Golden Gate Park: Closer to Home

You will note that we enjoy traveling in Europe. That is true.

Yet, we live in one of the finest areas of the world. We live in Central California which is the world's most productive valley. From our home we can be at the beach in an hour and to the East is the Sierras, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite in about two hours by car. The photo above is taken in Golden Gate Park in the heart of San Francisco. We think the City is one of the great ones as it is urbane and sometimes silly.

Some years ago we ran in the Bay to Breakers which is a colorful and fun race where almost anything goes. You won't see this in Kansas.

 

Brussels and The Europe Union

 

When we took the train from Paris to Brussels we were surprized in the closeness of the two cities.  We are used to the vast distances in the United States.

Brussels is a pretty city with lots to do, but we were taken by its worldview. Brussels is the home of the European Union and it is obvious that they see and feel their close relationship to other countries.

This is the central square - indeed it was a rainy day.

On a walk in Barcelona a South American Bird

    Since my childhood disease I have not found walking fun. I hurt. But, that does not keep me from trying. Often I will need to stop while my wife walks on ahead. But there are many reasons to walk. We were in Barcelona returning from a visit to Park Guell. (Worthwhile visit. Get tickets online and be on time or else...)

    As I ambled around a bend (I always amble) I saw a parrot on a road closed gate. I like the windows. That was brought my eye there in the first place.  I find that parrots are only present in Spain when have escaped their cages. They are from South America. Enough have found freedom to have some small families in town.

 

Sidetracking

We were zooming along the road from Innsbruck to Liechtenstein when I proposed we take a quick trip into Germany so we could say we were there. We headed over the border not far to Mittenwald.  I need not have done that because since then we have spent a good portion of time in Germany. Coming back to Austria, I saw this village between the trees and stopped to take this photo. I just liked the scene.

Photos you must take

Here I am in the guardhouse of the Spain's National Palace in Madrid.

You just must do it.

Like people posing pretending to hold up the Leaning Tower.

Timing a photo at the One O'clock gun at Edinburgh Castle.

My favorite is getting into famous pulpits,

Think of more?

 

Village School Botswana, Africa

When we were in Africa we took school supplies and books to a village school.

The students speak English as well as their native language because the country was once part of the British Empire.

Look closely at this photo and see how many students share computers.

There are between two and four at each place.

The computers are old models brought in from European Schools. It was fun to get to know some of the students, but made me wonder how these kids learn like that.

 

Neuschwanstein Castle - 5,845 miles way

    It was Fall in Bavaria and we took off for Neuschwanstein from Munich because almost everyone does. This is a different view than you usually get, but this is what it looks like from the road up. You will wish to take the shuttle to the top. Even at that, the ride is a tad wild. You can walk down like we did, but be warned that it is steep. The castle is fun, but the view of the valley is wonderful. In the Castle you will find treasures but the are lots of stairs just like all castles.