Is It Quirkeley or Berserkeley

Posted by golfkat on September 26, 2022
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Actually, from the time I first set foot on the UC Berkeley campus as a sophomore in high school, I fell in love with the UC Berkeley campus.  It became both my dream and a goal through my high school years to matriculate to Berkeley.  The day I received the letter in the mail, during my senior year of high school was one of the happiest days of my young life.

Most people here in the Valley consider me to be a Berkeley liberal.  I just consider myself a liberal, though I think I became that way in high school, thanks to friends like Mario Olmos and Bob Osganian.

But here are some unique only in Berkeley quirkiness:

THE NOBEL IS THE WORLD’S most prestigious award for academic, cultural, and scientific advances. A Nobel Laureate will, apart from the award money, get a medal and diploma right from the hands of the Swedish king. But for some, there is more to winning the prize than international prestige and a fatter bank account: a parking space on an overcrowded campus.

At the University of California, Berkeley, it’s easy to spot the bright blue signs (above) marked “Reserved For NL/Special Permit Required At All Times.” NL stands for Nobel Laureate, of course, and the spaces are reserved for the elite faculty who worked tirelessly for decades to win some coveted parking.

The Berkeley tradition dates back to 1980, when Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He wanted a spot, so he simply asked for one. The parking wish was granted, and it’s since become standard practice—one that apparently sticks in the craw of the Laureates over at Standfurd Junior University..  I think this is just great!!!

SITTING ON THE QUAD OF Berkeley campus (in Sproul Plaza) is an unassuming monument to the Free Speech Movement that one could easily miss even though it supposedly consists of an endless tube of unregulated space that rises forever upward into space. 

Located in front of Sproul Hall, the monument was set flat into the walkway in 1989. The physical portion of the monument is simply a round cement stone with the bold statement carved around its perimeter reading, “This soil and the air space extending above it shall not be a part of any nation and shall not be subject to any entity’s jurisdiction.” In the center of the stone disc is a small hole that simply holds a patch of soil, but it is the invisible space rising directly above the hole that is the actual monument. As the disc says, this tiny tube of unregulated space is meant to be a place where protesters, free thinkers, and spitfires can say whatever the hell they like, and as it is worded, that privilege extends all the way into space and beyond.  I never realized it was there!  But I was there, back in 1964, trying to avoid getting caught on TV or in a police force roundup.

IN 1902 THE FAMOUS 12TH century bell tower known as the campanile in the Palazzo San Marco in Venice, Italy came thundering to the ground. Miraculously no one but a resident cat was hurt in the unexpected catastrophe. The beloved tower was rebuilt “as it was, where it was” in 1912.

UC Berkeley campus architect, John Galen Howard, had visited Venice in the 1890’s, and had the chance to see the San Marco Campanile before its collapse.

Looking strikingly similar to that other famous tower, the Campanile on the campus of UC Berkeley has stood a lynchpin on campus since its cornerstone was laid on March 8, 1914. The Campanile is constructed of 2,800 blocks of Raymond granite quarried from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, over 500 tons of structural steel, and Alaskan marble. The belltower is a gothic architectural form, built in a Neo-Classical way.

Hiding inside its dry climate-steady walls are some fossils belonging to the University of California Museum of Paleontology, many of which come from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.

The twelve bells that make up the original carillon were gifts of Jane K. Sather (who also donated the funds to construct the tower, itself) in 1914, but because of war-related delays, they were not installed until 1917. The largest of the bells, weighing in at 4,118 lbs. (the smallest is 329 lbs) is inscribed with the words by UC Berkeley Professor Flag:  We ring, we chime, we toll, Lend ye the silent part Some answer in the heart, Some echo in the soul.Sather Tower, or as we affectionately call the Campanile, is our most visible landmark on campus.  I am always drawn to it when I am on campus, or at a football or basketball game nearby.  I remember the days when beleaguered or failing students jumped off the tower, before they glassed in the viewing areas. In fact, we will have lunch in the shadow of the Campanile, at the Faculty Club.

