Muir Woods

Today we reacquainted ourselves with the massive redwoods of Muir Woods. Tonight we’re staying in a comfortable inn at the highest point on our multi-day hike with distant views of San Francisco Bay.

Coming Soon: New Mouths to Feed

Across the river from our home there’s an eagle’s nest. It was empty last year but on our walk this morning we spotted an eagle’s head peeking out. Sometimes one of the eagles swoops right past our apartment at eye level.

Sunday Afternoon Concert

This afternoon, a relaxed chamber music concert highlighting members of the Minnesota Orchestra in smaller ensembles. The program was a mix of old and new, with a modern socially conscious American piece by Kevin Puts, Credo (new to us), sandwiched between works by Rossini and Brahms.

Last Ride Before Repairs

During my bike ride, paused on the Stone Arch Bridge to take in this much-photographed view. Starting Monday, the bridge will undergo maintenance and repairs for the next two years, with half the bridge closed at a time.

Daytripping

It’s Saturday. Sometimes I like to figure out what locals do at weekends, so, I hopped on a train to the seaside. Familiar sights greeted me: a beach, children exploring tidal rock pools, surfers, a pleasant beachfront esplanade, and ready availability of ice cream. Less familiar was a shrine located on an island, reached by a footbridge.

Airside Oasis

Walked through the well-maintained airside gardens at Honolulu HNL, with sections reflecting multicultural Hawaii and its historical connections with Asia. These include gardens dedicated to China, Japan, and Hawaii itself. The scents of vegetation mingle with the occasional whiff of aviation fuel.

One Foot in Asia

At Stüssy, only a few customers were allowed in at a time. Those waiting patiently in line were mainly Asian, reflecting the demographics of Hawaii tourism. Nearly half of all visitors to Hawaii come from Asia, a trend that began with the early Japanese settlements in the 1870s. Perhaps this explains why we had the best tonkatsu, ever, in Honolulu.