What Did We See in Two Weeks?

Junipero Serra to Sonora, 

                            Calistoga to Columbia


My dear friends, 

Four of my previous posts recorded our recent trips with our guests to Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Of course those were not the only places where we went. In those two weeks, we traveled, saw and experienced many many interesting things. Not all are new for us, but definitely new for our guests. 

They are not used to travel long hours in their country, driving long distances, except when they travel abroad to other countries in Europe.


In Indonesia it's the same as here in US. And driving from one tourist destination to another in Indonesia can be impossible overland if the two places are in different islands of the archipelago. 


This post is more pictorial, showing highlights from the two weeks trip. It's quite a collection, so you have to scroll down deep to watch it. We like to share it with you, starting with greetings from our friends.  

Excuse me. Do I know you?

I found a nice image of The Great Seal Of The State Of California. Eureka! Automatically, as Daud the Indonesian Californian, "Click" real quick, and there is the seal. Do you know where I saw the image? If you don't, look for the answer at the bottom of this blog.

And do you know the location of this old bridge? Again, if you don't, maybe you'll be rurprised after seeing the answer below.

In the one go Santa Cruz-Monterey-Carmel, we took the time to drop by "Mystery Spot", just to try to demystify the mystery. And we think we did. Do you?

Another mystery, the "Winchester Mystery House" in San Jose. Nothing mysterious for us human. It is supposed to be mysterious for ghost, right?

Why did Sarah Winchester build the world’s strangest home, containing 160 rooms and costing more than $5,500,000? The mystery remains unsolved to this very day. 

Miles of twisting hallways are made even more intriguing by secret passageways in the walls, and the story goes that Mrs. Winchester traveled through her house in a roundabout fashion, supposedly to confuse any mischievous ghost that might be following her.

Old Faithful is a cone geyser in Yellowstone Park. We did not go to Yellowstone Park. But we went to see Old Faithful in Calistoga. Not that spectacular as Yellowstone's but still impressive. They say there are only three Old Faithfuls in the world. I don't know where the third one is. If you know, please tell me.

Most of the world's geysers are in five countries: 1) the United States, 2) Russia, 3) Chile, 4) New Zealand and 5) Iceland. All of these locations are where there is volcanic activity and a source of hot rock below.

And what about Petrified Forest nearby Calistoga's Old Faithful? No way of human hands turning those giant old trees into solid rocks.

In the Sierra Nevada Foothills, called the heart of California’s “Gold Country” lies Sonora. Known as the “Queen of the Southern Mines”, this city still holds on to its historic charm with many of its existing buildings dating back to the 1800’s. 

Here are two photos: 1. Front of a gold panning shop. 2. Preserved  historical Branch Jail building.

 

Below is another historical structure, a portal of the past Sonora Chinatown. Here is the text:

This monument is dedicated to the memory of the Chinese pioneers who for years made this section their home. It was a city within a city whose residents where isolated  from their surrounding neighbors by a barrier of language, custom and religion. Originally known as the "Tigre" for years this area bore a somber reputation noted for the Fondas and Fandango houses that catered to Sonora's rougher element. In the 1860's, the Tigre began to assume an Oriental character and during the next century became known as Chinatown.

'

Tuolumne Historical Society 1974.

Rededicated by the Sonora Redevelopment Agency 2002.

Another town, neighbor of Sonora with much more historical sites is Columbia.The Gold Rush to Columbia, California, began on March 27, 1850 by a small party of prospectors. News of the discovery spread and they were soon joined by a flood of miners.


Unlike many settlements that have changed with the times, Columbia, California, seems to be frozen in the 1800's. Today, Columbia State Historic Park is the best preserved of California gold rush towns. (Columbia California website)

First thing we saw in Columbia was this. Well, not the bank we know today.

Today Wells Fargo Bank keeps the stagecoach image, like what we saw (photo below) parked in front of the historical building. We took a short ride for a small fee. So don't expect we go far like the bank's slogan: With Wells Fargo you Go Far.

But whooaattt! A holdup!

Let's take a closer look. Don't worry!  Call 911! (You bet!)

The Chinese drugstore museum.

And blacksmith

Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel by the Sea, commonly known as Carmel Mission was founded June 3, 1770. Junipero Serra, a Franciscan missionary, said mass under a spreading oak tree and planted a cross on the shores of the new land. Below is a painting of the historical event. I took a photo when we visited Carmel Mission.
The photo below the painting is the Serra Cross in the inner courtyard of the Mission, on the original foundation of the cross raised by Junipero Serra.

Mission San Carlos Borromeo or Carmel Mission became Father Serra's Headquarters. He founded 9 missions. Another 9 was founded by his successor, and total there are 21 missions in California. Photo below shows Father Serra's bedroom.

My dear friends,

Those are the places where we went in the two weeks, and of course sightseeing San Francisco and some other places. It was a very tight schedule, covering many many places of interest. In Netherland, our guests will never find beautiful panorama like what you see below, because Holland (Netherland) is just flat land. But every country, every land, have it's own beauty. For sure, panorama like this, mountains, volcano, always remind me of Indonesia.

Let me close the postings of an episode of two weeks travel impressions with a beautiful postcard from "Tulip Land" with the message:  

"Bedankt voor de mooie vakantie en gastvrijheid. Wij hebben er erg van genoten. Hier in Nederland regent het op het moment pijpestelen. Dat is wel weer wennen na die prachtige weken in California met zoveel zon."

(Thanks for the nice vacation and hospitality. We enjoyed it very much. It is raining cats and dogs here in Netherland. Well, we have to get used again after the wonderful weeks in California with so much sun).

 

And here are the answers of the questions:



1. The California State Seal is etched on the glass doors in  
    the hallway of California State Capitol, Sacramento.
2. The bridge is at Santa Cruz, next to the amusement park.