So, now you know a little bit about the campus I love so much.  I was last here in January for a Cal-UCLA basketball game.  I am back today, headed up to the Faculty Club for lunch. Go Bears!!!  As I have written many, many times.  We may not get to the Rose Bowl on January 1, but we will always win Nobel Prizes!!!

Going to Another Cal Football Game

Posted by golfkat on September 24, 2022
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Has it really been about five years since I trudged up to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley for a Cal football game?  Have I given up the notion that my Golden Bears will play in the Rose Bowl on January 1st one of these years, while I am still alive?  We have not been to the Rose Bowl since January 1, 1959.  We played the heavily favored Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big 10 and lost 38 to 12.  But we were the 16th ranked team in the country.  Joe Kapp was the star QB for the Bears.  He later became the Head Coach.

Believe it or not, I was in Pasadena on that fateful day in 1959.  Our family was visiting relatives who lived within earshot of the Rose Bowl.  I could hear the PA announcer and the cheers of the crowd from their front yard. We were celebrating the great Japanese tradition of Shogatsu at a home in Pasadena.  We attended the Rose Parade earlier that day as well.  Perhaps I knew I would one day be a Cal Bear, but I had no idea we would never return to play on January 1st!

I was just thinking about how proud my parents must have been, with their oldest son going to college.  I remember they came up for “parents weekend” so we walked the campus, went to the football game, then had dinner at Spenger’s.  Another time, they came up to visit, so we ate at the infamous Larry Blake’s Rathskeller on Telegraph Avenue.  My how things have changed!

With college football becoming a big money game now for most big schools, I doubt we will ever make it back, at least under the current rules and qualification system.  For one, Cal learned the hard way, not to cheat their way to a championship, though other schools tend to play fast and loose with the rules.  In addition, the academic side of the University will not allow for below average admission for football players.  Nor will they give football players and other student athletes any slack on academic progress and performance.  Other schools, whose names I won’t mention, tend to make their own rules, but never seem to get caught.

But on this lovely Saturday, I am meeting my buddy Webb, and going to the Cal Arizona Wildcats football game.  When I was an undergrad here, I never missed a game.  Now, Cal football seems to have lost its charm, as we are not competitive any longer.

We will start the day by having lunch at the famous Faculty Club on campus.  Then, we will stagger our way up to Strawberry Canyon where Memorial Stadium sits on a giant fault.  Speaking of faults, it may not have been the best idea to remodel the old stadium.  Stadium debt absorbs 20% of the athletic budget, or roughly $18 million of the $89 million budget.  The principal will not begin the paydown until 2032, when yearly payments rise to $26 million.  In 2053, there will be a lump sum due of $82 million.

Ironically, the coach with the best winning percentage is Jeff Tedford, who record was 82-57, with the most wins and bowl victories of any Cal coach.  He is now serving his second term as coach of our local Fresno state Bulldogs, his alma mater.  But, I digress.

Will we have a decent team this year?  We emerge relatively unscathed, but battered and beaten by a trip to South Bend, Indiana last week to play the Golden Homers?  Will we ever recruit another 4- or 5-star athlete?  Will we ever have a first team All American again?  I cannot even remember who the last one was, either Cam Jordan (Saints), Keenan Allen (Chargers) or Aaron Rodgers (Packers)??

We almost beat Notre Shame!!!  I would imagine their athletic department budget is about triple the size of ours.  But, I can say they rarely win any Nobel prizes or Pulitzers. 

Today’s game is against the Arizona Wildcats.  Go Bears!

But I love my Golden Bears, even though we will not get to Pasadena on January 1 in my lifetime!!!

Take a Book, Leave a Book

Posted by golfkat on September 24, 2022
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How many of you have stayed at a hotel, AirBnB, rental condo, or hostel that has a free book library?  By free book, I mean leaving a book of yours, and taking a different one.    Other names for these are free community library, free lending library, and take one, leave one.  I have seen them in other places as well, on cute little Cul de sacs in my neighborhood, the YMCA, and Friends of the Library.

