Washington D.C.

This is coming to you from the nation's Capital. There is so much to see here but the best spent time is in some of the 15 Smithsonian Institution Museums and Galleries. We particularly commend the American History (First Lady gowns exhibit was stunning, plus Julia Child's Kitchen), the Natural History (butterfly enclosure a delight plus the real Hope Diamond) and the Air and Space Museum. Today we toured the Capitol Building and Library of Congress - that has just the most beautiful ornate interior and holds the world's largest repository of knowledge and creativity. We viewed the White House albeit from a distance. Security here is so intense particularly leading up to 4th July celebrations, at every venue enduring airport style checks of bags and self complete with sniffer dogs. Weather has been in mid 30's somewhat exhausting at times. Also climbed the steps to Lincoln Memorial which looks down across the Reflecting Pool to Washington Monument, captured brilliantly (if we do say so ourselves) in attached photo. This scene is memorable from the 'Forrest Gump' movie.

New York City

Being back in the Big Apple after 6 years has us falling in love with New York all over again. We tried to see different sights so have been to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, took a ferry down the East River to Dumbo to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. On Saturday morning the traffic was unusually quiet outside our hotel, and we discovered that Lexington Avenue had been closed off for about 6 blocks for a street market - right outside our hotel, so a-marketing we went. Sunday a novel ride on the Roosevelt Island Aerial Tramway (the Island in East River once housed a penitentiary and asylum) was followed by a stroll around the Rockefeller Centre, Radio City, New York Public Library, Times Square, Chrysler Building foyer and Grand Central Station. We then ran into the Pride Parade down Fifth Avenue, so detoured back to our hotel in Lexington Avenue. The Book of Mormon was our Broadway show choice that night. What a hoot, it poked fun irreverently at so much. On our final day here we walked the Highline, created on an elevated section of a disused freight railroad spur which has been restored as a green zone. We walked the length (2.33km) from 34th Street through the Meatpacking district to 15th Street, ending in Chelsea so we enjoyed lunch at the Chelsea Market.

San Francisco

We did it! Walked the Golden Gate Bridge on a sunny if rather windy afternoon, 80 years after it was opened. This city is crowded with tourists so patience is needed - long queues to ride the Streetcars down to Fishermsn's Wharf, packed in like sardines. Chris had a young Police Officer hanging off the side of the Street car beside her, his gun barrel was resting on her knee the whole way. Sights: Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill, the famous "crookedest Street (Lombard), the row of beautifully restored Victorian houses called 'The Painted Ladies' - the one on the end was the setting for the TV series 'Full House'. Next Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 where we saw Sea Lions at play. In the Presidio area at the south end of Golden Gate Bridge we visited the Walt Disney Family Museum, which was a nostalgic journey back to Mickey Mouse Club and all the animated movies of childhood like Cinderella, Fantasia and Bambi. And then THE BIGGIE - Yosemite Natiinal Park. So awesome - the sheer beauty of the natural landscape carved out aeons ago by glacial forces during the ice ages. Today we visited the 60's again in Haight Ashbury, which is celebrating 50 years since 'The Summer of Love'. Loved this city but tomorrow it is off to New York.

photos

Which of these is not an elephant seal, otter, squirrel
or Monterey Jack?

 Hearst Castle and Indoor pool, Bixby Creek Bridge, fog over the coastline

West Coast California

For the last 3 days we have travelled on one of the great scenic journeys of the world, up the West Coast  of California from Los Angeles to San Francisco by Amtrak train and on Highway 1 by car. We passed acres and acres of farmland in the valleys. At times we had rolling mountain ranges on both sides of us. Reminded us of the Lockyer Valley and Downs area but on a much bigger scale. Even the grasses on the mountains had the same golden brown hue. We are sure we saw enough strawberry plants to cover all of Queensland - also artichokes, avocados, garlic, oranges and grape vines. We saw oil wells, ocean views, elephant seals, sea otters, and at San Simeon visited Hearst Castle which is a monument to what a rich man with a dream can achieve. William Randolph Hearst gathered treasures from all over the world and built and decorated his hilltop castle estate and grounds with them. Overnight stops in San Luis Obispo and Monterey gave us a chance to sightsee in these areas too, rich in Spanish mission history. Monterey Bay is a marine park and nearby Carmel a charming town to stroll in, then the drive along 17 Mile Oceanside stretch where a golf course is perched atop the cliffs and squirrels played on the sand. We had perfect sunny weather and in the afternoon were driven south to Big Sur crossing the amazing engineering feat of the Bixby Creek Bridge which straddles a huge gorge. A recent rock fall has blocked the road further south. Driving along the cliff edges gave the most stunning views of coastline including fog rolling in and out of the bays giving it a ghostly look at times. Something of note is that Chris is amazed at the amount of eucalyptus trees growing on this West coast. Sometimes we could have felt like we were actually in Australia not California. So now 5 days in San Francisco to enjoy.

Amtrak train, oil wells, farmland.....more photos to follow

Los Angeles

We are enjoying La La Land, staying with friends Joan and Ken in Santa Monica. The pier is a busy place and today we did a L.A. in a Day tour. That means we have done all the highlights - Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, Griffith Observatory, Farmer's Market, etc. So it is farewell to Santa Monica til we return in a few weeks time.  We leave by train for San Francisco tomorrow to enjoy more of West Coast California.