Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Berkeley




I was excited. I started university in 1968 when the place to be was Berkeley. I, of course, was far away, at a tiny university in Quebec, where the biggest excitement was burning our purple and white beanies we were supposed to wear as freshmen!

I have been to San Francisco several times but this was my first trip to Berkeley! Once again we were given a ride from the hotel, this time to Lake Merritt Bart Stop and five stops later we were in downtown Berkeley. we headed off to the university itself







Below is the Clock Tower


We wandered through the enormous campus but only saw part of it


lovely buildings


Beautiful grounds...


Interesting art...





The Library








And then a memorial to Berkeley's free speech movement












We wandered off campus and decided to head for Telegraph Avenue.


Lots of excitement for incoming students.





And then we were there


palm reading below...


I thought this was in Paris


neat old houses as we ended up back in the North Shattuck area.



We somehow missed the famous Cafe Parnisse (should have done my homework better) and Cream, where they apparently have great ice cream. But it was only 11:30 so that we weren't very hungry.
We ended up back at our subway stop.
It would have been nice to explore more of Berkeley such as the Botanical Gardens and Fourth Street and Solano Avenue and the waterfront but maybe in another trip!


We were picked up in Oakland by another interesting, informative,courteous driver . The above picture is taken near the Lake Union stop.


We were back at the hotel and we grabbed lunch from the nearby Starbucks. We enjoyed the view and soon were back at the airport.
One flight to Bellingham and a drive to Port Moody where I picked up my car and came home. It seemed such a different environment to be back in the rain forest after Mediterranean California.


I hope you have enjoyed our California adventure. I know Sue and I did. Until my next journey I will be back at my regular blog, Late Literacy! Happy travelling!
- using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Airport Dr,Oakland,United States

Monday, August 26, 2013

Oakland

The view from our Oakland hotel room below!



I admit it Oakland has never been number one on my bucket list of places I wanted to go but sometimes you find yourself somewhere so you explore. I read quite awhile ago of efforts to clean up, revitalize Oakland, and I have always been a fan of Jerry Brown,once and once again governor of California, and in between mayor of Oakland.

After a couple of hours of driving we dropped our faithful rental car off at the Oakland Airport ,and waited for our shuttle to our hotel.

We arrived at the Bayside Best Western and they let us check in early so we made arrangements to get a shuttle to Jack London Square, a couple of miles down the Embarcadero.



Music was playing and a jazz concert was on to raise money for arts and music programs in Oakland Public Schools.


Don't you love those bikes?


Sunday also means a farmers' market...


More about the elusive Ollalieberry...





They were offering fruit for one dollar a pound!



Honey...



I missed famous Miette in San Francisco but found one here!





Then we had a delicious lunch





You can ferry over to San Francisco


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More jazz...







Great people watching and we felt as if we were with real people, not the super rich or tourists...We loved the diversity of the crowd. and I bought a t-shirt to support the cause.


We decided to walk back to our hotel


Amtrak Station


We saw some long abandoned businesses



A truck stopped with watermelons for sale.


Hot...we arrived home and I had a swim! And then check out the sunset from our room!





Then we walked along the water to dinner


to Quinn's Lighthouse for dinner.








a nice end to an interesting day!



Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Oakland