Trading books has probably been around even before the public library.  Maybe old Ben Franklin was onto something?  Though it is contested, most of us credit Ben Franklin in 1731 for starting the first free public library in the (future) United States.  

Growing up, we always had a library card.  On Fridays, when my Mom did the weekly grocery shopping, we were allowed to walk to the library, after school, until she picked us up.  Of course, we made a few stops along the way, like the soda fountain at the drug store, or the hobby shop next door.

But all of us who travel seem to have a book (or in my case, several) in our carry-on bag.  Kindle users, you are out of luck!  And many of us trade books, though our taste in reading may differ dramatically.

I tend to carry light reading, with my favorite being John Grisham.  But I have attempted to widen my horizons to Tom Clancy, and Robert Ludlum.  But the point is, the books are light reading yet entertaining.  And I read mostly at the airport or on the plane.

To quote Fodor’s, the honest nature of the free book economy is part of what makes it so special.  Books congregate on these shelves from around the world.  I imagine every time a book changes hands creates a story in itself.  Wouldn’t it be interesting if we wrote our name and location inside the front cover?

Of course, the books have no logic or Dewey Decimal System to organize them.  Fiction and non-fiction mix like long lost cousins.  Children’s books sit between adult mysteries and biographies.  The lack of organization makes this a grand adventure.

I specifically recall such a free book exchange in Hanoi.  I was reading that awful book about Pat Tillman, the NFL player who quit football to join the Army Rangers.  It was a little too graphic for me.  So, about halfway through the book, I exchanged it for another forgettable book.  But the point is, the exchange was free, and I ended up changing my mind set completely.

So, next time you are on the road, and get bored, try the free book exchange.

What to Do in Retirement?

Posted by golfkat on September 21, 2022
Posted in: Travel, Sports, Entertainment, Cultures, Golf, Health, Action. Leave a comment

“Having hobbies in retirement is so important for keeping both your mind and body busy,” says Craig Kirsner, president of retirement planning services at Stuart Estate Planning Wealth Advisors in Coconut Creek, Florida. “You’ve probably worked for decades and now you have to keep busy in retirement as well.”

These hobbies can keep you productive and fulfilled throughout your retirement years:

  • Pickleball.
  • Writing.
  • Stock market trading.
  • Gardening.
  • Walking.
  • Golf.
  • Volunteering.
  • Mentoring.

So, naturally, I have my own take on retirement, having been retired now for 14 years.  Mental and physical exercise are at the top of my personal list.  But first, let’s talk about those listed above.

Pickleball seems easier on the leg joints than tennis, racquetball, and squash.  I would say the jury is out for joints in the arm and shoulders.

I love writing, as you know.  It keeps me busy, and it requires that I read a decent amount for both pleasure and research.

I did my share of stock market trading in the 0s and 90s, but now, I leave it up to the pros.  Plus, I do not have time to do it responsibly.

I hate gardening, as it reminds me too much of farming.  I hate pulling weeds.  But I do enjoy picking persimmons, and dehydrating them for friends and family.

When I travel, I do copious amounts of walking and exploring.  Not so much around home.  I am no longer a real hiker, though I love places like Arches National Park, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Bryce Canyon National Park.

Though golf is excellent exercise, particularly if you walk, I no longer play.  Why?  It takes too much time, and I can’t hit the ball more than 260 yards anymore.  It has taken the fun out of golf for me.

I have done volunteering since my college days.  After graduation, I added places like the Berkeley Free Clinic, Medshare, medical reserve corps, and the American Red Cross.  But I pick and choose my spots carefully, avoiding things like radiation (Fukushima), and earthquakes (Haiti).

I enjoy mentoring young future health professionals.  I am mentoring two future nurses right now.  And even in adulthood, some people need mentoring, not just professionally, but personally, and financially.

They left off two of my favorite activities, travel, and cycling.  Both require an active and well-prepared approach.  Travel requires planning and execution.  It also involves knowing your limits, as I have found out in older age.  Cycling has been a godsend for exercise and meeting people, both here at home, and abroad.  But I do not cycle crazy miles, and I tend to cycle every OTHER day now.

