Pier 39: The Lions’ Share There are places where humans go to see the sights. And then there are places where the sights seem to have taken over. At San Francisco’s Pier 39, the sea lions appeared to have secured the best waterfront property, attracted a crowd of admirers, and become celebrities… without doing a … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #52
Tag: travel stories
America, One Moment at a Time — #51
Alcatraz: Paradise, Prison, and a Missing Key Blue waters, beautiful views, and a picture-perfect island. Our ferry ride to Alcatraz could hardly have been more pleasant. Yet we were heading towards one of America’s most feared prisons. Some destinations come with an unsettling twist! We had spotted the island from San Francisco’s marina, with the … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #51
America, One Moment at a Time — #50
The Golden Gate Bridge: More Than a Pretty Picture I had seen the Golden Gate Bridge in so many Hollywood movies that I almost felt I knew it personally. I never imagined I’d actually meet it. Apparently, watching movies doesn’t automatically qualify you for a guided tour! And then, there we were, driving towards it. … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #50
America, One Moment at a Time — #49
San Francisco: A City Full of Surprises One moment you’re cruising along a beautiful street; the next, the road plunges downhill as though the city has forgotten to flatten it! In San Francisco, even a short drive can feel like a small adventure. The Golden Gate Bridge needs no introduction. But the city’s smaller surprises … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #49
America, One Moment at a Time — #48
A Campfire That Changed America Can a conversation around a campfire change the future of a forest? During our travels through America's beautiful natural places, I kept coming across the name John Muir. I had never heard of him before. Curious, I began reading about him. Born in Scotland, Muir had travelled to America and … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #48
America, One Moment at a Time — #47
THE TELEPHONE THAT DIDN’T NEED A VOICE An unexpected discovery at the Ahwahnee Hotel The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite has a way of making you look up. Its grand interiors and magnificent architecture invite admiration. But I found myself looking at something rather less grand. A public telephone. Having grown up in the days when … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #47
America, One Moment at a Time — #46
THE AHWAHNEE: A HOTEL I DIDN’T EXPECT I had come to Yosemite expecting giant trees, towering cliffs and breathtaking views. I wasn’t prepared for the Ahwahnee Hotel. In the middle of a national park, I found a hotel that looked more like a grand mountain fortress than a place to spend the night. Inside, there … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #46
America, One Moment at a Time — #43
YOSEMITE: WHERE I DISCOVERED I WAS VERY SMALL There are places that make you feel small. And then there is Yosemite. We entered Yosemite Valley expecting beautiful scenery. What we got was a lesson in perspective. Granite walls rose around us, almost casually, as if someone had decided that ordinary mountains weren't quite enough. And … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #43
America, One Moment at a Time — #41
They Began as Tiny Seeds. And They Learned to Live with Fire. As we entered Mariposa Grove, I realised I had come to see some trees. Very big trees. But once I saw them, the word “big” suddenly seemed completely inadequate. 😄 I have photographed plenty of trees in my life. These made me stop, … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #41
America, One Moment at a Time — #38
Cab Came. But Where Was the Driver? Our children told us they had booked a cab for us. Nothing unusual about that. The car arrived. We got in. And then my wife and I discovered something our children had conveniently forgotten to mention. 😄 There was no driver. We looked at the steering wheel. Then … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #38
America, One Moment at a Time — #37
The Berry I Had Never Heard Of We’ve been in San Francisco, California, for the past few days. As part of our welcome pack, we received some water, snacks and a few little goodies. Among them was a packet of cookies. I looked at the back of the packet to understand more. Boysenberry. I knew … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #37
America, One Moment at a Time — #35
The Steam Beneath New York When I saw steam rising from a New York pavement, I immediately thought of Marilyn Monroe. 😄 Not because there was a white dress involved. Thankfully. Just the steam. In The Seven Year Itch, Marilyn famously stands over a subway grate while air blows her dress upward. New York, it … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #35
America, One Moment at a Time — #34
Why Is New York Wearing Scaffolding? One thing I noticed almost immediately in New York: The city seems to be wearing scaffolding. 😄 Not just one building.Not just one street. Scaffolding everywhere. Beautiful old buildings.Grand facades.Modern towers. And quite a few of them hiding behind metal pipes and wooden platforms. At first, I wondered: Is … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #34
America, One Moment at a Time — #33
New York Has a Different Speed New York doesn’t seem to walk. It moves. Fast. And we discovered that even after the sun goes down, New York doesn’t seem to get the message. 😄 Lights flashing.People crossing.Taxis moving.Buses rolling. Thousands of people somehow going somewhere. Apparently without consulting a map. 😄 As a first-time visitor, … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #33
America, One Moment at a Time — #30
New York From the Water The previous evening, we had explored New York by train. The next day, before taking to the roads, we decided to take to the water. 😄 New York from a boat. That sounded like a good idea. So we climbed aboard a Circle Line boat on the Hudson. And suddenly, … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #30
America, One Moment at a Time — #28
The Car Stayed Behind We had driven all the way from Boston to New Jersey. Our car had brought us safely to the Hyatt House at One Exchange Place. And then we left it there. 😄 Our hotel was right beside the PATH station, and we were heading into New York. Our kids suggested we … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #28
America, One Moment at a Time — #26
I-90, Mass Pike… What’s That? Whenever we travel on the roads here, I keep noticing things. Road numbers. Road names. Signs. Words I’ve never heard before. On our drive from Boston towards New York, one kept catching my attention: MASS PIKE. What exactly is a Mass Pike? I had to find out. 😄 Apparently, Mass … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #26
America, One Moment at a Time — #13
Niagara Falls — And Everything Around It We went to Niagara Falls to see the Falls. And, of course, they did not disappoint. There are actually three waterfalls here. The American Falls, the smaller Bridal Veil Falls, and the much larger Horseshoe Falls, which curves around on the Canadian side. Together, they make up what … Continue reading America, One Moment at a Time — #13
