U.S. - CA (Northern)

San Francisco
San Francisco...has become the city of the night.
If you have read Interview with Vampire, you might perhaps understand the dark streets of San Francisco and why vampires might wander there.
Do you remember that first scene in the Interview with the Vampire? That small abandoned flat where Louis agrees to do an interview.
Just picture that scene...and look at the picture to the right.

Victorian Houses in San Francisco

San Francisco, in the middle of the night you can see the clock tower gate illuminated with light...

Clock tower Bridge

Golden gate bridge is a signature image of San Francisco. Many days of the year, it is surrounded by a fog.
Do you know that the painters who paint Golden gate bridge never stops? When they finish painting, they have to start back all over again from the beginning.

Golden gate bridge (From across the city)

Fisherman's wharf has many sailboats, including some beautiful ones.

Fisherman's Wharf

Of course, having some clam chowder and seafood is a must to do for the wharf area, even if it is a bit of touristy thing to do. Taste the clam Chowder from this restaurant in a hole. You will never be able to forget it even if you've had to eat it on the street.  

Fisherman's wharf

Although at this point, all the sea lions have left the pier, there is nevertheless no shortage of travelers there.
Besides the joy of being able to browse the souvenir shops full of little trinkets, you can see the whole city from the top of Pier 32.

Pier

Right next to the Exploratorium, you will see beautiful old fine arts buildings. Of course, people recognize those structures as more of a landmark than the Exploratorium. It is a beautiful park at any time.

Palace of Fine Arts

Stroll around this beautiful park.
You will feel like you have traveled back in time.

Palace of Fine Arts

Palace of Fine Arts

After so much walking, of course one needs to go indulge oneself. Where else but to get some chocolates at Ghirardelli place? Or if you are more of an ice cream fan, you can die by chocolate ice cream.

Ghiradelli chocolate shop

Books about San Francisco:


  











Hearst Castle (San Simeon, CA)
Hearst Castle stands on top of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, somewhere between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is an impressive achievement of a man who owned a Media empire.
Unfortunately, no one is allowed to roam around this grand structure. There are five different tours and every one of them starts at the Neptune pool.
The water was so inviting that I wanted to jump in regardless of the tour rules.

Neptune Pool

I guess a little history of the Castle is in order. After watching the National Geographic documentary on WR Hearst, I have some idea of the history behind this castle.

Neptune from the side

WR Heart's father was a very determined smart man. He came to California looking for gold, but became rich from the silver...which he had to transport hundreds of treacherous mountain road to sell. With that money, he began to buy ranch land of California.
One of the Entry way into the Hearst Castle. Imagine getting out of the limousine, walking down the path into the grand house...past the Neptune pool, past the amazing vista of the San Simeon. It must have been a dream for those famous. 

Entry way behind Neptune Pool

WR Hearst's father married a very smart, well educated woman. I would say another good move on his part. She gave her love of travel and art to WR Hearst. At least that is why his Castle looks something close to an "Antique warehouse". He has gotten the love, but I guess not completely a taste to display it in the way of a real European house.
There were three guest houses on top of the main house (Casa Grande). Casa del Monte, which faced the mountains, Casa del Mar, faced the ocean, and Casa del sol.

Main House (Casa de Grande)

All the rooms in guest houses were lavishly decorated with the antique furniture and ceilings of many different Spanish and Italian areas.
From the Casa del Monte, you can see a great view of San Simeon. All the land you could see, and more were all owned by WR Hearst's father.

One of the guest houses

Books about Hearst Castle:










Solvang (Dutch town)