Finally, I love to read books.  And I mean good books, such as the classics, nonfiction, mysteries, and biographies.  Not only do they keep the mind active, for me, it provides information for future trips and emails.

As Satchel Paige said, “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you!!”

What Is a World Book Capital?

Posted by golfkat on September 18, 2022
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Books are a culture’s memory blanket. Not only do they entertain and delight, they also carry fingerprints of the past and roadmaps for the future. So, the value a reader derives from those written words is indeterminable. UNESCO’s World Book Capital program acknowledges the role of books in the development of a culture, a city, and a country. 

Every year, a World Book Capital is chosen to encourage the culture of reading. There is no financial prize with this title, but the World Book Capital receives massive recognition. Readers should take a note of the city that gets crowned because all through the year, the winner organizes activities to promote reading and books. The nomination process demands that cities map out the activities and their plans for the year (including how they will secure funding), so you can be sure that the winner has a comprehensive, book-focused yearly schedule to interest readers.

For travelers, it’s a great way to get acquainted with a region’s culture, their writings, and their authors—their voices will echo through your travels if you pick up the books when you’re there, attend a talk or a workshop, or participate in the city’s book fair or local events.

Madrid won the first title in 2001.  In 2018, Athens was given the honor, with over 600 book related activities.  Guadalajara is the winner for 2022. Mexico’s second-largest city remains a hidden gem. It is a hub of history and art, and a food-lover’s paradise. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Octavio Paz Library, named after the Nobel Laureate. Originally built as a chapel in 1665, the façade was added in the early 1800s. Nearly a hundred years ago, artists David Alfaro Siqueiros and Amado de la Cueva painted a fantastic mural inside that took inspiration from the Mexican revolution. You must enter this institution to take a look at its vast collection of Spanish works.  

I love this award.  And I love books and travel.  This is perfect!!!

Ten Things in Napa Valley

Posted by golfkat on September 18, 2022
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From Visit Napa Valley website:

Yes, Napa Valley is one of the most luxurious luxury destinations in the world. That doesn’t mean everything here costs a pretty penny. The truth is that Napa County boasts a host of destinations and activities that are totally free. Here are our top 10.

  1. Shop the market
    The Napa Farmers’ Market  is the county’s largest and regularly boasts more than 100 vendors, artisans, and purveyors. On Saturdays, it’s also one of the very few markets in the region that operates year-round. The market is held in the City of Napa parking lot at 1100 West Street, two blocks from the Oxbow. Our advice: Go before 9 a.m. to score popular treats such as English Muffins from Model Bakery.
     
  2. Explore ‘Cowville’
    One of the most scenic roads in Yountville is Yount Mill Road, a ribbon of concrete that winds out of town to the north and reconnects with Highway 29 near Mustards Grill. The best way to experience the road: On foot. Along the stroll you can feed hay to longhorns that graze fields to the east, munch on crab apples, and soak up the scenery. The best part: You’re never more than 10 minutes from downtown.
     
  3. Wander Calistoga’s Labyrinth
    Wellness practitioners and Zen masters say labyrinths are great places to meditate and dive deep into thought. The Indian Springs Labyrinth on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Calistoga definitely is worth a visit. The circular pathway is adjacent to an art gallery and is a short walk from the spa pools at Indian Springs. It’s also near The Depot, the newest project from Jean-Charles Boisset.
     
  4. Summit Mount St. Helena
    You haven’t really arrived in Wine Country until you’ve hiked to the summit of Mount St. Helena and enjoyed a bottle of rose before the fog burns off below you. The mountain is in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park and the summit is accessed by the Stevenson trail that winds from the top of Highway 29. Allow about three hours for the grueling ascent; the scramble down goes much faster.
     
  5. Disc golf at Skyline
    Frisbee golf is serious business at Skyline Wilderness Park  in southern Napa. This expansive park has a 400-acre, 18-hole course with DIScatcher baskets; the Marvin Paul-designed course is technical with steep grassy hillsides. The entire course can be played in less than two hours—even less if you only throw nine. Follow the course by using the tee signs on each hole.
     
