Berkeley On A January Day

"I will go to campus alone dressed in antique silk slips and beat-up cowboy boots and gypsy beads, and I will study poetry. I will sit on the edge of the fountain in the plaza and write."

Francesca Lia Block

Girl Goddess #9: Nine Stories

A couple years ago I posted a set of photos that highlighted what I love about Berkeley. It's been a while since I have posted anything new from around town, I am not sure why, I just seem to do most of my photos of Berkeley either within the acres of Tilden Park, or sunset photos from Grizzly Peak Boulevard. Both lovely mind you, but it's far from telling the whole story of Berkeley. So, above is a photo of a January day in 2005, which looks pretty much the same today, as it did back then, and below the collage from 2013 and a new one I put together today from archived photos. I need to get out and about with the camera soon, well, as soon as my Fibromyalgia gives me a break. Hopefully next week sometime. Until then, here is a look at one of the loveliest cities I know... Berkeley, Ca.

Set #1 From 2013

Set #2, From The Archives...

Art
Free Speech
Museums
Sather Tower
Cool Mannequins
Gorgeous Trees In Autumn
Tilden Botanical Garden
Tilden Little Farm
The Berkeley Marina
Tilden Park Carousel
 Shattuck Avenue
And there's so much more, so stay tuned!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Really Old

Sather Tower
Cal Berkeley Campus
Berkeley, California
1914 Opened to the public in 1917

"The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

~Marcel Proust, In Search Of Lost Time

RRC: Really Old

When I read the concept for this challenge, I just knew I had to feature some of the gorgeous buildings around the Bay Area! I love that there is such variety in architectural styles all around the bay, it definitely offers something for everyone! And what better to showcase first? Why the photo above... Sather Tower which sits on the Cal Berkeley campus! The tower can be seen from San Francisco, and every time I am in the city, I always find myself looking for it. It is a nice feeling to see home, just across the bay! Now, on to some different buildings I love to photograph!

#1. Dunsmuir-Hellman Estate and Gardens. Oakland, California. 1878.


#2. Tower Bridge. Old Sacramento, California. Opened December 15th 1935


#3. James Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, San Jose, California. 1887


#4. Alcatraz Prison, San Francisco Bay, California. First Building Built 1853.




#5. Conservatory Of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 1878.


#6. Palace Of Fine Arts, San Francisco. Built For The 1915 Pan-American Expo.


#7. Potter Schoolhouse (1873) And St. Teresa Of Avila Church (1859), Bodega Bay, California



Okay, so I threw in one bridge... I couldn't help myself! It is so beautiful, and I am so fond of it, plus it has a wonderful, rich history! In fact all the buildings I featured here do, so click on all the links to see what these buildings are about! Most of them have been designated Historical Landmarks, so you can bet there are some stories behind those walls! Take the Potter Schoolhouse as one example. It had been closed a year before Alfred Hitchcock featured it in the movie, The Birds. In fact, Hitchcock is credited with saving the building from demolition! It has not only endured all these years, but has in fact thrived! 

It is currently owned by private party, and is rumored to be haunted It has been seen on several reality shows dealing with paranormal phenomena. Isn't that fun? Spooky! Maybe a former owner couldn't bear to part with such a beautiful building. If ever a building could inspire a story, it would be the Potter Schoolhouse. But that's whats so wonderful about REALLY OLD buildings... right? :)

If you would like to participate in this challenge, or if you want to see what the other Robins have come up with, click the link at the top of the post to be redirected to the official Round Robin blog, where you will find all the information you need to play along and links to the participating photographers!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)