Help our Environment: Ideas From Santa Cruz, San Francisco, New York City, and Missouri Towns

Where will you find this art piece?

Santa Cruz Art - Courtesy of D West

I found this (puppy dog) on of one of those large boxes you see near traffic intersections on roads - the boxes that control traffic light signals.  Another art piece I found below:

Thank you Santa Cruz CA for this Art Image courtesy of D West

I like how communities are working with local artists and residents to create solutions that beautify and help our environment. Every time I drive over to Santa Cruz, CA, I find a new art addition ~ remember my first post, “Local Art Gems in Santa Cruz.” 

Do you know that recycled materials were used in the construction of the walls of one of the restaurants in Santana Row – Shopping neighborhood in Silicon Valley? Which restaurant?

I took this picture of the California Academy of Sciences Museum in San Francisco showing the sustainable design of architecture – be sure to go see this on your next visit.  How long did it take to plan the design? (Please excuse the window reflection below)

San Francisco Image Courtesy of D West

Be sure to read the New York City’s High Line project of the public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side and the development of old railroad paths along Katy Trail through Missouri.

What ideas have you seen in our communities to help and beautify our environment?   Please share your comments below. 

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Finds the Unusual in our Communities ~The Fun Tour Guru

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Help us pay it forward to #EndAlz with every hotel you purchase on your trips!   And then browse our current news feed!  - See more at: http://www.funtourguru.com/#sthash.5MFkyARi.dpuf

Help us pay it forward to #EndAlz with every hotel you purchase on your trips!   And then browse our current news feed!
- See more at: http://www.funtourguru.com/#sthash.oGkF3ssh.dpuf

Do you want to travel, and not have anyone to go with? Contact us at Lighthouse Travel and Tours.  

Find These Fun Movie Events in San Jose, CA - Silicon Valley and Save our Retro Domes

Do you know about these fun movie events in San Jose, CA?  OLD movie nostalgia and NEW move releases – something for everyone? 
 

Our December picture from Instragram - DWest

Unfortunately we lost 2 of our movie theaters this month.  You may see the demolition of these theaters on Facebook with comments like: "so sad, bummer, nooooo."  

Did you know you may help out and save the remaining movie theaters?  

It is as easy as going to the movies at one of the remaining theaters now. This will help show the folks in the City of San Jose City Hall that we do care about our older theaters, Century 21, 22, and 23.  

Attention everyone in San Jose, CA, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Santa Cruz, Los Altos, Palo Alto! 

Choose one of these movie events or find a new movie release now!   Check out the Movie Event schedule for February and March on The Retro Dome Website or their Facebook page. 

Find the event schedule on Facebook or The Retro Dome Website

Yes, January 2014 brought the loss of old domes (Century 24 and 25).  Don’t let this happen to the remaining historical Century 21, 22, and 23. Save these #cinematreasures now! New and old movies.

Follow these easy steps to show everyone cares about our movie theater history:

• Have fun by going to a movie now
• Share the news of movie events from Facebook and Twitter
• Sign the petition at Change.org

And, remember to check often for more information at this website, The Retro Dome - Facebook and Twitter.  Movies are fun entertainment! 

Let's all go to the movies now ~ The Fun Tour Guru

By the way, I have not received any compensation for adding this. I do love movies!  Help us pay it forward to #EndAlz with every hotel you purchase on your trips!   And then browse our current news feed! 

Does it Snow in Santa Cruz, Calfornia?

Celebrate this holiday in an extra special way where ever you might be!  

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

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Let's go on a trip now! ~ The Fun Tour Guru

My Venice, Italy Gondola Ride Experience on Vacation

I like to see new regions with other people.  Yes, I am independent – I enjoy going with other people.  One of my favorite memories is riding the Gondolas in Venice. This experience may not be the same by myself. 

