Month

April 2014
It took 40 years, some committed individuals, a grass roots groundswell, and an act of Congress. In some ways it was a typical battle between conservationists and an entrenched bureaucracy. But in the end everyone is happy that there is a tunnel under San Pedro Mountain, bypassing Devil’s Slide in the most aesthetically pleasing and...
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The Google Headquarters, aka “Googleplex”, is a required and favorite destination for all visitors to Silicon Valley. For groups without access inside, there are some outdoor destinations to enjoy, including the T-Rex in the courtyard of Building 43, the onsite garden, and the Android life-sized characters at Building 44. An interesting aside, the main building...
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      The majestic and ethereal Cologne Cathedral in Germany has survived many centuries since first built in the middle ages. Its South Transept window was destroyed in World War II and was replaced with plain glass. In 2007 the cathedral architect commissioned Gerhard Richter, renowned German artist, to design a replacement window in...
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  I was driving on Stevens Canyon Road in Cupertino last week when an unusual sight caught my eye. I was already past the white bicycle when I decided to turn around and take a closer look. What I found surprised me and offered me a glimpse at a new kind of monument. The item...
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Chinatown is one of the most popular destinations in San Francisco, and has the distinction of being the oldest and the densest Chinatown outside of mainland China. Your experience of a “town within a city” unfolds when, crossing Broadway or Bush, you enter a world with its own language, architecture, cuisine, and imagery. Some of...
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What better image is there for a tour guide than a “Heart”?  A tour guide shares what he “loves” about his city or site with others, and they, in turn, gain some love for the area themselves. Hearts are a particularly apt image for a San Francisco tour guide. The city prides itself on its...
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