  6. Drink up Napa art
    Sculptures on the free and public Napa Art Walk change every year, and for the year starting August 2021 the exhibit comprises 10 sculptures from seven artists representing four western states. Online maps help visitors navigate the art walk. For a fulfilling detour, check out the Rail Arts District, where local artists have painted giant murals on walls of buildings that line the Wine Train, train tracks.
     
  7. Pay culinary homage
    More than 4,000 artifacts of specialty cookware, bread baking and culinary tools, appliances, and tableware comprise the permanent exhibit about Chuck Williams at CIA Copia . Williams was a popular local chef who went on to launch the housewares company Williams Sonoma. Today the collection of odd-shaped tureens and a duck de-boning machine are among the most bizarre of the items on exhibit.
     
  8. Look up
    Depending on the time of year, hot-air balloons are a common sight in the skies above the Napa Valley. The good news: Ogling at these giant floating orbs is totally free. Most balloons leave right around sunrise to get aloft before the wind picks up. This means it’s probably best to hit up a local independent coffee shop and find a flat and open space for your watch party.
     
  9. Observing the Oxbow
    Napa’s Oxbow Public Market  essentially put public markets on the map; though others in the United States came before it, no others have quite perfected the luxury angle. While food and trinkets at the Oxbow can be expensive, wandering around to investigate the goodies and wares doesn’t cost a cent. To experience peak rush hour, plan to visit around lunchtime on a weekend.
     
  10. Critter-watching in delta
    Birding is the name of the game at Wetlands Edge Park in American Canyon, the southernmost city in the entire county. The park comprises roughly five miles of trails in all, including dirt paths that parallel the Napa River where it meets San Pablo Bay. In mornings, usually right around sunrise, the waters are teeming with herons and other birds. Be sure to bring a camera.

Napa Valley will aways be my favorite.  I started visiting in the 60s, when we were invited by Allied Growers to visit some of the wineries they owned, such as BV, and Inglenook.  Back then, tastings, even dinners, were FREE!!  My how things have changed.

I do enjoy other wine regions, such as the Central Coast, New Zealand, Mendoza, Bordeaux, Champagne, Willamette Valley, Sonoma, Loire, Chile, Central Washington, and even Madera-Fresno.  But one area I did not enjoy was Temecula, quite overrated.

Several news articles have emphasized how expensive Napa Valley has become.  Wine tasting fees hover around $100, often more for upscale places.  Add in hotel, meals, wine purchases and gas, resulting in a very expensive weekend.

Note:  I have only done #9, I have my work cut out for me!!!

Bonnie Raitt(s) a Trip to Napa

Posted by golfkat on September 18, 2022
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Any trip to Napa these days is special, since we get to see our dear friends, Chris and Paul.  You may recall, they were on my cycling trip and cruise to Croatia last May.  I think they travel more than I do, but I am happy for them.  They deserve it.

We are here ostensibly to attend a Bonnie Raitt concert at the Oxbow Riverstage on Saturday night.  But we will spend the afternoon wine tasting in Napa Valley, enjoy a nice dinner, and hit the concert venue.  Sunday, we will “peddle for pancakes” as Paul has proclaimed.  Every Sunday, when they are home, they cycle about 20 miles, then stop at the Yountville golf course for pancakes or breakfast. We have done this once before with them.  And it is always fun. 

On our way back from Napa, we will stop (maybe) in the Livermore wine country as well.  Of course, we will be in a hurry to rescue Lexi from Elaines’ Pet Resort.

A bit about Bonnie Raitt.  Here is some information from her website:

She was raised in Los Angeles, in the Quaker tradition and a commitment to social activism.  A Stella guitar was a Christmas present that launched her career at the age of 8.  She is enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, won ten Grammys, and has published twenty-one albums.  She has become an institution in American music.  She has performed duets with other famous musicians including  John Lee Hooker, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, BB King, Tony Bennett, and Ray Charles.

Needless to say, this is an action-packed weekend with two special people.  But I am sorry to miss their sidekicks, Tommy “Two Shoes”, and Miss Irene.