Let me explain 

Gondolas + Venice = Fun Images Courtesy of DWest

Venice, Italy Gondola Experience


Our group was ready to stretch our legs on our nice, easy walk from our motor coach along the side the water canals to where we found our next fun floating transportation.  Yes, we followed our tour director past other long lines to our service area where we found our special reserved gondolas waiting to navigate us through the water canals. 

Service Areas - Gondolas

The gondolier is very skilled in steering these little gems as I watched them carefully helping everyone get on board and showing them exactly where to sit. 

As we departed the service area, of course we snapped several  pictures of each other in our small group made up of five or six gondolas as we glided along the narrow, secluded waterways and then our surprise!
 
(drum-rolls) WOW!  when we turned into the main presentation of the Grand Canal of Venice! Double WOW!

Sipping Champagne on Gondolas, Venice, Italy

It was great to be with others as we shared and pointed out unusual sightings of houses, churches, and palaces along our way while sipping our champagne.  Even rain didn’t spoil our spirits during our serenade.  
 

Umbrellas Up Venice, Italy

We were prepared with our “umbrellas up” as we listened to our Italian singer and musicians.  Our contagious smiles were infectious to strangers watching us as we got off and started on our next walking tour discovering Venice with our tour director.  How cool is this? 

Italian Serenade

Tell us how your Gondola experience was?  

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 Please don’t tell anyone how fun group trips really are … it is our secret, what happens on tour stays on tour ~ The Fun Tour Guru

All images above belong to the Fun Tour Guru and not to be used without consent.  

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Silicon Valley: A Day at the Computer History Museum

One of my fun childhood memories is getting unusual Christmas gifts from my parents.  Two moments brought huge smiles when I found my small wireless transistor radio and a portable tape recorder under our tree.  I spent hours listening to my AM transistor radio which I took everywhere.   What was the story behind these inventions?

Fast forward today, who knew I would find myself exploring gadgets like this at our Computer History Museum in Mountain View.  I love this unusual history and each time I visit I unveil new stories.  I recommend this place to our visitors all of the time - I got a chance to do some exploring on my own.
 
If you haven’t been to this museum in a couple of years, you will find amazing changes.  I watched the transformation in progress and it was in January 2011, our Museum re-opened.  

Babbage No 2 Engine in action!  Math calculations Ed Note:  Exhibit not here anymore (Image by DWest)

The main Revolution Exhibition floor is easy to walk through and has a large amount of information to read and absorb on a self guided tour.  The exhibition is larger than it appears with 19 galleries and I recommend allowing plenty of time to see it.  Don’t worry, you’ll find something that interests you.

Make sure you pick up a free visitor map when you purchase your ticket.  Tickets are $15 per person, (students, active Military, and older adults will receive a discount).  You don’t have to buy a ticket to eat at the Cloud Café and find unusual gifts in the Gift Shop.   The Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, from 10 am – 5 pm.  Note: please call to check times are available.

The Computer History Museum floor with a special tech design! Image by DWest

Insiders Tip at the Computer History Museum ~

Be sure to ask about the times of the demonstration of the Babbage Difference Engine No. 2 and the guided  volunteer docent tours through Revolution area.  I recommend doing both of these.  And, don’t worry about repeating because each docent shares very different stories.  (Update: this exhibit is no longer at our Museum)

I found myself immersed in private conversations (with myself) and with several prominent women in technology and computer history starting with Ada Lovelave, and includes Grace Hopper, Lynn Conway, Fran Allen from IBM, and the eight women who programmed the ENIAC (Kathleen McNulty, Mauchly Antonelli, Jean Jennings Bartik, Frances Synder Holber, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Frances Bilas Spence and Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum)  and many others the day I went.  

How Google Street Map started Image by DWest

 And, after watching the Babbage demonstration, I sat in one of the Google Street View Cars that has transformed the way we do business today. Plus,  I wrote my name on the Jeopardy Stage Set of Watson the Computer.  Plus much more. 

Jeopardy Stage Set for Watson the Computer Image by D West

 

What is your favorite piece of computer history?  

You'll find it here ~ The Fun Tour Guru

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All pictures courtesy of D West