New stuff

Hi, again, everyone!  It’s Antia here.  After letting 9J take over so many posts I’m glad to be back (not that she didn’t do a good job)!  Here are some new stuff that I purchased featuring the bunny.

(from left): DVD, book (bought at the SFMOMA shop at SFO), biscuits/cookies (my parents bought for me from Apita)

The Getty Villa

There’s another location of the Getty Museum besides the Center, which is the Getty Villa.  Some of Anita’s friends work there so she paid them a visit.

The Getty Villa is built like a Roman villa, or vacation home for the wealthy.  There are plenty of open air space.  It’s a nice place to walk and sit even if you weren’t interested in ancient art.

The Getty Villa’s main collection is of Greek and Roman antiquity.

Besides the collection, the Getty Villa is also famous for its nice gardens and outdoor areas.

The nice pasta Anita had for dinner with her friends that night in Santa Monica .

That’s all for these installments of pictures on our trips to the US!  I hope I can present to you more traveling pictures soon.  Stay tuned for pictures from our local adventures as well!  See you soon!

More Getty Center

Hello!  Here are more pictures of the Getty Center we took that day when Anita went to visit her friends.

On the tram

This is the model of the center.

Me with Mr. Getty again

Newly added sculptures~they weren’t there when Anita worked there.

In the Visitor’s Services Office

The blue vest Anita and her colleagues have to wear when on certain duties

San Francisco: Alcatraz Part 2

Here are more pictures from our trip to Alcatraz:

The jailhouse aisles all have names.

Boards everywhere detalining the numerous escape attempts

One of the fake heads used in the escape attempt by Frank Morris, John and Clarence Anglin

The Battle of Alcatraz

Well-behaved inmates were allowed to work in places such as the library.

Prisoners might partake on recreation if they behaved well.

From the interviews in the audio guide, compared to other prisons the meals at Alcatraz was considered good by the inmates.

“Alcatraz” meant “pelican” in Spanish, but there aren’t any left on the island anymore.

San Francisco: Alcatraz Part 1

Another spot that one cannot miss when visiting San Francisco ~ Alcatraz Island.  However, if you would like to visit it during peak tourist season you have to book your ticket in advance.  There is only one company operating the ferry that is authorize to carry you to the island.  Anita and I were lucky to get ticket for only a day ahead.

This is one of the best places Anita has been to, she told me.  The audio tour (which is included in the price for the ferry) should win an award if it hasn’t yet.

Anita and I got our ticket, and are on the ferry.

Before we went, we didn’t know Native Americans occupied the island during the 1960’s.

Prisoner’s handbook

The Hole ~ complete dark solitary confinement cell for unruly prisoners

Looking out from the Hole ~ luckily the door is opened!

San Francisco: Fisherman’s Wharf

Another landmark!  We certainly did the touristy thing!  Anita doesn’t eat a lot of seafood but she loves the clam chowder.

Getting off the Cable Car

A nice lunch with shrimp salad and clam chowder

Ripley’s Believe it or Not

The famous Pier 39

The gulls strut around like they own the place.

You have to be left-handed to work there.

Sea lion sighting

A nice pink pina colada

Another clam chowder

Seafood pasta, yummy!

Night scene

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge

You just can’t visit San Francisco without coming here.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Anita wouldn’t forget to immerse me in some art and culture, even when we were traveling.

9J loves Mondrian!

Matisse

It’s Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain.”

They’ve got some big names, like Jasper Johns.

San Francisco!

Finally, it’s time to present pictures from our trip to San Francisco.  For three days Anita and I went to l visit the city made famous by Tony Bennett, and this bridge, and this jail, and of course many more.  It’s been about ten years since Anita had visited San Francisco.  Here are the pictures we took of the cable cars and streets.  More coming!

It’s the world-famous California Cable Car Line!

We bought the $18 3-day pass, which is good for all Municipal buses, light rail, and cable cars. Very economical!

Now we arrived at the Powell Street Line.

View of Lombard Street from the Powell-Hyde line Cable Car

Powell Street Cable Car turn-around

Anita never dared to stand outside, what a chicken!

Our very nice and big hotel room at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway

View from our hotel room

View from our hotel room

Rainy morning

Union Square

Pho for dinner at a little eatery near the hotel

Places in San Diego — Old Town

The historic Old Town of San Diego is one of Anita’s favorite places in the city.  When she took a museum class at the University of San Diego, the class often made trips here.  A large part of Old Town is actually a state park.

Old dentist’s clinic

Casa de Estudillo, one of the many free museums in the park

Look at the little old-timey dolls!

Honestly, I have no idea what this is I’m sitting on!

Seely Stable, another free attraction

How can you not love Mark Twain?

The wooden saddle ~ the one thing Anita remembered clearly from the Seely Stable.

Finally, we tried the churros and Mexican Hot Chocolate!

Bazaar Del Mundo shops: not what Anita remembered