Despite the growth of many wine regions here in California, and elsewhere, Napa Valley is still my favorite.  Why?  Three reasons, one, I started coming here in the Sixties, when Napa was the really “poor” sister to France and Bordeaux.  And two, we sold some of our grapes to a conglomerate here, Allied Vintners, which became part of Heublein, which became part of ?? who knows!   Three, and most importantly, for most of my adult life, Napa was about an hour away from home.

What do we really know about Napa other than wineries, good food, and the Napa Vine Trail?  The median income here is about $86,000 annually.  The city has only 78,000 people, rather exclusive.  

Napa Valley contains about 25% of California’s wineries but represents only 4% of our state’s wine production.  And only 0.4% of the world’s wine production.  Only 44,000 acres are under cultivation for grapes, with about 700 growers.  Yet, there are 16 approved AVA’s.  Over half the vineyards are planted with Cabernet.

The economic impact is about $10 billion annually, and nearly $50 billion to the US annually.  

Why is Yountville so famous?  A pioneer by the name of George Yount presumably planted the first wine grapes here, around 1838 or 1839.  But John Patchett opened the first commercial vineyard in 1861, followed by Charles Krug, a name you recognize, I am sure.  And now, over 5 million people visit Napa Valley annually.  In California, only Disneyland draws more people!

Napa’s worldwide claim to fame: Napa wines earned their fame in The 1976 Judgement Of Paris when a panel of French judges, in a blind tasting, voted the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon as the top white and red, beating out the French competitors.  It is NEVER mentioned in France!!  All they do is bad mouth Napa Valley.

Enough facts for now, Joe (Friday).  It is time to go wine tasting and relax at the concert. Oh, and Mavis Staples was the warm up, and she was fabulous!!!

Another Oktoberfest

Posted by golfkat on September 16, 2022
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The real Oktoberfest in Munich starts Saturday (Sep. 17)!!!  I really do not have the time to re-trace my travel steps, at this point in my life.  But this is one event that would be fun.

From 2010:

I see there are some places in the United States that celebrate the Oktoberfest, much like they do in Munich each year.  Of special note is the 200th anniversary of the Oktoberfest this year (2010).  It began on October 12, 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig, who later became King Ludwig I of Bavaria, married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hidburghausen.  The royal festivities that followed have become part of this big yearly tradition.  It is now known over the world as Oktoberfest with over 7 million people, even though it begins in September (today), and ends this year on October 6 (a full 14 days later).

If there is one event in Europe to attend, that is a non sporting event, this is IT!  It is the biggest two week party I have ever seen or been a part of.  For the 200th anniveresary, special events will take place.  These include:  folk music, dance displays, and horse races that are meant to emulate the celebration of 200 years ago.  Most visitors, however, come for the festivities, including the fourteen HUGE beer tents.

The places in the U.S. are as follows:

Fredericksburg, Texas Hill Country  (Texans are worthy beer drinkers, at least as good as the Germans)

Catskills, New York (I have a hard time seeing this one)

Columbus, Ohio (actually runs 365 days a year, my kind of beer town)

Zinzinnati, Ohio (the largest Oktoberfest outside of Munchen)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (fifteen acres large and a big fish fry for local flavor)

LaCrosse, WI (fifty year tradition with 3 mile long parade and Miss Oktoberfest contest)

Epcot Center, Orlando  (The Biergarten, been there, good food, bad beer)

Leavenworth, WA (Bavarian themed town with lots of oompahpah and beer)

Chicago, IL (St. Alphonsus Church with music by the Bratwurst Brothers and the Polkaholics)

Alpine Village, Torrance, CA (since 1968, lasting for 8 weeks, advance tickets available now)

 

First, the beer is without peer.  The wooden kegs are iced down at the brewery and driven to the Oktoberfest grounds by horse drawn wagons, by lederhosen clad drivers and wenches (or whatever the German term is for them).  The horses seem in no particular hurry.  But just seeing the ice melting over the wooden kegs is enough to whet even the driest thirst.  I just hoped they would drop a keg, and we could all run up and drink all we could before it went down the drain.

