Saturday, February 13, 2016

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Pictures from our visit in 2015.

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Large Stone Carving – Early Ming Dynasty - 1761

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

San Francisco 2015

View from the InterContinential Mark Hopkins hotel (wiki) towards the Pacific-Union Club on the top of Nob Hill.

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A yummy bulgogi samwich from Beanstalk Cafe a few blocks away.

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The InterContinental Mark Hopkins.

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The Powell-Market Cable Car Turntable at the southern end of Powell Street.

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The Fairmont (wiki).

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The San Francisco Ferry Building.

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Colorful and tasty macaroons on sale outside the ferry building.

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Boccalone’s “salumi cone”.

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The Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Shop at the Ferry Building.

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The stylish control tower at San Francisco International Airport.

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Monday, January 18, 2016

USA Sevens Rugby 2015

The fifth game in the 2014-15 Sevens World Series was played in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fiji won the tournament and were ulimately the series champions as well.

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The South African’s attempting to break through the Fijian defense.

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The unfortunate side-effect of returning to California on the eve of a work day…

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Cambria

Beach views along Cambria’s boardwalk.

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A view towards Hearst Castle (wiki) from the Hearst Castle Visitor Center in San Simeon.

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The following pictures are from our evening tour of the castle. Below is the emptied Neptune Pool (wiki) presumably for renovation.

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Just a few days after Thanksgiving the dining and living rooms were already adorned with Christmas decorations.

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The Assembly Room in Casa Grande.

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On the right is Mr Hearst’s modest closet.

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The main library was “intended for Mr. Hearst’s guests, houses more than 4,000 books, and also showcases one of the Castle’s most treasured collections: 150 ancient Greek vases, all more than two thousand years old.” (link)

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The gothic suite on “Hearst Castle’s third floor consists of W. R. Hearst’s private space, in addition to some of his most treasured collections and sacred objects.” (link)

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The Roman Pool is “Modeled after ancient Roman baths, this meticulously detailed, majestic pool is tiled from ceiling to floor, and features marble copies of eight ancient Greek and Roman deities and athletes”. (link)

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The Northern elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas is fifteen miles to the north of Cambria.

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