Day 14; San Francisco, Haight Ashbury and the Fishermans Wharf

Haight Ashbury is more than a name. Haight  Ashbury is one of those neighborhoods that  defines a whole culture.  Even though more than 40 years years have passed since the “Summer of Love“ the name Haight-Ashbury still has a ring to it. The whole district became known for psychaelic drugs, pot, music, beaniks and hippies, […]

Day 15;Over The Golden Gate to Sausalito and Muir Woods

This is our last day in San Francisco and USA for now. Tomorrow we’re heading back home to Norway. So, today we’re doin’ the last few “must-sees” in the Bay Area. Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and the Muir Woods. Sausalito is a small and charming town, more or less a residential area close to San […]

California Road Trip; summing up three great weeks

In order to sum up our California experience, I have made two lists; 10 things I’m glad I did; Visited Carmel-by-the-Sea (click here) Saw NittWitt Ridge Junk House (click here) Stayed at the Hotel California, Palm Springs (click here) Drove through Joshua Tree National Park (click here) Visited the Grand Canyon (click here) Hiked in […]

Living it up at The Hotel California, Palm Springs

Hotel California, in Palm Springs is very unlike any hotel experience you’ll ever have and I can’t imagine any other hotel that would even come close! I know that this is a lot to say about a hotel but I am willing to stand by every word of it! First of all it’s the staff […]

Santa Barbara – moorish and detached

Santa Barbara has something for you ,whether you like hiking, fine-dining, water sports, lazing on the beach, culture, or a great night-life. Santa Barbara is a town with a difference Santa Barbara county is sometimes referred to as the American Riviera. Its beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, and colorful culture make Santa Barbara a premier resort […]

Los Olivos – Small and charming

Located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, this charming little historic town is a gem. With a grand view of Santa Barbara County’s vineyards and horse ranches, Los Olivos is famous for its art galleries, wine tasting opportunities, restaurants, antiques, a great countryside and friendly residents found throughout the village. Foxen Canyon Wine Trail starts […]

Solvang – more Danish than Denmark

Solvang is a strange place to visit, it looks very much like the images you get in your head when reading H. C. Andersens tales. In a way it looks more Danish than Denmark. However, a fifteen minutes walk is all yoou need to take it all in.

The Elephant Seals of the Piedras Blanca, Cambria

Discover the elephant seals sleepy hideaway just off Highway One at Piedras Blancas   Strewn out on the beach, continuously flipping sand over their backs, the elephant seals of the Piedras Blanca are an amazing sight. Now and then two or more rear up challenging each other with mock battle roars It is breeding season […]

The Madonna Inn – a world of Kitsch

  The Founder of the Hotel, Alex Madonna has been quoted as saying, “Anybody can build one room and a thousand like it. It’s more economical. Most places try to give you as little as possible. I try to give people a decent place to stay where they receive more than they are entitled to […]

Carmel-by-the-Sea

The typical Carmel dwelling The charming town of Carmel is perhaps most famous for having actor and director Clint Eastwood as mayor from 1986 to 1988, but this charming little town has a lot more going for it than that. Founded in 1902, it is situated on the Monterey Peninsula and is known both for its […]

Monterey, Cannery Row and the Bay Aquarium

Monterey is one of the more beautiful coastal cities of California. It was originally the state capital of California, and has many historic buildings in its downtown. Today it is best known for its beautiful coastline, its world-class aquarium and from the many John Steinbeck novels set there, including Cannery Row (which has given its name to the […]

The Escape from Alcatraz

50 years on – the hunt for the three escapees continues. Half a century after the illustrious escape, US Marshall Michael Dyke is still trying to catch up. On June 11th 1962 the three men, Clarence Anglin, John William Anglin and Frank Lee Morris escaped from Alcatraz Prison. The prison was considered inescapable due to […]

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island is located 2.4 km offshore from San Francisco.   Often referred to as “The Rock“, the small island was originally used for a lighthouse, then a military fortification, then a military prison (1868), and then as a federal prison from 1933 until 1963. Then, in the beginning of November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months […]

Kiev/Ukraina – summing up.

The three days in Kiev were very well spent, the City is surely worth a visit. In many ways, of course, thanks to our eminent guide, Oksana. That we accidentally were there during VictoryDay we can only be grateful for. It was absolutely amazing to see how the nation has thrown off the Soviet heritance […]

Day 3 – VictoryDay in Kiev

On the third day of our visit to Kiev, it was VictoryDay, a day of national celebration and fiest. The city was teeming with life from the early morniing ang all the way into the small hours. We started our day with breakfast on the mini-balcony outside our rooms, overlooking the military parade on the Khreshchatyk […]