A seat inside one of the fourteen tents usually requires a ticket or reservation.  These are held by families for decades, and often passed from father to son.  Unknown to me, we sat down, ordered a beer, and got kicked out.  But not after slurping the liter mug of the best beer I have ever had.  And those busty German Fraus can carry about ten or twelve mugs, without losing a drop!

But a seat in the area outside of the tent is actually better for finding food, meeting young Germans, and starting beer and food fights.  I met three really neat German kids when I was there.  We met every day around 3pm, probably when they sobered up from the previous day.  I actually ended up writing to Hans for many years after, trying to get him to visit me in the U.S.  Anyway, after spending 6 to 8 hours at the Oktoberfest grounds, we took a taxi to their local hangout, and of course, drank some more beer.

The food was equally good and interesting.  My personal favorite was the mackerel and herring (or any white fish) that was barbecued outdoors over hot coals.  After choosing a fish, the monger would wrap it in several layers of newspaper.  Then, back at the drinking table, we would unwrap the fish, eat it down to the bone on the newspaper, and roll up the scraps and bones after.  It was a neat little package.

Of course, we supplemented this with an array of German sausages and brats, along with a huge spiral cut white radish.  It became a favorite as well, and I have never seen it since.  Our favorite spot was the Lowenbrau tent and their beer, a special brew served only at the Oktoberfest.  Their twin lions on their oversized beer bottle would roar on the hour and half hour.  After sundown, the light shows started, and the crowds got bigger.  It was impossible to walk a straight line.  So, we joined hands (with Hans) in a conga line, and followed Hans to various stops on the grounds.  I am sure we upset many a German and his family.

Fortunately, my hostel was back near the Bahnhof, so I could not get lost.  I just had to ask or tell a cab driver to get me to the train station.  Was it Mark Twain that said, “Too bad youth is wasted on the young”?  This was true for me on this particular trip.  Though I had a great time, I did not really delve very deeply into German lore and culture, unless you consider beer to be their Grail.  Perhaps I did find their soul and their hopes and dreams in a liter mug of great beer!

 This even should be on your water pail list, even if you don’t drink beer.  It is a great event.  The Germans are so much fun after a few beers!!!

Cooling Off at the Coast

Posted by golfkat on September 9, 2022
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Golf, Shopping, Sports, Travel, Wine. Leave a comment

We are tired of the hot weather!  This weekend will range around 110 or higher in the great Valley.  I think we need to drive over to the Monterey Peninsula and cool off!!  I am sure Lexi would welcome her walks in cooler weather as well.

But first, on the way, I think we need to stop at the factory outlets in Gilroy for a little retail therapy.  Then after lunch, perhaps In N Out Burger, we will finish the drive to Monterey.  Hopefully, we can visit a few dear friends during our visit.  Also, I want to take Lexi to the beach, maybe drive 17 Mile Drive, and have some seafood pasta at Abalonetti on the Monterey wharf.

For a real change of pace, I think I will hit one of the wine tasting rooms in Monterey.  I tried Caraccioli (tasting room) in downtown Carmel. In fact, it was so good, I went two days in a row!!!  Their brut rose’ is very good,  I bought one, though a bit pricey.  More affordable is their Rose’ of Pinot Noir at only $30 a bottle. 

The highlight for me is taking Lexi for a walk on Carmel Beach, running along the shore, while gazing up at the Pebble Beach Golf Links.  She loves the beach and does not mind the sand in her little paws.  She also enjoys the beaches elsewhere, though the sea lions were barking aplenty at the Monterey Wharf.

One of our dear friends down here is Big John, over at the Inn at Spanish Bay.  We have know him for over 25 years, when he was still a waiter at Abalonetti.  He has been the head bellman at Spanish Bay for over three decades now.  He told an interesting story about us at the President of Pebble Beach’s retirement dinner.  Upon leaving our little cocktail party during a stay at the Lodge at Pebble some years ago, he saw the light was on in the President’s office.  He would see the “boss man” arrive at 6am every morning as well.  He figured if the President was willing to work that hard, so would he and his staff!!

