Micah

The forecast showed a cold front, rain, and dropping snow levels. Not a promising outlook for a backpacking trip. So Micah and I changed plans to car camping instead, and visiting Yosemite nonetheless. Stormy weather brings interesting clouds. And we saw a rare rainbow in Yosemite Valley, below the peaks. On one hike, we saw a bobcat and also came across a herd of stags with many points. You can’t truly understand biblical tales unless you’ve heard thunder explode through a mountain valley, which we did one night amidst a tremendous downpour. Our tent held firm and we were warm and dry. During the days, we only had sprinkles. ...

Our favorite jazz venue is the Bach Dynamite and Dancing Society. To keep the flame burning, we sponsored a recent show by David Sánchez and his quintet. We started our Sunday adventure on the fabulous deck, overlooking the Pacific. The ocean was calm and silver-toned, with occasional slow waves crashing into the shore. Together with our guests – Micah, Glenn and Liz, and Judi and Nick – we had a cornucopia of snacks to enjoy. We were in good spirits. ...

On a beautiful sunny Sunday, I had the pleasure of taking Kayla and Micah to the San Jose Jazz Festival. The festival is held over three days in downtown San Jose. There are three main outdoor stages in the plaza, and many nearby indoor stages. We arrived around 1:30 pm and set ourselves up on the lawn with a good view of the main stage but plenty of shade. ...

One day we travelled from Istanbul to Ephesus, an ancient Roman city. One highlight is Library of Celsius, pictured above. So much detail, beautifully preserved! There is also a huge amphitheater, still used today for concerts. But the clear highlight was the archeological dig that was uncovering the Terrace Houses. Here wall paintings and mosaics were exceptionally well preserved, enabling us to imagine how rich Romans lived. The wide boulevards and huge agora emphasized how important and wealthy this city was. ...

Following our amazing trip to Africa, Micah, Jacob and I spent a week in Istanbul, and thus also visited Europe and Asia. City Views We loved how Istanbul is situated on the water with spectacular views around every bend. All the major mosques are situated atop hills. From the hills, you can always see the sparkling Bosphorus. After a night ferry ride, we looked out on restaurants and mosques. ...