About Me

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Douglas, Alaska, United States
I have lived in Alaska since 1978, having come to Juneau as a Jesuit Volunteer. I fell in love with Alaska and now live on Douglas Island with my husband and two dogs.

Friday, May 4, 2012

California and Seattle

As promised, here is a post about our trip to the Bay Area and Seattle.

We went down to visit Charles' parents, who are in their 80s, but still doing pretty well.


Mom and Dad at IHOP, their favorite breakfast hangout!


Neighborhood flowers
I couldn't get over the size of these pinecones!
And palm trees!
Charles and Dad
Charles and his sister Meg
At the train station on our way into the big city.  I guess the guy on the right is supervising!
We started our trip to the city in North Beach, which is the Little Italy of San Francisco.  We visited Sts. Peter and Paul Church, and of course stopped for a pastry at a wonderful bakery!

The altar at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in North Beach
The Rose Window
The chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes
Coit Tower
We then made our way to the Mission District and visited Holy Family Day Home, which is run by the Holy Family Sisters, some of whom used to serve in Southeast Alaska.
Sr. Marian SHF gave us a tour of the Day Home.
We visited Mission Dolores, the oldest building in San Francisco.
Mission Dolores












Some photos of the graveyard at Mission Dolores

And then to City Hall and the Asian Art Museum...
The statue of Lincoln at San Francisco City Hall

The Main Staircase at City Hall, which is bigger than our State Capitol!

The City Hall Dome

Memorial to Harvey Milk, who was assassinated along with Mayor Moscone  here at City Hall in 1978

Nandi the Bull at the Asian Art Museum.  Charles remembered petting his nose, which is prohibited now because it is getting worn!
 Charles' sister Roseanne came down to spend the afternoon with us.  Her son Pete and his friend Sierra stopped in to surprise us!





Charles assisted at Mass at St. Luke's, his parents' parish.  I sang with Mom in the choir.



On our last night, we went to dinner with Sharon, Charles' iconography student who lives in the Bay Area.  We had a FEAST!



And then, off to Seattle for a day.  I managed to fall off a curb and bruise my hip.  Thank God I am well padded - but hundreds of people hanging around the Westlake Center saw me fall.  They probably thought I was under the influence, but no, just clumsy!

Charles and our friend Rita in front of the appropriately named "Fuel", a coffee shop





More flowers, this time in Seattle
A view of Mt. Rainier on our way to the airport.

It was a fun trip, but we were glad to get home to the kids, the dogs, and our own bed!

6 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a wonderful time!!! Wasn't all that greenery wonderful!!!
    Hugs,
    Chris :o)

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  2. What a nice trip! I know how you feel about traveling. My mother always said, "It's nice to go, but it's nicer to come home."

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  3. Looks like you had a wonderful time. I can't get over how great Charles' parents look!

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  4. Great pictures Paula! (I am not too fond of the ones of me, but I'll get over it. I look like I am sitting on Charles' lap in that one with him... NOT - he was crouching next to me ... LOL)

    I absolutely LOVE the picture of Megan and Charles - what a great picture!! Your SF pictures are great too - as well as the local "nature" in California and Seattle!

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  5. Paula
    The photos are beautiful. It looks like a fabulous trip!
    I hope your hips better.

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  6. Paula, it looks like you had a wonderful visit. I used to live in northern California - it is so beautiful! Charles' dad reminds me so much of my Dad, who always wore his WWII 104th Infantry Timberwolves cap everywhere! His parents are adorable!... Donna

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