A few other places down here catch my attention.  Thinker Toys is a great toy and hobby shop in downtown Carmel.  We also like Hedi’s Shoes on Ocean Avenue.  We buy our Hoka 1’s there.  And our Turkish lamp store is also on Ocean Avenue.  But best of all, I found some Turkish Delight at a store on Cannery Row.  the owner says it is 100% imported from Istanbul, since he cannot buy the right ingredient here.

The weather has been great, in the 60s and 70s mostly, while back home hit record heat in the 110+ range.  I highly recommend this form of therapy, both for physical and mental health.  Sheri even bought a jacket!!

And maybe best of all, we found a pretty good Chinese restaurant in Monterey, with excellent chow fun, and Peking spare ribs!!!

My Favorite Metro Stations

Posted by golfkat on September 4, 2022
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Travel. Leave a comment

Over the years, combined with my love for trains, metros, and public transportation, I have been fortunate to find some of the most beautiful stations in the world.  Here are a few of my favorites (with help from tripsavvy):

Komsomolskaya Station, Moscow (above)

With its crystal chandeliers, marble pillars, and golden mosaics, you’d almost expect Moscow’s commuters to waltz through Komsomolskaya Station on their way to the platform. Constructed in 1952, the space was inspired by a wartime speech of Stalin, and the creative duo behind its extravagance (Artist Pavel Korin and architect Alexey Schusev) even won the Stalin prize for their work. Beyond its beauty is a blatant political mission. The station was also designed to promote Soviet propaganda, so you’ll find sculptures of fallen leaders and scenes depicting moments of Russian history.  I was here in 2014, and was so impressed, plus the metro trains run every 6 minutes!

Metro Center Station, Washington, DC (2nd photo)

Designed by prolific Chicago architect Harry Weese in the late 1960s, the Metro Center station in Washington, D.C., is one of the most beautiful stops in the U.S. To conceptualize his brutalist design, Weese toured the country’s transit systems and determined that the capital needed a grand station to reflect its monumental architecture. The result is a series of vaulted cathedral ceilings with waffle-like coffered blocks and recessed lighting that creates a soft and serene ambiance. Inside, you’ll also find G. Byron Peck’s 1989 mural, “Scenes of Washington,” which was expanded in 2001 to depict more images from the Capital City.  One of the highlights of visiting DC.

St Pancras Station, London  (3rd photo)

St Pancras International isn’t a mere airport terminal for trains, it’s a spectacular Grade 1 listed building that will take your breath away, and a destination in its own right, with shops, restaurants & cafes.  Originally opened in 1868, London’s magnificent St Pancras station was beautifully restored and reopened on 14 November 2007 to become the London terminal for Eurostar trains to Paris, Brussels and now Amsterdam, taking over from Waterloo which had been Eurostar’s London terminal since it started in 1994.  St Pancras still serves its original purpose as terminus for the Midland main line trains to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham & Sheffield, and it now also hosts domestic high-speed trains to and from Kent.  Underground platforms provide direct Thameslink trains south to Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton.  This might be my favorite in the world, providing a great wat to leave London for Paris.

Universidad de Chile Station, Santiago (4th photo)

Santiago has long been famous for its colorful murals, and one of its most vibrant works can be spotted inside the Universidad de Chile metro station. While waiting for the train, riders standing on the platform can admire a mural spanning over 12,000 square feet. The work by Chilean painter Mario Toral, titled “Memoria Visual de una Nación” (Visual Memory of a Nation), was completed in 1999 and depicts the country’s history from its pre-Colombian Indigenous roots to the violent Spanish conquest. To bring the magnum opus to fruition, Toral traveled around the county for two years, interviewing historians, poets, and representatives of Indigenous groups, before spending three years mapping out the mural that’s now a civic treasure.  Despite the beauty of the station, Santiago stands out for the place where we first met the inimitable Barry the V!!!

I am sure each of you must have a favorite metro station.