Did You Know? San Jose, CA First Capital of California

Where is the Fun Tour Guru these days?  Always out gathering new stories off the beaten path of places, interesting people, and unusual businesses.  I have a keen insight to find that secret that others may miss.

Pardon the absence, I have to schedule time away periodically to gather this research to share with everyone.  Yep, I know, it is a tough life, someone has to do this. (says with a grin)

Today, the pictures-of-the-week are in San Jose, CA.  Many people think of Silicon Valley as the modern, up-to-date, technology center to work in.  Between the modern buildings, you will discover history dating back to 1700 and 1800.  Imagine walking down the muddy roads lined with adobe dwellings on each side.

People in early Santa Clara Valley raised cattle and grew crops to support the Spanish garrisons in San Francisco and Monterey.  Luis Maria Peralta was an important landowner and head of a large family.  The Peralta Adobe built in 1797 was owned by Peralta family until 1876.  San Jose was known as the Valley of Hearts Delight, an era of orchards and canneries, agriculture.

Perhaps the first entrepreneurs of California were because of the Gold Rush, with people finding innovative ways to supply the miners. Precursor of Silicon Valley entrepreneur spirit.  What is your favorite tale of this period? 

Peralta Adobe 1700, oldest dwelling in San Jose, CA with contrast of new high rise office buildings behind

Crown of Palms, tribute to San Jose, CA First  State Capital of California, 1800

"Center" of Crown of Palms, San Jose, CA

Stop reading that guidebook and go outside and find that special secret in your travels.  ~~ The Fun Tour Guru

Do you like this article? Please review the items in our sidebar and share with your friends.  Comment and talk with us below!


More destination research may be found at our travel website. 

Los Angeles, California

A quick trip down the coast.  What is there to do while waiting for your shuttle?  Look around.

Bob Hope USO & Palm Trees? I must be in LA

 

View from my room

Well, we may not always get the view of the ocean - this is fun to see.~~ The Fun Tour Guru

Picture of the Week, Santa Clara, CA

I hesitated to share this picture this week (wintertime) as I think about my many east coast friends and their challenges of the snow blizzards this week. I did add it to Lighthouse Travel facebook page (see, you need to follow me in all places) and received likes yesterday. 

This is a tribute to the east side of USA, Canada, and other places where you may be snowbound. I do understand, as I did live in those regions once upon a time.

I took the picture on 02/01/2010. Mission Santa Clara is an amazing sightseeing stop for visitors to Silicon Valley. It is also a place I go when I need a break to get away from the office.  

Mission Santa Clara

Take that break to refresh yourself!  The Fun Tour Guru

 Do you like this article? We love your comments added below and please share with friends.  Please review the fun items in this sidebar .  Comment and talk with us below!

Buiness Travelers: Should You Travel by Business or Economy on Airlines?

Have you been caught in this gap between the company you work for and suppliers like airlines as a business traveler this year as the need for business travel increases for in-person meetings? 

This gap I am speaking about is the challenge where companies are trying to keep expenses flat while businesses in the travel industry are being creative to add to their profits.  I am sharing this story written by Jim Wickenden, a frequent international business traveler.  

Jim Wickenden is a business development manager for a Silicon Valley software company and consultancy. A writer and historian, he travels extensively on business and for pleasure with a keen eye on the humanity, or lack of it at times, as he passes through.

Traveling Economy, Jim Wickenden

Since the financial meltdown, most companies are looking to cut business travel at the same time as the airlines are looking to make the most of their lucrative element of their travel customers. The result is that the airlines want to charge $9,000 for a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo and the employers look to send their salesmen and project managers by economy.

If you travel internationally for business, until recently you pretty much had two choices of aircraft, the 777 or the grand old dame, the 747.  The configurations for both in business class are being upgraded to the nice flat beds that offer real relaxation for the cursed red eye schedule.  In the past, business seating was little more than a hard Laz-Y-Boy that prodded and poked.  If you were above 5’10”, then the paucity of leg room forced your feet to grind against the foot “rest.”

Now, here is the rub, finally, I hear you say. Do you fly premium economy, save $7,500, and try to sleep in something akin to your grandmother’s rocking chair or do you use your precious air miles, pay a nominal fee, and get upgraded?

This traveler says, it all depends, and it takes no effort on your part. When Becky, the travel agent, is arranging the flights for you, ask what type of aircraft is being used for that particular flight. And then ask Becky if the new beds are installed in that particular aircraft. Becky certainly should know, if not ask her to find out for you. 

Ahh, if only it was that easy, but not quite.

 

Photo of inside a 777 taken by Carib, on Flickr, Creative Commons

The other part of the equation to consider is what the seat configuration is in economy. The new business class in the 777 has compelled the economy configuration to change from the intimate 2-5-2, which is great for business companions and romantic, snuggly honeymooners; but lousy for the poor schmuck traveling solo on the middle of the row of five. He is surrounded by Squawk and Whinge families and their offspring from Fidgetville. Now airlines have gone to the more equitable, but less ideal 3-3-3.

Another thing to consider is the new economy seats are hellish. They dip and tip; and a gap appears where nature never intended.   Again the lankier among us may feel they are being boxed and shipped by UPS instead of United. He probably will have to suffer that socially agonizing task of asking the slumbering galumph, who just had to have the isle seat, to shift his carcass in order to take the doctor prescribed stretch and bathroom break.

Like many things in this world, it’s a game of inches, and yes, size does matter. I bet the corporate CFO doesn’t see it that way ...and ask yourself, would you personally cover the difference in fares to get there at exactly the same time as the plebeians in economy? 

Personally I wouldn’t…however I would spend $500 getting my back straightened, my lumbar muscles massaged, and enjoy that upgraded hotel room with extra deep tub in my Tokyo high-rise; and laugh all the way to the soon to be submitted expense report.

* * *

Thanks, Jim, for this story.  What choice would YOU make?  Is one loss of business revenue another's gain?

Please, always, share your surprises, comments. We are anxious to hear from you~The Fun Tour Guru

For help with your travels and book your own hotels, visit our new website, Lighthouse Travel & Tours. 

My Favorite Two Silicon Valley Research Books

HP Garage in Palo Alto, CA (before it was renovated)

 
I receive questions from readers, "what are my favorite Silicon Valley research books that I use?"  Yes there are many, my favorites that I return and my top two books for basic information:

My number one Favorite Silicon Valley book is The Making of Silicon Valley: A One Hundred Year Renaissance by John McLauglin which I use for history research and stories. It was published by the Santa Clara Valley Historical Association in 1996.  This is definitely a book to keep on your coffee table that your family and friends will enjoy browsing the pictures and reading about the familiar companies we all know.  The book shows the stages of development from the establishment of Stanford University to the present technological powerhouse. Over 70 technology company histories run chronologically throughout. I even have the VHS tape that was narrated by Walter Chronkite from 1998. 

My second favorite book of Silicon Valley is Silicon Boys: And Their Valley of Dreams by David A. Kaplan.  This book has intriguing local personal stories of the founders of Valley startups. Do you know of the comparisons between the millionaires of Silicon Valley in Northern California and the glamorous Hollywood of Southern California?

Both of these are excellent reference books to keep near whether you are thinking about starting a business or interested in the history of this electronic, technology era.

Remember AOL?

And, don't forget if you are traveling into Silicon Valley, about our at-a-glance Silicon Valley E-Guide to print and take with you. 

Sharing for everyone to read and learn ~ The Fun Tour Guru