrived at Jenner. We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the mouth of the river and beaches.

After lunch and a post-lunch port with a superb view, we continued to one of the beaches, we had seen from the restaurant – Goat Rock State Beach, a part of the Sonoma Coast State Park. Here we had a short walk along the beach, including an opportunity for a (toe) dip.

We were now already heading South on highway 1, initially along the coast (with more great views) and then into Tomales Bay with a stop at Point Reyes Station for a bit of cheese shopping (the Sonoma area is a cow paradise, so plenty of milk and cheese) – before making it inland for US highway 101 and the San Rafael / Richmond bay bridge – and finally back to Oakland.

Exploring Oakland

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Those of you, who have been following my stories for a while, may remember, that – over the years – I have done a number of trips, to visit Lisa and Harry in California. With the last trip now about two years ago, we decided, that it was about time for another trip. So I saw myself flying over from Frankfurt to Oakland on April 30th.

I got into Oakland in the evening of the 30th and was warmly welcomed. Over a light dinner there were plenty of things, to catch up on.

For May 1st the plan was, to have a closer look at Oakland – a city usually overlooked, as people head out across the bay to San Francisco. 

We drove down to Lake Merrit, where we got started with a walk around the lake, before having a stop at Cathedral of Light,  to then – after a coffee stop – continue towards Broadway and the central business district. We soon left Broadway again, to get a closer look at the Fox Theater, from where we followed along Telegraph Avenue and eventually reached the “Cathedral Building” and as such made it back to Broadway.

After a quick stop at the town hall we continued to Swan’s Market for a quick pre-lunch oyster snack; lunch itself turned out Korean in a restaurant further down the street.

After lunch we continued towards Jack London square, did check out the mall and had a look at Jack London’s historic cabin. Before making it back home, we hit a tasting room of a winery right at the ferry terminal. Time for some California classics: buttery Chardonnay and a good Zin or two 😉

On Wednesday we stayed local again, making it to Oakland’s neighbor city – Berkeley. I did not take any photos today, so you will have to do without those.

We started the day with a walk around Berkeley’s Aquatic Park; a really nice park, right at the water, complete with a disc golf course – and unfortunately (this being the big, big minus) also facing a major interstate highway.

From here it was a short drive to the Takara Sake Brewery, where we got an introduction to the traditional way of Sake production – followed by (of course) a tasting in their tasting room, featuring both local Berkeley, as well as imported sakes from Japan. The sake turned out an aperitif for us, as we continued to a Vietnamese restaurant for a pho lunch. This was followed by a short trip around the Berkeley campus and a visit of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (aka. BAMPFA).

After all this culture and education, it was about time, to go and try something else; so we ended up in the Rare Barrel – a brewery specialized in sour beer. Sour beer is a rather odd drink … and so far I have not been a fan of it. We ended up having a small selection of different beers (i.e. from different barrels), to get the different flavors. Two in our collection were essentially, as I remembered sour beer from other tastings (so not to my taste), two though were drinkable and the remaining two – surprise, surprise – really delicious. Well – it pays off, to be open 😉