Oakland Zoo, California

You know, you hear stories about the City of Oakland all the time. Most...okay, roughly all the stories are not very nice stories, however, this little zoo within such a bad rep city holds none of the stereotypes this city comes with. 

Oakland Zoo has been part of the community since 1922, and sits within an even bigger park, Knowland Park. This zoo is small compared to the more well known zoos in California, such as the famous San Diego Zoo or even San Francisco Zoo. However, the animals here have everything they need, except complete freedom, of course, but their habitats are clean, spacious, and well-taken care of. 

Golden Gate Bakery...Hyped or Not?

On the weekends, there are at least a dozen people waiting in line outside the Golden Gate Bakery. Most of them are tourist, most likely recommended by their tour guides. The question is, are they really that good, or is it just all hype?

1029 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Open Mon-Sun 8AM-8PM
They have a Facebook page! Golden Gate Bakery
Cash only!

So I decided to ask my cousin, a S.F. native, who spends half her time at Chinatown, and she told me that this bakery is known for their egg tarts, aka "Dan Tat". Locals considered buying egg tarts or other bakery goods from here, a treat. Probably due to the high prices ($1.25 per dan tat), compared to the bakery's surrounding competition. It is known for customers to buy the pastries as gifts when visiting a friend or family member. But are the customers just buying the brand and not the quality of the food?

Two little Piggies in the Mud

One little piggy came out for a walk, 

found small puddle of mud, 

without hesitation he jumped right in, 
and twisted around til he was covered in mud. 

A second little piggy poked her head out, 
to see what all the fuss was about, she saw her friend having a lot if fun, 
and she came trotting about.

She gave him look, 
he looked right back at her, 
and she too decided to give it a turn.

Now there are two little piggies
rolling around in the mud.

Multiple trails, a farm, and a whole lot of Mother Nature

A beautiful landscape scenery as you walk into the park.

You know how Emerald City in Wizard of Oz is green everywhere you look. Well, Emerald City is jewel green pretty...the Wildcat Loop Trail in Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve is what people would call "Nature Green Beautiful". 

On the dirt path of the Wildcat Trail, I admired with my head tilted up, eyes following the tree trunks, as they curve overhead, creating a loose archway of moss covered bark. As I lowered my eyes to ground level, I see leafy-green bushes and vines, and a small creek that is for sure the life-line to such a moist-green environment of lust plants. 

Picture of the Day: Chasing Robins

Do you know how frustrating it is to take a picture of a bird? One, they don't stay still for anyone, two, they are quick, and three, they can fly, so you can't really chase them down, even if you wanted to. So it is very frustrating to take a picture of birds...harder if its just that one bird...

Taking a picture of a bird means a lot of bad photos. Many of those pictures would not even have the bird in them, and the ones that you do manage to get the bird in the shot, it is blurry, or only a part of them is in the frame.


 

However, once you get that one shot. That perfect picture that you thought would never happen, all that frustration and agonizing want to bop that bird in the head, disappears. I am sure most of you know what I am talking about. I know I am not the only one that tries to catch a bird at their finest, most beautiful moments. That moment, caught on film, is priceless.

And here is my great shot of this Robin, who has caused me a lot of juice from my battery and a whole lot of my patience. 

Picture was taken at Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Reserve.

Address: 22500 Cristo Rey Dr
             Los Altos, CA 94024 

Happy Wandering!
XOXO Alice



Past Pictures of the Day posts: 

Sausalito Pier...rows and rows of White Sails
Urinal Water Fountain
Pescadero Point at the 17-Miles Drive

California's Spanish Mission #2: Beautiful Carmelo

One of the many statues here.

There are two men to thank for the beautiful, historic Mission San Carlos de Borromeo de Carmelo.

One is its founding father, Junipero Serra. Without him, this beautiful place wouldn't have existed.

And two, is its restorer, Harry J. Downie. Without him, Carmelo would have just been in runes, let alone be a functional school and church, and one of the most visited Spanish Missions of California.

My goal is to visit all 21 Spanish Missions in California. I have been to three so far; San Jose Mission in Fremont, Mission Santa Clara de Asis in Santa Clara, and Mission San Carlos de Borromeo de Carmelo.

From the three, I have to say that this Carmel Mission is the more beautiful.

The Historical Tower and its "Famous French Toast"

"At least a 20 minute wait," I thought, "I hope this French Toast is worth it." 

I went on a trip to California's Capitol, Sacramento, earlier this year. Before I went I researched online on where to have a nice brunch when I get there, and decided on Tower Cafe due to its raving reviews. Obviously it is a weekend hot spot with this 20 minute wait, and it was 1:00PM, a couple hours pass brunch, and I haven't had anything all day. So at this point, I was hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed. It wouldn't be the first time I went to a hyped up restaurant just to regret it later.

"Famous French Toast"

Luckily, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was overwhelmed by the buttery crispy outer shell of the Famous French Toast and its chewy-custardy insides. It was simply marvelous. 

The doors of Tower Cafe opened in 1990 by James Seyman. He hoped to bring together the melting pot of cultures in Sacramento into one restaurant. Boy, did he do just that. Looking at the menu, you have Mexican dishes to Thai dishes to French cuisine. The menu is not the only thing diversely mixed.